EL SALVADOR – To provide for his family, Alcides, a father of 2 young boys, was working odd jobs at a farm near his home in El Salvador.

One day while he was trimming branches high up in a tree, a limb crashed down on him—knocking him more than 20 feet to the ground and severely injuring him.

When his friends found him, they put Alcides in a hammock to carry him to a doctor, but the nearest medical facility was more than a half hour away and the road there was difficult to travel.

Fortunately, Operation Blessing was nearby conducting a week-long medical clinic. When Alcides arrived, he was immediately seen by a physician and diagnosed with an injured collarbone, broken ribs and a broken wrist.

The OBI team helped transport Alcides to a hospital and gave him a referral to allow him swift admittance and treatment for his wounds.

With help from OBI, Alcides received the medicine he needed to heal and he has recovered well. Now, Alcides is beginning physical therapy that will help him regain his strength.

Meanwhile, to help his family while Alcides is unable to work, Operation Blessing teams have helped them start their own business—a small grocery store—that can provide the income they need.