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Merry Christmas! Sometimes being an advocate for a patient is not the easiest  thing.
Individuals have different beliefs that might not be the best desicion
for their children. However, as an organization we always try to understand
and honor their point of view. This young man is an example of this. Wilson
Rodriques, 13 years old, has a congenital deformity of the left lower leg.
He has no ankle, three toes, and no function of this part of his leg. His
parents are very responsible and live a humble life in the mountains. They
brought Wilson in and asked us to help, but they would not consider amputation
of the malformation of the lower leg, which is the recommended treatment  in
this case. Wanting to honor his parents' wishes and at the same time make
possible a normal life for Wilson, Jorge, the head of our prosthetic program,
sought to find a solution that would satisfy Wilson and his parents. Jorge
consulted with his counterpart, Mark Gorman of Morgantown, West Virginia,
and the invention of an incredible orthotic prosthetic device came to be.
Now, as you can see, Wilson is able to walk upright, If you were not told,
you would not know of his handicap. At his return visits, Wilson and his
parents tell us about his activities, running and playing with the other
children. To all of you who have sent us financial support and prosthetic
devices, thank you. It has made an amazing difference in this young man's
life and the lives of many others. Please, keep the support coming.
At any given time, there is an average of 14 women in the prison for the western  part
of Honduras. They have a total of 60 feet by 20 feet to live day in and
day out. This area is divided into an outside cooking area and water tanks
to wash their clothes by hand. One bathroom is connected to a room that
is only 12' x 12' with bunks 3 tiered high. A tiny sitting area is again
12' x 12'. One other room has been given to them. As a group, these women
helped to paint and organize this room, which has become their new sewing
room. Now, with the help of the  Technical
School, the Commission of Development and CAMO, they have started a program
in the prison which they have named "Creative Hands." We are currently
looking at the market to see what product is marketable within Honduras.
All the money the women earn will go back to them for continued production,
and the profit will help with their family needs and legal fees. The women
each received a 2-month course in geometry and the basic concepts of sewing
with machines. It has been a true pleasure to see the awakening of these
women as they have taken an active role in management of their enterprise.
We continue to give them classes in  budgeting
and marketing their product. During the first weeks they kept asking us,
"What happens when you leave? We cannot do this alone." My response to
them was and is that they are no longer alone; there is hope in prison
and this same hope can be taken home with them. They have the support of
the Technical School, the Commission on Development and CAMO, and God has
never left them. They as a group have assumed the responsibility for their
actions, so they themselves will make or break this opportunity. Last week
was fun; I saw that they are involved and taking real ownership of their
new sewing enterprise. They are taking responsibility for themselves. There
is great hope for the future of these women and their families because
they will leave prison better educated then when they arrived. As I spent
days pre-team, during the training and post-training period, I never saw
or felt a bad intention from them. What I saw and felt was a craving for
human love and someone to say to them, "It will be okay; you are not forgotten
or abandoned." And this is my personal promise to them. When I went to
pick up USA volunteers Helen Smith and Robin McKee, they both had tears
in their eyes from saying goodbye to some very beautiful women. Yes, call
me crazy, call me an optimist, but one thing is for sure: CAMO will remain
faithful and continue to give hope to these Creative Hands.
Reach Out And Dance (ROAD), Honduras! By Jenny Seham, PhD The auditorium at public school Jeronimo J. Reina buzzed with excitement. The audience, proud parents of sixty fourth and fifth graders, had just watched their children perform as part of the first ever, brand new, schoolbased dance project in Santa Rosa de Copan: Reach Out And Dance (ROAD), Honduras. In this city, where the public school system is bereft of any kind of arts programming, this was big news, and a very big night! Children crowded back onto the stage to have their pictures taken. One family made their way through the throng. Fourth grader Carlos was anxious to have his father meet his dance teacher. Papa held one tiny boy in his arms, another boy held onto his shirttail, while the third, Carlos, eagerly made ntroductions. " Gracias," Carlos's father said. The little boy in his arms grinned, "Hola, Jenny," he chimed in. "Thank you so much," the father continued, as he showed me a brace on the  leg
of the son in his arms. "My son gets treatment for his leg at CAMO. CAMO
has done so much for my family. Thank you so much for everything."
