San Lucas Toliman: Tuesday – Our Mission of Healing Continues

Our lineup today included 15 General Surgery cases and 6 GYN cases.

The morning began with patient rounds, and we had great news—all of yesterday’s patients are healing well. Many expressed deep gratitude, even asking to take photos with the doctors to capture the moment.

In the “V Room,” two hospital staff members spent time learning proper sterilization techniques for C-sections. This training is an important step forward, especially as a physician planning to live here for the next two years hopes to continue building surgical capacity with the local team.

Everything moved smoothly through the morning until later in the afternoon, when a “normal” case turned interesting and devastating.

A 46-year-old patient arrived for treatment of an incisional hernia. She had been searching for help for quite some time. Initially, we were hopeful we could fully treat her—until discovering she had undergone a previous hernia repair nine years ago.

During surgery, the doctor found that the previously repaired ventral hernia had extended toward her right side and beneath the intestines, making the case significantly more complicated. Later, her family shared that she had fallen on her stomach while recovering from her first surgery—likely causing reherniation. Since that fall, she had been seeking care, but was previously advised only to lose weight.

Given the complexity of the case, limited equipment, and the absence of an intensive care unit, the surgical team was only able to safely free the visible intestines. The full repair could not be completed under current conditions.

The plan is for her to wait approximately eight weeks and undergo definitive surgery at a hospital in Guatemala City where intensive care support is available.

While it was difficult not to fully resolve her condition today, the team still considers the day a success—providing care where possible, training local staff, and continuing to serve patients in need.