Brian’s story began at age eight, when a high fever left him with severe mobility issues. His family turned to Global Healthworks Foundation as a last resort—and found care, community, and hope.
With consistent treatment and support, Brian regained his strength, confidence, and purpose. Eleven years later, he’s a trained GHF health promoter and now a nursing student—delivering the same care he once received. His journey captures the heart of GHF’s mission: Be Well. Know More.
📸 Read the full story below—featuring photo galleries throughout.
From Patient to Promoter: Brian’s Journey of Healing, Growth, and Giving Back
When Brian Hernández first arrived at a Global Healthworks Foundation (GHF) clinic in Quiché, Guatemala, he was only eight years old. His parents brought him in after a prolonged high fever had left him with cerebral-palsy-like symptoms—stiffness, pain, and limited mobility in both his arms and legs. He could no longer walk without discomfort or write without frustration. School had become a daily struggle. His family, having exhausted every local option, had spent everything they could trying to find him care—without success.
But from the moment he entered the clinic, we saw potential. We saw a young boy with bright eyes, an open heart, and a body that simply needed the right kind of support.
Healing Begins with Kindness
Brian became a regular patient at our mobile clinics. His treatments included acupuncture, therapeutic massage, moxibustion heat therapy, body-movement exercises, and—just as importantly—education. From the beginning, we invited his parents into the healing process. We trained them in simple at-home therapies they could continue between visits, giving them the tools to support Brian’s progress every day.
That’s what we mean when we say Be Well. Know More. At GHF, we don't just provide care—we teach. We reach the communities that need us most, and we share knowledge so healing can continue even after our medical team leaves.
Over time, Brian’s condition began to improve. With each visit, small gains began to build on one another. His body moved more freely. He laughed more. He could participate in after-school activities and movement circles with other children—once unimaginable due to his pain.
“Antes, nada ayudaba" (Before, nothing helped),” his mother shared tearfully.
“Pero ahora es diferente. Estudia. Juega. Él es más feliz.
(But now, he is different. He studies. He plays. He’s happier.)”
From Receiving Care to Giving It
As Brian grew stronger, so did his confidence. Eventually, he began asking how he could help during treatment days. One day, he walked in with a grin and asked:
“Dr. Dan, no tengo clases esta semana. ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?
(Dr. Dan, I’m off school this week—how can I help?)” he offered.
That moment—watching him shift from patient to participant—was unforgettable.
I still remember the first time I saw him applying a treatment. In the same room where he once sat—anxious but committed, his body rigid with discomfort and unsure of what healing might require—he now stood confident, grounded, and fully present, offering that same care to others.
Eleven years ago, Brian struggled to hold a pencil. He now steers a motorcycle to our clinic site, gripping the handlebars with the same hands that once could barely uncurl. I’m not a fan of motorcycles— but every time I picture it, I can’t help but smile.
That image always stays with me. Today, Brian is 19. He excelled in school and completed training in our youth health promoter program. He now helps deliver care with GHF’s mobile clinic teams. In the same treatment rooms where he once received care, you can now find Brian providing it—gently applying auricular acupuncture, administering moxa heat therapy, using a Theragun therapeutic massage tool, and listening carefully to our patients. He’s now taking that commitment even further—enrolled in a nursing program.
For me, as the Foundation’s founder and executive director, this is what makes it all worthwhile. I’m incredibly proud of Brian—not just for how far he’s come, but for the way he’s chosen to give back. He’s living proof of the impact of sustained, compassionate care—and a beautiful example of what it means to pay it forward.
Shifting Healthcare with Kindness & Compassion
Brian’s story is just one of many—but it captures so much of what GHF stands for. We believe in shifting healthcare with kindness and compassion. We believe healing is not transactional—it’s relational. It begins with informed touch, trust, and human connection. It extends when families are empowered, when youth step into leadership, and when communities become part of their own solutions.
GHF’s work is rooted in one guiding principle:
We are all united in our humanity.
We believe that no matter where you come from, no matter your language or landscape—healthcare should be rooted in dignity, kindness, and mutual respect.
Whether it’s helping a child take their first pain-free steps, training a parent in at-home therapy, or watching a former patient step forward as a healer, we are proud to stand by our mission:
Be Well. Know More.
Brian’s journey is a reminder that healing, when shared, becomes transformational. It starts with a single act of care—and becomes part of a chain of healing.