Clinica Esperanza Currents

Clinica Esperanza, above all, is a clinic of and for the people of the Bay Islands

August 2, 2007

Volume 1, Number 1

YOU MADE IT HAPPEN – A MIRACLE IN ROATÁN

Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the grand opening of the new Clínica Esperanza was held on March 10th 2007. Known by many as “Hospital Ms. Peggy,” the clinic moved into its new location on the hill across the street from the Son Rise Hotel. Over a hundred people gathered for the dedication which featured speeches from Ms. Peggy, Dr. Raymond, and others. Police Chief Joe Solomon offered an inspiring prayer of thanks and vision for the future. The Flowers Bay Steel Drum Band provided musical entertainment. Wonderful food prepared by Emily Flowers and her crew topped the afternoon.

Clínica Esperanza began seven years ago in Ms. Peggy’s kitchen. And the journey from her kitchen to our new 4500 square foot building overlooking Sandy Bay has been nothing short of a miracle. The first floor of the new clinic which houses the outpatient services department sees over 600 patients a month.

The program for the clinic’s dedication included the names of over 75 donors from three continents. Countless others have contributed money, time, labor, and prayers, and ideas. Many hands and many hearts have made this dream possible. And we are not stopping here: with further financial assistance and continued blessings from God, we will be able to open our inpatient beds in the pediatric and childbirth center in the not too distant future.

Our vision is a facility that will provide the finest inpatient and outpatient care available to residents and visitors to the Bay Islands! 

Donations:

To make a donation, you may send a check to Mission Roatán, a tax-exempt agency that provides 100% of the funds to the clinic.

Please write "Clínica Esperanza" on the memo line and make the check payable to:

Mission Roatan

PO Box 472

Mahomet, IL 61853

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The clinic has been fortunate to have had a generous number of volunteers over the previous year, not only medical and dental, but in construction and some who just want to offer their services for whatever is needed. A perfect example is Jeanette Wilbur, mother of Dave Wilbur, our builder. 

Jeannette volunteered to coordinate, paint and decorate the interior.  The result is a colorful interior with touches of palm trees and wallpaper accents that brighten the clinic experience for patients and providers alike. To quote our founder Ms. Peggy: “I am just amazed everyday with the progress we have made and only through the lord and generous support of all our volunteers, would this dream ever have become a reality.  Everyday, I have to pinch myself to know that this dream has become a successful project even bigger than I imagined!”

Volunteering:

To volunteer your help in any way please call

Ms. Peggy at 9885-1044

Dr. Patrick at 9915-4958

or check our website

www.clinicaesperanza.com

MS. PEGGY – ENERGY BEHIND CLINIC SUCCESS

No newsletter about the new clinic would be complete without a little information about our founder Peggy Stranges, RN. Miss Peggy is from the Buckeye State and volunteered in Honduras for many years before moving here permanently in 2001. Ms. Peggy began dispensing medical care in her Sandy Bay kitchen shortly after moving here. Her most famous quote repeated often is “I’m just a nurse.” Her vision was simply to help those in need. And over the years she has become recognized by the people of this island as someone who would always help, no matter the problem.

Her charisma and leadership has attracted volunteers and donors from many countries and backgrounds. And she has functioned as nurse, caregiver, janitor, driver, tour director, volunteer coordinator, counselor, plumber, banker, and countless other tasks that keep her going 14 hours a day 7 days a week.

In the end, it is Ms. Peggy’s drive, work ethic, energy, and faith that has kept this clinic going for seven eventful years and has resulted in not only the building but the entire enterprise of Clínica Esperanza that we have today. 

Clínica Esperanza

Roatan, Honduras

Peggy Stranges, RN

011-504-445-3245

(Honduras)

Email Peggy

Patrick N. Connell, MD, FACEP

602-317-3706

(USA)

011-504-866-8612

(Honduras)

Email Patrick

We’re on the Web

www.clinicaesperanza.com

NGO STATUS

The NGO which operates Clínica Esperanza is BAY ISLANDS COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSOCIATION which recently completed approval process from the Honduran government to function as a non-profit corporation (NGO). We also have a stateside 501c3 corporation (Mission Roatan) through which US residents can give and get appropriate documentation for tax deductibility.

NEWSLETTER

This is first of what is hoped will be bimonthly newsletters to inform our donors, our volunteers, and our community of what is happening at Clínica Esperanza. You are receiving this because of your interest and/or involvement in this effort. Thank you for your support.