Uganda Day 3: Hearts and Hands at Work

What a way to start the morning! Last night we were blessed with a stunning blood moon eclipse that stunned us all, and we woke to one of the most gorgeous sunrises we’ve ever witnessed here in Gulu. It felt like nature was giving us the perfect send-off for what would become a successful first surgical day.

All three operating rooms at Lacor were buzzing from first light. Our surgical teams tackled an incredible range of procedures—plastic surgeries for burn revisions, pediatric surgeries, and specialized urology cases. The dedication of our team was matched only by the gracious hospitality of the Lacor staff, who prepared a wonderful tea time that gave us a chance to collaborate on complex cases and recharge together.

The burn ward has been particularly close to our hearts this trip. We met little Gum and his mother Auma, who shared the heartbreaking story of how he suffered severe burns in August after accidentally putting his arm into a pot of boiling food. His surgery is scheduled very soon, and we’re hopeful for his recovery. Today’s burn surgery was performed on 5-year-old Daniel by Dr. Carol Ann Aylward. This brave little boy chased his ball into an open cooking fire and burned both feet, requiring delicate surgical intervention to release his toes and foot, followed by skin grafts. We finished his cast with colorful stickers—something fun for him to discover when he wakes up.

Beyond surgery, we expanded our impact in meaningful ways. Amanda Daly, the speech and feeding therapist we brought on this mission, spent valuable time in the children’s unit supporting families whose little ones are being treated for malnutrition, severe dehydration, malaria, and other conditions. She provided crucial guidance on safe feeding techniques, from breastfeeding support to proper spoon feeding of purees. We also conducted three CPR classes led by Andrea Tresnor and Tim Wurst, with about 25 participants each—many of them midwives who will take these life-saving skills back to their communities.

During our time at Lacor, we were deeply moved by the memorial that honors the hospital staff who have sacrificed their lives in service to medicine. This powerful tribute remembers healthcare workers who died from Ebola, COVID-19, SARS, and other diseases while caring for their patients. Standing before this memorial reminded us of the courage and dedication that defines not just our visiting team, but the incredible local healthcare workers who serve their community every single day, often at great personal cost.

As we head back for the night, we’re already preparing for another full day tomorrow. The combination of surgical precision, compassionate care, and knowledge sharing that defines our work here continues to inspire us. Each small victory—whether it’s a successful surgery, a feeding breakthrough, or a newly trained CPR responder—reminds us why we’re here.