Jesus Sanchez Licona

End Date: Apr 2, 2014 12:00 AM

This past March, NYVT Nurses traveled to Honduras to spend a week working alongside doctors, dentists, and pharmacists to provide a mobile medical clinic in El Obraje, a community 3 hours away from the closest public hospital.

While on their brigade, the nurses were particularly touched by one patient that came through the clinic: 26 year old, Jesus Sanchez Licona. Jesus has a condition called Pterygium. Pterygium is a benign growth that usually begins in the inner corner of the eye and can sometimes reach the cornea. The growth causes redness, inflammation, tearing, and in advanced cases, can affect vision and lead to corneal scarring.

Although someone with a lot of resources would be able to receive this treatment very easily, it is not an easy task for Jesus. Jesus works in the fields to support himself and his wife, Elivia, but even with this, the average income for a family in El Obraje is only $2000 Lempiras (about 100 US dollars) a month.

We are hoping with the support of NYVT and other generous contributors, we will be able to get Jesus the healthcare he deserves to live a healthy life and continue providing a stable income for his young family.

On Thursday, April 25, Dr. Bruce took Jesus to an initial consultation at the hospital in Tegucigalpa. The doctor there found that surgery would not be necessary! However, in order for Jesus to maintain his health, he will need UV protection sunglasses and eye drops for the next year. With your help, we can purchase these sunglasses for Jesus as well as deliver his eye drops every three months for the duration of his treatment. This treatment will ensure that Jesus will be able to work in the fields without his vision becoming obscured.

In total, Jesus's case will cost $365. We are over halfway towards our goal and with your help, we can reach it in no time!

If you have any further questions, please contact Courtney Ferreira (courtney@globalbrigades.org). From Jesus, Elivia, and the Patient Referral team, we sincerely thank you for your help!