Dona (nurse): " I was fortunate to have the opportunity this past weekend to accompany Partner for Surgery (a non-profit group that develops connections in remote regions to facilitate access to needed surgeries) in returning three patients (one woman and two small children, accompanied by their mothers) to their homes following their surgeries.  The first patient we dropped off was an adult who had a vaginal hysterectomy, and her family made lunch for us.  This patient actually works for Partner for Surgery as a community health worker.  As a local, she is able to build trust and relationships so that families are comfortable reaching out for support for themselves and their loved ones.  Partner for Surgery compensates her with a decent wage for her work as she raises three children as a single parent (by choice, actually - she never wanted to marry for fear that a man would attempt to control her life and prevent her from working outside of the home).  This woman has a cement-block house with electricity - a decent home by comparative standards. The next stop was in Quiche, approximately two hours further into the highlands.  The homes of the next two patients consisted of dirt floors, one room approximately 20'x30', slab wood walls and tin roofs.  The women cooked on open in-door fire pits with smoke escaping between walls and roof.  There was limited electricity for very dim lighting (one or two light bulbs).  When the patients arrived, the whole village were at their door and windows looking at us (as much as we were checking them out :).  We were invited into the patients' homes and the front door was shut to keep their fellow villagers from pouring in to their small homes.  The grandfather of one patient spoke on behalf of the family, while Dan (Partner for Surgery) kindly interpreted for us.  He said that he was thrilled with the surgery and asked God to bless us all and gave his eternal thanks for this miracle.  The child (patient) was being fussed over by his uncles, themselves only 6 and 8 years of age, along with three older aunties and grandmother.  The little home was very dark with the door closed but they were very proud to be able to put on the lights, though very dim.    The last stop was further away and, predictably, less developed than the previous two homes/villages.  The mother of the third patient (child) was raising six children, two of which had been born with cleft lips.  Unfortunately, her family was not present to greet her - she said that maybe they were at the bus stop because they thought she would be returning on the bus.  Dan commented that he had only seen this mother's husband on one occasion and he speculated that the father was likely involved with someone else as he rarely seemed to spend time with his wife/children.  Her house was set off the "road" on a slight hill.  The path to her home was muddy with dog excretement.  Her house had no electricity, similar construction to the previous home, open fire on one side of the home for cooking and two areas on the other side for sleeping - wooden platform beds separated by a blanket hung from the ceiling.   A clothes line hung down the centre of the room which was very dark and felt damp.  Both of the young patients that we accompanied home were participants in the Partner for Surgery Nourishment Program - a closer-to-home nutrition program funded by Health for Humanity that enables mothers to keep their babies home with them while receiving nourishment in preparation for gaining weight for surgery (rather than staying at a hospital hours away such that the mother/family members would be separated from the children). As a result, both of these young patients were well-nourished, having received formula instead of watered-down corn liquid.  Although the home conditions of both the children were eye-opening to us, we did note that the children had clean clothing and healthy shiny hair.  We appreciated the opportunity to be invited into these patients'homes and share their stories.  A special thank you to Partner for Surgery for providing travel and accommodation assistance!  Good work, Dan!