A March Mission Trip to Nuevo Progreso Brings Hearing and Happiness
Our own Dr. Rachel Pomycala went on a mission trip in March to Nuevo Progreso, in Guatemala, to test and treat those who otherwise couldn’t afford hearing care.
Rachel and team were there in March at Hospital de la Familia (HLDF). Over five days, they tested 78 adult and 35 pediatric patients, fit 109 hearing aids on 52 adult and 13 pediatric patients, and screened 27 at-risk school-aged kids.
They also trained two in-house techs at HDLF to help run and service the hearing clinic when the mission team is not there. The training has proven very effective, and one day the hospital will be self-sufficient!
Without further ado, here are some of the highlights from her trip!
This is a mural right across from HDLF that depicts the founder of the hospital and the community it serves.
The little girl Rachel is holding received a screening, as did all the local babies and toddlers. The moms bring them to the hospital weekly to learn the fundamentals of proper childcare and nutrition. During that week’s visit, they tested 17 infants.
Sixteen-year-old Gildy, who had moderate hearing loss, finally got her first hearing aids!
Oneilia was worried her son, age 9, might have a hearing loss. His test showed he had normal hearing. Rachel and her team noticed, however, that Oneilia seemed to struggle. She said she wasn’t worried about herself — she only wanted to make sure her kids were taken care of. Her husband left her and their three children for a woman in the states, so she had to work whatever jobs she could to provide for them. Rachel and team determined Oneilia had moderately severe hearing loss — and when they fit her with hearing aids, she cried!
Lucio, in the orange, speaks a dying Mayan language, Mam, which is spoken only in remote parts of Guatemala, so his grandson had to translate to Spanish for us. Lucio worked as a farmer for many years, and his hearing was damaged from the farm equipment and untreated infections. He kept thanking us immensely for our services because now he can hear his grandchildren and children.
We’re so humbled and honored to be able to give the gift of hearing, both near and far!