It was a busy but manageable day....I did screening again from 8-10 then went to set up the recovery room w/ the Pediatric Intensivist from 10-2 then helped with the last hour of screening & we did one case (more info later) so I was in the OR & recovery room for that. I am reminded of something I already knew....that often life is all about perspective. Before going to Kenya I had only medically experienced hospitals in the USA & while they vary there is a basic "standard of care & facilities". Then in Kenya I learned that sometimes you just do your best with what you have. Now in Tlaxcala I was SOOOOO THRILLED to walk in a "real recovery room" - of course it isn't at all like the recovery room we have for CHOC patients but there were 6 gurneys with clean linens that can be changed between patients, 3 oxygen & suction outlets in the walls (a bit antiquated & challenging to work with but still) & a REAL CODE CART & most of the supplies we would need - I was ecstatic!!!! Now had I come to Mexico before going to Kenya I am sure I would have looked at this recovery Room much differently & just seen all its deficiencies...but having had much less I appreciate all. Sometimes I think we need a "Kenya" in many aspects of our lives to appreciate so many things we take for granted to to realize how great all our "everydays" really are :)
During screening there were a few "special patients" that - stuck out to me...Alma a 17 year old girl who was the oldest of 6 children & had a cleft lip that they could never afford to repair - she was such a sweet girl - I took her picture - told her she was already beautiful but that we would make her smile even more perfect...I am excited to see her after surgery & to think of the change this will make in her life. There was also Lupita - she was dressed in boys clothes & wrapped in a blue blanket & I thought she was a boy & had beautiful thick black hair - I took some pictures of baby & mom before I screened them. At screening I fund out the baby was a girl & was 7 months old & was the 5th child & only girl of a very poor family. They were actually from an Indian (vs Mexican) village 6 hours away & left their 4 boys & the parents had gone without food in order to travel with her to Tlaxcala - not having baby girl clothes for her was the least of their concerns. With the help of volunteers we got the parents some food & she will be having surgery this week :) Again perspective...did I ever realize that I had 20 or 30 new outfits for each baby before they were ever born? I am so glad I brought some baby clothes & will be sure this family get 4 or 5 outfits for Lupita.
We have a VIP visitor/financial donor on this Mission - some of you may know him but I didn't...Bill Ranscic? He was on the 1st Celebrity Apprentice & his wife Julianna? co hosts E News w/ Ryan Seachrist? Anyways he is a supporter of Op Smile & was here to film footage & take photos for awareness & a donation campaign in LA. He sat with me in screening - I didn't get any pics but Op Smile did & was really nice. He is why we did one case today...so that he could scrub in & observe a repair BUT we weren't set up for post op children so we did a 30 year old mom & mother of 2. It went well & I recovered her & Bill did a very nice interview about Op Smile & his experiences 1st hand at seeing what is done vs just donating $$$. He was very genuine & sincere.
I have to admit that after this trip I will be a little more positive in my feelings towards the Pepsi company :) They are HUGE supporters of Op Smile not only w/ Volunteers but all the chairs & EZ ups we had for screening was from them, they have an endless supply of water, gatorade & soda for us & it is nice to see companies who do this. Their South America Exec VP Jim has been here each day & been a translator or done whatever was needed from moving supplies to translating or stuffing charts. He told me that Pepsi's primary customers here are the owners of the small "tiendas or shops" that sell Pepsi Products - they don't sell to big grocery stores cause they don't exist & there are tiendas everywhere - so part of him being here w/ employees is to also connect with the tienda owners in the area to let them know they support this project in this pueblo - so cool! He also told me the ethnic mix in this area is both "indians" & "mexicans" & that in Mexico in general there is a small middle class, a smaller upper class & largely a "poor" population & that is who we are seeing.
His comments were reinforced by one of the volunteers who had helped me the past 2 days. As I was finishing screening she got a translator so she could talk to me at the end of our time together. Her name was Rosario & she was a sweet woman probably about 60 just here to volunteer. She had sat by me for all my screenings & when I finished with a family she would take them to the next area - while I practiced my Spanish on her - I must admit our communication was pretty basic. Thru the translator she said that she wanted to Thank me from the bottom of her heart for leaving my country & may family & coming to help these families & children who were from the poorest of the poor many without food to eat on a day to day basis ...she just said with tears in her eyes - which then caused tears in my eyes - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you & gave me a giant hug & kisses on both cheeks...moments like that make the long days & hard work so meaningful...the opportunity to lift another is a tremendous blessing & can be done anywhere.....I want to remember that when I am not on an Op Smile mission.
Its late & we were just told out wake up call will be 5:30 as we have a full day tomorrow so I better get to bed - its almost midnite...TeAmo from Tlaxcala
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