Cleft Lip/Palate Surgery and Dental Trip Mar 20-29,2009

A full month of HIM trips visiting Guatemala was wrapped up with the Cleft Lip/Palate Surgery and Dental trip. With a whopping 69 volunteers from the states it was a remarkable week! Close to half of the crowd were new faces to HIM. It was a busy week with a gammot of projects happening.

The focus of construction this week was the orphanage. Given the prep from the previous trips, we were set to pour the floor for the second story of the building. With no water in the city of Gualan that day, and temperatures in the high 90s, the troops pressed on and the floor was successfully poured! A big hand to all those involved, it was no easy feat!

General and Dental clinics were held at Finca Carrizal, Gualan, Barranco Colorado, La Union and La Iguana. With large teams, there was a lot of activity at each clinic. As the week progressed, temperatures rose, yet the group rose to the occasion! Totals for the week included...

1143 General medical patients seen

325 Dental patients seen

665 Tooth Extractions
512 Teeth Cleanings
95 Eyeglasses fit

55 Surgeries

We were blessed to have the presence of three skilled plastic surgeons this week. The hospital team of doctors, nurses, surgical techs, etc were able to complete an amazing 55 surgeries!

Bomberos come to the rescue to provide us with water!

Assembly line concrete pouring.

Some of the girls showing off their muscles and skills!
Inside the Nutrition Center, volunteers hard at work rectifying our courtyard weed problem.

Clinic set up at Barranco Colorado

Teeth varnishing at clinics

Extracting teeth

Seeing patients at general medical clinics

Volunteers and locals mingle as HIM is welcomed to La Union by the Mayor and a Marimba band. It was a beautiful day with a light hearted feel thanks to the music of Guatemala's national instrument.

Clothing hand out at the garbage dump.

Thanks again to all who made this an extremely successful month for HIM! You did make a difference in the lives of countless Guatemalans and volunteers from the states. An immeasureable number of smiles, hugs, and new friendships Cheers to putting our hearts in motion!

Arcadia Trip Mar 14-22, 2009

Arcadia University in Philadelphia returned this year with a crew of 42 people. General medical clinics, construction, and schools were the focus for the week. The construction team worked through the heat and sun tying rebar in prepartion for the second story floor to be poured for HIM's orphange in Gualan. A lot of hard work and sweat enabled the results necessary for the preparation to be completed. This group also picked up where the prior week's group left off on the AA building in Teculutan and laid more block. With the help of an ER doctor from Houston, a Nurse Practitioner, and two Physician Assistants 771 patients were seen at the general clinics held throughout the area. Additionally, the group's Education Majors visited 3 area schools where they were able to interact with the children through games, books, and art projects, as well as see the conditions of typical schools in Zacapa. Many supplies were able to be distributed to the teachers and students as well.

Patients, patiently waiting as we set up for clinic in Los Limones.

Setting up our "pharmacy" for the day

Jan checking out this little one's complaint

Jan and Alyssa seeing a group of siblings

Dr. Kasper examining this little tyke, as he examines Dr. Kasper!

Activities with the children who came to, or accompanied their mothers to the clinic

The team working hard, prepping food and distributing it to the kids

Visiting area schools

Outdoor classroom at Pueblo Modelo
Games with the kids!

Thanks for playing!

Visiting the children at Maria's Daycare

Nick with this new arrival to the Teculutan Nutrition Center

The trips visit to the garbage dump.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of eachother and every person who's life you so willingly touched while in Guatemala! Hearts In Motion looks forward to a return from

Arcadia University in 2010!

Carroll University Trip Mar 6-15, 2009

A group of 24 students, primarily nursing, from Carroll University joined Hearts In Motion in Guatemala mid March. It was a great opportunity for many of them to hone skills they have been learning in their courses, and a great excuse to escape the bitter cold of Wisconsin!! We were also blessed with the presence of a couple, Chet and Anne, from the east coast as well. Being in the medical feild for many years they were a huge help to the students! General medical clinics were held in various cities throughout the week including La Lima, El Chico, Triumfo and Puerta de Golpe. During the course of the week they were able to see 678 patients and gain knowledgeable, hand on experience.

Thank you to all of you for spending your spring break with HIM

and the needy people in Zacapa!

The General Medical Clinics

Visiting the elderly couple we have "adopted" that lives on the porch of someone else's house.

Playing with the children at the Teculutan Nutrition Center

Playing with and doing projects with the children of Maria's Daycare

Handing out food and clothing at the garbage dump

We look forward to seeing Carroll University again next year!

Thanks for the good times and your hard work!