2023 Highlights
What a year 2023 has been! We looked back over the many miracles of the past 20 years of serving in Honduras and we began looking forward to the next phase of our medical campus. In an early meeting with local government officials and business leaders in 2003, the mayor at the time stood up, looked founder Bob Sumner in the eye, and shook his finger at him saying loudly, “Si no hablas en serio, ¡no me hagas perder el tiempo!” In plain English, “If you don’t mean business, then don’t waste my time!” In September of this year, the Manos Amigas clinic had its 250,000th patient visit. We can safely say, “Serving at the Crossroads meant business.” Throughout the past 20 years, we continued to expand services at the Manos Amigas clinic, enhancing the care we provide to those who have less. And, this year was no different — from brigades, to new partners, to investments in new equipment, we kept moving forward as we prepared to enter our third decade.
February 18 - 25: Vision Health International
The VHI team performed:
142 comprehensive eye exams
41 strabismus surgeries
32 cataract surgeries
February 22 - 24: Operation Honduras
Operation Honduras provided transportation and lodging for 42 people from Tegucigalpa for eye surgery by VHI doctors and fitted 14 Manos Amigas patients with hearing aids.
May: New Van and Defibrillators
The new passenger van arrived in May. Due to supply-chain issues, its arrival was18 months after we ordered it. But, it was worth the wait. Also, arriving in May was the new defibrillator and AEDs. In December 2022, long-time volunteer Jewel Campbell did a birthday Facebook fundraiser to purchase an AED for Manos Amigas. Her friends were so generous that we were able to buy two. Having a new AED at Manos Amigas was very personal for Jewel. When she was working at Manos Amigas in October 2022, Jewel became ill—she was light-headed and her pulse was racing. While on a heart monitor, she learned that there was no AED in the clinic, only an old defibrillator. Thank you, Jewel and friends for this life-saving gift.
We also purchased a new defibrillator and crash cart medication and supplies with funds received from our 2022 end-of-the-year campaign.
June: Radiology Capability
Manos Amigas added radiology services with the installation of a digital x-ray machine and hiring of a radiology technician.
October 22 - 28: Oral Surgery Brigade
The team treated 90 patients and extracted 226 teeth:
75 impacted
87 surgical extractions
64 routine extractions
In addition, they performed four soft tissue surgeries (removal of lesions) and one TMJ consultation.
October 28 - November 4: General Surgery Brigade
Our long-time Chester County/Lancaster County surgical brigade teamed with new partner Blue Sky Surgical to perform 111 surgeries. The team performed
59 hernia repairs
42 removals of cysts, lipomas, and other small growths
10 other procedures including hydrocele repairs and circumcisions
The Manos Amigas clinic continues to serve the community and provide high-quality healthcare. We are estimating more than 17,000 patient visits for 2023 (reports for December aren’t in yet).
Amidst all the good that happened this year, we were saddened by the loss of two faithful members of the Manos Amigas and Serving at the Crossroads family who passed away this year— Manos Amigas physician, Dr. Santiago Sabillon; and Serving at the Crossroads board member and endodontist, Dr. Robert Krauss. Santiago passed away on September 23, 2023 and Bob Krauss on December 2, 2023. Santiago was a skilled and compassionate doctor. His big smile, infectious laugh, and passion for serving people in need will be missed. Santiago, along with his wife Claudia, worked closely with our brigades. Bob expanded the practice of dentistry at Manos Amigas. Through the very popular dental seminars he taught at the Manos Amigas clinic, dentists learned how to perform root canals to save teeth. Bob was always welcoming and willing to share his knowledge and expertise, all for the benefit of the patients in the community. We were blessed to know and work with these men. They both leave a legacy of service that we will carry on.
Dr. Santiago Sabillon
1987 - 1923
Dr. Robert “Bob” Krauss
1949 - 2023