Mission of Hope, Bolivia Phone and Fax: 434-977-4748 |
Eynar's Story
As a result of this surgery, Eynar had no voice and was unable to speak. He went to many doctors asking what could be done to restore his voice. He was told that nothing could be done and that he would never speak again. Then Eynar heard about Mission of Hope. He came to the clinic in March of 2007, just as the ENT Surgery Team was arriving from the US. The team examined Eynar and felt that his voice could be restored if a laryngeal stent could be surgically inserted for a time. The team tried to find a stent to buy, but was told that laryngeal stents do not exist in Bolivia! The team prayed and an amazing series of events took place. First, the team contacted a friend in the US named Martin and asked him to locate the needed stent. Two days later, Martin called to say that he had the stent but there was not time to send it by express mail and the airlines would not accept it unless it was accompanied by a passenger. So, Martin drove to the airport, bought a ticket, and personally delivered the stent to the Mission of Hope hospital, just in time for a surgery on the team’s last day! Several months later, the stent was surgically removed, and for the first time in 3 years, Eynar could speak! In March of 2008, Eynar returned to thank the team and Mission of Hope. Now that he is able to speak, he can once again work and support his family. Praise theLord!! Luis Fernando's Story
When Luis Fernando was 6 months old, Juana noticed that his skin, hands, and fingernails were a purplish color. She took him to a pediatrician who told her there was nothing wrong with the baby. When Juana tried to insist that there was a problem, the pediatrician dismissed her without giving her the help that she needed. Then Juana took Luis Fernando to a government-run clinic to receive his immunizations. The nurse who took care of them saw the problem right away and recommended that Juana take him to a heart specialist. The cardiologist who examined Luis Fernando determined that he had a congenital heart disorder. The doctor told Juana that a very delicate and very expensive surgery was needed in order to save Luis Fernando’s life. This was devastating news for Juana and her husband, José. Luis Fernando was their only child, and they had no money to pay for a surgery. José earns about $4 per day as a taxi driver. As Juana and her husband went about the city looking for help, they heard about Mission of Hope. When Luis Fernando arrived at our clinic, his lips and his fingernails were purple and he was very weak. Mission of Hope staff made arrangements for Luis Fernando and his mother to travel to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to a private hospital that specializes in pediatric heart surgery. This hospital is considered to be one of the best private hospitals in all of Bolivia. Mission of Hope, Bolivia paid for all of the expenses related to Luis Fernando’s surgery and took care of his mother so that she could stay with him. Luis Fernando had a successful surgery, and his life was saved. Praise the Lord! For the first time in his life, Luis Fernando can breathe normally and play as a normal toddler. In time, he will need 2 additional surgeries, and Mission of Hope is committed to helping with those surgeries as well. Each surgery will cost between $5,000 and $7,000. We have a waiting list at Mission of Hope for children with congenital heart problems who need this very same surgery. As we have the funds available, we send them one at a time for this very specialized surgery in Cochabamba .
Johnny's Story Johnny never knew his mother or his father. He grew up in the orphanages of Cochabamba, Bolivia. When he reached the age of 17, he was told that he was too old to stay in the orphanage and would have to leave. Johnny had no where to go. Johnny had a strong desire to continue his education and attend the university. He sent an email to a man that he knew from the orphanage and asked for his help. This man arranged for Johnny to stay in the home of a friend and attend classes at the university. One day as Johnny was walking home from class, he was attacked by a gang. They beat him up and broke the bones of his nose, leaving him in pain and unable to breathe properly. An American missionary living and working in Cochabamba befriended Johnny and contacted Mission of Hope, Bolivia to see if we could help. At that time, we were preparing to send a team of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons to Santa Cruz to perform a week of free surgeries. Johnny rode the bus for 12 hours from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz to come for the screening. Johnny received an excellent surgery and is now breathing without any problems. The ENT team donated money to fly Johnny home. He is very proud of his “new nose.”
