So here I am in Guatemala City so blessed to be on another Operation Smile Mission. I was scheduled to go on a Mission to Toluca Mexico in Sept. but because of some things at CHOC had to cancel that one & I was so disappointed as it is actually very hard to get on Mission & that one in particular I was supposed to be with my friend Katrin who I had been in Tlaxcala with so I was beyond disappointed to have to cancel. when I did cancel I told the Mission Coordinator Joe that if he had any opening on later missions to please consider me I would LOVE to go on another mission before the end of the year. @ days later he called me back & asked if I wanted to go to Guatemala City in November - I said YES instantly :)
Because i had so much going on at work I knew I had the dates blocked & was going but hadn't really told anyone or done ANY prep until this past week or so...what a week & SO SO MANY friends have been so supportive in so many ways, money for me to use her to help others as I see the need, a shopping trip to Target to buy toys for the kids, treats for me to take, sweet notes & texts. I feel very loved & supported as I go to do this work.
In the 3rd Team Packet there was a PS..this mission was being sponsored by Mike & Bonnie - 2 anesthesiologists a husband & wife in honor of heir son Adam who died in Dec. I was in Ethiopia Round #1 with Mike & Bonnie last Oct & felt so honored that I was going to be able to be a part of this mission. So as much as I missed being with Katrin I was happy to be a part of Guatemala City with them.
I think I have this packing thing down...my bag was 49.5 lbs with a 50 lb limit If I wasn't bringing a bunch of stuff for the kids & a bag for a friends son on a mission here I may have even just brought one bag & a carry on - miracle compared to my 1st mission with 2 giant bags & 2 of the biggest carry ons possible. I was also excited to hear we were in a "nice hotel" that also had internet. Op Smile "stories" have talked about these great hotels in places like Vietnam & China but mine have probably not been places I would choose on my own...
I took the Red Eye last night from LAX & even used points to upgrade to 1st class thinking I could sleep. Well it is only a 5 1/2 hour flight so with take off & landing etc there was maybe 3-4 hours to sleep which seemed to elude me but I did have a nice big seat & no one next to me so I was comfy!
I arrived at 7 am & from the sky I could see all these "houses" as i got closer I realized many of them were "shacks" all next to each other. I got thru immigration quickly, got my luggage & breezed thru customs :) The Hotel shuttle wasn't there so shoe shine guy - realizing I had no shoes for him to shine offered to call them for me then asked for a tip..I was happy for the help & happy to give the tip.
The hotel shuttle drive told me its 10-15 min away without traffic & 30 with traffic - we got there fairly quickly & his REALLY is a nice hotel. I would stay here on vacation!!! Pool, Spa, work Out Area...WOW!!! My room wasn't ready but the local coordinator had left me a key to her room - I was tired but didn't want to sleep in her room or shower so I just read a little & bout 90 min later she came back & my room was ready. she suggested I enjoy the hotel today as after this we will really only be here to sleep - REALITY CHECK - YES I am on a mission & even in a wonderful hotel we do 16 hour days.... It was great to be one of the 1st people here - I got myself all unpacked...after all I am here 10 nights...showered & was then aghausted. I couldn't decide if I should work out or take a nap...I went down to the lobby at noon & Monica the local coordinator was waiting for her volunteers to welcome arrivals cause she needed to go to the hospital which...is over an hour away in a much more destitute area. We will be at a military hospital - that should be interesting & LOTS of guards with guns...Anyway I ended up being the greeter until her volunteers came - I got to pass out the t shirts & a little bag they had for each volunteer with a pound of Guatemalan coffee in it :)
Once the volunteers came I went to explore the hotel more - it is so nice...there a beautiful pool area, a patio area, little shops...like I said I could vacation here!
When I came back thru the lobby I saw Mike & Bonnie & gave them HUGE hugs - their room wasn't ready either so we sat to visit with other friends of theirs & I found out the store of their son Adam. he was being treated for Testicular Cancer when we were in Mekele - the treatments were brutal but he finished them last Nov.. The end of Nov he was having some breathing problems & it ended up he had a 1 in 100,000 person side effect of lung tissue damage from one of his Chemos. He worsened & was put on ECMO (heart lung support) for 6 weeks & in Dec they removed him from that & he passed away immediately. what a journey they have had. Their son Adam wanted to go on a mission with his parents & loved the photos from Mekele...so this is HIS MISSION..they selected the entire Anesthesia team, their neice is doing her 1st mission in the Recovery Room with me their daughter is here as a guest audiologist, 3/4 of the team were hand selected by them & then how lucky was I to get to come on this mission with them. They are going to tell their story tonight at the 1st team mtg. Bonnie said her challenge all week will be the tears that will flow. I feel honored to have them welcome me with such open arms.
