Happy Labor Day from Mexico!

Happy Labor Day from Tlaxcala Mexico!

Aside from my technology challenges which are improving this has been a wonderful day :)  The schedule for the week is the same each day - wake up call at 6, breakfast at 6:30, leave the hotel & walk to the hospital at 7, arrive at 7:15 for a team mtg & then let the day begin. 

I was in "screening" all day & with all the rain we saw less patients then anticipated...about 75 & 55 of those were scheduled for surgery...I really liked screening - there were 2 of us - me & a nurse from Sweden Andrea  -who had just arrived at 4 this morning as her taxi ride from Mexico City took her 5 hours because of flooded roads) & we each had a translator (mine was Tony a wonderful woman & volunteer from Colgate) & a Mexican Volunteer nurse (my new friend Sylvia) from the hospital here.  I would get the patients history, take vital signs then pass the info to Sylvia who copied it all on their chart.  It was a very efficient system :)  I screened some REALLY CUTE patients & the beauty of screening was that if I thought they would be a surgical case I introduced myself to the parents in more depth & told them I would be with their child in the recovery room.  I also got to take some pictures....I had several "favorites" Patient #1 was a 13 year old who had a repair before but had problems w/ scarring so we will revise that for her...when she finished several hours later & had a surgery time she gave me a big hug & we took a pic together.  My other favorites were 2 tiny babies...one was 3 mos & the other 4 months.  Typically 6 mos of age is required for surgery but both of these little girls were well nourished & met the weight requirement so I think they will both get surgery.  One was all the way from Puerta Vallarta - a long trip & the other was from a tiny pueblo 6 hours away & the parents were young (early 20's) & this was their 1st baby & I could just feel the love they had for their little girl & how they wanted her to be able to "grow up normal" - yep at the end of the day when we were talking as a team about her & the decisions was YES I got a little teary.  I took before pictures & told her parents I would be in recovery with her so I will for sure get after pictures - she is ADORABLE & had a big smile that will even be more beautiful when our team is done! 

There were quite a few patients waiting for us when we arrived but we were done by 3 on our end & then I helped move them thru the back end.  One other thing I took pictures of was the "Medical Records" staff from the hospital here dressed in white uniforms each of whom walked out to the tables they were at carrying their own typewriter to complete the forms...I am actually not sure when the last time was that I saw a typewriter????  The bubbles & toys Vicki got for me were perfect & the kids loved them as they waited for long hours in the screening process.  We were assisted today by local volunteers from Pepsi & Colgate - both sponsors of Op Smile & while I am a "die hard diet coke girl" I was happy to have Pepsi Light with my Pepsi friends at lunch :)  We even wore Pepsi T Shirts today each w/ Spanish words on them saying "Abrazo" (hug), "Todo Bien" (all is good), "Animo" (Pick up your spirit - that was the one I had) & "Sonrie" (Smile)  Yep learned a few new Spanish words today & actually as the translator spoke more & more came back to me & IN understood more than I expected & could even say all the Vital Sign #'s to Sylvia in Spanish so she didn't have to wait to copy them down!  A small success!  The Pepsi Volunteers were from the local factory here so it was cool to see them helping in their own community & the Colgate volunteers were from Mexico City.  Speaking of lunch it was actually delicious - chicken, a Mexican version of cole slaw, yummy bread & cantaloupe - which was great because at breakfast I was a bit nervous when I saw rice, beans, tortilla chips w/ melted cheese & salsa (yes Nachos) all of which I am sure was good but just didn't match my idea of breakfast - there were some eggs too but they looked a lil scary - I opted for fruit & yogurt & was fine!

Mexican Independence Day is coming up on Sept 15th & the country is in full preparation mode with red, green & white everywhere, flags & decorations on every building etc.  Also at 6 pm right outside our hotel I heard a band playing taps & walked out to see a FULL Military Ceremony to take down the flag - which I am told occurs all over  the country at 6 pm in town squares.  Tlaxcala is a quaint little area there is a big park outside the hotel w/ 3 big fountains & trees & I am told there is another one around the corner connected to a beautiful Convent & church - we explored the square outside the hotel tonight & 10 of us got dinner at an outside cafe.  One of the locals told me that Tlaxcala is the smallest "state" in Mexico & the nearby areas are some of the poorest in the country.

Tomorrow I will set up the recovery room w/ Christoph the Pediatric Intensivistalot of "in country supplies"  We will see how it goes.  I am SOOOOOOOOO GRATEFUL to be here & have the opportunity to serve the people of Mexico - I love them already - they are a gracious people.  The team is wonderful & we will change lives by changing smiles.  It is a blessing to be here & I appreciate the support from family & friends - love & miss you all.  If all goes well from the technology side I will blog again tomorrow :)