Paramedics for Children
What would it be like to be slammed by two Category 4 hurricanes in two weeks? Ask Honduras. On Nov.3, 2020, Hurricane Eta arrived, with Hurricane Iota hard on her heels, arriving Nov, 17. Worse, the hillsides were already saturated from an already record-breaking storm season. Oh, and it was of course the middle of the pandemic.
Where does one begin to rebuild, to sustain life, to survive? People living in a small, broad valley in Honduras are lucky to have Paramedics for Children at their back. A quiet presence, this homegrown, boot-strapped work of passion deserves a spotlight, so here it is.
From being a flooded wreck in November, the clinic got its finishing touches on the final repairs last March, thanks to many supporters and was able to re-open, ready for business.
It all started because a career in real estate allowed Rodger Harrison to retire in his 40's. He soon discovered that going fishing wasn’t fun if his friends were all still working, so in the early 1990s he became a paramedic. He was an enigma, being an older medic, but he loved the work.
In 1997, sidelined with a rotator cuff injury, he noticed the rising prevalence of Hispanic people in his North Carolina community, and decided to immerse himself in Spanish culture. He traveled with some realtor friends to survey investment possibilities in Central America. When they arrived in Copán Ruinas, Honduras, Rodger was smitten by the famous Mayan ruins, the cobblestone streets, the adobe and red-tiled roofs. He jumped ship to learn the language, and found himself returning again and again.
In May, volunteers took school supplies to 150 children.
When Hurricane Mitch smashed into the area on Halloween, 1998, the owner of the lodge Rodger stayed at called in a panic. The storm had dumped up to 12 inches of rain for several days, resulting in landslides and flooding. The crops were ruined. There was no fresh water. More than 1.5 million people regionally were left homeless. Of 11,000 who died, 7,000 were in Honduras. Rodger responded by tapping all his connections and a week later flew a small planeload of donated materials to the area. The devastation, he said, was terrible. He continued to make trips every couple of months, bringing much-needed supplies. One day, a reporter asked what his organization was called, but he hadn’t had time to think about it. She said, “You’re a paramedic, right? You help kids, rights? Why don’t you call it Paramedics for Children?”
Rodger Harrison and (a few of) the kids his work has benefited over the past 25 years.
So it was. In the intervening years, Rodger has built an inspiring legacy in the Copán Ruinas region. In the early years, he rode a horse across the mountainous terrain doing outreach programs in nearby aldeas (villages), providing medical care, child wellness exams, and even bringing school supplies to the children. Nowadays, Rodger focuses on his major achievement: Clinica la Esperanza (Clinic of Hope), which has seen more than 50,000 people through its doors since it opened in 2005. He and his wife and family have also built and run a Bed & Breakfast to help fund the clinic.
Should the idea of helping with remote medicine or volunteering with the school project appeal to you, there are two main volunteer programs offered at Paramedics for Children. People with medical training can work in the clinic. And others can help with educational outreach programs, such as visiting the outlying schools. Four times a year, they visit about 2,000 children in 25 schools monitoring growth, development, and well-being—and of course bringing more school supplies.
For nearly 25 years, this grassroots organization has provided services to people that they would not otherwise have. The impact of the back-to-back hurricanes last winter has left them with precious little to continue their work. If you are interested in helping, Rodger will sing your praises (have I mentioned he’s an entertainer as well?!) forever! Paramedics for Children is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing medical care, educational support, and disaster response in Central America. Although I don’t usually tout opportunities for donations, I’m making an exception this time. In a recent correspondence, Rodger said, “As for donations, we are truly hurting so thanks so very much for asking how you can help us. Here is the info that takes people directly to our donation link”: flipcause.com For a more general look into this amazing organization, go to Facebook and search “Paramedics for Children,” or go to pfci.org and take an armchair visit to a truly remote corner of the world.
