Paula is a 40 year old mother of 5 with limited resources and few options for health care in the small community of Sarawaska  about 25 kilometers away from the city of Jinotega, Nicaragua where Esperanҫa operates. Paula has had to deal with two major medical conditions over the years. Her first condition is epilepsy, a condition that causes uncontrollable seizures and is managed by medication. She currently takes medication 3 times a day to control her seizures but this poses a challenge. She also developed gallstones, and with her epileptic condition no local doctors would operate on her. This means for the past four years she has lived with the pain that is associated with gallstones with no chance of relief. The gallstones had reached a point where she could no longer function with the pain they caused.

Then she heard about the surgical mission that Esperanҫa was sending to Jinotega with Dr. Inglis and his general surgical team, and there was hope for Paula. She leapt at even the chance of being considered for the surgical mission and the first day of the mission she was there and ready to be evaluated for surgery. She came prepared and was cleared for surgery and was placed on the schedule for the week. When her surgery time came, it went off without a hitch. She was so grateful for the amazing team and supporters like you that made it possible for her to function again.