Ok, firstly, I'm not crazy about posting pictures of myself.  Long story!  Interested in why?   Call me, I'll explain. These photos were taken of me with the kids because of my iPad and iPhone and how these wonderful tools kept them entertained while they were awaiting surgery. The third photo was just too cute, with the little one shaking hands.

I offer my iPhone and iPad to the kids in the pre-op area to offer them some distraction while they are awaiting surgery.  They love playing the guitar, piano and drums on the iPad as well as the funny photos one can take with Photo Booth.  

I've sent a request to Apple to see if they will donate some iPads, but I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for then to donate.

I'm not a game player, so I don't have games downloaded on my iPad but I need to do it just to give the young ones something else to do.

I also have an app on my iPad called VISIBLE BODY that shows anatomy and is a great teaching tool to explain what is happening in surgery.  Such a wonderful tool to let patients and volunteers know what we are doing.

Education is a large part of our mission.  Our patient population is generally less educated than we are, so any education we can offer is welcome.

                                 September 8-14, 2013

Centro Medico San Benito Jose

Comayagua, Honduras

 

A LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES team just completed another successful surgical mission to Honduras. 

Once again, LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES, our donors and benefactors, our dedicated volunteers and our medical professionals who continue to offer their skills and services to those who truly need our help, have proven that WE CAN change lives, one life at a time.

This brigade included: 

Dr. Kyle Loy, ENT Surgeon, from Indiana and his support team of Jodell Sams, RN from  Colorado, Beth Compitello, Surg Tech from Florida and Meg Hanna, CRNA from Indiana. 

Dr. David Barbara General Surgeon,  Donna Batta, RN,  Chloe Harshman, Surg Tech and Dr. Mark Tasch, Anesthesiologist, all from Indiana and Ann Long, RNFA from Florida.

Dr. Michael Lustgarten, Urologist, Mary “Mia” Mitchell, RN,, Louie Terranova, Surg Tech, all from Florida and Maria de Jesus, Nurse Anesthesia from Comayagua, Honduras.

Dr. Antonio Beltran, Urologist,, Mark Brown, RN, Cathy Collins, Surg Tech, all from Florida and Dr. Patrick O’Neil, Anesthesiologist, from Indiana.

Our Pre-op and Recovery Room RNs were Mary Lettieri, Jeanne Teter, Patty Greer and Amy Nagy.

Dr. John Karpinski, Oral Surgeon from Florida and Marina McCusker, Dental Assistant, from Florida provided our dental care.

Dr.David Girlinghouse, DDS and Theresa Banks, RN, CNOR, RNFA joined us as team leaders and Dr. Mary Torchia, Anesthesiologist, from Ohio acted as our lead Anesthesiologist.

Dr. Loy and his team provided tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, and sinus surgeries for 33 patients.

Dr. David Barbara and his team provided much needed gallbladder removals and hernia repairs for 17 patients.

Dr. Michael Lustgarten and his team performed 20 prostate procedures as well as procedures for other urinary issues.

Dr. Antonio Beltran and his team performed 24 prostate procedures and other urinary issues.

Our surgeons provided  surgeries for 49 children who would otherwise not have had surgical corrections available.

Dr. John Karpinski and Marina McCusker  completed  209 dental procedures and 268 examinations and consultations.

In total we provided  379 patients with 330 surgical and dental procedures and 379 surgical and dental consultations.

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG!

Hopefully you’re received our latest newsletter.  It has a new look and filled with new and exciting information about our accomplishments.  None of which would happen without your help and support.

We are having a raffle to win a FIVE NIGHT CRUISE FOR TWO in a balcony stateroom on ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES.  The value of the cruise is $2,200 and can be used for trips to the Caribbean, Bermuda or Europe and can be used anytime except Christmas and New Year.

The drawing will be held at our AROUND THE WORLD FUNDRAISER on 28 September 2013 at the Light of the World office in Palm City, FL.  You do not need to be  present for the drawing.

Any donation of $10 or more via the website or in person, will be entered into the drawing.  If you donate via the website and want to be entered more than once, a $10 or more donation will have to be entered separately on the website.

