World Surgical Foundation could be called The World Magical Foundation. On my third mission with ‪#‎WSF‬ and second in Honduras, there are hardly any words to describe what happens here. For example there is an anesthesiologist running two beds at the same time in the same room. And the surgeons coming on these missions are not only donating their time, skills, and supplies, but also paying their way. They are teaching local surgeons new skills and showing them how to use new technologies. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about the lives saved every day WSF is here at no cost to any suffering man, woman, or child. Suffice it to say this is real magic.

Thursday night Dr. Domingo Alvear and the entire team stayed from 7AM until nearly 10PM because of their compassion and dedication; no-one left Hospital Regional Atlantida before the last case was completed each member pitching in whenever and wherever they could. Whether a patient is on the schedule or a medical emergency that happens to arrive while WSF surgeons are working, everyone is diagnosed and treated with the same care and collaboration the World Surgical Foundation is known for. Since I arrived in La Ceiba, the pure-hearted volunteers and doctors here in Honduras, or when I went to the Philippines, are tirelessly on the job from sunrise to sunset. That still blows my mind.

Veteran members of the 2015 Honduras surgical brigade know missions always come with their share of “issues” from local logistics and supply shortages to machines not functioning at 100%, but the group solves each problem or finds a way to fix or work around faulty equipment to continue changing people’s lives. This mission in La Ceiba was no exception, but the World Surgical brigade performed 21 surgeries on day one and completed more every day after. WSF doctors and volunteers work harder than any foundation I have ever seen, and I am honored to have been a part.

-Mikaela Lannan