December 2021 – Geers in Honduras

When you think about mobility what usually comes to mind? Is it using a bike, scooter, car or plane? Or is it being able to connect virtually anytime and anywhere thanks to technology? In my (Andrew) line of medicine I think about a prosthesis, crutches, walkers or wheel chairs. All of those things, while seemingly simple, can make a world of difference in giving a person who has lost mobility due to an accident or disease the ability to get around independently again. Only after coming to Honduras was I first introduced to another piece of mobility equipment known as the Hand-Trike. Our Hospital recently received a few donated Hand-Trikes and I immediately thought of Edgar (name changed).

I first met Edgar in 2018 when he was laying on a stretcher in our Emergency room after being shot in a robbery. Edgar survived, but one of the bullets hit his spinal cord resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Paraplegia is difficult to deal with no matter where you are in the world but is especially difficult for Edgar who lives in a small house on a narrow dirt path, which as you can imagine was not accessibility friendly.

Bringing Edgar the Hand-Trike on the dirt path up to his house.

Several people on our hospital staff through the years (special shoutout to the Amends!) have gone above and beyond in their care for Edgar and his family through home visits, making his house and bathroom wheelchair accessible, caring for his wounds, and providing physical therapy. While Edgar does have a wheel chair, he mainly stays confined to his house and his small yard.

That changed last week when I got to help bring Edgar this special gift. We found Edgar in his yard laying in a hammock but as soon as he saw us he was eager to get up and start using the Hand-Trike. He had heard we would be coming with the trike and was excitedly waiting for our arrival. After a few small adjustments, Edgar was off and cruising. He was beyond thankful and he says he will now be able travel around the neighborhood to visit with other family and friends and to help get food/supplies at the local markets.

We thank God for his care and provision for Edgar and we are humbled that we got to play a small part in this Christmas gift giving. We also thank God for all of you who have given of your time, your resources, your finances, and your prayers to partner with us in bringing the love of God to the people of Honduras. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Christmas greetings to you all! We hope that this December is a joyous holiday season.

This fall, the hospital has been full of patients as various different specialty teams came to visit. I (Alisa) was able to help coordinate a surgical gynecology service at the hospital with visiting providers. A lot of my clinic during the year has turned to gynecological care. When I enter the hospital there is always a large group of women sitting on the bench waiting outside of my office ready for their appointments.

One of these women was Julissa (name changed) who was concerned about bilateral ovarian cysts that were painful and large. The cysts were about the size of a grapefruit on one side and an orange on the other. From a previous consult from another doctor in a different clinic, she was told that she needed both her ovaries removed. Julissa was only 24 years old, wasn’t married, and had never had a child. If she had this type of operation, any dreams of having a family would be impossible. She came to Loma seeking a second opinion and with hope to preserve her fertility.

Our visiting gynecologist, Dr. Steinkampf, just so happened to be a fertility specialist. He was the perfect person for this case. In a delicate operation Dr. Steinkampf was able to remove both of Julissa’s cysts while preserving her ovaries. Julissa’s dad, mom, sister (and I think a few other family members) accompanied her to the hospital from their home on an orchard about four hours away. They were ecstatic with the success of the operation and her mom and sister burst into tears. As apart of their thanks, they brought over 100 pounds of oranges to share with the hospital staff! The importance of family and having a family is paramount in this culture. It was such a joy to be apart of keeping that possibility alive for Julissa.

In total, during GYN week there were 24 surgical procedures with over 40 consult visits. Each of these women’s lives were changed from the procedures preformed. Some had even been waiting since 2019 to get surgery. Now these women are able to better function, care for their family, and be apart of their community in a healthier way!

Dr. Steinkampf with our Honduran OR crew during GYN week

The amount of speculums used during a GYN speciality week.

In November we were able to go back to Florida for a short trip to celebrate Thanksgiving with both of our families. Alena loved getting lots of attention from her grandparents, playing with cousins, and exploring the science center and zoo! Andrew and I were excited to relax in a place with paved roads, steady electricity, and chick fil la.

Some early morning play with a few cousins!

Thank you for making our time here possible and giving us the ability to care for patients that would have no other options. Your generosity has made this calling a reality and allowed us to serve in Honduras. As we look into the year 2022 we are hoping to obtain a few items to help serve our patients better, and we wanted to share some one time needs that we have in the hospital and at home.

Fracture braces are in high demand to help support the many humeral and tibial fractures that come in on a weekly basis. These braces are reusable for multiple patients (cost of $120.00 per humeral brace and $180.00 per tibial brace). On the same note we are also in need of cast saws, a machine that is used to remove casts (cost of $250.00 per saw). These items keep our orthopedic care up to date and allow for better outcomes for our patient.

We are also desiring to fund raise for pessaries, a device that helps women who suffer from pelvic organ prolapse (cost of $95.00 per pessary). These are also reusable after sterilization for multiple patients. A pessary can prevent the need for a gynecologic surgery and allow a woman to complete her normal daily activities without severe pelvic discomfort.

Lastly, due to the state of the roads in our rural area, our truck is in need of new tires ($500.00 for a new set).

Many people give towards not-for-profits at the end of the year. Would you consider donating towards one of the above needs? If you are interested in giving, you can click here: https://geersinhonduras.wordpress.com/how-you-can-help/ Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our ministry. Without your partnership, this outreach would be impossible. We can’t wait to share all that God does with and through you in the next year!

Much love,

Alisa, Andrew, and Alena