Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite holidays. Certainly, the food is delicious but it’s the gathering of family and friends around the table that is most special. It’s also a time of the year when we slow down and reflect on what we’re thankful for in our lives, and what gives our lives the greatest meaning. 

This year we’re looking forward to welcoming new friends into our home, celebrating with our new daughter-in-law, and anticipating the arrival of a new grandchild in the spring. So much to be grateful for.

However, my thoughts are never far from our beloved friends in Honduras. When our refrigerator and cabinets are stocked full, I quickly think of a young girl who wrote to me this week. “My mom washes someone else’s clothes, sells firewood, or works days cutting lemons and various things, but we suffer because my mom is alone and the income is not much.” 

She went on to share that her father was killed when she was three years old. “I am a girl who suffered a lot, there was no childhood for me. I learned everything from a very young age, the whole house job.”

I am absolutely inspired by this 13-year-old girl’s wisdom and resiliency. “Life has not been easy for me but life is priceless. I would like to be someone in life to help my mom with food and household expenses. I want to study hard and then work.”

We’re thankful for our Esperanza supporters who enable us to help this child and her family.

There are many more children waiting for the opportunity to enroll in school or in need of medical assistance. “What people see you do may not be remembered; what they hear you say may be forgotten, but how they feel your intervention in their time of need will forever be remembered.” – Israelmore Ayivor

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Last January, one of our Godchildren, Cindy Leon, reached out to us to see if we could help with a five month old baby boy she had met at church. Matias is from San Pedro Sula, Honduras and was born with a significant heart defect. And so my search began. I contacted every resource I could think of in Honduras and proceeded to investigate every international organization involved with pediatric cardiac teams. Unfortunately, Matias’ case was intricately involved and the doctors didn’t believe it could be safely done in Honduras. Covid was still present so many teams were not traveling to Honduras, and many hospitals in the U.S. were not accepting international patients. Matias’ health continued to deteriorate and he was too sick to travel anywhere outside of the country.

Thankfully, our connections began to fall into place, and we were introduced to wonderful new people. The Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation has coordinated the care and provided the funding for three of Esperanza’s cardiac patients over the past 16 years. I contacted Terri Carlson at R.T.M.A.F. and she put me in touch with Kate Corbett from the World Pediatric Project. We shared stories about our common involvement with Hospital Maria in Tegucigalpa and the Ruth Paz Foundation in San Pedro Sula. Soon I was working with Natalia Rosales, Central America Program Director for W.P.P., and she became an integral person for “Team Matias” keeping in constant contact while we pursued possibilities.

Matias and his parents met with Victor Paz M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon at Hospital Maria. Dr. Paz has received extensive training in the U.S., and was highly recommended by W.P.P. and our colleague/friend, Enrique Tome M.D., former Chief of Hospital Maria. Dr. Tome told us he was the only surgeon in Honduras who had the skills and experience to operate on Matias, and surgery was scheduled for April. It certainly was a stressful time for all involved during and post surgery, and we’re thrilled to report everything went well. Matias’ parents, Alver and Kenia, have offered such gratitude for each and every person involved, and sadly know many children don’t have the same opportunity due to finances or access to medical care.

In June, Matias and his parents traveled from San Pedro Sula to our home in Flores, Comayagua so that we had the opportunity to meet in person. It was pure joy. 

Thank you to all the supporters of Esperanza in helping to save a life, one child at a time. 

In November 2003, Nora Leon and Nelson Mejia placed their 17 month old daughter into my arms at the airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. With tears streaming down their faces, they said “goodbye” to Stefany, who was heading to the U.S. for medical treatment. This was Stefany’s one hope for a brighter future, and they relied on their strong faith and trust in us, who they had only met a few times in the previous year. As a parent, I cannot imagine the desperation and fear that they felt, and the love it took in letting her go.

We had met Stefany and her family several months before when we were holding a medical clinic in one of the homes in Flores, Honduras. Stefany was born with bilateral clubfeet and had no access to treatment. By the time we met, she was now standing on the outsides of her feet, with her toes pointing inward. Her future was very bleak, having a severe physical impairment and trying to survive in a third world country. Often the disabled are considered castoffs from society.

Fortunately, Stefany had been accepted to Shriners Hospital for Children, in Springfield, MA. We’ll never forget the hospital asking for the parents’ signatures prior to her operation, and we hoped they truly understood what they were signing and didn’t think we were taking their daughter away. Stefany became part of our family for the next five months while we took weekly trips to the hospital for new casts. After serial castings, she was ready for surgery, followed by months in special shoes attached to a bar that kept her feet rotated outward.

It was all a grand success and then it was time to take Stefany back home and reunite her with her family. This was harder than expected because Stefany had been calling me “Mama” and every time I went to leave, her arms would be stretched out to me as she screamed for me to return. I just had to walk away, shielding my own tears from her. We’ve had a special bond ever since, and saying “goodbye” was difficult for years.

Last June, we were in Honduras and I was able to attend Stefany’s baby shower and we were there for the birth of her son, Gael. It was a very bittersweet day because Stefany was thrilled to become a mother but saddened to see Gael had a clubfoot himself. We tried our best to reassure Stefany that we would find treatment for Gael, and he would one day run and play soccer just like all the other children.

Over the past 20 years, we have built a trustworthy support system within the country. We turned to our good friend Enrique Tome M.D. for a referral to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. Gael was seen within two weeks of his birth and like his mom, went through months of castings. Last month, Ruben Villeda M.D. and his team operated on Gael. As Stefany anxiously waited through the long hours of surgery, her mom was by her side, and she was comforted knowing her son would soon be in her arms instead of 3,600 miles apart, as her mom had experienced.

