Doña Maria Catalina is one of several people scheduled for hernia surgery in August.

Her hernia is so large she in no longer able to do laundry for people, which is how she earns her living. She told Flory she is really in a lot of pain.

Cost: The usual surgical fee is $210, plus preop tests - $75.

Flory asks people to help by paying for as much of these costs as they can, explaining that then we will use the money to serve more people. It is amazing and heartwarming to see how many people come up with some money from their relatives or neighbors, so that they can help support someone else.

Brothers Jayme and Marvin (sons of Doña Maria Consuelo below left) had minor surgery to remove lipomas mid-July.

Jayme, from his face; Marvin (not shown), from his arm.

Cost for each: Surgical fee - $104, Biopsy - $39

Don Mario Enrique had a double hernia that was very painful and kept him from working in the fields. He didn’t know what was going to become of them. He had surgery August 6 and will be able to return to work when the incision is healed.

-Photo of him in bed, wife seated to right.

Doña Maria Consuelo (mother of Jayme and Marvin above) could hardly see anything, due to cataracts.

She had surgery on her first eye mid-July.

She is amazed and totally grateful for our help!

Cost: We paid for an ultrasound -$26. She paid for labs.

There is no surgical fee at Obras for cataract surgery.

-Photo of husband, Doña Maria with eye patch , Flory

Diego and his mom arrived at Obras hospital at 6 :00 this morning with Flory and are awaiting his pre-op and covid exams, after traveling the previous afternoon and spending the night in a small hotel room. His surgery is projected to last 1 1/2 hours.

In February, our health care provider, Flory got these 4 patients with tumors into Obras Sociales, the hospital for the poor in Antigua that we use, for labs and other tests. They were then referred to the National Cancer hospital for surgery. And then along came Covid and cancelled all hope of surgery at that time (March).

Yesterday GMRP received a check for $1,000 from Harmonic Energetic Technologies, requested by new team member, RN Christine Simon of Tucson, AZ. Way to get out there and fund raise, Christine!

The Guatemala Medical Resources Partnership (GMRP) began as a project of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Clubs. Started in 2005 through the vision and dedication of local Rotarians spearheaded by Doug Hansen, it has grown to encompass many aspects sustaining life.

After a five-day clinic, most of the 47 people on this mission will return home changed by the experience. On Wednesday, some of us will go home, some will travel for sight-seeing in Antigua. In either case, we will not be the same.

One of the most smiley infants is looped around her mother’s arm. She kicks and coos, and smiles at everyone who passes by on this 97-degree day.

“I am very grateful to God for permitting me to work with my Guatemalan people,” says Flory. “When you all decided to open referrals, I dedicated myself to help the patients.

A silent, short young man follows a nurse to the medical line Saturday afternoon. Already, there are more than 90 people in front of him,waiting to be seen. The nurse whispers, “Can we get this person in today? He walked five hours to get here.”

Three years ago, on January 19, as the clinic was closing, Allison Hardin, a member of the medical team, traveled with a doctor to a hut 20 minutes away to help bring Blanca Natalie Rivas into the world.

An array of kitchen towels and scarves held to mouths can be spotted among the crowd of patients at the clinic. They come prepared, knowing they will have teeth extracted.

It’s human nature to want a place in line. So when the clinic opens Sunday, a day when no one needs to work, it is flooded with families. Temperatures don’t help.

It’s late in the afternoon, and Jeannine Desuatels walks over to the medical area of the clinic with the tiniest of babies in her hands.

Jeanmarie Sharp occasionally travels to this mission and to Haiti each year. She has seen many disappointing cases, but this one breaks her heart.