Living with Dignity: Paulina’s Journey Back Home

Paulina is from the central Bolivian town of Mizque, but due to her ill health has reluctantly moved to Cochabamba to live with her son and his family. She suffers from Chagas disease, a parasitic infection endemic to her home region. Up to one-third of people infected with Chagas develop heart failure and/or digestive disorders. Paulina is especially unlucky – her heart is weakened, and she underwent surgery last year for Chagasic megacolon. Now her esophagus is direly impacted as well...

Medical Mission Trip BlogJodi GrahlSeptember 8, 2025General Surgery, Patient Impact, GS Patient, GS feature, Chagas DiseaseComment

Accompanying Patients Along the Healing Journey

Our patients are supported by “acompañantes,” who may be lay or religious chaplains or others who spiritually and emotionally accompany them and their families, before, during, and after surgery. These “accompaniers” frequently sit with families in their darkest moments, awaiting the results of a critical laboratory exam or the outcome of a delicate surgery. They may be there to celebrate with them, or to hold their hand and pray with them for strength and peace.

Our accompaniment teams are in turn blessed to listen to the unique stories of each patient we serve. Here are a few of those stories

The patients who inspire us

Amid our long-term goals and strategies, the day-to-day work of Solidarity Bridge always comes back to serving the needs of the patient in front of us. Each brings a unique story, and it is a gift to be invited to be a part of it. For both our patients and ourselves, these encounters can be fraught with heartache, but are also a source of great joy

Caring for the Caregivers

The women we care for are themselves caregivers—they are mothers, they are daughters, they have jobs that put food on the table. Until this trip, I never fully understood the profound difference that access to minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery can make in allowing a patient to pursue treatment.

A Bright New Dawn

It’s a bright new dawn in Cochabamba today as our patient, Marian, has recovered her ability to swallow food.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Chaplain Bob Oldershaw shares the inspiring story of this mother-daughter duo who received treatment during our 100th mission trip!

Medical Mission Trip BlogSolidarity BridgeDecember 18, 2019Fr. Bob Oldershaw, GS Patient, Multi-Specialty TripComment

A moment of reflection in Santa Cruz

This is Mission. Moving forward step by step, patient by patient. Celebrating lives restored, and doing what we can to maintain hope for a future for our patients and their families.

A Promise Kept

Elena’s journey—which began with a devastating injury and led her to nursing school—shows the powerful ripple effect of gratitude.

Updates from the SB TeamSolidarity BridgeDecember 4, 2017StoriesofJoy, GS Patient, GS feature, CalltoFamilyComment

The Joy of Healing

Fighting complications from Chagas disease, a young father struggles to recover his health and support his family.

Updates from the SB TeamSolidarity BridgeNovember 26, 2017StoriesofJoy, GS PatientComment

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