ONE SUITCASE THAT MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

When local nurse anaesthetician Chris Ballard carried a suitcase of supplies to Zacapa, Guatemala, he brought desperately-needed surgical and dental care to hundreds of families.

Imagine living with the pain of an impacted tooth for years. Or waiting years for a child to have necessary surgery. For families in Zacapa, where 59% of people live in poverty and 23% live in extreme poverty, postponing medical interventions is part of daily life. 

     Louisville CRNA Chris Ballard put an end to the waiting for hundreds of people when he traveled there last month, bringing a suitcase full of SOS supplies to the Centro Medico Concepcion Hospital. “We spent the first day setting up the operating rooms– which looked like pictures from the 1950s," he says. "We performed a total of 14 surgeries of varying levels of difficulty. They ranged from a simple lipoma removal to cleft lip repair.” Chris and his team also served more than 500 people in pop-up dental clinics throughout the Zacapa area. “The conditions were a bit harsh,” he says. “Temperatures ranged from 102 to 108 degrees. There was no AC. It was truly impressive to see the resolve of both the volunteers and the people of Guatemala. Many residents had to walk for miles in extreme heat and stand in blistering sun until we could see them.” Despite these challenges, Chris was moved by the incredible impact of the trip. 

      “The supplies SOS provided were invaluable,” he wrote in a thank you note. “They allowed us to perform anesthetics, surgeries, dental procedures and personal care to the people of Zacapa safely and efficiently. You are providing a vital service that changes the lives of countless people. I plan to return with more supplies!”

TEACHERS GO BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING

Education Manager Chanda Fowler welcomed dozens of teachers into our Community Health Resource Room-- and the SOS family!

Last week, the Community Health Resource Room– recently renovated through a generous donation by the UPS Foundation– was bustling as teachers from all over the state shopped the shelves for free hands-on training supplies for their allied health science programs. These enthusiastic educators were introduced to SOS by Education Manager, Chanda Fowler, who spoke about SOS’s Education Program at the Kentucky Career and Technical Education Conference at the Galt House. "This conference introduced SOS to so many new teachers and I got to share our Global Citizen programming, student volunteer opportunities, field trips and hands-on learning supports," says Fowler. "So many teachers were asking, ‘How did I not know about this?’” Among the newcomers were rural districts and programs SOS hasn’t worked with before. “We helped teachers who are creating veterinary programs; we helped agricultural teachers, engineering teachers... even a CSI teacher,” says Fowler. “We are supporting so many different career pathways that introduce kids in rural parts of the state to opportunities they never even considered.” 

    Christie McBurney, a health science teacher at Corbin Area Technical Center was thrilled to find all of the supplies she needed for her CNA skills class. “These items will help our kids develop skills, pass their certification and get jobs right out of high school,” she said. Adam Williams, a public safety teacher was gathering items to teach CPR, First Aid and Stop the Bleed at Johnson Central. Lindsay Wayne, a veterinary science teacher from Taylor County High School, shared, ”We appreciate you all so much! This is financial support for our kiddos. We don’t have money allocated for these ‘consumables’ and how do you teach cutting pills without pills? I could talk all day about the difference this will make in our classrooms. I won’t have eight students sharing suturing kits. This means they will get to perfect skills they will be using in their careers– some right out of school. And it’s so full circle. You are supporting future vets, farmers, medical professionals– they feed the world, heal the world and support each other. It’s beautiful!"