https://vimeo.com/710976802?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=27437470

After a long awaited return due to the COVID pandemic, the SpineHope team finally made it back to Ecuador, May 8 – 15, 2022, for a pediatric spine surgical trip. Dr. Matthew Geck and the SpineHope team worked alongside host spine surgeon, Dr. Hazem Nicola, the Hospital de los Valles, and the Fundación El Cielo Para los Niños, to help children with complex spinal deformities. During this week-long trip we were able to evaluate twenty-four children in an all-day clinic and performed five successful corrective spine surgeries. 

Thank you to the team of outstanding volunteers willing to donate their time and talents to make miracles happen:

– Brandon Black, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

– Curtis Jackson, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

– Kim King, Onsite and Clinic Coordinator/Translator

– Matthew Geck, Spine Surgeon/SpineHope Representative

– Sophie Aliece Hollis, Clinic Support/Translator

– Whitney Scurlock, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

– Wynn Bridges Gordy, NuVasive Neuromonitoring Tech

Thank you Medtronic for donating critical spinal implants, product, and equipment as well as NuVasive for donating neuromonitoring services for this week’s spine surgeries. We are excited to be working together once again to build a sustainable pediatric spine program in Ecuador and look forward to planning our next trip in fall of 2022.