Surgical Stats

This year we were able to screen over 75 children at the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala and we operated on 44 children, many of whom received multiple procedures.

Since 2004:
Over 250 children have been evaluated for surgery
113 children have received surgery
220 therapy patients have been seen
236 Splints have been fabricated
Over 1100 doctors, therapists, and nurses have attended our educational conferences

We also held our third annual International Educational Conference in Guatemala City on July 14 and 15 in conjunction with the Pediatric Foundation, the Guatemala Hand Therapy Society, and the Guatemala Hand Surgery Society. Over 400 local doctors, therapists, and nurses attended. We would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Gustavo Lopez and Dr. Lionel Foncea Kroker for their hard work and assistance in facilitating this successful educational collaboration. Their energy and support has been crucial for helping GHHF reach its goals. We would also like to thank Ileana Aguilar, the 2005 Freeland Award winner, for her dedication and tireless efforts at making this conference a successful event.

The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation was also proud to award Marta Beatriz Pineda with the 2006 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, Tikal, and Lake Atitlan. 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.