Her life was hanging by a thread. Literally.
Modesta, a 56-year-old widow and mother of 5, lives in an impoverished region of Nicaragua. She cannot read or write. Since her husband’s death 3 years ago, she has struggled to keep herself and her children fed. She tries to gather corn and beans for sale, but life is hard.
When her pain began, life got even harder… Day by day, her stomach pain intensified. She lives almost 3 hours from the nearest city and had to sacrifice a day’s work for a trip to the hospital there. Doctors knew right away what her problem was: a “giant abdominal hernia.” Her stomach sank… she needed surgery.
But the hospital couldn’t do it. They didn’t have the basic supplies. Hernia surgery requires a bit of special mesh, a piece of tubing for drainage, and a few inches of sutures — basically, thread. You can find plenty of these basics in U.S. hospitals. But in Nicaragua, such supplies are scarce.
Without surgery, Modesta would suffer greater and greater pain — her bowel would eventually perforate — and she would die.
Her story is tragically common in Central America. Men, women, and children living in poverty, facing health crises, can’t get help for lack of the simplest basic medical supplies. But donors like you give them hope — ease their suffering — save their lives.
With your generous support, Advance gathers surplus medical supplies from public healthcare facilities in the U.S. and delivers them to people in desperate need in Nicaragua.
TONS OF SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
Some $765 billion worth of perfectly usable medical supplies are thrown in the trash, dumped in U.S. landfills, every year — because they can’t be returned to insurance companies or are technically “expired” under American regulations. The amazing reality is, U.S. hospitals generate up to 33 lbs. of medical supply “waste” for every staffed hospital bed.
Gauze, syringes, sutures, surgical towels … we have them in abundance — and we throw them out. Hospitals are required to. The same goes for medical devices: When a new version of a device is developed, hospitals throw out the old devices — even if they’re in perfect working order.
But there’s a loophole. The surplus supplies and equipment can be donated. This is where you step into the picture. If you make a contribution to Advance, we will rush these donated goods to Nicaragua, to the people who need them most … people like Modesta.
Every year, people in Nicaragua are saved … will survive … they will experience a whole new quality of life … thanks to you.
The impact of your gift multiplies powerfully: Shipping a container of life-saving medical supplies costs an average of $12,000 — yet the average value is well over $1 million. Every $1 you give turns into more than $100 worth of medical supplies and equipment.
Hernia-reconstruction mesh costs about $36 for one patient like Modesta. Special drainage tubing is $135. To sponsor an average box of supplies is just $18.
Over the past 40 years, Modesta’s area has been hard-hit by civil war, poverty — and then came COVID-19. Through the power of community connections Advance is able to be there for those who need us the most. People who need our help. And thanks to medical surplus in the U.S., we can help them. We collect and deliver medical surplus as often as we can, as we have the funding for transport.
We reached Modesta in time. Thanks to those giving generously to Advance, we delivered mesh, tubing, and sutures to her local hospital, and our volunteer surgical team performed the surgery that saved her life.
Modesta’s life was saved. Her pain ended. She’s going to be alright. She can keep herself and her children alive and healthy. She is so grateful!
Others just like Modesta are awaiting our next shipment of supplies. We hope you will join us in donating today to, quite simply, save lives.
