After our mission last year in Uganda, we saw the impact firsthand. Now, we’re doing it again!—because no one should be denied surgery just because of where they were born. This October, a team of 17 amazing medical volunteers will be traveling from Michigan to Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana for a week-long surgical mission with Operation International.
We’ll be doing free surgeries for patients who’ve waited years-- some living with large thyroid goiters, cancers, deformities, congenital abnormalities, and conditions most of us can't imagine having to live with untreated. Our team includes 4 surgeons, 4 CRNAs, and 8 incredible nurses and scrub techs—all donating their time, skills, and heart to serve. This work is deeply meaningful to us.
The population for the Kumasi metro area in 2025 is approximately 4,036,000 people. We will serve surgical patients who have been waiting for a long period of time or have no skilled surgeons to do surgery for them.
We expect to deliver surgery during our a week-long mission. We expected curative results during our mission. Several reconstructive surgical cases, cancer or pediatric patients. We wll be able to have a lot of impact to the community and also for us as a healthcare provider. We will continue to share our positive impact on our local societies. This mission will continue and grow our young generation of surgeons and healthcare providers.
Last week, Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana, became a place of healing, hope, and transformation. For one week, a dedicated team of surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and volunteers joined forces with the local medical staff to provide life-changing care to patients who had long been waiting for relief. By the end of the mission, 94 major surgeries had been performed — all without complications — marking an extraordinary achievement and a profound testament to teamwork, skill, and compassion.
From early morning to late evening, the hospital buzzed with activity. Patients arrived from Techiman and surrounding communities, some having traveled for hours. Many had lived for years with painful or disabling conditions, unable to afford surgery or access specialized care. The mission offered them something they had nearly lost — hope.
The mission was not just about the operations performed, but about partnership and learning. Local doctors and nurses worked side by side with visiting teams, sharing knowledge and techniques to strengthen the capacity of Holy Family Hospital long after the mission’s end. The camaraderie that developed was remarkable — a blend of global expertise and local dedication united by a single purpose: to heal.
Every success story was a ripple of hope extending beyond the hospital walls. Each patient returned home healthier, stronger, and able to resume their roles as parents, teachers, and workers in their communities. For many families, these surgeries didn’t just save lives — they restored livelihoods and dignity.
By the end of the week, the entire team reflected with joy and humility. Ninety-four lives changed. Zero complications. Countless hearts touched. What began as a week-long mission became a lasting reminder of what is possible when compassion and collaboration meet.
To the patients who trusted us, the local staff who worked tirelessly, and the community that welcomed us — thank you. Your resilience and faith inspire us to continue this work. Together, we proved that healing is more than medicine — it’s humanity in action.
