Pan American Health Service's Blog

Shane and Rosita

Hi In December 2009, I was blessed with a chance to go to Honduras on a SIMS (Student for International Mission Service) mission trip. I established many meaningful relationships with the babies, children, parents and other volunteers. A fellow classmate, Emily Pinkerton, and I were able to develop and implement a play art therapy program for the children at the orphanage. Read the rest of this entry »

As Hondurans, we share a great passion for football. Now, the World cup it´s taking place in South Africa and for the second time in our history, Honduras had the opportunity to participate. Our children also love football, that’s why we wanted to please them with a special visit on Thursday. The football players from Marathon, which is a team of first division in Honduras, cordially agreed to come to the institution and learn about our work in benefit for malnourished and homeless children. Read the rest of this entry »

Wendy Now And Then

By Nelly Leiva*

I still remember the first day I saw her, it was two years ago. She was nine years old. And what called my attention at that time was her big smile. She looked very happy although she did not have any hair it has fallen up because of her malnutrition. Wendy´s family brought her to Pan-American Health Service because of her heath. Wendy´s interest was to study, she refuse to go home with her family because she wanted education. She had been denied going to school.

Later, in that day I met her, I listened that she had anemia and simultaneously was undernourished, but despite of this, she wanted to attend to school, covering her head with a small hat. She had a purse for her books, she began to attend classes. Her greater dream became reality. She was the older girl of her class, she persevered to become one of the best students, and she did it, obtaining very good grades. Now, two years later, Wendy was moved from the “casita feliz” where she received medical treatment to the girls dormitory. She is my new roommate.

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Ramoncito

Even when he is three years old, little Ramon had to be taken part of a surgery attach to parasitism. He had abdominal surgery a month ago in a publical hospital, parasites (amoeba,) were causing an obstruction, nevertheless Ramoncito could not remain in the hospital for his recovery, and his father, desperate, went in search of aid for the recovery of his son, who besides suffering parasitism was severely undernourished. The boy came to PAHS three weeks ago, with a second degree malnutrition. Ramon can not speak or walk, because of his undernourishment, but he just start to eat by himself, and repeat words.
His father comes to visit him every once in a while. Let´s pray for Ramoncito´s recovery and for all the children in PAHS. Thanks.

Arnold Smiling

Arnold is considered like the older brother in the great family of “la casita feliz”, even when he is ten years old, he looks like a five year old, deep rings under the eyes are even seen in his face because of his anemia, this was probably because he used to eat dirt and that probably caused his malnutrition. He is the older brother of four, the three younger ones are girls. Their father was killed two years ago, and their mother had to look for money to buy food. She comes every Sunday to visit her son, “Arnold really helped at home, and they miss him a lot but they want him to recover. They live in a community near to Peña Blanca, called Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, Arnold is enjoying his time in PAHS with the other children, and soon he will be able to return to the care of his family.