CAMO has opened another door for the community of Santa Rosa de Copan and other parts of Western Honduras, by paving the way to bring sustainable cultural arts programming to the children in public schools here. A generous contribution will allow El Proyecto Cultura, Localidad y Creatividad to continue this program, for at least 240 children for the next school year. CAMO receives absolutely no financial support for this cultural arts programming. It was, however, the generous spirit and vision of CAMO's Director that helped, once again, enrich the lives of the people of Honduras. When CAMO Director, Kathy Tschiegg, invited me to visit the clinics of CAMO in Santa Rosa de Copan in August 2005, I did not know that I would be changing my plans to study in Mexico and Cuba and instead come to Honduras to initiate a dance program for children in the public schools. However, after seeing firsthand the amazing accomplishments of CAMO, and meeting children and families in the dental, audiometry, ophthalmology and podiatry clinics, in the prosthetics workshop, and in the day care center, I changed my itinerary, and the very focus of my travel plans. CAMO helped link me, a community health psychologist and master dance teacher, to El Proyecto Cultura, Localidad y Creatividad, the local community cultural program. I am contributing to the efforts in Santa Rosa de Copan because the need is enormous. I know, unequivocally, that my contribution will make a sustainable difference in this community and will touch and bring health and joy to the lives of families here. My little dancers have brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors receiving vital treatment through CAMO. It is critical to keep their programs going. Of course, there is so much more to do and so many more people yet to serve. I am dedicated, now, to being a voice in the United States, encouraging people to continue to donate generously. It is astonishing what CAMO can do to turn dollars into life-changing miracles!
No Repeat of last Year's Deaths This year, starting on October 16, the newly installed generator supported the Hospital without one single electrical failure for a total of 10 days. But the power company director and his private company had installed the power company's main line into the hospital incorrectly. We faced many obstacles for over one week. The first challenge was  that
repair material could not be found in Honduras. Next, for three days, striking
taxi and bus drivers protesting the increase of gas prices closed the roads.
The technicians could not get to Santa Rosa with other supplies needed
for the repair of the main feed lines. Once they did arrive the problem
was much more extensive than what we had first thought. It took 10 days
but finally the problems were resolved. But the true story follows.
For those of you who are new to CAMO, on November 1 of last year (2004) we began to literally rebuild the electrical system of the 210-bed hospital that serves 600,000 people. On August 30th of this year the majority of the project was completed. The project was initiated due to deaths witnessed by CAMO volunteers on our trip of February of 2004. Lives and lifesaving equipment were lost, fires broke out and a near catastrophe was averted due to fast thinking staff and volunteers. We were all left with an overwhelming feeling of urgency for a new electric system for this Hospital. Last year during one of Dr. Karen Kellogg's surgeries, the lights went out and the surgical team was forced to complete the surgery by flashlight. This year the power from the power company went out, but the difference was Dr. Kellogg hardly realized it. Our generator kicked in so rapidly that they noticed only a flicker for a fraction of a second and continued with their surgery. The good news is this: On October 16th the crisis began, and on October 26th we  passed
the 10-day test without a single moment of danger to a patient. For those
10 days, operating rooms, ventilators, and a neonatal unit with four babies
on ventilators ran smoothly. There was not one single moment without stable
power and no equipment loss due to surges. The newly installed system by
McClintock Electric worked with 50 percent capacity to spare. Electrical
projects are not glamorous, think about it, the profound affect on lives
cannot be overstated. Special thanks to the many supporters of this project
and to The Noble Foundation who provided 50% of the funding. We could not
have accomplished this project without the complete support of McClintock
Electric. What a wonderful group of people. The total cost of project was
$250,000.00
It was with great concern that I waited for Dr. John Weeman, OB/GYN and Dr. DJ McFadden, GP to come through  the
customs doors at the airport in Honduras. We had twenty patients and three
doctors waiting for them. The patients had been selected due to abnormal
cervical exams, and the three doctors were going to learn coloscopy and
cryotherapy. We also had planned a day of conference programs with thirty
OB/Gyn doctors traveling from all over Honduras. I waited and waited, but
ultimately the American doctors did not come due to the concern of Hurricane
Beta off the shore of Honduras. Now what was I going to do? We had given
the course the year before and trained 2 Honduran doctors, Dr. Herman
Barcenas and Dr. Lourdes Villela Robles. They had been great counterparts,
but could they - would they - be willing to take on the roles of the teacher
and mentor? On my return to Santa Rosa I made one phone call and received
a resounding "Yes, we will take care of it." It was a good experience and
all went very well with expansion of the coloscopy program in two more
public health clinics. So, does the counterpart philosophy work? Absolutely!
Counterparts are the key to development. Committed counterparts will continue
the work long after all the short term North American mission teams have
come and gone.
