My red eye from Miami to Asuncion wasn't that bad. The flight only had 80 people on a plane with 160 seats so when I got on I staked out the row behind he & sat there like a squatter - when no one came I was able to secure a row of 3 seats all for me & rested pretty well for a good 5 hours of the flight. I breezed thru immigration, got my luggage & then went right thru customs. Robert an Op Smile Driver was there with a sign to meet me & drove me the 25 min to the hotel. We passed their version of "Central Park" which I appreciated having just come from NYC, a few "plazas" a botanical garden & the Presidents mansion where he slowed so I could take a photo. Roberto says he's a good president....
At the hotel I checked in & in the lobby saw Lisa the Clinical Coordinator who is really amazing & also saw Joe & met his trainee James so the 4 of us had breakfast.I found out this is Joes last mission - he is taking a job at John Hopkins in relation to Health Management. I got to my room by 9 & met my roommate Deann an ER nurse from Denver Childrens. We didn't have to be anywhere til noon so I took a 2 hour nap then got ready to go out for our team day. The hotel is nice - we have 2 small twinbeds in our room & a window air conditioner - the beds are very low to the ground & must be on wheels I learned when I sat down & almost ended up on the floor! It does have wi fi so that makes me happy!!!
W drove about 45 min (not sure in what direction) t the wealthiest of wealthy areas in Paraguay where we were hosted by someone at the Asuncion Yacht & Golf club - it was on a river & there were some nice boats there plus clay tennis courts, a really nice pool area & our meal in the dining room would rival any country club I have been to...a huge buffet with 6 to 8 stations of food - rumor has it there has never been a more elegant "Team Meal" & honestly I felt a little guilty until I realized this is probably the only 2 hours of indulgence I will have in these 10 days so enjoy it :)
The team went back to the hotel but I went to the shelter with the student team - talk about small world - one student Nina goes to Northwood high & lives in Portola Springs, the other student Sami is from Malibu & the 3rd student Kristen is friends with one of the students who was in Ethiopia with me. They screened 344 patients yesterday - I think that may be a record but they said it went SUPER FAST & SUPER SMOOTH as they have over 100 high volunteers from 13 high schools here in Paraguay who translated & helped in many ways - that always touches my heart seeing the more "privileged" students helping those so needful in their own country. They also said that some of the LDS Missionaries here in Asuncion came to help & will be coming back - that will be fun! Perhaps my favorite volunteer on the team so far is Elaine from....LOGAN UTAH - yep Doug will love that. She is here doing medical records & she is 85!!! For the first little while I was with her I was worried when we were walking around at the Yacht Club - not wanting her to break a hip but I quickly realized I had no need to worry & I just hope I have the health & desire to serve that she does when I am 85. This is her 7th mission - she started when she was 79 after her husband passed away. I will be keeping an extra eye on her this week :)
At the shelter there are about 50 patients - those who have traveled the farthest - the local volunteers here in Paraguay were having a "party" for the kids there to help them feel comfortable in those surroundings & keep them happy - they have had a foundation here for 7 years really do so much for their fellow citizens I was very impressed. As soon as I got to the shelter & saw the kids the few hours at the Yacht Club were just a nice memory - these kids & families are what gets y heart doing flips. I saw lots of the kids, played with them, talked to the parents in my "spanglish" and was in my element. These are the moments I am reminded that for these 2 weeks I am exactly where I am supposed to be - I connected to my purpose.
We were there for 2 hours & then walked back to the hotel - it is a area with poverty but not as bad as Africa. I get a little more settled in my room & then again went out with the student group & their sponsor for a simple dinner of empenadas...yep they are famous for those here. I always seem to gravitate to the teenage students - perhaps because of my years in the youth programs of the church, or with so many at my store or my own 4 kids & all their friends we have enjoyed in our home. So I hang with them instead of the 25-35 year old crowd & love every minute of it!
Tomorrow breakfast is at 6, the bus leaves at 7:30 & they will gather all the screened patients (all 344) & announce which 135 or so will be scheduled for surgery. Even if say 94 of those patients we saw were rechecks from prior missions & prior surgeries that will still leave over 100 children & families who will be heartbroken and 135 who will be overjoyed that we will be able to change their childs lives with a 1-3 hour surgery.
