Maria arrives from Guatemala awaiting hip replacement surgery.

Maria awaits surgery.

Maria Xitimaul is a 38 year old Guatemalan registered nurse whom we have brought to the United States for a total hip replacement. The local hospital and orthopedic surgeon have agreed to not charge anything for their services. We initially thought the company that provides the total hip prosthesis (to include the stem, shell, liner, and head) would donate this equipment. However, we must now pay $5,500 for this prosthesis to be used in her surgery.

Maria suffered a left hip fracture/dislocation at age 4 when she slipped and fell in a mud-puddle in northern Guatemala. Her parents were very poor, and also alcoholics, so she received no treatment until age 21. Routine x-rays at that time showed that her left hip bone was about 6 inches displaced from the hip socket. Amazingly, she had been trying to get around on this hip for 17 years with it completely dislocated.

After 2 failed hip surgeries in Guatemala, including a below-the-knee amputation, she has now been approved for a left total hip replacement. We expect her surgery to be in the next week. After she recovers from surgery she will be returning to work as a nurse in Guatemala.

If you would like to help pay for this prosthesis for Maria, please send your check to Second Hope Ministries International or make a donation on line.

Guatemala Training Session a Success.

Our team of six returned February 21 after 10 days of travel and training. Twenty five representatives from remote villages gathered for 6 days of intensive Village Health training. They are government first aid responders for their villages and surrounding areas. The Minister of Health for Peten, the local department/state, selected them. He signed the diplomas, which were presented to them at the completion of the course, along with his governmental seal. This gave even more credibility.

Each day started with the Miracle Hour of Prayer. Small groups formed in the classroom sending heartfelt prayers of praise and requests to God. Some of the subjects covered included anatomy and physiology, water and massage therapies, and Basic Life Support. Village Health covered such topics as nutrition, cleanliness, natural remedies for diarrhea, dehydration, etc., also well as care of the teeth and benefits of sunshine.

God's spirit moved on the hearts of these people. Over the 6 days we saw lives changed. Their testimonies at the graduation program expressed their appreciate for the spiritual component of each presentation. They said this was the best and most complete training they had ever received. What a blessing to play a small part in helping the people of Guatemala as these trainers now return to their villages to teach and care for their family, friends and neighbors.

Our SHMI Team included: Dr. Don Fletcher, Karen Fletcher, RN, Sherry Wiedemann, RN, Diana Anderson, RN, Dr. Ron Fleck and Bobbie Fleck.

Second Hope Ministries International team now on ground in Guatemala

The team of six medical missionary trainers have arrived. Dr Ron has telephoned to say that the flight has gone well. Thanks for your prayers of support. If you want to support financially you can now do so via Pay Pal. More updates to follow.

Update from Haiti

Report from Ron:
We have already seen some miracles on this trip. This morning we were invited by the owner of Club Indigo Hotel here to train some of his key employees (he has 200 employees in all) in Basic Life Support (CPR and treatment of choking, heart attack and stroke) on Wednesday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. He has guests from all over the world, and none of his employees have been trained in BLS.
Sunday, Oct 3, as we finished lunch, a young 22 yr old woman was carried to us. She had just slashed her throat with a broken glass bottle. While several people held her down, I sutured her neck. At the same time, Dr. Don Fletcher treated one of the orphan boys having a bad allergic reaction to some fish he had eaten.

Village Health Training in Haiti

Ron and a team of health professionals flew to Haiti last week. They are training 83 local people in Village Health. This includes basic life support, nutrition, massage and hydrotherapy and other essential wellness skills. While there they became aware of some urgent needs. One is for a young boy, Mision Augusta, who arrived at the orphanage on Sunday, Oct 3, 2010, after losing his mother and father. His aunt works as a caregiver at the orphanzage where the Village Health training is being conducted.
Mision was apparently struck in the left periorbital region with a thrown rock, about 3 months ago. He has had no access to any medical treatment until now. He has trouble seeing with his left eye, which is significantly lower than the right eye. His eye movements are restricted with only partial ability to look upward and inward with the left eye.
They believe this unfortunate boy needs corrective maxillo-facial plastic surgery to repair the orbit and free the trapped extra-ocular muscles, and if possible restore the facial appearance back to normal. This surgery would best be done in the States, in a major medical center. Funds are needed to make this available to him, for the surgery, medical costs and travel.
The necessary legal paperwork, including passport and visa, etc would be taken care of by someone in Haiti.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support for this project

Health Training in Linz, Austria

From Italy we headed into the beautiful countryside of Austria. We spent another 4 days in Linz doing health and wellness training. A group of 25 met Sunday, July 10 to learn basic life support. They were a fun and enthusiatic group.

Health Training in Waldensian Valley, Italy

We spent 4 beautiful days in the Italian Alps training local people in basic health care. What a wonderful opportunity to teach them how to live healthfully as well as how to save lives through basic life support.