Many Groups Make Results Possible We are so fortunate to have the support of Rotary Clubs, churches, individuals and foundations. One of the projects that captures the heart of nearly everyone is the daycare center. We have been providing funding for balanced meals and vitamins, but also throughout the years we have been able to complete some extremely needed structural projects. The first was the area of the newborns with about twenty babies under the age of two. They had no screen on the window, no area for food preparation, and one area of water which they used to cook, and change and wash diapers. This area was our first project. Then we moved on to the problem of no bathrooms. Nine toilets and twelve sinks were installed with a cistern and pump to make water available twenty four hours a day. Next, the kitchen was small and unable to provide for all the children. So a new kitchen also was completed. The newest project is to get rid of the mildew and mold in the sleeping area of the children from ages two to six. Thanks to the cooperative effort of Wooster, Orrville, Dalton, Lodi, Millersburg, Brunswick, Medina, and Wadsworth Rotaries, we are well on the way to resolving this problem. But there is much more to do. My greatest concern is funding for more caretakers. Currently, there are only two caretakers for the infants and 2 teachers for the other 100 children. If any group would like to adopt this project for funding for more caretakers please contact CAMO. Each additional employee would cost $3,000 per year. That's right - it's not a typographical error. It is easily within a group's reach. What is stopping you?
October Teams Covered Many Facets
CPR Training From doctors and nurses, paramedics, students to the general public, we enjoyed many successes. The classes of basic CPR were given to nursing students, professors and the public. Our instructors from the United States had blisters on their knees from the training sessions. One of the students told of her father who had collapsed from a heart attack. With no training in CPR, she panicked. She tried to get help and another family member came but neither knew CPR. After the course she reflected on this moment in her life and shared with the class that if only she knew then what she had learned in the class, her father might still be alive. Special thanks to this team and to Darci Cicconetti for her leadership.
NALS and Neutral Thermo Environment Training At the end of the day of one of the CPR classes, I promised  the
group a quick tour of the Hospital. I showed them the first project of
CAMO, the kitchen, then the new electrical system, the generator room,
the laundry and the different wards. Finally, we ended at the Neo Natal
unit with 80% of the equipment provided, maintained and staff educated
by CAMO. We all "gowned up" and entered the ward, only to hear one of our
monitors alarming. The nurse immediately went to the side of the newborn
and saw that the little one was not breathing. The Honduran knew the resuscitation
process. We assisted, but the nurse on duty had learned Neonatal Advance
Life Support that week. The baby responded, was placed on a ventilator
and was saved. Just a few short years ago I witnessed the same scenario,
but it was chaos and I was forced to take the leading role. This time the
Honduran staff responded to the emergency with the confidence that can
only come with proper education. We trained 8 people that week. I have
to wonder how many babies will be saved in the next 12 months due to the
training that Sue Edwards gave. We do know that this year as of October
30, 233 newborns were in critical condition and placed on our ventilators.
We also know there is a 50 % survival of these little ones. Education is
the future and we have just touched the tip of the iceberg. Please support
our programs of education and our instructors.
Working Together for Pre-Hospital Training Juan Ramón came to us and asked us to help him - one organization to another - if we could be his organizational counterpart. Of course, was our response. Juan Ramón is an individual who is passionate about bringing pre-hospital  care
to Santa Rosa. He was instrumental in the coordination to bring 5 ambulances
to the western part of Honduras. He and other volunteers raised money to
help Paramedics for Children to bring these units into Santa Rosa. He works
without pay to develop this dream, and now CAMO has joined him in his efforts.
We are working with Juan Ramón and 50 other volunteers, training
them in basic technics of stabilization and transport of patients to the
hospitals. Cindy Harsh and Dee Stevens helped us with the first of a series
of Emergency Medical Training.
CAMO is also assisting in the education of the Hospital staff, as the pre-hospital care is new to them. We are working to overcome the idea that only hospital personnel know how to take care of the patient. This requires that the volunteers are very well trained and that the hospital personnel accept their training. The positive is that in this photo you see Juan Ramón and a professional nurse, Miriam Rosales, working together. We are attempting from the initiation of the program to have pre-hospital volunteers, nurses and doctors working together. CAMO is also assisting with the design, equipping and education of the nurses in the new Emergency department. This will be the first one in Honduras that will work as a modern Emergency Department. On a personal note, emergency and critical care nursing is my training and my love. It has taken 12 years to get to this point. So much needed to be done, and there was no infrastructure to support this kind of service. But slowly we have developed the people and the facility to this point. Please support us in our efforts to continue in providing developmental permanent help. Bringing Costs DOWN! I love computer people - they are God's gift to the "technologically challenged." Now CAMO Honduras can call  anywhere
in the USA as a local call via a computer service. The most amazing thing
is that I made it home to the USA for the day before Thanksgiving. I had
been asked to stay for a very important meeting the day after Thanksgiving,
but I just could not do it. On Friday I was in a parking lot in the States
and my cell phone rang. I ended up in my car, in a parking lot, involved
in a conference call from our facility in Honduras, along with ten other
Hondurans, the president of the Technical Store, PLAN Honduras, the Mayor
of Santa Rosa, the director of the Spanish Association to name a few. For
two hours we spoke and resolved the crisis at hand. The cost of this service
is $50.00 per month, unlimited. In the first 15 days alone our communication
bill dropped by $100. We hope to save at least $4,000 per year with the
help of these computer geniuses. Thank you to Dave Moser, Mark Hershberger
and Daniel McDaniel - you guys are great!
