Nicaragua Global Outreach Program

In partnership with host spine surgeon, Dr. Zeyra del Camen Lopez Aguilar and team at the Dr. Fernando Vélez Paiz Hospital in Managua (including Medical Director Dr. Maria Virginia Garcia Almendarez, Dr. Evel Lopez, Dr. Eder Martinez, and Dr. Johana Lissette Galan Lopez), and the Ministry of Health, we are working together to build a pediatric spine program in Nicaragua. In addition to providing charity spine surgery and post-op care to children whose families do not have the resources to pay for costly treatment, this program will also offer training and education to surgeons, medical staff, residents, and medical students in the region on advanced surgical techniques and spine safety protocols. Watch this video for details about this live-changing program!

SpineHope Surgical & Education Trips

October 6-13, 2024

  • 10 corrective spine surgeries in 4 days

  • 38 patient examinations

  • 1 Pediatric Spinal Deformity Symposium

We are grateful to our partner and trip sponsor, Medtronic, for donating essential spinal implants, equipment, and product.

Thank you also to Alphatec Spine for donating surgical product and Globus Medical/NuVasive for providing neuromonitoring services.

August 12-13, 2024

  • Shipped, Assembled and Donated Halo Gravity Traction Equipment and Setup to help patients with severe curves over 90 degrees

  • 1st patient put in traction and trained and educated hospital staff on new procedure and patient care

SpineHope (with substantial assistance from spine surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Illingworth of Cedars-Sinai, and the Illingworth Family), secured the equipment in the USA and had it delivered to Dr. Fernando Vélez Paiz Hospital in Managua. We are thrilled to have been able to donate equipment that will allow children with severe scoliosis and kyphosis gain access to this advanced treatment.

THANK YOU Dr. Illingworth as well as Dave and Silvia Illingworth for all you did to make this possible for Nicaragua!

February 25 - March 2, 2024

  • 10 corrective spine surgeries in 4 days

  • 31 patient examinations

We are grateful to our partner and trip sponsor, Medtronic, for donating essential spinal implants, equipment, and product.

Thank you also to Alphatec Spine for donating the critical spine surgical table and Globus Medical/NuVasive for donating neuromonitoring services.

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

  • Alec Stall, Spine Surgeon/SpineHope Representative

  • Bridges Gordy, NuVasive Neuromonitoring Tech

  • Brandon Black, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

  • Charles Bull, Atec Spine Representative/OR Support

  • David Illingworth, Team/Trip/Local Support

  • Jacinto Real, Clinic Translator/OR Support

  • Jorge Guerrero, Anesthesiologist/Trip Planning/Medical Translator/Trainer

  • Kenneth Illingworth, Spine Surgeon

  • Kimberley King, Clinic Director/Patient Coordinator/Translator

  • Matthew Geck, Spine Surgeon/SpineHope Representative

  • Silvia Illingworth, Clinic Support/Translator/Team Support

  • Sophie Aliece Hollis, Clinic Support/Translator/Media Content

  • Tobias Hernandez, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

  • Whitney Scurlock, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

  • William Montalvo, Scrub Tech/Medical Translator

  • Zachary Mitchell, NuVasive Neuromonitoring Tech

MAY 2023 Surgical Trip Volunteers

SpineHope's May 7-13, 2023 inaugural surgical trip was a success. We thank Dr. Luis Osorio Canales and team at the Dr. Fernando Vélez Paiz Hospital in Managua for the warm welcome of our volunteer team. Together we performed 5 corrective spine surgeries and evaluated 28 patients in clinic, challenged with spinal deformities.

Thank you to the SpineHope DREAM TEAM:

  • Alec Stall, Spine Surgeon

  • Bridges Gordy, NuVasive Neuromonitoring Tech

  • Brandon Black, Medtronic Implant/Product Representative

  • Erika Henson, RN OR and Clinic Translator

  • Jorge Guerrero, Anesthesiologist OR and Clinic Translator

  • 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

Thank you Medtronic for donating spinal implants and product as well as NuVasive for donating neuromonitoring services for this week's spine surgeries. We are excited to be working together with the team in Nicaragua to help children in need!

  • “You made possible the desires of our hearts and especially Angelina's. Today, she is enjoying good health, feeling confident, proud and happy with her body without more pain in her back, happy and accomplished wearing the clothes she always wanted to wear, without pain. Thank you SpineHope, thank you to all the sponsors who made Angelina's surgery possible and a reality. Even though she is still in the recovery process and adapting to her new spine, the positive changes in her can be seen and felt. Thank you all, hugs!”

    – Elizabethe Fortiche Abea, mother of Angelina Fortiche (May 2023 SpineHope Surgical Patient in Nicaragua)

Donate

Thank for supporting our mission to help transform children's lives worldwide through spine surgery, education and research. Your gift will help us continue our life-changing programs and keep hope alive for children afflicted with debilitating spinal deformities and complex spine disorders. Together we are helping mend spines and give impacted children the opportunity to live fuller and healthier lives!