Upcoming Medical Missions - Patient Profiles - Team Member Testimonies

Upcoming Medical Missions:

February 24 - March 1, 2008
April 27 - May 3, 2008
June 22 - 28, 2007

Patient Profiles

Paulina López Pérez, 60, lives in Florida de Opatoro, La Paz: mountainous coffee-growing country a several hours bus ride from Comayagua. Paulina came to the Medical Center for surgery after having been diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. The lenses of both eyes were completely clouded to the point of blindness, and she needed assistance to make her way through SBJ on the day of surgery.

Dr. Richard Seeger noted that the cataracts of the patients of the surgical mission were much more advanced than is typically seen in the US, where surgery is usually done while cataracts are still small. Paulina had the cataract removed from her right eye. It was an overwhelming moment during the post-op exam when Paulina's eye was uncovered and she realized that she could see again! The day after surgery she was able to walk out of the Center unaided. The March 2007 mission was the first at St. Benedict Joseph to offer eye surgery.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Richard Seeger with patient Paulina López Pérez.

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Lilian Aracely Palomo Reyes, 18, is from the mountain village of San José el Injerto, Comayagua. She is the oldest of five children in her household. Her step-father is a member of the indigenous Lenca tribe; he works as a farmer and serves as a lay leader for the local Catholic Community.

Lilian first came to the St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center in August 2005 for a consultation with visiting orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Kelley of Atlanta. Through Dr. Kelley’s efforts, Lilian was sponsored for surgery in the US by Childspring International of Atlanta. All of the preliminary medical workups, immigration documents, and international communication were coordinated through SBJ. Lilian flew to the US on July 22 and was operated on the following week by Childspring board member Dr. Carl Sackler at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Since then she has been receiving postoperative checkups, therapy and other healthcare. She will return to Honduras as soon as her treatment is complete.

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Betty Saraí. When the friars first met Betty Saraí last year, she was almost a year old, severely malnourished, developmentally delayed and only minimally responsive and interactive with others. She is from a small mountain village not far from Comayagua. Her mother suffers from mental illness, for which she has been hospitalized. That factor apparently impeded normal mother-infant bonding, and produced a life-threatening set of circumstances for Betty.

Dr. Wilmer Perez, Director of the St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center, examined Betty and came up with a vitamin and protein rich diet using food that could be stored without refrigeration in the family’s simple home. Every two weeks for the past 10 months, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have provided Betty with the foods prescribed by Dr. Wilmer. We are overjoyed to report that Betty is now a plump, responsive toddler nearing her proper weight.

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Mishael Larios Ramirez is 9 years old and just completed third grade. He and his family live in the town of Minas de Oro (“Gold Mines”), located in prime mountainous coffee country, several hours from Comayagua. His parents heard about the May 2005 surgical mission through their pastor, Fr. Richard Gancayco, a US missionary priest serving in the diocese of Comayagua and a friend of the Friars. Like many rural Hondurans, Mr. Ramirez is a farmer who raises crops to support his wife and five children.

Mishael, accompanied by his father and older brother who is deaf, arrived at SBJ on Monday, May 16th, along with several hundred other potential patients. Later that week he underwent a successful surgical procedure performed by Dr. Paul Radway of Colorado.

He recovered quickly and without complications, and Fr. Gancayco was pleased to report that Mishael was back out playing on the soccer field four weeks after his operation.

The St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center publicizes its free medical services and surgical missions through the network of Catholic parishes and satellite village chapels that extends throughout the country, as well as through a similar network of Evangelical churches, making use also of Catholic, Evangelical and secular radio broadcasts, newspapers and the Honduran public health system.

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Paula Vasquez Lazo, nine years old, is from the village of Santa Elena in the neighboring Department of La Paz. She first came to St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center last November for treatment by a visiting U.S. specialist who was part of the Light of the World team. Since undergoing an initial procedure during that surgical mission, Paula has returned to St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center almost monthly for follow up care. Paula possesses many of the characteristics that qualify patients for special attention at St. Benedict Joseph: an indigenous female child from a remote mountain village with a chronic health need. While in other circumstances these characteristics could become obstacles to medical care, for us they make her a privileged patient.

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Victoria García, 57, is from Los Planes del Horno, a remote satellite village of Comayagua that has neither electricity nor running water. She is a wife, a mother of nine and a grandmother.

She and her husband, Gregorio, are Catholic lay leaders in the village. Her family - part of the indigenous population of Honduras - engages in subsistence farming, usually raising just enough corn and beans to survive; they rarely have money. They live in one of 64 homes built in the village a few years ago by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

Victoria had walked for two days before arriving at the St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center on September 4 to be treated for gastritis and conjunctivitis. Because she is from a distant mountain village, Victoria was placed at the beginning of the line of waiting patients at the Center to be treated first and so to be able to begin the long trek back home as soon as possible.