We will se up the PACU - I am working with a great nurse from Primary Childrens Brooke who seems awesome & a nurse from Paraguay. Our intensivist canceled last minute due to illness so the recovery room will be covered by one of the anesthesiologists. I am sure it will all be fine. The are expecting perhaps 50 or more palate repairs - those are the more complex ones so I am already gearing up for late nights & 16 hour days...but there is no where I'd rather be - although I do always miss my family when I am away.
Buenos Noches from Asuncion - I better get to bed its just about midnight already.
At the hotel I checked in & in the lobby saw Lisa the Clinical Coordinator who is really amazing & also saw Joe & met his trainee James so the 4 of us had breakfast.I found out this is Joes last mission - he is taking a job at John Hopkins in relation to Health Management. I got to my room by 9 & met my roommate Deann an ER nurse from Denver Childrens. We didn't have to be anywhere til noon so I took a 2 hour nap then got ready to go out for our team day. The hotel is nice - we have 2 small twinbeds in our room & a window air conditioner - the beds are very low to the ground & must be on wheels I learned when I sat down & almost ended up on the floor! It does have wi fi so that makes me happy!!!
W drove about 45 min (not sure in what direction) t the wealthiest of wealthy areas in Paraguay where we were hosted by someone at the Asuncion Yacht & Golf club - it was on a river & there were some nice boats there plus clay tennis courts, a really nice pool area & our meal in the dining room would rival any country club I have been to...a huge buffet with 6 to 8 stations of food - rumor has it there has never been a more elegant "Team Meal" & honestly I felt a little guilty until I realized this is probably the only 2 hours of indulgence I will have in these 10 days so enjoy it :)
The team went back to the hotel but I went to the shelter with the student team - talk about small world - one student Nina goes to Northwood high & lives in Portola Springs, the other student Sami is from Malibu & the 3rd student Kristen is friends with one of the students who was in Ethiopia with me. They screened 344 patients yesterday - I think that may be a record but they said it went SUPER FAST & SUPER SMOOTH as they have over 100 high volunteers from 13 high schools here in Paraguay who translated & helped in many ways - that always touches my heart seeing the more "privileged" students helping those so needful in their own country. They also said that some of the LDS Missionaries here in Asuncion came to help & will be coming back - that will be fun! Perhaps my favorite volunteer on the team so far is Elaine from....LOGAN UTAH - yep Doug will love that. She is here doing medical records & she is 85!!! For the first little while I was with her I was worried when we were walking around at the Yacht Club - not wanting her to break a hip but I quickly realized I had no need to worry & I just hope I have the health & desire to serve that she does when I am 85. This is her 7th mission - she started when she was 79 after her husband passed away. I will be keeping an extra eye on her this week :)
At the shelter there are about 50 patients - those who have traveled the farthest - the local volunteers here in Paraguay were having a "party" for the kids there to help them feel comfortable in those surroundings & keep them happy - they have had a foundation here for 7 years really do so much for their fellow citizens I was very impressed. As soon as I got to the shelter & saw the kids the few hours at the Yacht Club were just a nice memory - these kids & families are what gets y heart doing flips. I saw lots of the kids, played with them, talked to the parents in my "spanglish" and was in my element. These are the moments I am reminded that for these 2 weeks I am exactly where I am supposed to be - I connected to my purpose.
We were there for 2 hours & then walked back to the hotel - it is a area with poverty but not as bad as Africa. I get a little more settled in my room & then again went out with the student group & their sponsor for a simple dinner of empenadas...yep they are famous for those here. I always seem to gravitate to the teenage students - perhaps because of my years in the youth programs of the church, or with so many at my store or my own 4 kids & all their friends we have enjoyed in our home. So I hang with them instead of the 25-35 year old crowd & love every minute of it!
Tomorrow breakfast is at 6, the bus leaves at 7:30 & they will gather all the screened patients (all 344) & announce which 135 or so will be scheduled for surgery. Even if say 94 of those patients we saw were rechecks from prior missions & prior surgeries that will still leave over 100 children & families who will be heartbroken and 135 who will be overjoyed that we will be able to change their childs lives with a 1-3 hour surgery.
We will se up the PACU - I am working with a great nurse from Primary Childrens Brooke who seems awesome & a nurse from Paraguay. Our intensivist canceled last minute due to illness so the recovery room will be covered by one of the anesthesiologists. I am sure it will all be fine. The are expecting perhaps 50 or more palate repairs - those are the more complex ones so I am already gearing up for late nights & 16 hour days...but there is no where I'd rather be - although I do always miss my family when I am away.
Buenos Noches from Asuncion - I better get to bed its just about midnight already.
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