It used to take Dr. Rayo, a neurosurgeon at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, 7-8 excruciating hours to perform life saving craniotomies.  His hands would be blistered and raw from removing portions of bone manually.  The Word at Work received this email asking us if we could help in any way.

Hi Tim,
Could you locate some neurosurgical instruments for KHMH neurosurgeon. Things such as craniotomy sets and trays. I feel so sorry for him. Every time we have emergencies he ends up with his hands blistered since he has to improvise to take off pieces of the skull to get to the problem in the head. This weekend we had 2 emergency craniotomies and we were there for 5 hours. Two of them spent on taking off bone. Sorry to be imposing.
God bless,
Dr. Beatriz  Thompson
Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital

 

Now, thanks to the efforts and donations of Jack Maxwell and the Oklahoma Rotary Club of Bixby in District 6110 and shipping funds provided by Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust, the much needed neurosurgical equipment arrived in Belize in February 2010.  All ready, at least 5 surgeries have been performed with the new Midas Rex that is used to easily cut through the skull to gain access to the brain. 

 

"Thanks so much for what you do and continue to do! Surgery and anesthesia time has been cut down for our patients by 3 to 4 hours.  Before what use to take 7 and 8 hours is being done in 3 hours. God bless you abundantly for giving of your valuable, time, resources etc." Beatriz Thompson. 

 

"With your help in this occasion with the Midas Rex, we are offering better service in the hospital for whole the Belizean population.  In other words changing the history of the neurosurgery in this country."  Dr. Rayo