Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation

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October 6-17, 2009

The Guatemala Healing Hands 2009 mission has just come to an end. It was truly an inspirational and enriching experience. Because of the generosity of hardworking volunteers and numerous donations from supports around the country, we successfully completed 43 surgery on 68 children, evaluated 92 therapy patients, fabricated 168 splints, and evaluated 190 therapy patients from October 6-17. In addition, over 200 doctors, therapists, and students attended our 3 day educational conference! The smiles we witnessed on both the young and not so young have left tremendous imprints on our hearts that will never be forgotten.

Therapy Stats
We visited numerous therapy facilities such as, the Pediatric Foundation, the Pediatric Burn Clinic located at the Roosevelt Hospital, the Hospital Infectologia y Rehabilitacion, Hospital General de Accidentes, and the San Sebastian Hospital, where our therapists evaluated over 190 patients, fabricated many splints, and consulted on patient care.

Summary	Sreened for Surgery	Surgical Patients	Surgical Procedures	Therapy Patients	Splints Fabricated
2004	100	40	47	43	63
2005	60	26	30	76	71
2006	75	44	N/A	101	102
2007	60	32	43	92	87
2008	100	50	N/A	111	131
2009	174	68	N/A	190	168
Totals	569	260		613	622

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:

Evaluated 597 patients for hand surgery and therapy (at screening day)
Completed surgery on 263 patients
Fabricated 622 splints
One child brought to New Mexico to receive extensive hand surgery
One child brought to Shriners for microsurgery
Awarded 5 Guatemalan therapists with the Freeland Award
Awarded 2 Guatemalan surgeons with the GHHF Clinical and Scientific Paper Presentation Award
Over 1,875 people (doctors, therapists, and students) have attended our two-day educational conferences and 3rd day splinting workshop in

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.
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.