What is Development? Perhaps development can be defined as the gradual process of improvement. We started with one employee in Honduras. We always believed that education is so important. Many of our employees did not have the opportunities to further their education. To date we have 17 employees in Honduras, and everyone is working on continuing their education. We have 6 employees who have not finished high school; each is taking classes on the weekends and in the evenings. Three of them received their high school diploma on November 8th. I was so proud of each one of them! The ceremony was at the community center/Gym. Rolando, 35, Rosi, 26, and Rafael, 21, walked with their classmates into the court. I sat among the over 2,000 family members and friends of the graduating class. My eyes grew wet with tears as I looked up at the overhead lights that McClintock electric had helped to install and purchase. I looked at the cement bleachers filled with loved ones. I remembered just one short year ago the inauguration with the Noble Foundation representatives, Dave and Gayle Noble. I had not dreamed this big, but it was glorious as the students filed in and filled the court, their caps and gowns flowing. As I sat there, a great, overwhelming sense of hope filled me. There is a future. There is hope. It is a gradual process, but it works. It is worth committing a lifetime to.
Note from the Founder: There is so much on my mind, I find it hard to put it into meaningful words. CAMO is serving over 90,000 people per year, and there is a story of hope for each person served. We are doing this with a staff of 2.25 in the USA and a Staff of 17 full time positions in Honduras. Our budget for operational and staff wages is $180,000 per year. This group of people process materials and equipment, educate, provide services in a value of over $1.5 million per year. We are in a crisis at this time. Your year-end donation will make or break us. We felt the effects of the tsunami last year and now with the effects of the multitude of hurricanes, our donations are down. I know these are difficult times, but I believe all of you need to know our present situation. We need to first meet operational needs and then project needs. Please keep this in mind. Thank you for your past support. We pray that you will continue to trust us with providing vital services in a part of the world that is no longer in the media or the "in place" to serve, but the need is just as great. Most importantly, we have and will continue to show you results. On the Horizon We are striving to become sustainable. We are working once again with the University of Texas 
in the development of two areas to produce funds that would support our
operational cost. The senior design teams are working on two designs for
us. One is the pathology lab and the other is a clinical engineering area.
These two areas will be a new construction project that will be added
to our facility in Honduras. They will be for profit, and all profit after
we break even will go to operational cost of all our non-profit programs.
We are working closely with six students from the University of Texas,
under the direction of Department Chairman Dr. Kenneth Diller. He has been
instrumental in finding funds for these design projects. We will keep you
up to date on this development. The last project they helped us with was
the Mobile Medical Equipment Repair Vehicle (MMERV). The following is some
information about the success of the program:
• Since 2003 this is the value of the services provided by the MMERV. Initial cost of the project was $58,000 per year.
• This is included in the $14,536.84 under the Ministry of Health It is difficult to investigate how many people would have died without proper working equipment. We can tell you how many patients were saved due to the ventilators. Eleven ventilators are maintained and repaired by this program. The following is a chart of the patients treated by these ventilators:
Of these numbers there is a survival rate of 50% . Which would mean
approximately 312 lives were saved.
Year End as of October 30th January through October has seen our programs rendering service to many needy people of Honduras. Please note these are numbers that represent the daily work of our counterparts. With equipment and education, many people are being served. Our programs are successful and reaching many people. There will be more that 95,000 points of contact with patients by year-end, plus approximately $1.5 million in supplies is given every year. We do this on a budget of less than $180,000 per year. If you have any question please feel free to call us or visit our web page. Please consider us for your year end charity. The following chart demonstrate the patients served within each area of service during January through October 2005:
Special Gift If you are interested, we have Gift Christmas Cards for those of you who wish to make a donation to CAMO in honor of a friend or loved one. Just call us and we will send you a packet of cards. Calendar of events:
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