We Give Back
Winter Issue 2010
San Joaquin Physician Magazine
SIX-DAY MEDICAL MISSION
Changes the Lives of Twenty children In Honduras
Drs. Peter Salamon and Gary Murata credit one another with putting together a recent medical mission to Honduras and clearly the two worked hand-in-glove in putting together a team.
By Bobbie Wallinger
“Who could say no?” was the collective statement of the three medical professionals who joined Salamon and Murata on a life-changing medical mission to San Pedro Sula, Honduras this past Labor Day weekend.
While millions of American’s spent Labor Day weekend enjoying an end-of-summer day at the beach or just relaxing at home with family, Drs. Peter Salamon, Gary Murata, and Phillip Ruhl along with Ruhl’s wife Marjo, an RN, and Roberta (Bert) Gonzales, an OR tech, chose to begin a twenty-nine hour sojourn to Honduras.
And while not a vacation, in the common definition of the word, it was an opportunity for the team of five to travel over six thousand miles to spend one week on a medical mission to CURE’s hospital in San Pedro Sula where they were able to provide much needed surgery to twenty orthopedically challenged youngsters from age one-year to seventeen-years.
Question:
Who came up with the idea for the trip?
According to Doctors Salamon and Murata, it was a natural follow-up to previous medical missions each had engaged in over the last few years and together gathered a group of dedicated medical professionals who could provide surgical care for children at CURE’s hospital in the Honduras.
Question:
Just what is CURE?
CURE is a non-profit organization created by D. Scott Harrison, a retired orthopedic surgeon, in conjunction with the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America. A Christian based organization, CURE International established its first hospital in Kenya in 1998 and with the support of individual donors and corporate sponsors was able to provide ten CURE hospitals on two continents by 2008.
Question:
Who was responsible for the building of San Pedro Sula Hospital?
Dr. Murata, who has made five medical mission trips to the Honduras since 2003, enthusiastically shared the story of Dr. “Ned” Schewenkier, a pediatric orthopedist from Hershey, Pennsylvania who with his wife, moved to the Honduras to put together the project that resulted in the viability of building and maintaining the well-equipped facility. Honduran Medical Director, Dr. Gustavo Vasquez, has two fully equipped operating rooms, and runs a five-day week clinic for purpose of evaluation and follow-up care, as well as providing medical training for students.
Question:
So, how does the American Team fit in?
We work with the Honduran staff, sharing U.S. technique and learning from them as well. The hospital’s administrator, Ruth Castro is, “the mechanic that keeps everything running”, according to Salamon and Murata. “She is a brilliant woman and if you need anything done, she’s the one that can make it happen.”
Question:
How did the Honduran staff react to the missionary team?
Gary Murata: “In the beginning, when the hospital was in its fledging stage, there was some concern on the part of Honduran doctors that the facility would, in some way, be competition to the “Medical College” which is a kind of physicians union in Honduras. But as negotiations progressed the understanding between the CURE organization and established Honduran physicians mellowed and now there is a positive working relationship with all concerned.”
Question:
How did you maneuver the language barrier or do you all speak Spanish?
(This question was met with laughter by all team members)
The answer is none of our team speaks Spanish but it was never a problem. In the operating room you work hand-in-hand with our Honduran scrub nurses and techs who all speak excellent English. As surgeons, the “tools of the trade” are easily identified and quite honestly we had no problems in making our needs known.
Question:
Where did you stay during your mission?
The hospital which is a fully running facility has an apartment located on the second floor of the building. We were housed in a male dorm and a female dorm and since the Ruhl’s are married they were given one of the two available mini-suites. The apartment was very comfortable with all the comforts of home including computer access and cable TV. The best part of the facility was the meals provided by the hospital chef, Gina.
Question:
You stated the hospital was fully equipped but who pays for all this?
The hospital costs are completely covered by CURE. We, of course, paid our own transportation costs and also paid a fee to cover the expense of our housing and meals. CURE pays all the staff at the hospital and believe us, it is fully staffed. A medical director, hospital administrator, nurses, techs, housekeepers, a cook and helpers, physicians, anesthesiologist, social workers, clerks and, of course, the guards.
Question:
The guards?
