Each morning, my translator Fernanda and I navigated our way along the rocky narrow sidewalk, admiring the glorious purple blooms of the jacaranda trees, and up the steps of the church; a ramp alongside the steps makes the clinic wheelchair accessible. If we arrived early enough, we would see Dr. Fuentes zoom up the ramp on his motorcycle, which he parked across from the long wooden bench, placed outside of the clinic, that served as the waiting room. 

Dr. Fuentes is an excellent, experienced internist and I found much to admire in his wise, compassionate approach to patient care; discussing his cases allowed us to exchange knowledge…

Upon arrival at Tiquipaya Hospital, I listened to the cacophony of sounds, including the voices of anxious patients and family in the waiting rooms, the cry of infants, the calls for the next patient, the hum of machines and the scurry of nurses trying to make their way through the labyrinth of narrow hallways and crowded rooms to deliver their services.

I listened to medical students tell the story of their education, express dreams for their future careers, and explain the winding and uncertain path to becoming a physician in Bolivia. I listened to the assessments given by Puente de Solidaridad employees of the stability of the country, state of medical care, greatest needs of area hospitals and challenges in distribution of medical supplies, particularly to very small clinics in remote areas.

Like All Saints Parish, Solidarity Bridge, and our Bolivian partner organization, Puente de Solidaridad, bring people together. Our mission is medical, and we work with those who are seriously injured, like St. Isaac Jogues. We sit alongside family members who do all that they can to keep their loved ones alive, like St. Martha of Bethany. As laypersons acting ecumenically in the world, we try to faithfully live the words of Christ. We are part of a church that welcomes, nourishes, and heals.

One of the beautiful experiences of the Pediatric Epilepsy Mission Trips is the community they create between families with children awaiting surgery and those whose children have already undergone surgery through this program. Each mission trip is an opportunity to check in on patients and their families who we operated on 6 months previously. So far, our former patients are all experiencing greatly improved quality of life and their families often express deep gratitude and relief for how transformative the surgery is for the entire family. The families support each other and give words of encouragement to those awaiting surgery. Many stay in touch and maintain friendships long after the mission trip.

August is National Make-A-Will Month, a meaningful reminder that your plans for the future can make a lasting difference. By including Solidarity Bridge in your estate plans alongside your loved ones, you can create a legacy that brings life-changing surgery to children and adults in need for generations to come.

While Solidarity Bridge provides resources, training, and expertise, we have learned that sustainable impact only takes root when local leaders take ownership and carry the work forward. For new initiatives, we search for these key “local champions” that have vision, commitment, and perseverance. That is why we have been so energized by our partners in pediatric epilepsy surgery. The MOSCH team provides nearly 6,500 neurology consultations per year, of which up to 49% are patients with epilepsy. According to statistics in Latin America, 30% of these will be drug-resistant, and of these, 15% are possible candidates for epilepsy surgery.

 Now in its second year, the U.S. Neurosurgical Observership initiative selects two outstanding participants annually for a one-month immersive experience at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Neurological Surgery. To date, the program has supported four observerships at UW–Madison, as well as a specialized neuro-monitoring observership at Mass General Brigham through Solidarity Bridge missioners.

These observerships provide a comprehensive view of patient care in a multidisciplinary, high-resource setting. Participants gain insight into clinical decision-making, patient-centered approaches, and collaboration across subspecialties.

Serving as a chaplain on this mission trip has made me realize how out of order my own worries and preoccupations can be. The patients and their relatives I met during this mission trip made me realize that I already have the most important and valuable things in life: my family is healthy, and most importantly, we are alive. We often take life and health for granted, without realizing that they are the most precious gifts we have. 

Solidarity Bridge recently concluded its sixth Oncological Surgery Mission Trip to the Cancer Institute of Eastern Bolivia, Bolivia’s main public cancer hospital. Four of the ten patients treated have advanced pancreatic cancers… The Whipple is described as one of the most complex abdominal surgeries. Surgeons who want to master the Whipple need to participate in as many surgeries as they can alongside more-experienced peers who can mentor them on how to assess and proceed in every unique scenario. 

On April 25, 2026, Solidarity Bridge’s Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute (NNI) convened partners in Chicago for a groundbreaking symposium focused on strengthening global neurosurgical care through a more integrative approach. Leaders in neurosurgery, neurology, and multidisciplinary neuro care joined from institutions across the United States, alongside partners from Paraguay and Bolivia. Many of these collaborators have spent the past seven years working with Solidarity Bridge to develop a model that moves beyond short-term interventions and focuses on building complete, locally led systems of care.

Before my first trip, a colleague who has traveled with Solidarity Bridge told me, “This experience will remind you why you chose healthcare.” She was absolutely right. This oncological surgery mission trip was a reset. It challenged me, grounded me, and ultimately renewed my sense of purpose. I returned home not only reinvigorated, but deeply grateful.

As we observe Holy Week along with communities across Bolivia and Latin America, we are reminded that the Easter Triduum—the summit of the Catholic liturgical year—stands at the heart of our faith. Though the Easter Triduum is celebrated on three separate days, it is really a single liturgical moment divided into three: Holy Thursday in remembrance of the Last Supper, Good Friday in remembrance of the Lord's passion on the cross, and the Easter Vigil in celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. Do these three parts matter for our lives and for our mission at Solidarity Bridge?