Hello from Honduras!

Hello friends and family,

The cardiac team is on the ground and in action in Honduras! I had some trouble getting into this blog to update it when we got here. The page was all in Spanish and I couldn't figure out how to get in! But, I'm in now, and am going to start daily updates with photos. You can also "like" the Friends of Barnabas Foundation on facebook and stay up to date with updates of our progress throughout the day! Here is the blog that I wrote yesterday....

Greetings from the Heart Team in Honduras! The team came together yesterday, arriving from many destinations, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, and others.  We arrived in San Pedro Sula and immediately went to Cemesa Hospital to begin unpacking supplies. We had many boxes of supplies to sort that were so generously donated by Friends of Barnabas supporters and shipped to Honduras. It is amazing that the team can all come from many different places, yet we can come together and quickly spring into action.  As we began to sort, the ICU, operating room, step-down unit, and the cardiac catheterization lab began to take shape.

Our first priority was to get the supplies needed to begin cardiac caths. Dr. Zellers and his team began two diagnostic catheterizations almost as soon as they arrived. One child, Henry is being referred to the states for surgery. The other child, Mayra will be having surgery today.

This morning the team met for breakfast and a moving devotional by Doug and Kip. Kip explained to the team that there are many people praying for the work that is being done this week in Honduras.

Two surgeries are planned for today. Yadira, 8 years old, is our first surgical patient. She traveled from La Ceiba with her grandmother to have surgery to correct her heart defect.  Her grandmother cares for Yadira and her other 9 grandchildren. Dr. Nikaidoh sat with Yadira’s grandmother and explained the surgery. He told her how they were going to make an incision on Yadira’s chest and place her on the heart-lung machine to stop her heart during surgery. He explained that her body would still receive oxygen from a special machine while they worked to repair her heart. Yadira’s grandmother began to weep. She was comforted by the words of Dr. Nikaidoh, he comforted her by explaining that we would take care of her granddaughter in the operating room. Watching Yadira’s grandmother as they prepared her for surgery I reflected upon how difficult it would be to place your child in the care of a team that does not even speak your language.

As I type this, Yadira is in surgery. Please pray for the guidance of the surgeons hands as they work to repair Yadira’s heart. We will send updates as she comes out of surgery.  Thank you for all of your support that allowed this amazing team to come together to perform miracles in Honduras!

Love,

Ashley