Giving Back: A Guatemala Recap

Throughout this holiday season, I’ve been reflecting on our recent Providence St. Joseph Health mission to Guatemala to give back to our global community. An especially touching moment from this experience was when we met a mother and her 18-year-old son who has cerebral palsy. When they came into the hospital, she was carrying him on her back—his only means of transportation. There, the clinician gave him a wheelchair that we had helped build. Seeing the smiles on their faces as she received some personal freedom, and her son received the gift of motion and independence was truly heartwarming.

As CIO, my day-to-day work is rewarding, but it’s completely different than the immediate impact that comes from serving a community firsthand. I found the people of Guatemala warm and welcoming despite their country’s hardships, and left feeling more connected than ever to my colleagues through our collective experience.

When I started at Providence St Joseph Health, people constantly told me that the mission changes you. Now, after a year, I couldn’t agree more. By personally delivering these services, I feel a deeper connection with both the mission and our global community. In the coming year, I look forward to more opportunities to continue giving back and getting hands-on with our cause.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. See you in 2020!