Summer Missions July 8 to August 23, 2013

At the end of July, Johnny Morgan, owner ABC Orthotics in Mobile, AL will be joining us.  Johnny has provided life-changing braces for patients in Ecuador in the past.  This time he wanted to come personally to bring bilateral lower limb prosthesis he made for a patient who underwent amputations as a child.  This patient has been without lower limbs all his life.  He is joyfully anticipating Johnny's visit and the hope he brings to him.  Johnny wants to fit him personally and ensure all is well with this man in need.  He will also meet with local orthotists to exchange ideas and provide training for them during his visit.

In August we will be welcoming missionary orthopaedic surgeon Ted Beemer and his wife Susan a CRNA, coming from Honduras to meet and learn more about La Vida Surgery Center and the medical ministry in Ecuador.  Joining them is Tim Musick, a CRNA coming to lend a hand during a surgical week.

Later in the week we will be receiving Blair and Teal Garth, Susan and Clara Smith and Chandler Morales.  Teal, Clara and Chandler are special young women who, together with friends, invest their Spring Break time raising money for wheelchairs for children in Ecuador.  How?  They walk around Perdido Key Florida, camping nights with the help of their parents!  These girls are an inspiration to all who hear of their generosity.  They will have an opportunity to personally visit some of the children who have benefitted from their loving gift of time.  We also hope they will paint a coloring book type mural for children to enjoy chalk painting over and over again.  Miles Christensen is a new volunteer joining this team.  We look forward to meeting him and serving together.

Alternate days are filled with patient appointments during busy clinic days.  Any patients identified in need of surgery will be placed on the surgical calendar for the months of October and November when we plan to return to provide more surgeries.

This is an overview of the projections for the trip.  Look forward to posting actual happenings as time goes long.  Thank you for visiting us and for sending us.  Flor and Paul

ECUADOR 2013

On July 8 2012 we will be traveling back to Ecuador for orthopaedic surgical missions trip.  We are so thankful that La Vida Surgery Center is completed because of the generosity of Samaritan's Purse and the involvement of the Templo Metropolitano Missionary Alliance Church in Portoviejo.
We opened a year ago on July 4, 2011.  Many persons have received life-changing orthopaedic corrections.

The very first work team arrived from Fairhope,  Alabama on November 7.  They bring individual gifts yet as a group they are one.
The members are Michael Pursley MD, cardiologist pictured here, JJ McCool, Joe Strange, Pam and Len Turner (our dear friends for over 30 years) Cesar Roca MD, orthopaedic surgeon, Ralph La Guardia, pastor and Dr. Paul Fowler, senior pastor Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church.
The purpose of the trip is to help in the finishing stage of the construction of La Vida Surgical Center in Portoviejo, Ecuador. Through this process they will gain an understanding of the needs of the people, particularly the poor, in this region. 
They have built a wonderful team. After the first day with JJ and Joe working on the suspended ceilings and Pam and Len painting walls , Ralph working with the Ecuadorian electrician pulling wires and the rest sanding walls and doing miscellaneous tasks, the group had exceeded the planned activities.
We meet for breakfast at 6:15 and begin our day at 6:55.
Although we are tired, there is no need for alarm clocks. The "hotel" rooster takes care of that function beginning at around 3:30 a.m.
Some of the guys are planning a special farewell soup which might involve our alarm clock!
Our work day ends at 4 p.m.
We sit and chat awaiting our evening "merienda" (snack) at 5:15 after which we go home to the Hotel Ejecutivo.

Evenings have been busy:
Rotary Club meeting on Monday night where we received a warm welcome.
The younger set, JJ McCool, Michael Pursley and Cesar Roca  worked out at a local gym with Julian and Jeff
Joe Strange went out to practice his Spanish but  his best teacher so far has been a 3 year old girl who loves to hang around when he takes a break.
On Tuesday night Paul Fowler presented a class at the church on discipleship. I (Flor) enjoyed translating for him.
Today, Wednesday Nov 11 Michael Pursley saw patients in clinic at CAS after lunch. Cesar and Paul saw patients in clinic yesterday most of whom were follow ups to surgeries performed in June and October
Tonight, Ralph La Guardia will speak to church during Wednesday night church service.
The photos that follow are a glimpse of these wonderful friends giving of themselves and enjoying one another.

Michael Pursley takes a rare break from sanding plaster walls.

JJ McCool working on hanging ceiling.

JJ McCool and Joe Strange: a perfect team getting it done!

Luis Muscoso master electrician from Quito helps guide the team.

Lorenzo helping Joe and JJ with the suspended ceiling.

Ralph works with Lorenzo on electrical systems.

Paul Fellers and Cesar Roca two orthopedic surgeons, plastering walls for the first time in their lives.

Pam Turner learns from Daniel the technique of plastering walls.

J J cuts pineapple at lunch.

-November-

A well deserved lunch break under the trees.

-November-

Michael Pursley attends to cardiology patients in clinic.

-November-

Jeff Griffin, of Samaritan's Purse, and Julian Pettit, intern, work on steel door frames.

-November-

Mariutxi, Church volunteer, helps sanding frames and cleaning worksite.

We are doing well, fulfilled in the culmination of yet another very rewarding medical mission.

Dr. Gregg Terral joined us for the third time.He brought Lori, his wife and their four children: Carter a sophomore at Auburn, Blake a senior at Fairhope High, Hayden and Elise. They had a great exposure to Ecuadorian coastal culture and more importantly to medical missions. 

Carter and Blake participated in the surgeries while Lori, Hayden and Elise spent time with families and children in the waiting room. They played games and demonstrated God's love by giving their love and investing their time. They left today and we miss them already.

The last surgical case yesterday was to correct a great toe deformity for a little boy. This was a meticulous surgery and one that required study and preparation. God answered our prayers for guidance. (the procedure went smoothly and the results are remarkable) Below are the photos before and after the correction.

While yesterday was our last surgical day, we still have work to do. Tomorrow we will meet with the Board of CAS, the health ministry of the church, to further develop policies and procedures for the "La Vida surgery Center" and our joint ministry. Construction of the surgery center is coming along well and we have 24 patients on a waiting list for joint replacements. It is wonderful to be able to give patients hope regarding their painful joints knowing that we will soon be able to really help them! The scheduled date for completion is November 2009!

Thank you for your prayers and support of Bayside Medical Missions' Ecuador Project. 

In Him,

Flor and Paul Fellers

Zulay

This is the surgery we are preforming this morning. This is a six year old girl with a dislocated hip. Her name is Zulay. This surgery will last about six hours. We pray that it will be successful and that she will recover without complications. 

Zulay after surgery today.

Bananas

It is my birthday (March 14) and Paul is cutting down our first banana harvest. We will have these patacones for lunch. The team from Hands for Humanity is coming today for a kick off day. There will be about forty people. Surgeries begin tomorrow, Sunday March 15th at eight o'clock Ecuadorian time. We look forward to Dr. Blake Neal's arrival this afternoon. He completes our team. Everyone here loves and appreciates Blake, as do we of course!

Delivering Bananas from our tree to be cooked for a welcome lunch.