Knee Replacements at Guaimaca Hospital

Our organization was founded on the basic human need for medical and dental care. Every year, medical professionals from the U.S. journey to Central America and Nepal to provide excellent care to communities without access to such care in partnership with a local church or pastor. 

Surgery teams venture to our Hospital Bautista in Guaimaca, Honduras, to perform life-altering surgeries to carry out our mission of caring for the vulnerable. Our teams have performed surgeries removing gallbladders, fixing hernias, repairing torn ligaments, removing tonsils, and more. 

In June, one of our teams took us to the next level by performing knee replacement surgeries. The surgeons, Tim Talbert and Doug Duncan, along with Stryker Reps Patrick McHan and David Gaitan, came prepared to do total knee replacements. They were able to secure donations from Stryker for the implants and Christus Health Systems in Shreveport for supplies to make these surgeries happen. 

Their mission was clear: perform as many knee replacement surgeries as possible in just one week for patients who had lived for years with crippling joint pain – many of whom had never seen a specialist in their lives. What made this mission special wasn’t just the surgeries – it was the follow-through. Each patient received tailored physical therapy from the team’s therapist, who worked tirelessly in the post-op recovery rooms. The patients left here walking slowly with a walker, but we know that in a few weeks, they will return for a check-up, walking on their own with restored dignity, hope, and the simple joy of walking without knee pain.  

“Even though I was skeptical and a little worried about doing this new procedure, by the end of the week, I was celebrating with the patients and trusting God for their complete healing,” said Guaimaca Ministries Director Denyse Williams. “We will see these patients for scheduled follow-up appointments to keep up with their recovery, and we are looking forward to having this team back next year to help more people with this surgery. We give God all the honor and glory for the work he does through the teams that come down to Honduras to serve the people here.”

During Jesus’ life, He met not only the spiritual needs of the people, but the physical needs as well. We believe that our job is to care for the least of these and the most vulnerable among us. We are so thankful for our team members who partner with us to fulfill this mission.

 The pictures are of Hospital Bautista’s first ever knee replacement patient, Sonia.