Putting People Back Together
The doctors at Hospital Loma de Luz often talk about how patient outcomes are so often better than what could be expected, how alongside the tragic cases are many who heal and get better when they just shouldn’t. Such a patient is Marcos, a 14-year-old who came in a few weeks ago with his foot mangled and barely hanging on after being caught up in a boat prop. Dr. Mckenney, the hospital’s founder and surgeon, reattached the foot. At the public hospitals throughout Honduras, very little attempt is made to salvage damaged limbs, and Marcos’ foot would have undoubtedly been amputated in any other hospital.
The doctors at Hospital Loma de Luz often talk about how patient outcomes are so often better than what could be expected, how alongside the tragic cases are many who heal and get better when they just shouldn’t. Such a patient is Marcos, a 14-year-old who came in a few weeks ago with his foot mangled and barely hanging on after being caught up in a boat prop. Dr. Mckenney, the hospital’s founder and surgeon, reattached the foot. At the public hospitals throughout Honduras, very little attempt is made to salvage damaged limbs, and Marcos’ foot would have undoubtedly been amputated in any other hospital.
Because he needs ongoing care at the hospital and a clean place to live to prevent infection, Marcos is staying at the Children’s Centre. Most of the Centre’s 32 kids are there as a result of abuse or neglect, but several, like Marcos, are short term residents, staying only as long as they need medical care at the hospital. I don’t spend much time at the hospital, but I do get to share a yard with the Children’s Centre and see first hand the tangible hand of God loving, rescuing, and shaping the kids who live there. (And living in the same yard with nearly 40 rambunctious kids, I often think, “Thank God we’re close to a hospital!”) We are so honored to serve with a ministry that specializes in putting people back together - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Josh’s Jobs
Like clockwork, things just keep breaking and wearing out, lest the maintenance guys run out of things to do. The other day, Josh was putting some finishing touches on the new boiler room when Dr. Abby came out from a surgery suite and said “Josh we want you in surgery,” to which he, fearing forced donation of blood or organs, replied, “No!” Turns out that a pulse/oxygen monitor needed fixed, and Lorenzo, the Honduran technician who normally repairs medical equipment, was gone that day. So Josh scrubbed up and headed into surgery to work on the ailing machine, which was hooked up to an anaesthetized patient part way through an abdominal surgery. He quickly fixed it, posed for a picture, and returned to work.
Like clockwork, things just keep breaking and wearing out, lest the maintenance guys run out of things to do. The other day, Josh was putting some finishing touches on the new boiler room when Dr. Abby came out from a surgery suite and said “Josh we want you in surgery,” to which he, fearing forced donation of blood or organs, replied, “No!” Turns out that a pulse/oxygen monitor needed fixed, and Lorenzo, the Honduran technician who normally repairs medical equipment, was gone that day. So Josh scrubbed up and headed into surgery to work on the ailing machine, which was hooked up to an anaesthetized patient part way through an abdominal surgery. He quickly fixed it, posed for a picture, and returned to work.
In addition to the occasional appearance in the surgery suite, Josh has been working on remodeling the sterilizer room, which involved making a new boiler room and installing a new autoclave. He says, “It looks like a pipe organ stuffed into a phone booth.”Also underway is a kindergarten building at the bilingual school, which should be done in time for the start of the Honduran school year in February. The maintenance crew is working on converting a box truck into a flatbed with removable sides for hauling oil palm fruit from the Loma de Luz farm. Projects on the docket include remodeling the hospital’s kitchen to include an eating area and turning the old break room into an obstetrical ward. This will keep healthy moms and babies away from sick hospital patients.
The primary water tank at the hospital has reached a whole other echelon of rust, and frankly, it’s becoming a hazard. Picture Godzilla attacking Tokyo: we have visions of it crumpling like a pop can, spilling 15’000 gallons of water, and taking out the road. So if you’re tired of winter and have 20 thousand burning a hole in your pocket, send us an email!
Browning Girls
I spend Mondays teaching a chemistry class for four missionary kids and tutoring several kids in math. Aside from that, most of my time is spent at home with the girls. Guildy is in 1st grade. She is wise beyond her years, reads like a champ, and loves history. Hadley is perpetually energetic and keeps us entertained with her 3-year-old’s observations of life. Talby will be 1 in a few weeks and is also highly entertaining as she toddles around teasing the dog and copying her sisters.
Browning Girls
I spend Mondays teaching a chemistry class for four missionary kids and tutoring several kids in math. Aside from that, most of my time is spent at home with the girls. Guildy is in 1st grade. She is wise beyond her years, reads like a champ, and loves history. Hadley is perpetually energetic and keeps us entertained with her 3-year-old’s observations of life. Talby will be 1 in a few weeks and is also highly entertaining as she toddles around teasing the dog and copying her sisters.
Please Pray
**Staff needs at Loma de Luz: auto mechanic, surgeon, anesthesiologist, family doctors, nurses.
**Hospital finances.
**Safety and protection for the ministry and missionaries here. Honduras has become increasingly unsafe and less stable in recent months. And while life in our rural area goes on as pretty much as normal, the country as a whole needs much prayer.
**Staff needs at Loma de Luz: auto mechanic, surgeon, anesthesiologist, family doctors, nurses.
**Hospital finances.
**Safety and protection for the ministry and missionaries here. Honduras has become increasingly unsafe and less stable in recent months. And while life in our rural area goes on as pretty much as normal, the country as a whole needs much prayer.
Thank You
We are continually amazed and blessed by the many ways you support us and Hospital Loma de Luz!
We are continually amazed and blessed by the many ways you support us and Hospital Loma de Luz!
Many Blessings,
Josh, Linzy, Guildy, Hadley, and Talby
Josh, Linzy, Guildy, Hadley, and Talby
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