November Update from Honduras

Dear PRO-PAPA MISSION AMERICA Officers and Board Members, Directors and Orthopedic Pediatric Assistants: Melissa Giarraputo and Sr. Margaret Smyth, Marilyn Price, PPMA Coordinator in St. Louis, MO and Fr. Paul Niemann, Coordinator in his Parish for Scholarship and Parish in Urraco,

What a mix of emotions at this moment.

There is a very important Soccer Game going on in San Pedro Sula now--HONDURAS VS MEXICO. Honduras just got the first goal. The Country is screaming and fire crackers and horns are going off outside the PPH office and it is pouring down rain. Nothing like a Soccer Game to distract one from what every problem that is happening in the Country--and there are a lot of problems at this time.

I told the Orthopedic Pediatric Brigade they brought the sun on November 8th and it stayed out all week. This was a tremendous blessing because the water slowly went down everywhere, especially in Urraco and the patients could get to San Pedro Sula. The week was wonderful weatherwise for the Brigade. However, the afternoon they left on November 15 the rains started up again and have not stopped.

I was in Urraco yesterday. Most people are back in their homes. The main problems now are the contamination, mosquitos, malaria, dengue, lack of food and work. Yesterday again PPH was able to buy more provisions for at least 100 families. This is the fourth time we have prepared sacks of food for the poorest besides giving much food to Fr. Chavelo who had his staff cook food for the 800 people in the shelters.

We waited to see how much food the HONDURAN EMERGENCY COMMITTEE could give to our people in this sector. They came twice and tried to get to every village at least one time.

Our Orthopedic Pediatric Brigade again did tremendous, complicated, some long surgeries on 15 children. We were blessed with three Orthopedic Pediatric Surgeons and four Residents, six Professional Nurses and a Therapist who was Bi-lingual. A number of our patients came long distances from the mountains of Victoria, YORO and Yoro, YORO and the Department of COLON--5 to 8 hours. The Doctors, Aenesthesists and Nurses did incredible work. It was an intense, long week.

However, the Surgical Team for the first time since this Brigade started coming to Honduras six years ago, got to enjoy a short trip to Copan before they left Honduras on November 15.

Again, hats off to Dr. Joe Farrell and Christine Dempsey who spent hours of planning to make sure each patient has the exact anesthesia, pre and post medicines, lists of meds we needed to buy here in Honduras, bring all the instruments needed during surgery, casts, crutches, plus all the surgical gowns for the doctors, etc.

Each child was examined once or numerous times by the previous Examining Brigades, who took all the Xrays, photos, etc. to the USA to study before each child was chosen for the operation. Sr. Margaret and Melissa Giarraputo, PA were with several Examining Orthopedic Teams.

A Honduran Orthopedic Surgeon, DR. RICARDO CHINCHILLA, who works in the EL PROGRESO HOSPITAL, will now see all the patients for their follow up appointments that is attached. (SEE ATTACHMENTS)

Martha Sorto, our PPH substitute Accountant, who is bi-lingual, was with us last week and took all the necessary notes and designed the format for the Follow-up Schedule. She did an excellent job.

On October 30, a Volunteer and Friend, CHIP THOMPSON, arrived in Honduras to help in any way in Urraco and with the Ortho Brigade. Chip knows Spanish which helped a lot. He has been really God-sent.

Chip is a Director for another Foundation that purifies water in poor villages. Dave, another member of his Foundation arrived on Sunday, November 16 to meet with the leaders of some villages and take samples of the water to take back to the USA to decide which village will be chosen. Our Clinic will probably be one of the sites for their water-purifying Program. Both men will leave Friday, November 21, 2008.

I cannot thank each of you enough for all your support, prayers, contacting others for donations and your personal financial generosity for the many flood victims in Urraco. We are very grateful beyond words. We will prepare a Special Financial Report soon. Please continue to keep our people, not only in Urraco, but many who are still suffering the affects of the floods in many areas of Honduras.

So each day and Especially this
THANKSGIVING DAY--
WE THANK MY GOD FOR YOU AND ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO BRING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY, WATER TO THE THIRSTY, AND HELPING WITH SO MANY OTHER NEEDS DURING THIS TERRIBLE DISASTER AGAIN.

THE COUNTRY IS NOW IN AN UPROAR. THIS VERY MINUTE--HONDURAS JUST WON THE GAME. The country is going crazy. I just peaked out my door here in Oro Verde. Fire crackers are going off and screaming and cheering everywhere. YEAH HONDURAS!!!

God bless each of you.
Prayers, Love, and Greetings from all your friends here in Honduras,

ESPECIALLY FROM

Delmy and Benigno Ramirez, Stephen and Kayla
Roger Banegas
Clinic Staff - especially Nancy Paz, Administrator and Doctors
Scholarship Coordinators especially those who suffered during the flood,
(Our Scholarship Coordinator, FRANCESCA GUTIERREZ, San Jose Cayo
suffered a facial paralysis as her home was surrounded by water.
People brought her in a boat until she could get a car to take her to
the Hospital. She is doing better now)
Construction Workers,
Sr. Laurinda Mayer

Jorlene Update from Lila Benitez

(Excerpted from a letter to Sor Laurinda)

The other day Yorlene was watching the school bus drop off kids and she told me she had the desire to be on the bus. She asked if she could go to school. She seems to really want to go. So, I called Dr. Farrell and asked him what he thought and could I be her legal guardian which is the requirement for school. He told me to ask you as you are the one who knows the "intrigues" of life there. Let me know what you think as Dr. Farrell has a son who is a lawyer who could help us if need be. I feel school would be very beneficial to her, both academically and in the social interaction with other kids. Even after the surgery the kids would give her support and encouragement, and I'm sure the school would continue to tutor her probably at home.

Yorlene continues to be adjusting well. I am so happy to see that inner strength that she has and her resolve to see this through. We pray throughout the day as situations come up and I'm so thankful for her love and trust in the Lord. Every night before bed we make a procession into her room (Tanya, Esme, and me) we all kneel by the bed and pray. It's become a nightly tradition.

I spoke with with Dr. Labiak's surgical secretary (Carolyn) yesterday and they're finalizing where she will have her thoracic and lumbar MRI's. They feel in view of the x-ray series she had done here in Sept. that the surgery will be more extensive involving both the anterior and posterior regions. They seem to still be holding on to Nov.13 as her surgery date. So, everything is on track. I also asked about a pediatrician for a check up especially to follow up on the parasites.They will get back to me on that but they said it will probably be a pediatrician from St. Charles to have more centralized care and sharing of information between the medical staff.

Yorlene went to Connecticut with Tanya last week-end to visit with Tanya's Venezuelan cousin (Isa). They took her to a huge aquarium and she loved all the fish. Tanya took her by ferry from Port Jefferson to Bridgeport, a brand new experience for her. She has also been receiving mail from many different people.

All for now, praying that God will give you the peace of God that passes all understanding, and that every person affected by the floods will be cared for and find the provision that is needed. God bless and strengthen you, Sor, for your sacrificial labor of love to the people of Honduras.

Abrazos y carino,
Lila