Six years ago, my sister Jody Greenlee took two children from Guatemala into her home: An infant named Eddie, suffering from malnutrition and severe cleft pallet, and twelve-year-old Albertina, whose pelvis was crushed in a bus crash. They came to her through Children of the Americas (COTA), a small non-profit organization that provides medical and surgical services to indigent children and their families. Jody, a nurse, provided a home for Eddie and Albertina throughout their multiple surgeries for over a year, even though Jody has three of her own children. She later joined nine other nurses on a COTA trip to Guatemala. Encountering so many poor children and families with no access to medical care deeply shocked Jody. When COTA’s founding director resigned due to health reasons, the organization fell into disarray. Believing that COTA’s work should continue, Jody left her position at the University of Kentucky Medical Center to help save the organization and its mission. With no money for rent, she set up the office in her basement.
Acting as both Board President and Health Care Coordinator, Jody has organized six COTA medical trips to Guatemala in the last six years. She has worked tirelessly, securing donations, supplies, and making the necessary arrangements for each trip. Under her guidance, the number of volunteers has significantly increased, and the scope of care offered has expanded from plastic surgery on cleft lip and pallet, to general surgery, OBGYN, orthodontics, and prosthetics.
In January, the group traveled to the Western Pacific coast of Guatemala. Due to a recent hurricane, landslides had injured many people living in the region. To succor the injured, Jody led 108 volunteers, doctors, and nurses into the area.
The medical team performed 123 free surgeries and 353 dental procedures, fitted 146 donated artificial limbs, and distributed 36 wheelchairs and 60 pairs of crutches. The work is often difficult, and the conditions are always harsh. But Jody’s total dedication provided the glue and impetus for the entire massive effort. COTA has become a family affair. Last year our mother, a retired nurse, joined the effort. This year, our brother Mike went to help. Jody also runs the COTA program that brings children to the United States for surgery. She has begun to develop an alliance with the local Muslim community to assist with funding and care for children in the Middle East. Jody has also developed an institutional relationship with the Rotary Club and Shriners Hospital to provide aid to COTA burn patients. Since 2000, Jody has arranged for 82 surgeries in the United States for 61 children from Guatemala, Haiti, Bolivia, Honduras, Jordan, and Iraq.
All of the money for Children of the Americas comes from donations. Jody receives no compensation for her work. She and her volunteers pay their travel and expenses out of their own pocket. Jody is an inspiration to me. Through her dedication, compassion, and abilities, hundreds of children and families have gained access to medical treatment and a better quality of life.
To learn more about Jody and her causes, and how you can make a difference, please visit:
www.childrenoftheamericas.org.
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