Justino Leon Recovering

Justino Leon has returned to Damien House as he recovers after having his right leg amputated. Leon is in good spirits as he patiently waits for the pain to fade away. Damien House is hoping to raise the thousands of dollars needed to buy a prosthetic so Leon can walk again. We humbly ask for your prayers that Leon recovers quickly, and if possible, any financial contributions that could help Leon to realize his dream of walking again.

Volunteers Brighten Up the Walls of Damien

Volunteers Elizabeth Navarro and Francesca Anzola, American exchange students from the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES), are in the process of painting the maps of Ecuador and the United States on the walls of Damien House. While getting to know the patients, the girls tried to get an idea where they were from, but had no way of visualizing the different regions within Ecuador. They imagined that the patients felt the same way upon hearing that they were from Washington or New York. In addition to decorating the walls, the volunteers hope that the maps can provide a better understanding of the geographies of both countries. Everyone at Damien House is grateful for the creativity and hard work that the volunteers bring to Damien House.

Everything Back to Normal After Demonstrations

We would like to let everyone know that things have returned to normal here at Damien House after the police demonstrations and ensuing chaos of last Thursday. Everyone here at Damien House is safe and nothing was damaged. Thanks for your concerns.

Volunteers Provide Much Needed Assistance

Brendon Bradford and Hillary Krombel have been assisting Damien House by working in the wound care room. Both volunteers are aspiring doctors and have been happy to take advantage of the opportunity to gain some experience treating the wounds that are a common symptom of Hansen´s disease. Hillary is studying abroad at the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES)in Guayaquil and spends her mornings working at Damien House, while Brendan is volunteering for the year with Rostro de Cristo, a Catholic foundation that invites young adults to spend a year living and working with the people of Ecuador. The patients and staff at Damien House greatly appreciate their hard-working hands and loving hearts.

Colegio Javier Visits

This week Damien House has been graced with the presence of a group of boys from the Colegio Javier, a Jesuit high school here in Guayaquil. They are spending the week conversing and playing games with the patients in addition to helping to clean the hospital grounds. Damien House really appreciates the time and effort they are dedicating to our patients.

Praying for Justino Leon

Damien House humbly asks for your prayers for Justino Leon, who is in danger of losing his leg due to severe ulcers caused by Hansen´s disease. Leon´s unique laugh and wide smile has energized Damien House for years and now he only asks for your prayers for a quick recovery.

The Nutrition Program Returns

Damien House is pleased to announce that we have re-initiated our breakfast and lunch programs thanks to your donations. These programs had been discontinued several years ago due to lack of funding, but for the past year we have once again been able to provide well-balanced, nutritious meals to the patients. Proper nutrition is essential for minimizing the side-effects of the powerful drugs used to treat Hansen´s disease. Thanks to your generosity, our patients no longer have to fear that poor nutrition could worsen their condition and increase their suffering.