Well I arrived in Honduras safely after my flights. I was able to sleep about 3 hours on the SLC-ATL flight but since we arrived at 6:20 it was really 4:30 am Utah time so I was still a bit tired. I made my way thru the ATL airport - its HUGE & has been awhile since I was there - it seems more like a GIAN Mall....I landed in terminal a & took the train to terminal E & since it was about 3 hours before my flight there was no one at the gate so my backpack became my pillow & I napped a bit (airport sleeping tips from Ryan & Kya). There were 4 other Op Smile team members on my flight to TGU. The flight was pretty empty - I was in an exit row by myself & after watching 2 movies we arrived! I got thru immigration & customs without any problems - I do think the Op Smile Bag tags help! Met up with our group, exchanged money & we were at the hotel by about 1 or so.
When they say "it's a nice hotel" you have to take it in context...nice in a 3rd world country. The rooms are what I would guess the inside of a motel 6 is like (I haven't been to one recently & thankfully) - not bad but the property is actually quite nice with patios & a pool area. I ran into & visited with Lori (4th mission) & Valerie (on her 7th mission) the other 2 Recovery Room nurses, so we have great experience for our area. Afterwards I came up to my room & took a good hour nap, shower & felt like a new person for our 5:45 pizza dinner & Pre Screening meeting.
We drove a short way to the Honduras Operation Smile Surgery Clinic that was opened here in 2007 - the 2nd fully operational clinic in Latin America. It is very nice & they do 2-3 surgeries here every Wed. Dr. Oscar Sarmiento is the surgeon at the clinic - I have been on 4 missions with him - he's great. The REALLY nice thing about the clinic is that those heart breaker patients that we see at screening & have to turn away wont have to wait 6 mos or a year until the next mission here they can go & get care in the clinic. That is the sustainable change the OSI establishes in may countries.
There are about 18 of us "international volunteers" at the hotel & the rest are from Honduras or neighboring countries. Its a small team compared to others & that will be nice. Since I have been on 5 missions in South or Central America there are familiar faces & reconnecting is always fun. The goal is 40-50 patients or about 15 a day - 5 per table/surgeon.
On arrival we were told again that unlike other missions sites we may have been to Honduras is not safe for tourists even for us to go out in groups - so we will be a little bit hotel bound except for team events which is fine with me. Every building has barbed wire on it. The mission site in Santa Rosa de Copan is actually a 7 hour bus ride away!!!! I think it could be 6 hours but we have to go the "long way" as there is a bridge that our bus can't pass over. That town is safer but still we aren't to go out. I guess the airport in San Pedro Sula is only 3 hours from the mission site but hey had us flu in here because San Pedro Sula has the highest murder rate in the WORLD!!! Things not to tell your mom....
My roomate Therese should be here anytime. Her flight arrived at 9:40 & then I am quickly going to bed cause we have a 4:30 a.m. wake up call & a 5 am departure & start to our bus ride. We will stop for breakfast, eat lunch on the bus & then go straight to the hospital to start screening at noon. Some of the local team is already there starting the paperwork, photos & labs & when we arrive we will set up all the other screening stations & move people thru. Then in the evening we will set up the hospital. So we are planning on a long day/night & arrival at our next hotel close to 10 pm or so.
That is all I know for now...I am happy to be here & excited to see the precious children of Honduras tomorrow!
When they say "it's a nice hotel" you have to take it in context...nice in a 3rd world country. The rooms are what I would guess the inside of a motel 6 is like (I haven't been to one recently & thankfully) - not bad but the property is actually quite nice with patios & a pool area. I ran into & visited with Lori (4th mission) & Valerie (on her 7th mission) the other 2 Recovery Room nurses, so we have great experience for our area. Afterwards I came up to my room & took a good hour nap, shower & felt like a new person for our 5:45 pizza dinner & Pre Screening meeting.
We drove a short way to the Honduras Operation Smile Surgery Clinic that was opened here in 2007 - the 2nd fully operational clinic in Latin America. It is very nice & they do 2-3 surgeries here every Wed. Dr. Oscar Sarmiento is the surgeon at the clinic - I have been on 4 missions with him - he's great. The REALLY nice thing about the clinic is that those heart breaker patients that we see at screening & have to turn away wont have to wait 6 mos or a year until the next mission here they can go & get care in the clinic. That is the sustainable change the OSI establishes in may countries.
There are about 18 of us "international volunteers" at the hotel & the rest are from Honduras or neighboring countries. Its a small team compared to others & that will be nice. Since I have been on 5 missions in South or Central America there are familiar faces & reconnecting is always fun. The goal is 40-50 patients or about 15 a day - 5 per table/surgeon.
On arrival we were told again that unlike other missions sites we may have been to Honduras is not safe for tourists even for us to go out in groups - so we will be a little bit hotel bound except for team events which is fine with me. Every building has barbed wire on it. The mission site in Santa Rosa de Copan is actually a 7 hour bus ride away!!!! I think it could be 6 hours but we have to go the "long way" as there is a bridge that our bus can't pass over. That town is safer but still we aren't to go out. I guess the airport in San Pedro Sula is only 3 hours from the mission site but hey had us flu in here because San Pedro Sula has the highest murder rate in the WORLD!!! Things not to tell your mom....
My roomate Therese should be here anytime. Her flight arrived at 9:40 & then I am quickly going to bed cause we have a 4:30 a.m. wake up call & a 5 am departure & start to our bus ride. We will stop for breakfast, eat lunch on the bus & then go straight to the hospital to start screening at noon. Some of the local team is already there starting the paperwork, photos & labs & when we arrive we will set up all the other screening stations & move people thru. Then in the evening we will set up the hospital. So we are planning on a long day/night & arrival at our next hotel close to 10 pm or so.
That is all I know for now...I am happy to be here & excited to see the precious children of Honduras tomorrow!
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