that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me

There are so many emotional stories about children and their families and the medical assistance that is so desperately needed. Let us share just a few more with you, this one from a medical mission in 2005;

"I have seen so many cases of cerebral palsies, I found it incredible. People take these misfortunes with resignation and carry their crosses. Often, the women do not have pre-natal care, suffer from severe anemia and malnutrition and give birth alone at home. When the birth is complicated and takes long, the baby is often born stillborn and they burry it in their backyard."

The women of rural Honduras are unbelievable and will do whatever it takes for their children, often sacrificing them selves and struggling just to give their children a better life. It is amazing to see that level of commitment and strength of character. Each one deserves a medal of honor for their daily endeavors. You cannot help but feel the raw emotions as you watch them. Nathalie told us these emotional stories after her medical mission journey;

"I saw a woman who was carrying her 8-years old (almost 100 pounds) vegetative gorgeous looking girl for hours to come and see us. We got to talk and I explained to her there was not much I could do for her daughter. I shower her exercises to prevent stiffness and told her what to feed her. The little girl will eventually die soon. The mother told me she had another birth the year before but the baby was stillborn. Her husband who was often absent and could not deal with his wife’s pain, was of no support. The woman then told me:” If my little girl dies, I will kill myself!” We hugged and cried together…"

"There was a little girl who had severe burns on all her back and was in bad pain. Jeff [another medical doctor on the team] changed her bandages and gave her a Penicillin shot. The medications we use are the ones we brought and we rapidly run low on the essentials. The people working at pharmacy are awesome and get to be very “creative” in helping as many people as we can. It happened some days that we had to “cut the line” as it was impossible to see everyone. Most people are very understanding and ask us where we will be the next day and start walking towards that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me

burry it in their backyard."

The women of rural Honduras are unbelievable and will do whatever it takes for their children, often sacrificing them selves and struggling just to give their children a better life. It is amazing to see that level of commitment and strength of character. Each one deserves a medal of honor for their daily endeavors. You cannot help but feel the raw emotions as you watch them. Nathalie told us these emotional stories after her medical mission journey;

"I saw a woman who was carrying her 8-years old (almost 100 pounds) vegetative gorgeous looking girl for hours to come and see us. We got to talk and I explained to her there was not much I could do for her daughter. I shower her exercises to prevent stiffness and told her what to feed her. The little girl will eventually die soon. The mother told me she had another birth the year before but the baby was stillborn. Her husband who was often absent and could not deal with his wife’s pain, was of no support. The woman then told me:” If my little girl dies, I will kill myself!” We hugged and cried together…"

"There was a little girl who had severe burns on all her back and was in bad pain. Jeff [another medical doctor on the team] changed her bandages and gave her a Penicillin shot. The medications we use are the ones we brought and we rapidly run low on the essentials. The people working at pharmacy are awesome and get to be very “creative” in helping as many people as we can. It happened some days that we had to “cut the line” as it was impossible to see everyone. Most people are very understanding and ask us where we will be the next day and start walking towards that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me

s) vegetative gorgeous looking girl for hours to come and see us. We got to talk and I explained to her there was not much I could do for her daughter. I shower her exercises to prevent stiffness and told her what to feed her. The little girl will eventually die soon. The mother told me she had another birth the year before but the baby was stillborn. Her husband who was often absent and could not deal with his wife’s pain, was of no support. The woman then told me:” If my little girl dies, I will kill myself!” We hugged and cried together…"

"There was a little girl who had severe burns on all her back and was in bad pain. Jeff [another medical doctor on the team] changed her bandages and gave her a Penicillin shot. The medications we use are the ones we brought and we rapidly run low on the essentials. The people working at pharmacy are awesome and get to be very “creative” in helping as many people as we can. It happened some days that we had to “cut the line” as it was impossible to see everyone. Most people are very understanding and ask us where we will be the next day and start walking towards that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me

as a little girl who had severe burns on all her back and was in bad pain. Jeff [another medical doctor on the team] changed her bandages and gave her a Penicillin shot. The medications we use are the ones we brought and we rapidly run low on the essentials. The people working at pharmacy are awesome and get to be very “creative” in helping as many people as we can. It happened some days that we had to “cut the line” as it was impossible to see everyone. Most people are very understanding and ask us where we will be the next day and start walking towards that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me

that direction hoping to be the first ones in line the next day. "

"I saw another old lady who was about 70 years old. She was a widower and complained of back and neck pain. She was accompanied by 3 children. I asked here where their parents were and she answered me “le matar". I asked her to repeat as I was not sure she really meant someone had killed her daughter. She told me that she had three more children at home. She was sleeping on the dirt floor and at night and had only three tortillas to spread between the children and herself. That got me tears into my eyes. I slipped her some money and told her not to tell anyone as I did not want to start a riot. She hugged me and thanked me deeply. I often think of her and wonder how she is doing."

All volunteers are needed and all types of professional medical people are needed regardless of their specialty. There are so many people that need assistance and the lines of those in need of medical attention are so long that every single person is a valuable member of the medical team and you will be surprised how well you will do and all the good you can bring. Dr. Nathalie Fiset drives the point home in her original reservations;

"To be honest I was a little concerned about doing the missions at first since I only do obstetrics in my medical practice. The cases were so obvious though that I got comfortable the very first day especially when someone comes with diabetes and their sugar levels are at pre-coma levels often, same thing for high blood pressure: the numbers are mind blowing. When the other doctors treat people with diabetes or high blood pressure, they can only provide a couple of day’s supplies of medications. We are aware that this will only help to control the disease for a short period of time…until another medical brigade comes along."

There are many ways a person can help people from Honduras. Any help is well appreciated and makes a difference. People sometimes hide behind the excuses that they are not doctors or nurses to avoid helping. There is so much to be done. For example, Lance Winslow, a writer, donated his time to create a complete e-book on the needs in Honduras.