Through this blog, we invite you along on these visits into the homes of some of our patients. We are grateful for their open doors!

After performing several spinal fusions and transnasal surgery in Tarija, Bolivia, Solidarity Bridge’s neurosurgical mission moved to Santa Cruz. There Solidarity Bridge led the first Fundamentals of Neurosurgery Boot Camp for 27 residents in neurosurgery from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Argentina! 

The stark reality of under-resourced hospitals in Bolivia and beyond triggers a series of urgent questions. Will tired patients in the crowded waiting room see a doctor today? Will medical professionals have the right tools to successfully complete a surgery? Will patients and families trust the advice they receive and willingly walk the road to recovery?

Solidarity Bridge’s newest staff member, Mary McCann Sanchez (Senior Director of Programs), discusses the launch of the 2015 Neurosurgery Mission Trip, the upcoming Neurosurgery Boot Camp, and that inner voice that awakens the desire to reach out.

As the 2015 Multi-Specialty Mission Trip wraps up in Cochabamba, we received the following note from our dear trip chaplain, Fr. Bob Oldershaw. As you will discover, Fr. Bob caught up with the team after a brief stop in our nation’s capital.

I pray for strength for these patients, not only to heal from physical ailments but also for peace of mind to trust that they are being cared for in mind, body, and spirit.

There was nervousness in the air. This mission trip was the first time we’d be working at Univalle Hospital, located on the southern outskirts of the city. What would the hospital be like? Would there be patients waiting to be seen?

The Mobile Unit consists of a portable laparoscopic tower and anesthesia machine and other supplies and instruments transported to and reassembled at provincial hospitals. The purpose of the Mobile Unit is to place our general surgery services within the reach of the patients who most need them.

A final installment of our blog series dedicated to introducing a few of Solidarity Bridge’s key Bolivian medical partners. This partner story takes us to the field of Neurosurgery, where we are blessed to work alongside the best surgical talents in Bolivia!

So how does Solidarity Bridge find local surgeons to work with in Bolivia? Who are they?