Day Seven | Guatemala 2024

Day Seven: Friday, April 12, 2024

Today marks the conclusion of a successful life-changing week for Team Hope in Motion in Antigua, Guatemala. This orthopedic group has touched the lives of 78 patients and has completed 67 procedures with 37 knee replacements, 16 hip replacements, 9 foot procedures and 8 ankle operations. The amount of effort and procurement of supplies for this project has been truly incredible. The group of talented medical professionals assembled have been able to bring state of the art medical treatment for these orthopedic conditions to a group of Guatemalan patients who have a great need. What a perfect match!!

Each of the four surgical days started early and finished late as this dedicated group provided loving and expert care to their patients. The Guatemalan patients and their families were so very grateful to receive their procedures and the incredulous looks on their faces taking their first steps after surgery made the entire week worthwhile. One 29 year-old woman had hip dysplasia with a large difference in her leg lengths and was given a new hip joint and restored with equal leg lengths! One patient was severely bow legged with a grossly unstable knee and received a stable knee joint with a straight lower limb. Several patients presented with major anatomical abnormalities in their foot/ankle area and were corrected including a 73 year-old woman walking on the outside edge of her ankle.

All in all the week has touched many lives – the lives of the Guatemalans, the medical team and the lives of the folks following our mission. Our work has been enabled through the skills and desire given to us through the grace of our God and savior Jesus who lives and works through us.

Respectfully submitted,

John White