HMI surgical team creates a new partnership with Hospital Nacional Chalchuapa
Written by: Pam Forrester
For a week, the Health Missions International team volunteered in Santa Ana to repair and reconstruct noses, palates and cleft lips. They know what a cleft lip and palate repair can do for families; literally transforming lives. The cosmetic effects are clear to everyone but there is so much more few see, like eating and breathing more easily and even a simple task we take for granted; like speaking more clearly. Erica M. whose daughter was scheduled for surgery said, “I am going to understand more of what she is saying. Before I could only understand a little bit.”
Screening Process
Working in partnership with doctors and nurses at the Hospital Nacional Chalchuapa about an hour north of San Salvador, the American medical team of almost two dozen doctors, nurses and administrative staff set up two operating rooms, with one goal; taking a first step to change lives for some in El Salvador.
The journey began before dawn for many families. One family left the Sonsanate Coastal Zone area at two in the morning for a 5-hour journey in the back of a pickup truck to bring their son to be seen by the American medical team. One mom has been told previously, “We cannot operate because your daughter’s problem is too complicated.” Another had been waiting and waiting but had never been called back for the surgery in their local hospital. So, with renewed hope, they joined more than a dozen others waiting in the open-air corridor, side by side in bright blue plastic chairs; moms, dads, uncles, and grandparents with their loved ones in tow.
Check-in started at 8:00 in the morning with the obligatory consent and registration forms. Slowly and efficiently, the patients moved through stations with an essential volunteer team of translators available at every step of the way to guide and explain.
First stop, the heart rate and oxygen saturation testing, then on to the weigh in and then eventually the all-important evaluation by a team of surgeons, pediatricians and the anesthesiologist. Our HMI dentist provided an oral check on the children identifying cavities and even an abscessed tooth which was scheduled for treatment later in the week.
It’s never fun to have blood drawn as many of the little ones made it quite clear vocally and through a flood of tears, that they were not happy with this mandatory last stop.
With the help of crayons, coloring books and an incredibly kid-friendly medical team doling out silly faces, high fives and fist pumps, the process went as smoothly as one can imagine with the little ones. Considering the intense heat, the long day, the multitude of unfamiliar faces and exams, most did well with cajoling and kisses from moms and loved ones. Everyone was evaluated by the medical team.
By the end of the day, the surgery line up was organized for the week, leaving a few spots open for walk -ins. This turned out to be a necessary option as the word got out in the community. A date and time were assigned to each child and pre-operative instructions were handed out to the parents. For baby Alexandra’s mom, patience paid off as she explained, “opportunities like this one are not easy to get.” She was lucky. She had secured a slot.
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