Late last month, the Hands of Hope Medical Mission (HHMM) sponsored its first stateside patient operation at the Andrews Institute Surgery Center. Orthopaedic surgeons Drs. Steven Kronlage and Chris O’Grady, who also serve as Co-Presidents of HHMM, performed the life-changing procedure on 2 ½-year-old Nassir Andrew from Grenada.
Born with brachial plexus palsy, Kronlage and O’Grady addressed the residual contracture resulting from neurologic injury of Andrew’s elbow and shoulder sustained during birth. He also spent time with the practice’s certified hand therapist, who gave him night splints to extend his elbow. While his hand and forearm still have some deficits, the procedure allowed Andrew to regain the function of many affected nerves and raise his arm above his head for the first time.
“Nassir may learn to work around the deficits in his hand and forearm, or he may need to return for additional procedures, including tendon transfers or releases. Marta, our hand therapist and I look forward to following up with him via telehealth visits from his home in Grenada. We are so proud of how far he’s come already,” said Kronlage.
In addition to procedures in the U.S., Kronlage and O’Grady perform specialized surgical interventions in Ecuador and other underserved populations worldwide who would not otherwise have access to care. The physicians also coordinate volunteers to travel with them to assist in various support roles, including nurses and surgical technicians. HHMM is also responsible for fundraising events and accepting ongoing, tax-deductible contributions to support the organization’s efforts at home and abroad.
“I am heading to Ecuador again in June to perform procedures on a few cases and coordinate a fundraising bike ride through the beautiful Ecuadorian countryside to benefit Hands of Hope. We truly appreciate the generous support of our event participants abroad and community partners here at home, including Andrews Institute Surgery Center,” said O’Grady.
Kronlage and O’Grady will return to Ecuador again this fall with additional volunteer support to perform surgeries on a full slate of cases. Kronlage also has a trip to Mexico planned for early 2023. To learn more about Hands of Hope or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit www.HandsOfHopeMedicalMission.org.
