In May 2026, Ohana One returned to Guatemala City for an impactful surgical outreach trip in partnership with the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center. Over four days, a dedicated team of volunteer surgeons, anesthesiologists, healthcare professionals, and support staff came together with a shared purpose: providing life-changing surgical care to children who might otherwise never have access to the specialized treatment they need.
During the trip, 60 children and adolescents from communities across Guatemala, many of whom traveled long distances with their families in search of care. Patients ranged in age from just five months to 17 years old and came from regions throughout the country, including Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Quiché, Suchitepéquez, San Marcos, Escuintla, and beyond.
Working across three operating rooms, the team provided specialized pediatric urology and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures. Surgeries addressed a wide range of conditions, including hypospadias, undescended testicles, burn scar contractures, facial reconstruction needs, hand contractures, and other congenital and acquired conditions that significantly affect a child's health, mobility, confidence, and quality of life.
While the numbers tell an important story, the true impact can be found in the children and families behind them.
Children like Cristian, a 16-month-old from rural Quiché, who received corrective surgery for hypospadias. Or Michael, a 12-year-old who traveled nearly five hours with his family to access specialized care that was otherwise out of reach. And Bephany, a young girl continuing her journey of healing after surviving a devastating dog attack, who received reconstructive surgery designed to improve both function and appearance.
These stories remind us that surgery is more than a procedure. It is an opportunity for a child to thrive, a family to find hope, and a community to see what is possible when access barriers are removed.
As with every Ohana One Surgical Outreach Trip, the focus extended beyond direct patient care. The outreach emphasized collaboration, education, and sustainable partnerships. Team members worked alongside local healthcare professionals and trainees, sharing knowledge and strengthening relationships that will continue to benefit patients long after the visiting team has returned home.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary partnership of the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center. Their team coordinated patient recruitment, scheduling, clinical support, family services, and ongoing follow-up care, ensuring that children receive comprehensive support before, during, and after surgery.
We are deeply grateful to the volunteer medical team, local partners, donors, and supporters whose generosity made this mission possible. Together, we are helping build a future where geography and financial circumstances are no longer barriers to receiving specialized surgical care.
This mission is just one chapter in a much larger story.
Over the coming weeks, we will be releasing our full Guatemala Mission Report, featuring detailed outcomes, patient stories, volunteer perspectives, and insights into the long-term impact of this partnership. We invite you to keep an eye on our website and social media channels for its release.
Every child deserves access to safe surgical care. Thanks to the power of partnership, collaboration, and compassion, we are moving one step closer to making that vision a reality.
Stay tuned for the full Guatemala Trip Report, coming soon.
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