Yesterday was a day of remembrance for Martha Kimball, an amazing woman who was deeply involved with Esperanza. “Abuela” (Grandma) the children lovingly called her, and she certainly treated them as her own grandchildren. Martha traveled to Honduras in November 2006 with the desire to learn about the culture and in particular, get to know the people. Certainly, they welcomed her into their homes with great respect as is culturally expected. Abuela dove into any opportunity that presented itself and was often seen walking around the village hand in hand with whichever children got to her first. I have vivid memories of little Lissi being wrapped in her arms.

When we traveled back to Boston, we brought two year old Astrid who was in need of medical treatment. This is such an emotional time to take a child away from her mother, and once again I remember Abuela, comforting Astrid in her warm embrace. The children all loved playing at Abuela’s house and camp on Lake Champlain. She was the ultimate hands on grandmother who played any game, made cookies together and took them to the playground. Noel, who was part of Abuela’s life for the past 16 years recalls his favorite memory of her “making pancakes with my name.”

Martha visited the children when they were hospitalized and shared birthdays and holidays together. In her later years, when Abuela slowed down a bit, I watched as Astrid held her arm accompanying her into the pool. And the next moment it would be Abuela, sitting beside Astrid, teaching her how to knit.

Astrid matter of factly told me, “Abuela has taken care of you her whole life. It is your turn to take care of her.” She was absolutely right. Both Astrid and Noel made it one of their priorities to spend time with their adopted Grandmother. In the last months of her life, the calls and prayers were flowing in from Honduras. One of my most treasured gifts is a drawing Astrid made of Abuela, in her final days.

Abuela would have turned 90 yesterday. We all look back with such fond memories and will certainly keep her spirit alive and honor her, by following the lessons she taught us including kindness for all, and love is love.

The George family has been actively involved with Esperanza since its inception. In fact it was three years prior, when we brought our first two patients to Boston for medical treatment. Our families are very close and there is nobody I trust more with “our” Honduran children. Their entire family engaged with and were entertained by, 17 month old Stefany. 

In 2006 Melissa accompanied me on her first trip to Honduras. She was concerned I would have a difficult time emotionally leaving 4 year old Noel. I remember one of her first days when she said, “you have talked about Honduras so often and shown me tons of pictures, but it wasn’t until I actually came in person, did I really understand.” And on the last day when we were saying goodbye to Noel and his family, it was Melissa who was in tears. 

Our next patient to arrive was 14 month old Astrid. She (along with Noel) returned every year for evaluations and surgeries. The children simply became a part of the George family. They often slept at their house, went camping and to amusement parks together, visited “Grandma Kay” in Ohio, taught manners, encouraged them educationally, helped them envision and aspire to their life goals, took them to dentist and doctor appointments, moved Astrid in/out of boarding school and the list goes on.  

Their children, Michael, Kyle and Katherine have all been to Honduras and shared their experiences with friends, became involved with the water project and built a house for someone in need. They have held fundraisers, book and clothing drives, designed Esperanza brochures, become donors and created a video presentation.

Esperanza’s main fundraiser was established by Melissa. She developed the team EspeRUNza which has become one of the non profits supported by The Genesis Battlegreen Run. Every year she spearheads our team in recruiting runners and sponsors. The Georges are a family of runners who place at the top of the their divisions and have received many awards on behalf of EspeRUNza..

Over the years the Georges have been involved with every aspect of Esperanza. Paul has requested and received donations from his employer, Acadian Assets. We appreciate all their financial support but more importantly, we are thankful for all their direct involvement, especially with “their” Honduran children.

“Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo.” (Only the people save the people.) This is a common saying among the people of Honduras. They cannot rely on the government’s support. There are doubts that the government has the ability to reconstruct the country’s infrastructure, and restore the delivery of public services such as water, housing and electricity. There is some foreign aid being sent in, and the most reliable help comes from NGOs, including Esperanza-Hope for the Children, Inc.

It’s been more than a month since Hurricane Iota hit Honduras, and two weeks prior was Hurricane Eta. There were 94 deaths and the storms affected four million people causing the level of poverty to rise 10%, surpassing 70% of the population. Almost one third of the population has been displaced, leaving behind their homes, animals and livelihoods. 

One of the greatest concerns is water. There are 3,800 water supplies serving 2.9 million people which were affected. People are bathing in rainwater, relieving in sewers and drinking from rivers which contain dead animals. The next crises will be outbreaks of dengue, malaria, leptospirosis and/or cholera. Although there are treatments, few can afford them and will have no choice but to continue drinking contaminated water.

There is also a big concern about P.T.S.D. having suffered multiple traumas in succession. Some feel as though an entire generation of progress has been set back. They’ve lost all their possessions, there are very few sustainable economic opportunities and many feel their only choice is to join a caravan heading to the U.S. Others remain behind, relying on their faith and joining others’ spontaneous mobilization of solidarity. Despite the extreme poverty, somehow they still manage to help their fellow neighbor. 

Although there are now more people in severe need, the outpouring of support from Esperanza supporters has been profound. We express our sincere gratitude to all of you and want our Honduran brothers and sisters to know “no estan solos.” (You are not alone.)

It is challenging enough to be coping with the reality of COVID-19 in the U.S., but can you imagine what it would be like in a third world country? Honduras has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world and before the pandemic even arrived hospitals would run out of oxygen and PPE was often reused.