Our Volunteers Are the Best

The weather on this day gave a new definition to the word rain. It wasn't just water coming down from the skies on Saturday, it was a deluge. Blowing sideways. Hard. Which made the logistics of packing 154 boxes of supplies for our next Children of the Americas surgical team a bit interesting. We had over 20 volunteers who had driven into Winchester, KY to help our Director, Rosemary Vance, get this daunting task accomplished. There was no turning back, rain or no rain.

(L-R) Bobby, Rob, Franklin, Julie and her daughter Elizabeth

As usual, COTA volunteers made it work. And despite being wet, tired, dirty and sore, they worked with a smile on their faces. A common purpose and sense of camaraderie set the mood and the weather soon followed.
We packed every suture, scalpel, surgical instrument and medication needed for performing 125-135 surgeries in Guatemala during the week of January 13th, 2013.
Much more work remains to be done, but it will be done with the usual good cheer, competence and dedication that make our COTA volunteers some of the best!

Kit and Roger

One Happy Little Boy

This is Nelson. He is eleven years old, but his chronic protein deficiency has left him small for his age. Despite this, Nelson is a happy little boy who had no idea how sick he was.

On our last medical team trip to Guatemala, Nelson was brought to our clinic by his mother who was rightfully concerned about his infected foot. The chronic wound and drainage had been a long-term problem for Nelson, and his mother needed help before the infection settled into his bones.
Many hours of paperwork, travel arrangements and volunteer effort later, Nelson was in Lexington, Ky for donated medical care. Three months of wound care, surgery (for a urinary problem), dental appointments have left Nelson much stronger and healthier.
There are many COTA volunteers who have worked diligently to assist Nelson in his journey to health. For each stateside pediatric patient we bring to the United States for donated care, we estimate there are 8-10 adults who assist us by  volunteering their professional skills. These people act as substitute family members for our stateside patients.

F:  Foster Parents
A:  American Airlines
M:  Medical caretakers
I:   Information management of files.
L:  Lots of helpers--dentists, wound care specialists, surgeon, hospital staff, etc.
Y:  Yes! Nelson will soon be able to return home to Guatemala!