Please make sure that your donations are entered before 12 noon on 28 September 2013.

When you enter on our website, please be sure to include your email address.

I Could't Hear and Now I can....

I Couldn't Hear and Now I Can....

Hi, my name is Luis,

I was born in Comayagua, Honduras in 2000.  I was born totally deaf.  Honduras has no special education programs for children with disabilities.  I couldn't go to school  My mother taught me sign language to use at home.

The loving people from LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES discovered me and realized that I needed help.  Some very loving and caring nurses from LOTWC, Jeanne Teter, Linda Mendelson and others, worked diligently to bring me to Florida for surgery.

They convinced MEDTRONICS to donate a Cochlear implant, a generous and dedicated surgeon volunteered his skills to perform the procedure, Arnold Stocker, CRNA, volunteered to do my anesthesia and the hospital in Miami offered the use of their operating room to help me.

I stayed in Florida for six months while I had speech therapy, in Spanish!  Jeanne Teter and Linda Mendelson welcomed me into their homes while I visited your wonderful country.  After six months of speech therapy and experiencing the love of such wonderful people, I returned home to Honduras to join my mother and sister.

I'm now in school.  I'm the oldest in my class because I started school so late. I'm doing really good and will soon be with my peers in the correct school year.

When I visited the LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES group in 2011 I read from my school book and answered their questions.  We had conversations.  It was interesting seeing these grown-ups cry.  I didn't understand it.

I'm my picture, I'm listening to an iPad.  I played the drums and the guitar on Garage Band and listened to music.  It was so COOL!

Muchas Gracias, Doktor...

Helping restore dignity to one patient at a time!

Sheila Boyle, RN, Dr. Michael Lustgarten and Mark Brown, RN

visited Centro Medico San Benito Jose in Comayagua, Honduras to offer their help with LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES.

I'm 60 years old and my prostate is so big that I can't empty my bladder when I feel the need. When I start, I can't control it.  I dribble and make a mess.  I wake up four times every night feeling the need to empty my bladder.

I've had nine babies.  My pelvis is shot!  I have no control over my bladder.  I laugh, I sneeze, I cough, I wet myself.

Dr. Lustgarten and other surgeons visit Comayagua to offer their skill and help so we may lead more normal lives.  Without their help we'd still be suffering and embarrassing ourselves and our families.

We can't thank these generous people enough.  We know that they couldn't do what they do without the generous donations of the American people who care about others.

"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and give glory to God."

Matthew 5:16

After 16 years I have a real ear...

After 16 years I have a real ear.....

Antonio is a 16 year old young man in Comayagua, Honduras.  He was born without a normal, external right ear.  We all know how cruel people and especially children can be.  Antonio went through life with people making fun of him because he wasn't NORMAL.

Were you every overweight, clumsy, too tall, too short, a face full of acne?  Can you identify with being the focus of ridicule?  Did you have a friend who was called names or bullied?

Those of us in the USA know we are lucky to live here.  We have so many opportunities and so many options.  Honduras and other third world countries don't have these options or opportunities.

Without Dr. Mario Loomis, a Plastic Surgeon from New York who freely volunteers his time and skills with LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES, Antonio would still be facing ridicule from his peers.

Dr. Loomis has said that normally it takes three separate procedures to reconstruct an external ear. He is extremely pleased with this success after only one procedure.

Antonio also had skin covering his right ear canal. Dr. Loomis opened that.  When Antonio awakened from anesthesia, Theresa Banks asked him if he could hear.  Antonio responded with a smile and said, "igual" meaning equal.  He could now hear with both ears.

Both Antonio and Dr. Loomis are truly thrilled with the success. 

HONDURAS June 2013

LOTWC made another visit to Centro Medico San Benito Jose in Comayagua, Honduras in June, 2013.

Adrian Vinas, the son of Dr. Yvette Laclasutra, did a wonderful job of producing a web site that includes numerous photographs of our trip.

There are three tabs at the top of the webpage under which are many photos.  The section titled "Mission" does include some graphic pictures of surgeries.  If you are sensitive to such things, you might wish to just check the other albums.  

Follow the link below:

http://lotwhonduras2013gallery.weebly.com/