Dr. Ghiselli’s son and niece joined him as non-medical volunteers on the mission. They worked with the children, worked on the ranch and in the kitchen, and worked in the surgery center. They describe the experience as a lot of work, but also “humbling and eye-opening, it was heartwarming to see how grateful the patients were.”

The Honduran surgery center has operating rooms, clinics/overnight bays, a dental clinic, and an eye clinic. The full-time, on-site Medical Director and a team of over 30 Honduran staff provide care year-round. The medical missions provide specialty medical services to patients who cannot be served by the on-site staff. During two, week-long medical mission trips each month, volunteers perform life-changing surgeries. They have performed over 12,000 surgeries on Honduran and surrounding area patients in need since 2009. This distinctive approach is a model for developing countries. The cost-effective, high-quality outcomes with strong patient satisfaction are comparable to results in high-income countries. 

Rachel recently returned from a trip to the Western Caribbean, where she enjoyed every minute of walking on the beach, exploring jungles, and climbing ancient ruins. She noticed the stark contrast from a cruise she took about a year ago. That trip was much different; she was in so much pain she didn’t enjoy anything. 

Her unenjoyable 2023 cruise spurred 62-year-old Rachel into action. She had been dealing with leg pain and numbness for a long time and keeping it at bay with dry needling and physical therapy. But after Rachel couldn’t even walk through Costco, she knew she had to do more. She tried some injections that did not alleviate her pain, but her pain management doctor recommended Dr. Wong.

Rachel was surprised that Dr. Wong was so caring and personable, she says, “you don’t always find that kind, reassuring manner in surgeons.” Dr. Wong spent a lot of time with Rachel, “he helped me understand what was going on, and thoroughly explained what he could do to help me with my pain,” Rachel says. Rachel underwent a multi-level microdecompression and minimally invasive fusion surgery on October 9, 2023.

Rachel was thrilled her leg pain was gone after her surgery. She realized how miserable she had been when she took her first post-surgery shower and stood under the water with no pain or fear of falling that the pain used to cause. 

Rachel says she started physical therapy, wore her brace, and “played by Dr. Wong’s rules of recovery.” It took a bit for Rachel to build up her stamina, but without the pain, she felt many more options were within her reach. “My happiest day was when I didn’t have to take my husband to the grocery store with me to help push the cart!” Rachel laughs. 

These days Rachel walks her two Labradoodles, works full-time, and most importantly, is planning more trips. “I’m still young, I have a lot more to see and do,” Rachel says, “with Dr. Wong’s help, now I can.”

Right on the tail of his recent trip to Bournemouth, UK to speak on "Hip Spine Syndrome" at the British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS), Dr. Wong was in rain-flooded Dubai to Co-Chair the Spine Diploma Course co-sponsored by the North American Spine Society (NASS), the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI), and the Arab Spine Society. These courses are part of NASS’ mission to “advance global spine care.”

Dubai was hit with seven inches of rain in 24 hours, the largest daily rainfall since 1949 (the average annual rainfall for Dubai is only 3.5 inches). The Dubai International Airport (DXB) reopened just in time to allow Dr. Wong and the 80 attendees from Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, the US, and Europe to arrive.  

The course was for orthopedic and neurosurgery residents, fellows, and junior staff who often have limited exposure to the spine during their training. The President of NASS, Dr. Zo Ghogawala, and Dr. Wong, a past President of NASS, simultaneously ran a basic course and a more advanced course on scoliosis and spine deformity for the attendees.

In total, Dr. Wong gave 13 lectures, mostly regarding minimally invasive microsurgery, but also on other topics such as prevention of wound infections, clinical guidelines, and informed consent.

Fortunately, by the final day of the conference, the water had receded, and traffic and airport operations returned to normal.

Colorado Spine Partners

Dr. David Wong, Dr. Sanjay Jatana, Dr. Gary Ghiselli, Dr. Chris Johnson

145 Inverness Drive East, suite 100

Englewood, CO 80112

303-MY-SPINE

www.coloradospinepartners.com

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