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 3 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.
See Our Past Volunteers Here
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. 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.
"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?
Surgical Stats
This year we were able to screen 174 children at the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala and we operated on 68 children, many of whom received multiple procedures. This was our busiest year ever! Many thanks to all of our volunteers who worked tirelessly to examine every child who came to see us. Despite a blackout and hot and cramped quarters we were thrilled to see old friends and make many new ones. Since 2004 the Guatemala Healing Hands has: We also held our sixth annual International Educational Conference in Guatemala City on October 9 and 10th, 2009 in conjunction with the Pediatric Foundation, the Guatemala Hand Therapy Society, and the Guatemala Hand Surgery Society. Over 200 local doctors, therapists, and nurses attended. We would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Gustavo Lopez and the Guatemalan Rotary Club for all of their hard work and assistance in facilitating this successful educational collaboration. Their energy and support has been crucial for helping GHHF reach its goals. 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? 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 $ 250! Search and shop 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 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
This was also the first year that the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation held a 3rd day of workshops for specialized splinting classes. Over the last 6 years, we have noticed an increase in requests for splitting education and we are thrilled to provide local Guatemalan therapists with crucial splinting techniques and current supplies.
This year, The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation was also proud to award Maria del Carmen de Perez with the 2009 Freeland Award. This award is given annually to a qualified Guatemalan therapist who demonstrates determination and passion and excels in the area of hand therapy. The winner will attend the American Association for Hand Surgery’s yearly scientific meeting and will travel throughout the United States visiting and volunteering at hand therapy clinics. This award was established in 2005 in honor of Dr. Alan Freeland’s relentless and selfless dedication to promoting the best in hand surgery and hand therapy care around the world.
The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation would also like to congratulate Dr. Lourdes Santiso and Dr. Carlos Quintero of Guatemala City, on winning the first GHHF clinical and/or scientific paper presentation award. Winners received a monetary prize and their winning papers will also be submitted to participate in a scientific annual meeting in the United States.
Although we worked relentlessly during our stay in Guatemala, most of our team managed to find time to visit the beautiful towns of Antigua, Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan and climb the powerful Pacaya Volcano. We ate well, shopped hard, and enjoyed the harmonious melodies of the native marimbas.
Our continuing efforts to improve hand surgery and therapy in Guatemala have already begun to form revolutionary changes. With your continued support, the prospect of Guatemalan hand care has a very promising future.
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. In 2009 we added a third educational day for a hands on splinting workshop.
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. Some of the clinics our therapy team visits clinics are 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, farms, and even participate in climbing an active volcano!
At the conclusion of the mission, many volunteers take this opportunity to visit Tikal, Chimaltenango, Atitlan, and other parts of this colorful country.
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.
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
July 29- August 9, 2008
Next Mission: March 8-19,2011
$250 Covers:
X-rays
Diagnostic tests
Surgery
Rehabilitation
Medicine
Even a toy!
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
2008: Samuel Velasquez
2009: Maria del Carmen de Perez
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.
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