Lutheran Honduran Team: Each Case is Different

Dispatch from Michael Paras - Sunday April 20^th

Lutheran's team of doctors and medical staff performed 162 examinations in Honduras the first day. Here are just a few patient snapshots.

Elsa Romero, 77, experiencing periodic but serious painful earaches. She heard about the medical missionaries on a little transistor radio she always keeps with her to catch up on the news.

Angeli Idalmir Arzu Palacios, 19, lives in a neighborhood in Tela called Barrio San Jose. She heard about the medical team and hoped someone could remove a mole from her daughter's chest. Although it's probably not too serious, young Shelsea Diana Arzu, 2, is traumatized by the whole experience so far.

Iladia Figueroa, 76, Martina Diego Guzman, 63, and Simona Diego Mejia, 66, visited the clinic together. The trio of best friends all had eye problems, high blood pressure and a variety of hearing related issues. 

The day before the Lutheran team landed in Honduras, Julian Acosta, age 5, was playing outside and had gotten a stone lodged in his right ear. He was in great pain and his mom, Miriam, age 22, brought him to the hospital's emergency room. The hospital staff suggested she wait and see the volunteers the next day. This was an easy one for the group, and after a thoroughly flushing, the pebble was removed.

Unfortunately, the team can't help everyone though, as was the case with Mariana Casellanos. Mariana had sought help before from other doctors but with little success. She was understandably excited to see the team from Lutheran and she hoped they'd be able to alleviate the severe pain and discomfort she'd endured for years from a sinus issue. The 41 year-old Honduran was at her wits end but was sure the American health crew could solve her problems. After an exam by otolaryngologist Ramez Habib, M.D., the team knew they couldn't help. She had a polyp, too large for them to operate. Mariana was crushed, and so was the team.