Back home...

It's been an amazing week for the Horizon team in Belize, and most of us are now back home in Cincinnati... in total the Village team treated over 800 patients, and the surgery team had over 70 cases!  Special thanks goes to all the families and friends who supported us, watched our kids and prayed for us during this trip.  We couldn't have done it without you.  Also, a special thanks goes to all the Belizean people who came along side of us during our ministry (translaters, doctors, nurses, administrative, cooks, hotel staff, etc. etc.)  And, lastly, to the Horizon leadership team for coordinating everything.  It was truly an amazing effort.  God is good!

Amazing surgical case story...

This was an amazing case of a woman who was brutally attacked by a gang in Belize.  She has gone through mutiple reconstructive surgeries, and our surgical team performed another facial surgery this year.  Her loving husband stands by her side during everything... she has taught several members of our team a lesson in love and forgiveness that we will never forget.

Prosthetic leg for Belize man...

Step one:  Get measurements over internet for stub below knee of elderly man without leg due to Diabetes.

Step two: Get prosthetic leg donated

Step three: Bring leg to Belize

Step four: Find village and patient

Step five: Try leg on

Step six: Apply torch to plastic top leg holder in order to mold to correct shape

Step seven: If torch for step 6 not available try open flame kept to cook in every Belizean home

Step eight: Cut aluminum leg down to size

Step nine: Drill holes in leather strap and plastic leg holder

Step ten: If any mistakes made on steps 1 to 9 advise patient of your next return in one year

 

Thank you Dr. Rob Pence for your service and your commitment.  What a great story of how God provides!!

 

 

Update - 2-11

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want..."

This week has been truly amazing, and God has provided in many ways.  He's made it possible for our village team to treat over 660 patients across 3 villages, and our surgical team to do over 40 surgical cases.  Being down here helps put in perspective what our true 'needs' are versus our 'wants'.  The Belizean people mainly live off their needs and are thankful in any gifts/service that are provided to them. 

Our logistical team leaders have provided spiritual guidance throughout the week.  Here is a picture of Amy Rudge praying with Dr. Tsitouris and Dr. Hawryschuk before the day started:

 

The village team spent the day at a medical clinic in Patchakan.

 

 

Members of our village team before the day started...

 

The clinic does a wonderful job of serving the community and keeps records on everyone going through their clinic.  Today was no exception.  It was an honor serving with them. 

 

Here is one of our nurses in the clinic, Pam Shannon, with a Belizean mother and 4 boys.  (God bless her!) 

 

This was a beautiful mural painted on the wall at the clinic...

 

pharmacy team in Belize...

here is a picture of the pharmacy team at San Pablo today...

 

here are pictures of a wonderful story of a girl was was diagnosed with asthma, and was given an inhaler from the pharmacy team who taught her how to use it via an interpreter.  She wasn't happy at first at all, but then was all smiles after she received the medicine!

update from 2-10-13

Today was a very productive day in the Village of San Pablo.

 

Here is the picture of Dr. Hurt before the start of the day!

 

here's registration with Kent Odor helping run the show...

 

Ear cleaning was popular again today...

 

 

This is Noel Mai, he is 5 years old.  He had cleft palate surgery when he was only 5 months old by Dr. Mangat, who was reunited with him today!!

 

 

Dr. Logeman and Dr. Pence serving families...

 

 

 

More pictures from the Village 2/9/13

 

 

Belize Surgery Team - 2/9/13

The surgery team was also busy today...

This is baby Isaac and Dr. Mangat.  This was a case that they were looking forward to as he had a very large cyst on his neck that would become very dangerous if it wasn't removed soon...

 

 

Belize Update - 2/9/13

It has been a busy day in Belize.  This is the crew about to leave in the morning...

The Village Medical team spent the day at the Trial Farm, where we saw over 250 patients.  Folks waiting to get registered...

 

 

 

The team of Vicki Magliano and Debbie Hastings handed out reading eyeglasses and sunglasses...

 

 

Here is a picture of Mike Collette providing ear treatment service to a young Belizean.  The lines remained long all day for this service.

 

 

 



  Our nursing team at work...

 

 



 

And, time for some futbol!

 

 

 



Arrival!

We have arrived in Belize!  The teams have arrived safely.  At the time of this post, there are still teams that are in flight and on their way, scheduled to arrive this evening.  Both the surgical and village teams are very busy today.  The surgical team of nurses, surgeons, physicians and anesthesiologists are screening over 200 patients at the hospital for the upcoming surgeries this week.  The hospital is working on opening up a 3rd operating room to accomodate the number of surgeries.  The village team is working to prepare for the week ahead by counting and organizing medication and paperwork.  We are so excited about what God has in store for the week ahead... 

Honoring Grandma K in Belize

My name is Taylor Gorning, and as a first time participant I will be doing some of the blog posts on behalf of the 53 of us on this 10th annual medical mission to Belize.  I'm going to Belize with my wife Melissa, who is a nurse.  We are excited about what God has in store for us and our group, and the people of Belize during our trip.  Melissa and I are definitley stretching our faith muscles on this trip as we have never been overseas for anything before, and especially not a missions trip serving people medically in a 3rd world country!  Like many of us, certain happenings in our lives make a mission for a week seem impossible.  We learned that my 90-year Grandmother passed away, just a few days before we left for Belize, so we are dedicating this trip to a wonderful lady - Barbara Kitchen.  Barbara was a passionate believer in family, in being frugal (she grew up during the Great Depression!), in serving our Lord through her own service, in her extraordinary humor, her zeal for the seasons (in Michigan and Florida especially!) and God's creation, her abounding love for her late husband Don Kitchen (who she would always call 'My Don' and 'My Lover'), and her smile.  She loved the Lord and we are excited to honor her love by serving others in Belize!  Love you Grandma.  - Taylor and Melissa Gorning