1. What makes us unique?
2. Who volunteers?
3. How many people do we affect?
4. What are GHHF missions like?
5. How does GHHF find patients?
6. Where do we stay?
7. How long are GHHF missions and when are they?
8. How can I get involved?
9. The Freeland Award: Exchange Program
10. Clinical and Scientific Paper Presentation Award
1. What makes us unique?
Inspired by the Vargas 2004 Mission, GHHF offers physicians, therapists, nurses, students, and volunteers the opportunity to take part in a cross cultural educational experience. GHHF aims to both educate the local medical providers and supply specialized care for the needed hands of this poor country. The purpose of our two-day bilingual conference is to provide education that will, overtime, help the Guatemalan people to be able to care for their own with the latest medical techniques. In 2007, GHHF donated and trained local physicians in the use of the VAC, the latest wound care and scar management technology.
Since 2005 we have been providing on going training in thermoplastics to Guatemalan therapists.
2. Who volunteers? Volunteers include: Hand Surgeons Plastic Surgeons Orthopedic Surgeons Anesthesiologists Physicians Hand Therapists Occupational Therapists Physical Therapists Nurses OR Technicians Residents Medical Students University and Graduate Students High School Students Spanish Translators Good Samaritans GHHF also invites volunteers to help with local fundraising and sponsorship events.
GHHF sends qualified professionals to Guatemala to train the local healthcare providers in hand surgery and hand therapy. These highly skilled volunteers come from across the globe to participate in GHHF. GHHF also welcomes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who are looking for a multicultural educational experience and wish to lend a hand in a country that greatly needs our help.
"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
3. How many people do we affect?
Since the establishment of GHHF in 2004, our teams of dedicated volunteers have successfully:
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Evaluated over 310 children for hand surgery
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Completed surgery on 145 children
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Examined 312 therapy patients
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Fabricated 323 splints
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One child brought to New Mexico to receive extensive hand surgery
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Awarded 2 Guatemala surgeons with GHHF Clinical and Scientific Paper Presentation Award
In addition, over 1375 doctors, therapists, and students have attended our
two-day educational conferences in Guatemala City.
4. What are GHHF missions like?
We fly into Guatemala City and travel to the town of Antigua to spend two days visiting local hospitals, experiencing the local culture, and getting to know our mission team.
We return to Guatemala City where we engage in a two-day bilingual educational conference, where both American and Guatemalan surgeons and therapists present. In the past, this conference has been partnered with The Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala, The Guatemalan Association for Hand Surgery, The American Association For Hand Surgery, and Healing The Children. In attendance are surgeons, physicians, therapists, students, and guests who are interested in expanding their knowledge of hand care.
Following the conference is the screening day. Mostly children and some adults from across the country arrive at the Guatemalan Pediatric Foundation. Our team of volunteers spends a full day evaluating cases for surgery, therapy, and medical guidance. By the end of the day, our team will have scheduled five full days of surgery and therapy.
During the five days of surgery and therapy our team operates in facilities provided to us by the Guatemala Pediatric Foundation. Our therapy team visits clinics at The Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala, The Pediatric Burn Clinic located at the Roosevelt Hospital, The Hospital Infectologia y Rehabilitacion , Hospital General de Accidentes, and San Sebastian Hospital.
Non- medical volunteers are a crucial part of our team. They are involved at every step of the way. From the conference to the screenings to the surgery, these volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks such as registering guests at the symposium to scrubbing in for surgery and assisting in the operating room. In 2006 we added a “Teen Team” who organized a quilt and puppet project. They were also vital in mentoring many of our children patients. They added a very special touch to our mission and we look forward to having more families involved with GHHF in the future.
During our 12 days in Guatemala, there is also plenty of time to eat well, sightsee, and brush up on your high school Spanish. The team enjoys traditional Guatemalan cuisine and browsing local markets, museums, and, farms.
At the conclusion of the mission, many volunteers take this opportunity to visit Tikal, Chimaltenango, Atitlan, and other parts of this colorful country.
5. How does GHHF find patients? 6. Where do we stay?
We have various Guatemalan contacts who notify churches, communities, newspapers, and individual families that GHHF will be arriving, and of course, through word of mouth.
We also have the opportunity to follow up on patients that we have seen in the past. Many receive second, third, or even fourth operations to continue their journey in finding improved hand function.
GHHF volunteers stay and travel in comfort and safety. Our past hotel stays include the beautiful Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua and The Intercontinental and the Clarion Suites in Guatemala City.
7. How long are GHHF missions and when are they?
Missions are 12 days and begin on a Tuesday and end on a Saturday. We try alternating missions between summer and winter.
Past missions:
August 3rd- 14th , 2004
November 1st- 12th , 2005
July 11th-22nd , 2006
October 18th-28th, 2007
Next Mission: July 29- August 9, 2008
8. Sponsor a Child Program The children that GHHF meet in Guatemala are given a new outlook on life with their new hands and all it takes is $200! You will receive some pictures and website acknowledgement for your help and big heart. Or, grab some friends and sponsor a child together!
$200 Covers:
X-rays
Diagnostic tests
Surgery
Rehabilitation
Medicine
Even a toy!
Search using Goodsearch.com! GoodSearch is an Internet search engine powered by Yahoo! Just type in “Guatemala Healing Hands” under “Who do you GoodSearch For?” Each time you search for us, we receive a penny donation! Why Google when you can GoodSearch! So, while you are searching online for that perfect gift or dinner recipe, why not giving back at the same time? It’s that easy
9. The Freeland Award: Exchange Program
In honor of Dr. Alan Freeland’s relentless and selfless dedication to promoting the best in hand surgery and hand therapy around the world, we have established the Freeland Award to advance the level of hand therapy care in Guatemala through an educational opportunity to attend the American Association for Hand Surgery’s yearly meeting and to visit different hand clinics throughout the United States. The award will be given annually to a qualified Guatemalan therapist who demonstrates determination, passion, and excels in the area of hand therapy.
Congratulations to our past winners:
2005 Ileana Aguilar
2006 Marta Beatriz Pineda
2007 Gladys Mendez
10. Clinical and Scientific Paper Presentation Award Congratulations to our 2006 winners: Dra. Lourdes Santiso, Cirujana Plastica y Reconstructiva Dra. Jeane Fuenmayor Marco Caal PT Luz Corado PN Consuelo Corado Dr. Carlos Manuel Quintero, Cirujano de la Mano
In 2005 we invited all attendees to participate in the 2006 meeting by submitting a clinical or scientific paper in the form of a presentation and/or poster.
Presentations must meet requirements set forth by the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation. Select GHHF members review papers and posters submitted. The best papers chosen will win a monetary award as well as the opportunity to submit their papers and/or posters to a scientific annual meeting in the United States.