Florida Hospital Winter Park (see more articles like this)

Twelve-year-old Gerson Garcia lives a very poor existence in LaSaba, Honduras.  His mother passed away and he does not know his father.  As the bread winner for his elderly grandparents, he collects coke cans and does whatever he can to earn money.  But, on June 15, 2005, he was brutally attacked by a man with a machete who cut him across the back, broke his arms, and tried to cut off his hands.  The attack severed his tendons and left him with no functional use of his hands.  Now, thanks to Florida Hospital Winter Park, Open Door Ministries, and local doctors,

Garcia is getting the specialized hand surgery he needs to regain the use of his hands.
Barry Compton of Open Door Ministries, which operates small houses for orphans, an abuse shelter, and a feeding station for poor children in Honduras, met Garcia at a feeding station.  At that time, Garcia had already undergone surgery to close his wounds at a Honduran hospital.  However, he was suffering from severe infections and his wounds were not healing.  Compton decided the only way the young boy would ever lead a normal life was to bring him to the United States to have surgery to repair his hands.  With the help of Dr. Richard Gregory at Florida Hospital Celebration Health, the Compton’s got a birth certificate and visa for Garcia, enabling them to bring the boy to Central Florida.  They then enlisted the help of Dr. Mary Lynn Brown of Jewett Orthopedic who agreed to do the surgery at no charge, Dr. Suresh Kannan, who agreed to donate his services as the anesthesiologist, and Florida Hospital Winter Park donated the operating room, staff, and supplies for the surgery.

“We are so thrilled to be able to live out our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ by helping Gerson Garcia get the surgery he needs,” said Bucky Weeks, director of international missions for Florida Hospital.

“The whole thing has really been a labor of love.  So many people have come together to help this little boy.  If not for their compassion and generosity, Gerson would probably never have use of his hands and would be forced into a life of begging in Honduras.  Now, we hope to help him get into school and ensure he lives a normal life,” said Barry Compton of Open Door Ministries.   

Video of this surgery, interviews with Barry Compton, Dr. Mary Lynn Brown and representatives from Florida Hospital available upon request.