Healing the Children

Dr. Mercer is thrilled to participate in frequent medical mission trips to Guatemala. She is affiliated with Healing The Children, a non profit medical volunteer organization dedicated to the healthcare of children throughout third world countries. Our team of northwest audiologists belongs to the Oregon/Washington chapter of HTC, one of 13 national chapters. While initially serving annually in support of ear, nose and throat surgery teams in Guatemala City, our audiology team has independently expanded to serve hearing impaired children in five geographic areas of Guatemala two to three times a year. We provide hearing aids, earmolds, batteries and accessories to hearing impaired children and have developed a network of trained volunteers to provide access to hearing aid maintenance and supplies in our absence. Other dedicated Guatemalan volunteers receive training to provide ongoing auditory rehabilitation/therapy to these children.

These services are provided at no cost to the families, thanks to generous donations from hearing aid manufacturers, earmold laboratories, service organizations and private parties. Our team members pay their own travel expenses to ensure that all donations go directly toward patient care. It is our goal to eventually make this program entirely self sustaining and expand it to other countries in need.

Demand for our services, and consequently funding, is immense. Dr. Mercer will be returning to three areas of Guatemala in November to fit more children with hearing aids. If you feel moved to help with this most worthy of causes, please speak with her to ensure that your donation goes specifically toward the audiology program of HTC, or contact the local HTC office at 1-800-347-3340.