The St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center exists for Victoria and for the hundreds of thousands of Hondurans in similar situations whom she represents.

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Team Member Testimonies

For many years I have longed to make a medical mission trip. My wish came true in March of this year when I was fortunate to join a group going to Comayagua with Light of the World. It is difficult to express in words how I felt during and after the experience. Midway through the first day I was overcome with emotion and feelings of joy. It was a real privilege and an honor to care for the beautiful people in Honduras. This touched me very deep in my heart but even deeper in my soul. Caring for these wonderful people has to be one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever encountered. I look forward to returning in the future. We were all truly blessed. Thank-you and God Bless you all.

Mary Jane Isbell

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When I committed to this mission, I thought it would primarily be a medical experience. After my first daily Mass, I discovered quickly that this would be a time where God would be speaking directly to my heart. In the medical portion of the mission, I had the absolute pleasure of serving the poor. Little did I know that I would gain from them more than I could ever hope to give. Every person that we treated demonstrated extreme gratitude, came with no expectations, and always left with a smile. I would quickly like to add that this experience was even more special to me because I got to share it with one of my best friends,… my brother Paul.

Dr. Joe Schoppe, Podiatrist (left)

The team of folks that come together to make the medical mission possible are a living example of Christs body working in harmony—ALIVE! I realized that the poor are the true princes and princesses of the world. The true humility lived out by the poor serves us with an example that I will continue to embrace and try to follow. I am indebted to the poor of Honduras for sharing their treasures with me during my short visit. We are so blessed in Christ. Thanks be to God!

Dr. Paul Schoppe, Podiatrist (right)

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Many thanks to the staff for their encouragement, constant friendliness and help whenever we needed it. We are proud we were able to join the local Hondurans and the Lions/VOSH mission to work with St. Benedict Joseph to improve the dental health of the poorest of the community. Thank you for that rewarding opportunity.

Bev Fiandt
Indiana, USA

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I have traveled to Comayagua six times, working on the medical mission teams of Light of the World Charities from Palm City, Florida. With each trip I have grown as a Catholic, a nurse, and a person. I can feel my faith strengthening, my desire to serve increasing, and my ability to place the needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ before the needs of myself.

My greatest sense of appreciation is for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Comayagua. The Friars have each made a profound impression on my ability to think and act like a true follower of Christ. They have accepted a way of life, modeled after the life of their faith father, Francis of Assisi, and the way he tried to be faithful to the poor, the hungry and those most in need of strength from faith. Before meeting the Friars, I was not so sure of God’s plan for me, and what role in the Church was especially for me. The Friars have shown me the way, and for that I will be eternally grateful. I can accept my vocation as a parent and lay servant of Christ with a renewed sense of commitment and gratitude that comes from doing the work God has planned for me.

I am also grateful to Light of the World Charities. With each new trip to Honduras I have met new friends, strengthened relationships with old friends, and expanded the scope of my service to those most in need. For all of these things I am truly thankful.

Kathleen Ranne
BSRN, CNOR

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Having gone to Honduras last year, I knew the wonderful satisfaction derived from helping these beautiful people. This year I felt different. I did not want to go because life had just left me too busy, cleaning up after the hurricanes. I was trying to work extra hours to make up for lost wages, and I didn't want to lose even more income. And, to be honest, I was uncomfortable with foreign travel and all the unrest in our world. I kept saying to my husband, "I just want to be home with my family." But, I had given my word to Theresa [Banks, president of Light of the World Charities]; I had made a commitment.

As soon as our plane landed I knew it was right to have kept my promise. By the end of our third day, I felt like the most spoiled, selfish person. Everywhere I looked, my broken roof, fallen trees and moldy carpets seemed so frivolous. When I spoke with Fr. Herald I told him that the trip gave me so much more than the little I gave up to come. Instead of looking at all the rough things we have been going through, my spirit was lifted. Now I better appreciate all that was salvaged. I am grateful God brought Theresa, Fr. Herald and Honduras into my life.

Laura Gregory
Recovery Room Nurse

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"I can't begin to tell you what an experience this was for me. The team was great, 21 people in all working together to reach the same goal, to give a little back to those less fortunate than ourselves. I might have helped a bit, but what I came away with was much more than I gave.

I have known for a long time that God has been calling me to help the poor. He has started opening the doors and I will do all that I can to serve as His hands and feet here on earth."

Kathy O’Brien
Norwalk, Connecticut
Surgical Physician's Assistant