Traveling Clinics from the United
States Target Children for Surgery: HHH Makes It Happen
Helping Hands for Honduras (HHH) has established contacts with several
hospitals in the United States which admit children from Honduras to
perform life saving surgery, pro bono. University Medical
Center in Stony Brook, New York (in conjunction with Rotary
International (District 7260) and Gift of Life Program), Geisinger Medical Center,International Hospital for Children, The Riley Hospital for
Children, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center,The Cleveland Clinic,
and University Hospital of Cleveland have
saved the lives of over 150 Honduran children since 2000.
Helping
Hands for Honduras is responsible for obtaining and sending the
necessary medical test results to these hospitals for evaluation. Upon
acceptance, HHH works with the Consular Section in the United States Embassy In Tegucigalpa,
Honduras to obtain visas for the children and their mothers to come to
the United States for medical treatment.
The child and their mother
are flown to the United States by American Airlines through
their Miles for Kids in Need Program, and host families open
their homes to house the mother while the child awaits surgery and
recovers. To learn more about how to donate miles to American Airlines,
contact Reservations at 800-882-8880 or visit their website atwww.aa.com. It is
through these donations that these children are able to come for their
life saving surgeries.
Below are highlights of the most recent children that have been saved
through Helping Hands for Honduras and the joint efforts of the
hospitals, airlines and the Consular Section in the United States
Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The First
Lady of Honduras, Mrs. Rosa Elena de Lobo visited the Heart Mission and brought
a special treat for each child.The
First Lady spent time with each and every child and supported each mother and
father as they watched over their child. It was obvious the First Lady was
moved at the amount of support offered to her country (and in particular to
each child who had undergone open-heart surgery) during the Mission.
Six-year-old
José Sanchez lives with his mother and father and his older brother Luis in Los
Pinos, a very poor barrio on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. At birth José was
diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and only through corrective open-heart
surgery would he be able to lead a normal life. José is pictured here with his
mother, Patricia, and when I asked him what he wants to do once he recuperates
from surgery his answer was “jugar futbol”
Fourteen-year-old Jennifer Ardón lives
with her mother and father and four brothers and sisters in Choloma, Cortés in
the northern part of Honduras. Since her birth She has suffered all these years
with her congenital heart defect and only recently had it made her life almost
unbearable. During a routine
doctor’s appointment it was discovered what Jennifer had and what needed to be
done in order for her to lead a normal life.
Once her
mother and father made contact with HELPING HANDSFOR HONDURAS Jennifer was admitted into the March 2010
heart mission and within a few days after surgery was well on her way to recovery.
Forty days
after Javier Eduardo Lopez was born his mother noticed the child was turning
blue and with each passing day his breathing was becoming more difficult.Javier parents (Gloria and
Lázaro) came to Helping Hands for Honduras desperately seeking help for their
young son and were immediately admitted into the upcoming heart mission. Javier
is now back home with his Mom and Dad and older sister and now will have a promising
future.
Eighteen-month-old Cristofer Bonilla is from
Nacaome, Valle in southern Honduras. Cristofer underwent
corrective heart surgery at Children's Hospital of the King's
Daughters in Norfolk, VA. He is shown here in the Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit with his mother, Norma Bonilla.
With her mother by her side,
three-year-old Keylin Lopez rests before corrective heart surgery
at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk,
VA.Keylin recently returned to her home in Trojes, El Paraíso to
live a normal healthy life.
