Heroes in Honduras: Dr. Michael Forseth, M.D.

This little boy lives in Honduras. Where he calls home, machetes are part of normal life and used often for farming, with the oldest to the young children wielding these tools to help support the family’s livelihood. In one moment – it was an accident – a machete cut through this little boy’s hand, severing the tendons that allowed his fingers to move.  In a normal situation in the medical system of Honduras, the family would have to travel to the capital to set up an appointment, because that is the only way to do so, and then travel back home only to return on the appointment day.  Then after the appointment if surgery was needed, the family would then have to buy all the medical supplies that would rival their salary for months if not a year.  If they could afford to have the procedure they would travel again to have the surgery done.  All too often, the mounting costs of surgery would financially decimate already poor families.

But this would not be his story.

His family heard about a surgery center located on the ranch of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, an orphanage in the mountainous region.  The Holy Family Surgery Center was started by Summit surgeon Peter Daly, M.D. and his wife, LuLu, and is dependent on volunteer staff that pays their own way to travel to Honduras to provide medical and surgical care.  The surgery center is also funded by the donations of others who believe in the worthiness of the cause.

Through the work of a translator, the family was told about every step of the surgery process and that there would be no cost to them.  Dr. Michael Forseth, M.D., who back home has a busy practice at Summit Orthopedics and is well respected as a hand specialist, was there in Honduras as one of the three surgeons from Summit Orthopedics donating their time.

As the little boy drifted into sleep from the anesthesia, I witnessed something remarkable: restoration. It was restoration not only of this little boy’s hand, but restoration of a future that would no longer be defined by lack of function.  A team of medical professionals from Summit and across the United States, who had not worked together before that day, came together to give this family a first world surgical outcome in their third world environment.

This is his surgery story captured in pictures, through my lens.

Summit Orthopedics supports healthy communities

Community health flourishes when specialized orthopedic care is conveniently available close to home. Summit Orthopedics is proud of our fellowship-trained subspecialty teams offering the full spectrum of orthopedic expertise in bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint conditions—in addition to our wellness, prevention, and rehabilitation services. We have the expertise to proactively improve fitness, evaluate discomfort, and deliver personalized treatment to quickly and safely return you to the lifestyle you love.

Start your journey to a healthier, more active self. Find your orthopedic expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.

More resources for you

• Learn more about how Holy Family Surgery Center developed into One World Surgery Center
• Dr. Forseth Explains One World Surgery Scholarships

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