Wednesday, November 21 2012 5:55 AM EST2012-11-21 10:55:27 GMT
Local doctors and nurses traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras in October for a surgical mission with the World Surgical Foundation. abc27 news photojournalist Jon Eirkson and reporter Kendra NicholsMore >>
Local doctors and nurses traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras in October for a surgical mission with the World Surgical Foundation. abc27 news photojournalist Jon Eirkson and reporter Kendra Nichols traveled with the team for five days. The following is Part Two of Kendra's In-Depth series.More >>
San Pedro Sula, Honduras (WHTM) -
Midstate doctors and nurses traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras in October for a surgical mission with the World Surgical Foundation. abc27 news photojournalist Jon Eirkson and reporter Kendra Nichols traveled with the team for five days.
Dr. Domingo Alvear is a pediatric surgeon from Harrisburg and the founder of the World Surgical Foundation. He founded WSF in 1997. In his 40-year career he has performed thousands of free surgeries in over eight countries.
"You can see their faces and that's all that matters," said Dr. Alvear.
Patients filled the hallways at the public hospital in San Pedro Sula, waiting to see the doctors. The patients were pre-screened before volunteers with WSF arrived in the country.
Dr. Paul Kunkle, a general surgeon who specializes in laparoscopic surgery, practices at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill. This was his second trip to Honduras. Most of the patients he saw were dealing will gall stones.
"If you came into America with those symptoms, you would get your gall bladder out that day or the next day," said Dr. Kunkle. "Here they cant do that. The operating rooms are too full, no personnel. The patients get put on antibiotics and get sent home and they have to live with their symptoms for years. We have one patient that has been in pain for eight years."
Dr. Alvear saw several children with malformations of the intestine and rectum. Many were given colostomies by the doctors in Honduras, but the families could not afford colostomy bags, so they wrap cloth around the children to soak up the feces.
"We have seen a lot of rare malformations in children that some folks will never see in their lifetime, " said Dr. Alvear.
Dr. David Leber, a plastic surgeon from Harrisburg, has been to Honduras six times.
"Its a lot of hard work, but the people are so grateful for everything that we do it makes us want to come back," said Dr. Leber.
During the trip, Dr. Leber performed surgery on a one-year-old name Ruth, who was born with a cleft lip.
"They are somewhat ostracized here. They don't do quite as well in school and in public," explained Dr. Leber. "We are going to repair her lip tomorrow."
Tomorrow during Live at 5, we will bring you part two of this story. We'll take you inside the operating room and emergency room. And you'll get to see what Ruth looks like after her surgery.
Saturday, May 18 2013 2:27 PM EDT2013-05-18 18:27:33 GMT
Police in Lancaster are on the scene of a standoff along the 600 block of South Queen Street. We're told a man barricaded himself inside a home, and that he may be armed. Several officers are on the scene.More >>
Police in Lancaster responded to a standoff along the 600 block of East King Street early Saturday morning.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:59 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:59:09 GMT
Walking across the stage at Messiah College today, Kris Sledge accepted his diploma and closed a chapter of his life, one that nearly ended for good in the summer of 2010. Sledge, who is originally fromMore >>
Walking across the stage at Messiah College today, Kris Sledge accepted his diploma and closed a chapter, one that was nearly ended for good in the summer of 2010.