Ruben's Story Ruben is 45 years old and works as a tailor. He and his wife and 6 children live in one room with a dirt floor without indoor plumbing. For 13 years, he was unable to hear out of his right ear. Ruben came to the Mission of Hope clinic and was sent for a hearing test. Based on the hearing test and the physical exam, he was scheduled for surgery. At the end of Ruben’s surgery, the surgeon emerged from the operating room feeling frustrated that the surgery had been in vain. When he got inside the ear, there was “nothing to work with” and nothing he could do. The surgeon concluded that the hearing test had not been accurate and that the hearing loss was nerve related and could not be corrected by surgery. A few days later, Ruben came back to the mission and gave us this testimony. “My right ear was very bad. For 13 years I could not hear, but now, thanks to God, my hearing is back….I say thanks to God because it was His hands that touched me while the doctors from the US were operating on me….When I was taken in for surgery, I saw the bright lights and a voice spoke to my heart telling me not to worry, that everything would be fine…When I woke up, I felt like a different person, and I could hear!”
Carlos Guzman's Story Carlos Guzman is a 39 year old man who came to the Mission of Hope clinic in March of 2005 with a large facial tumor. When Carlos was 9 years old, his father took him to a soccer game. During the course of the game, one of the players kicked the ball right into his face. The blow was so severe that it knocked him out of his seat. A year later, his mother noticed that he was having trouble breathing. A tumor was slowly growing on the left side of his face. During the next 5 years, he had 4 unsuccessful surgeries as doctors attempted to remove the tumor. Finally, when he was 15 years old, his father died and there was no more money for treatment. Carlos wanted to continue his studies but as the tumor continued to grow, he found himself totally ostracized by his peers. When he was 21 years old, he married a woman of great faith. Later, when children were born, he worried that his children would reject him. He began to work as a taxi driver. He worked at night so that people would not be able to see the tumor. Finally, the tumor became so large that no one wanted to enter his taxi. This created an economic crisis for him, and he became very depressed. Carlos knew a family that had an auto repair shop in a very out of the way place. They gave Carlos a job working in a back room where no one would see him. Meanwhile, one our Mission of Hope doctors took his car into that very same shop for repairs. After the car was repaired, Carlos was asked to return the car to the doctor’s home. There he met Dr. Quinteros who told him the good news that a surgery team was coming from the U.S. and that he should come to the Mission of Hope clinic. Carlos was scheduled for surgery, but the surgeons quickly realized they did not have the proper tools to completely remove the tumor. They removed as much as possible and told Carlos that they would be back in 2006 to finish the job. As the tumor grew back as big as ever, Carlos again became very discouraged. So many times, people had told him they would help, but in the end, no one could help. He stopped coming to the Mission of Hope clinic. His wife began to fast and pray for his healing. Two months later, the Mission of Hope staff called Carlos and told him that the surgery team was returning. Carlos had another surgery. This time when the bandage was taken off, tears filled his eyes as he looked in the mirror and said, “this is the face I have dreamed of.” Even more amazing was the fact that Carlos had no pain after surgery. He needed no pain medication. Carlos is so thankful to God that his tumor of 30 years is gone! He laughs and says he can now wear sunglasses for the first time in his life because his nose is not twisted! He says that now his children are not embarrassed to take him to their sporting events. His whole life has changed, and he is so thankful to you, our supporters, for making these weeks of surgery possible. Thank you!!
Maria Gisela's Story Maria Gisela is one of 4 children. Her mother is a single parent and earns about $12 per week by washing clothes when she has work. A team of doctors from Tulsa, OK who came to the Mission of Hope clinic examined Maria and found that she had an abnormality of her heart. The team paid for Maria to have an echocardiogram, which revealed a hole in her heart between the ventricles. If left untreated, this condition can result in heart failure and death. After hearing the results of the echocardiogram, Maria and her mother were in a state of shock and did not know what to think. A few days later, they came back to the mission to ask if we could help Maria to get the surgery she needs. In Bolivia, a specialized heart surgery like the one Maria needs costs between $5,000 and $10,000. We prayed with Maria and her mother, asking God to calm their fears and provide the funds that are needed for this surgery. God provided all of the necessary funds through you, our faithful supporters. Maria had a very successful open heart surgery in one of the best private hospitals in Bolivia and is recuperating nicely. Maria will continue to come back to our clinic in Santa Cruz for regular checkups so that we can monitor her progress. Thank you for all of your prayers.
