SRW Accomplishments

HANDING OVER A NEW LEASE ON LIFE — October 2015

By Mary Dowling and Sylvia Boomsma

The first week of October 2015 brought renewed hope to a group of families in Honduras — parents and children who had been told that nothing could be done to correct debilitating hand deformities. For many of these children, surgery offered more than improved function; it opened the door to greater independence and a brighter future.

The mission began months earlier, when I was introduced to two pediatric hand surgeons from Iowa City, Iowa. Drs. Ericka Lawler and Apurva Shah had heard about SRW medical teams serving in Honduras and were eager to lead a team of their own. They assembled their operating room staff, and together we set dates for a mission to Siguatepeque, Honduras, where we would see children from across the country who needed hand surgery. The team came primarily from Iowa, joined by three experienced volunteers from Wisconsin.

Upon our arrival in Siguatepeque, we screened 45 children and identified 30 who needed surgery that week. The team worked beautifully together — even though Iowa beat our Badgers in football while we were there! — and all of the patients did well. Many parents had previously been told there was no treatment available, so they were overjoyed to see new possibilities for their children: greater function, improved quality of life, and renewed hope for the future.

The mission was such a success that this year's trip is already scheduled. A hand team will return to Honduras on November 4, 2016, to help even more children from across the country who are living with hand surgery needs.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the medical professionals who made up this team, and to The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) for their generous support of the mission. ASSH posted our blog daily, making it especially meaningful for friends, family, and supporters at home to follow along.

Another important part of SRW's long relationship with Siguatepeque has been dental education and service. Five dental professionals from Wisconsin traveled with this mission team to continue that ongoing work. Dr. John Schacherl and his team treated 100 patients, including students from La Providencia School and members of the surrounding community. It has been deeply gratifying to see the results of many years of dental care and teaching. Dental service has made a lasting difference in this community by saving diseased teeth, supporting oral health, and teaching the importance of daily oral hygiene.

Team members were:
Mary Dole-Ritter, RN
Melinda Seering, MD
Paula Woods, SC
Linda Wilson, RN
Lynn Burleson, SC
Judd Lawler, Assistant
Matt Wilson, Assistant
Cindy Haas, CRNA
Ericka Lawler, MD
Apurva Shah, MD
Mary Dowling, RN
Rose Silveira, CRNA
Marge Abegglen, RN
John Schacherl, DDS
Brenda Maxwell, DA
Paul Maxwell, Technician
Denise Jacobsen, RDH
Amber Jacobsen, DA

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