Our Team meeting & dinner is tonight at 7. I am sure we will learn more about the schedule then but from what we were given before we will be screening the next 2 days - I cant wait to see all the beautiful Guatemalan children!
Because i had so much going on at work I knew I had the dates blocked & was going but hadn't really told anyone or done ANY prep until this past week or so...what a week & SO SO MANY friends have been so supportive in so many ways, money for me to use her to help others as I see the need, a shopping trip to Target to buy toys for the kids, treats for me to take, sweet notes & texts. I feel very loved & supported as I go to do this work.
In the 3rd Team Packet there was a PS..this mission was being sponsored by Mike & Bonnie - 2 anesthesiologists a husband & wife in honor of heir son Adam who died in Dec. I was in Ethiopia Round #1 with Mike & Bonnie last Oct & felt so honored that I was going to be able to be a part of this mission. So as much as I missed being with Katrin I was happy to be a part of Guatemala City with them.
I think I have this packing thing down...my bag was 49.5 lbs with a 50 lb limit If I wasn't bringing a bunch of stuff for the kids & a bag for a friends son on a mission here I may have even just brought one bag & a carry on - miracle compared to my 1st mission with 2 giant bags & 2 of the biggest carry ons possible. I was also excited to hear we were in a "nice hotel" that also had internet. Op Smile "stories" have talked about these great hotels in places like Vietnam & China but mine have probably not been places I would choose on my own...
I took the Red Eye last night from LAX & even used points to upgrade to 1st class thinking I could sleep. Well it is only a 5 1/2 hour flight so with take off & landing etc there was maybe 3-4 hours to sleep which seemed to elude me but I did have a nice big seat & no one next to me so I was comfy!
I arrived at 7 am & from the sky I could see all these "houses" as i got closer I realized many of them were "shacks" all next to each other. I got thru immigration quickly, got my luggage & breezed thru customs :) The Hotel shuttle wasn't there so shoe shine guy - realizing I had no shoes for him to shine offered to call them for me then asked for a tip..I was happy for the help & happy to give the tip.
The hotel shuttle drive told me its 10-15 min away without traffic & 30 with traffic - we got there fairly quickly & his REALLY is a nice hotel. I would stay here on vacation!!! Pool, Spa, work Out Area...WOW!!! My room wasn't ready but the local coordinator had left me a key to her room - I was tired but didn't want to sleep in her room or shower so I just read a little & bout 90 min later she came back & my room was ready. she suggested I enjoy the hotel today as after this we will really only be here to sleep - REALITY CHECK - YES I am on a mission & even in a wonderful hotel we do 16 hour days.... It was great to be one of the 1st people here - I got myself all unpacked...after all I am here 10 nights...showered & was then aghausted. I couldn't decide if I should work out or take a nap...I went down to the lobby at noon & Monica the local coordinator was waiting for her volunteers to welcome arrivals cause she needed to go to the hospital which...is over an hour away in a much more destitute area. We will be at a military hospital - that should be interesting & LOTS of guards with guns...Anyway I ended up being the greeter until her volunteers came - I got to pass out the t shirts & a little bag they had for each volunteer with a pound of Guatemalan coffee in it :)
Once the volunteers came I went to explore the hotel more - it is so nice...there a beautiful pool area, a patio area, little shops...like I said I could vacation here!
When I came back thru the lobby I saw Mike & Bonnie & gave them HUGE hugs - their room wasn't ready either so we sat to visit with other friends of theirs & I found out the store of their son Adam. he was being treated for Testicular Cancer when we were in Mekele - the treatments were brutal but he finished them last Nov.. The end of Nov he was having some breathing problems & it ended up he had a 1 in 100,000 person side effect of lung tissue damage from one of his Chemos. He worsened & was put on ECMO (heart lung support) for 6 weeks & in Dec they removed him from that & he passed away immediately. what a journey they have had. Their son Adam wanted to go on a mission with his parents & loved the photos from Mekele...so this is HIS MISSION..they selected the entire Anesthesia team, their neice is doing her 1st mission in the Recovery Room with me their daughter is here as a guest audiologist, 3/4 of the team were hand selected by them & then how lucky was I to get to come on this mission with them. They are going to tell their story tonight at the 1st team mtg. Bonnie said her challenge all week will be the tears that will flow. I feel honored to have them welcome me with such open arms.
Our Team meeting & dinner is tonight at 7. I am sure we will learn more about the schedule then but from what we were given before we will be screening the next 2 days - I cant wait to see all the beautiful Guatemalan children!
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