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:30 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:30:15 GMT
Musicians hosted a solemn ceremony to commemorate Armed Forces Day in Lebanon County. Fort Indiantown Gap National Ceremony hosted 28 buglers playing Taps at a special performance in honor of serviceMore >>
Musicians hosted a solemn ceremony to commemorate Armed Forces Day in Lebanon County.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:15 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:15:27 GMT
The Humane Society of Harrisburg held its annual 5K Run/Walk to help our four-legged friends.Hundreds of supporters and their canine pals participated in the run, now in its 16th year.The 5K is usuallyMore >>
The Humane Society of Harrisburg held its annual 5K Run/Walk to help our four-legged friends.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:14 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:14:37 GMT
Midstaters gave blood and saved lives in honor of the victims killed or injured in last month's Boston Marathon bombings. Harrisburg Hope and the American Red Cross teamed up to host Saturday afternoon'sMore >>
Midstaters gave blood and saved lives in honor of the victims killed or injured in last month's Boston Marathon bombings.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 3:42 PM EDT2013-05-18 19:42:27 GMT
Rotary International District 7390 held its District Conference at the Radisson in Camp Hill. Rotary Club exhibits, which focused on Service Above Self community projects, showcased what the clubs haveMore >>
Rotary International District 7390 held its District Conference at the Radisson in Camp Hill.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 3:37 PM EDT2013-05-18 19:37:14 GMT
State police are investigating a pedestrian crash involving a 76-year-old Shippensburg woman who died at the scene.According to authorities, 64-year-old Georgia Davis of Orrstown was traveling southboundMore >>
State police are investigating a pedestrian crash involving a 76-year-old Shippensburg woman who died at the scene.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 2:04 PM EDT2013-05-18 18:04:54 GMT
Authorities responded to a single-vehicle crash in Palmyra that sent one person to the hospital.At around 10:15 p.m. on Friday night, police arrived at the scene of the accident in the first block of WestMore >>
Authorities responded to a single-vehicle crash in Palmyra that sent one person to the hospital on Friday night.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:41 AM EDT2013-05-18 14:41:18 GMT
During an emotional meeting the Harrisburg School Board unanimously passed the state appointed recovery officer's district recovery plan. A special session was held Friday evening for the matter. TheMore >>
The Harrisburg School Board unanimously approved the state-appointed recovery officer's plan, which includes a tax increase and a cut to employee costs and benefits.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 2:27 PM EDT2013-05-18 18:27:33 GMT
Police in Lancaster are on the scene of a standoff along the 600 block of South Queen Street. We're told a man barricaded himself inside a home, and that he may be armed. Several officers are on the scene.More >>
Police in Lancaster responded to a standoff along the 600 block of East King Street early Saturday morning.More >>
Thursday, May 9 2013 5:44 PM EDT2013-05-09 21:44:06 GMT
Interstate 81 and one of two overhead bridges damaged by a massive tanker fire will remain closed through the weekend, and a second ramp could remain closed for 2-3 months.More >>
Interstate 81 and one of two overhead bridges damaged by a massive tanker fire will remain closed through the weekend, and a second ramp could remain closed for 2-3 months.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:44:24 GMT
Temperatures Friday night into this morning have held mainly steady. Some backyards still had temperatures in the low 60s to start the day! A persistent southeast flow will temper the amount of sunshineMore >>
We can still expect seasonal warmth this weekend, but additional clouds will limit the amount of sunshine...More >>
Friday, May 17 2013 7:03 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:03:19 GMT
Usually, it is an honor when a sitting governor gives a commencement speech. But at Millersville University, Gov. Tom Corbett's scheduled address is causing unrest with some soon-to-be graduates.More >>
Usually, it is an honor when a sitting governor gives a commencement speech. But at Millersville University, Gov. Tom Corbett's scheduled address is causing unrest with some soon-to-be graduates.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 2:04 PM EDT2013-05-18 18:04:54 GMT
Authorities responded to a single-vehicle crash in Palmyra that sent one person to the hospital.At around 10:15 p.m. on Friday night, police arrived at the scene of the accident in the first block of WestMore >>
Authorities responded to a single-vehicle crash in Palmyra that sent one person to the hospital on Friday night.More >>
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:41 AM EDT2013-05-18 14:41:18 GMT
During an emotional meeting the Harrisburg School Board unanimously passed the state appointed recovery officer's district recovery plan. A special session was held Friday evening for the matter. TheMore >>
The Harrisburg School Board unanimously approved the state-appointed recovery officer's plan, which includes a tax increase and a cut to employee costs and benefits.More >>
A man called one of the commonwealth's 10-most-wanted fugitives has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison in the stabbing death of a man during a game of dominoes nearly two decades ago in eastern...More >>
A man called one of the commonwealth's 10-most-wanted fugitives has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison in the stabbing death of a man during a game of dominoes nearly two decades ago in eastern Pennsylvania.More >>
