Celebrating the Impact of Our Incredible Volunteers!

Healing the Children
Apr 25
3 min read

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK is APRIL 20–26, 2025

SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PEOPLE AND CAUSES THAT INSPIRE US TO SERVE.

Commemorating 50 years! Since 1974, National Volunteer Week has been an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. It takes place every April during Global Volunteer Month.

Each year, we shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT "EXTRA MEANINGFUL MISSION"

By Susan Ketigian RN

Susan Ketigian, RN and her daughter Dr. Laura

In the spring of 2024, I went to Ica, Peru a well established HTC Northeast (HTCNE) site caring for children with cleft lip/palates. I am an operating room nurse and this was my 30th mission trip. It was a very special trip for another reason…

A new team member joined the anesthesia team—Dr. Laura Ketigian, an anesthesia resident at UMASS, who happens to be my daughter!

In 2012, I traveled to El Salvador with Healing the Children Southwest and brought Laura, a senior in high school at the time. She was contemplating a career in medicine, and I thought this would be a good experience for her. In 2016, Laura joined me again in Colombia with HTCNE. Needless to say, the missions inspired her, and she set her sights on a goal. After many years of schooling and studying hard, she succeeded! It was a proud moment for me to work with my daughter in the operating room. ( I usually don’t hear anyone in the OR call me “Ma”!)

These missions are life-changing not only for the people we help but also for the team members. I hope Laura and I will continue to make more mission memories in the future.

UPCOMING MEDICAL TEAMS ABROAD TRIPS

COLOMBIA - Our newest chapter HTC Texas (HTCTX) will be heading to Neiva, Colombia on their 30th anniversary trip the end of May. This looks to be a very impactful trip, and based on the results last year, that would be expected.

2024 Neiva Medical Mission Trip Results
126 Medical Procedures
36 Orthoses
575 Patient Processed during Evaluation Day
76 Behavioral Therapy Evaluations
125 Hours of Speech Therapy

NEPAL - HTC Southern California (HTCSCA) Dr. Alireza “Ali” Khosroabadi, DPM, and his dedicated medical team have traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, bringing life-changing surgical care to children with clubfoot and other debilitating foot and ankle conditions and deformities. In a country known for its breathtaking mountains and rich culture, millions of children remain trapped by poverty and a lack of access to medical care. These treatable conditions affect over 30 million children worldwide—yet half of them receive no care, leaving them to face a lifetime of pain and disability.

Dr. Ali and his team refuse to accept this reality. Year after year, they return to Nepal,

performing complex surgeries, training local doctors, and allowing children to walk, run, and dream of a brighter future. But they can’t do it alone. Your support provides essential medical supplies, surgical tools, and access to care for the children most need it.

To support this campaign, please visit: https://givebutter.com/as8jf2

DID YOU KNOW?

In addition to the nearly 1,000 medical professionals who volunteer with HTC every year, 80% of our 15 chapter directors are also volunteers. And, annually, we count over $1 million in donated time, talent, and treasure to facilitate our work. Last year alone, this totaled 5,207 children healed, and a total of 320,806 children impacted in our 45-year history. Imagine the ability to change a child's life through healing? This is the work of HTC!