Yes, the hospital is built in one of the poorest and perhaps, most dangerous locations in San Pedro Sula. Therefore, like many, many places in the Honduras the grounds are surrounded by barbed wire and the hospital engages the services of two fully armed guards, twenty-four seven to insure the safety of both patients and staff.
Question:
Were you ever concerned for your safety?
Not at all. We were cautioned however, not to walk the streets in the area at night…so we didn’t. And the reality is Honduras, like many third-world countries, is extremely poor and stolen merchandise, regardless of what it is, can be easily sold on the black market so safety and protection are simply a part of the culture.
Question:
Isn’t it very expensive to provide all the services you have described?
Again, we need to examine the economy of the Honduras and appreciate the fact that the average operation costs only $1,000 U.S. dollars, compared to at least ten times that amount here at home. Patients are encouraged to engage in ownership in their care so normal amounts are charged if the patient is able to afford some contribution to the hospital. However, CURE covers all costs necessary for medical care.
Question for Gary Murata:
Since this was your fifth trip on a medical mission to the Honduras why do you keep going back?
“I feel the need…no, the responsibility, to “give back”. CURE, as we have stated is a Christian based organization and I feel blessed to be able to offer my services in this way.”
Peter Salamon, Jewish by faith, has no problem with the morning devotional which is held every day at 7:00 A.M. at the hospital. Led by either the spiritual advisor, Senor Castro, or one of the medical personnel, songs are sung, a prayer is given, and all families, staff, and patients are invited to participate in the fifteen minute informal service.
Question:
What was the most gratifying aspect of the trip?
Dr. Salamon responded by sharing his personal insight. “The bonding that takes place among our colleagues and the Honduras left us all feeling like family. And the opportunity to teach as well as learn from one another is unbelievable. We evaluated more than forty children at the clinic and operated on twenty youngsters with problems arising from birth abnormalities, neglected trauma to residuals of infection. Referred to as the “Brigade” by our Honduran friends, we were able to correct some very serious problems while having the opportunity to learn and engage with another culture. Healing and education are my passions and here we have both.”
Question:
Dr. Ruhl, what was the most gratifying part of the project?
“Definitely my strongest feelings came regarding the trust. It was an honor to have the trust of the parents that we were here to help and care for their children. It was a tremendous leap of faith for these families to allow strangers to perform such intricate procedures on their children.”
Question:
What was the most challenging issue you faced?
"The hardest part for me was the stifling heat. While the buildings were air conditioned, outside was really hot, roughly 90 degrees with 90% humidity. But aside from that I want to promise anyone in the medical field that if they embark on such a trip, there will never be a day in their life that they will regret doing it.”
Nurses Marjo Ruhl and Roberta Gonzales who rounded out the team each provided an interesting perspective to the project when asked what was the most surprising as well as rewarding aspect of the trip?
Roberta came back with a new perspective about home. “If every American was to visit a third world country I am sure they would realize three things: They would be more frugal with their money. It is amazing how little one really “needs” versus “wants” in order to be content. They would realize just how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America. 3. Love and family is more important than the material things we have learned to feel are so important.”
Question:
Would you want to return in the future?
Marjo Ruhl: “IN A HEARTBEAT!” She continued, “A medical mission has been on my “bucket list” for years, but children and other family members needs required it be put on hold. It was my dream especially since I was able to share the experience with my husband.”
All the team shared their wonder at the patience of the families who would wait all day, without complaint in order to have their children seen at the clinic. Also, according to Dr. Ruhl, the difference in the expectation of the parents. “They knew the children would experience post-surgical pain, but that it was going to provide their child with a better life. In most cases the easement of the physical disability would open opportunities for the child to live a normal life.”
Question:
Are there any plans for future trips?
“We are already in the planning process”, said Murata and Salamon who responded with enthusiasm when they spoke of the fact the entire team, Dr. Ruhl, Marjo Ruhl, R.N., and Roberta Gonzales all have indicated their desire to continue serving as a medical missionary team and all encouraged support for CURE.
For further information regarding the medical mission go online at CURE.org
2388 North California Street, Stockton, CA 95204 Phone: 209.944.9100 | Fax: 209.944.9307
