Press Release

Sharing the Passion to Serve

“Serving on a Canvasback Mission trip really changes your life,” shares Robert Wells, MD.  The retired orthopedic surgeon has just returned from his fifth trip to Micronesia.  He led a medical team that provided orthopedic services at the Leroij Kitland Memorial Health Center on the tiny Pacific island of Ebeye where over 12,000 people are crammed onto 80 acres.  They saw 122 patients and provided 26 surgeries, which included total knee replacements and arthroscopic surgery for repairing knee injuries.

“My first trip in 1989 was to the remote island of Ebon in the Marshall Islands where one of my jobs was to contact the leprosy patients.  There was one patient who wouldn’t come in because he refused to take his medicine.”   When Wells examined the man, he found advanced ulnar damage with open sores and clawed hands.  “After a great deal of time, we prayed with the man and he finally agreed to take his medicine. “
 
The experience was profound for Wells.  He wanted to share the experience of serving others with his family.  His wife, Susan, joined him in 1993 on a different island called Lukunor in the Chuuk Islands.  “My job was to lead out on health issues with the women.  And I soon found out that the world is very small. Sitting in a big circle of women, we talked about common and universal issues that women here share – back pain, diet, and exercise and spirituality.  And I came to see that these people have great wisdom.  They were loving and honest.  God is truly living in each and every person.”

Over the years, Wells has continued to expand the type of services he provides in the islands.  In 2002, he provided orthopedic services on Pohnpei and Yap.  “Surgery is challenging because of the conditions in the islands.  There are open wards and nominal air conditioning and far less sophisticated facilities.”  His goals include training and equipping local personnel. 

In 2007, Wells brought the first orthopedic surgery team to Ebeye where they not only provided services but also started to train Dr. Richard Trinidad in doing arthroscopic procedures.  Trinidad asked the team to return because “without your help, the people here have no hope of walking.” 
 
Wells passion to serve the less fortunate has extended to sharing the experience with his family. In 2007, Wells brought his 14 yr old granddaughter Jessie to help in the dental clinic.  She wants to join the team again in June to help as a dental assistant. 

Canvasback Missions is a non-profit organization that started in Astoria, Oregon.  Jacque Spence, co-founder of the organization and team leader said, “Canvasback’s passion to serve has grown over the years.  In addition to sending surgery teams to Micronesia, we are running a Diabetes Wellness Center in the Marshall Islands where over 50% of the adult population are diabetic.  It is exciting to see what a life changing difference Dr. Wells and his family have made.  They gave life to people who could not walk and had no hope of ever receiving care.” 
 


 

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