Camilo's Story Late one afternoon, a young man named Camilo arrived at the Mission of Hope clinic with his father. They were hot and tired from their long journey. They had ridden the bus for 18 hours from their hometown of Tarija to find medical help. Camilo is 26 years old and one of five children. His father is unemployed and his mother sells candy and empanadas in the street. They are very poor and live with relatives. About one year ago, Camilo noticed a lump on his left thigh. Being young and athletic, he did not pay much attention to it. As time went on, he noticed that it had not healed and, in fact, was getting larger. One day while playing soccer, the lump was torn open. The wound did not heal. Finally, he went to several different doctors where he lived, but no one seemed to have a solution for his problem. The wound remained open and did not get any better. He decided to go to Santa Cruz and seek medical help. Camilo’s friends got together and collected enough money for him and his father to buy bus tickets. When Camilo and his father arrived in Santa Cruz, they first went to the cancer hospital. The cancer hospital was closed for a vacation, and no one there could help them. Then someone directed them to Mission of Hope. They arrived at the clinic tired and discouraged, almost at the point of giving up, but here they found the help they needed. A biopsy of the tumor was positive for cancer. Camilo was admitted to the hospital for surgery to remove the tumor. He thought that he might lose his entire leg. Mission of Hope staff went to the hospital to pray with Camilo. As they prayed, Camilo said that he felt heat pass through his body and a feeling of peace came over him. The tumor was easily removed during surgery, and none of the rest of his body was affected. The doctors commented that normally the lymph nodes are affected at this stage of cancer, and they were very surprised to find no evidence of cancer beyond the tumor itself. All of the lymph nodes were cancer free. Mission of Hope, Bolivia paid for all the expenses related to Camilo’s surgery and post-operative care. Camilo’s father was so grateful for the care that Camilo received through Mission of Hope that he has been helping at the clinic, working as a volunteer, while Camilo recovers from his surgery. We praise the Lord for Camilo’s successful treatment and recovery!
Farid's Story Farid was born with congenital heart defects. Farid would often scream out in pain and turn blue as he gasped for air, even when he was sleeping. These episodes were very frightening for his young parents. Farid was their first baby. In December of 2004, Farid experienced one of these episodes of not being able to breathe and turning blue. His mother rushed him to the emergency room of a public hospital. The doctor on duty did not see the need for oxygen, so his mother took him to a second hospital. The doctor on duty at the second hospital gave Farid oxygen and then sent him back to the first hospital, saying that Farid needed intensive care and they did not have adequate facilities. When Farid and his mother arrived a second time at the first hospital, they were told that the hospital was full, and they were sent to a third hospital! Finally, 12 hours after they left home, Farid was admitted to an intensive care unit. A few days later, Farid had stabilized and was sent home. Farid’s mother took him to see a heart specialist, who did some tests and referred them to a surgeon. The surgeon said that Farid urgently needed surgery because he would not live much longer. His parents had no money for surgery. Desperate to find help for their baby, Farid’s mother and father went to many different social and humanitarian organizations, but no one would help. During this time of desperate searching, Farid’s condition was worsening. He was losing weight, sleeping less, and his episodes of not being able to breathe were occurring more frequently. Farid was again hospitalized in intensive care, but his parents had exhausted all their resources and did not have money to buy the medicines he needed. They had already sold everything they owned of any value. Finally, the doctors told Farid’s parents that nothing more could be done. They said that Farid was going to die, and they disconnected all the machines that were helping him to live. Farid’s parents were distraught when they arrived at the Mission of Hope clinic. After hearing their story, Pastor Ruben shared with them the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, and they made a decision to put their faith and trust in Christ. Mission of Hope staff contacted a hospital in Cochabamba, Bolivia that specializes in cardiac surgery for infants and children. A local Bolivian airline donated round-trip tickets for Farid, his parents, and a physician. An ambulance met the plane in Cochabamba and took Farid directly to the hospital. After a cardiac catheterization, Farid’s parents were informed that the surgery he needed had a 99% mortality rate. Farid not only survived the surgery, but he amazed the doctors with his rapid recovery! Today, Farid is a healthy, happy baby. He recently celebrated his first birthday, and he continues to amaze his doctors! He is gaining weight, he is walking, and his heart is developing normally. He is a wonderful testimony to God’s miracle working power and the way God continues to use Mission of Hope, Bolivia!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
