ISCE 2011- International Student Cultural Exchange - Beijing!

And the conference began!

August 1st was a crazy day of arrivals starting very early morning all they way through to 1:00am and 5:00am arrivals on the 2nd. Between airport pickups and drop offs at the hotel, conference check in, copying passports and confirming rooming (rooming was a whole other challenge in itself that was tackled with a team of people including a handful of extremely helpful Marriott staff), August 1st was a long day!! That evening, the conference kicked off with a General Welcome, Team meetings and everyone's "Now is the Time" pledge.

The conference schedule was packed full, literally from early in the morning to late at night each day.  Before the conference even started, we all had concerns that the schedule was too full but it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of the participants visiting China and we wanted to make sure that each person got the most from the conference and their visit to the country.  Normally a conference is four days with one off-site activity and an off-site location for the Final Party. For this conference, it was six full days. We did two days of off-site activities (breaking the conference participants into two groups of 375. One group went to the great wall and one group went to Forbidden City.  And then the next day they switched.  The only issue was that in order to load the buses in time to beat the traffic, everyone had to get up very early and eat breakfast as early as 5:15am.  Then they had to board, which was another logistical feat in itself. Each and every place we went, we had to make sure everyone was accounted for there and back.  Even during days just staying at the hotel the leaders would have to take role of their team.  Not only do we require everyone participate, but with a conference that size it was also a safety measure so that if anyone was missing we could be notified immediately to make sure we accounted for them, whether they were sick in their room, late to show, or other reason.

After each off-site activity we would return to the hotel with a little free time and then Keynote Speakers and Breakout Sessions would resume along with other activities, like the Service Project where participants created hand puppets and stuffed Smile Bags with all the necessary items, including their puppets.  The Smile Bags have already been sent to Operation Smile's office in Hangzhou where we also have a Care Center.  The Smile Bags will be given to patients on upcoming medical missions!  Typically we do not give Smile Bags out on missions in China, simply because we cannot get them through in cargo.  So the project and service the students provided will be put to well use in the coming months and be another reason for Operation Smile patients in China to smile!

The Great Wall visit and Forbidden City visit were great!  It was very hot and humid but we lucked out by not receiving any rain during the conference's outdoor activities.  I was so blown away by the drive and determination of so many participants to reach the top of the Juyong section of the Great Wall.  There were two ways to go, and the group seemed to divide and conquer. I personally enjoyed the visit.  It was an opportunity to just be... just be on the Great Wall and take in its beauty and the surroundings.  To think about what the Wall was like in its early days and the life that existed around it.  It was an opportunity to push yourself to the top, despite the steep sections, uneven and irregular steps.  And, I welcomed the opportunity to not worry about the next aspect of the conference but to simply enjoy the moment of it now on the Wall.

Forbidden City and all of its architecture and the history behind is another thing of beauty.  It is a massive place and we nearly walked two miles through it, at least that is what it felt like.  Unlike the Great Wall, it was much more difficult to keep track of the whole group because we were not starting and ending in the same place.  Luckily, we all were wearing matching tees so that the group could be easily recognized.  Everyone traveled with their team and had a guide to share some information at each area of the Forbidden City. 

Everyone was taking a lot of photos; some were taking so many photos that they would start to lag behind the group to the point where they may get lost from them.  For one group, Amanda and I were 'sweepers,' getting students to catch back up with their group.  Amanda actually became a photo crasher too.  If participants were lagging behind, she would jump in the photo right as they were taking it and tell them to hurry up.  I'm curious to find out how many actual photos she made it in:)  Some of our student leaders did an amazing job leading their group through the Forbidden City without much adult support or staff support.  They would make sure everyone was accounted for - it wasn't easy but they did it!

In addition to the two off-site visits, we also had a 3rd early morning, actually the earliest of them all, where we had to head to Beijing Normal University.  There the Team Games would take place, along with Banners and Chants, and then cultural activities in the afternoon led by local student volunteers and teachers.  The games were very well organized, thanks to the detailed planning and set up of the Games Committee.  There were a bunch of competitive games, including dodge-ball, three-legged race, chopsticks and marbles race, pie riddles and more.  After each team also presented their Team Banner and did their Team Chant, the judges tallied the scores.  The overall winner for both games and banners and chants was Team Imagine!! 

I think sheer exhaustion was our biggest challenge.  The students were exhausted.  Adult chaperones were exhausted. And us staff, well yes, we were so exhausted there were days I wasn’t sure my body would cooperate and actually get up.  I was excited to learn I had lost about 6 or 7 lbs only to find out they were quickly gained back on my post-conference vacation to Vietnam…too much Pho!

There were so many highlights through out the conference.  There were some amazing and truly inspiring speakers.  Though I wasn't able to hear them all, I did enjoy hearing Braam Malherbe, Adam Khoo and Maggie Doyne.  Maggie and her story is by far, one of the most inspiring I have ever heard.  They fact that she found her passion and dream, and stuck with it despite the challenges and odds and probably skepticism from many, is truly commendable. Her ability to share her heart and now a home and school with so many Nepalese children is an amazing accomplishment for a girl that is only 24.  She started her travels through Nepal and was touched by young children that were working hard as young as age 5, carrying 100+ pound bags on their back to make money to support their younger siblings.  Most did not go to school or get proper nutrition.  She started by helping 1 child.  Though we know we can't help everyone, which may make you question why the effort, we can help 1 person.  And from there if everyone reaches out to just help 1 person, imagine what a better place the world could be.

Since she adopted that one child and got the child into school, she how has a well established orphanage with more than 50 children, one as young as 6 months old named Harry (named by the other children based on Harry Potter because he had a scar on his forehead). She has also built a school that has 250+ kids enrolled. There is also a wait list for more children.  What is so great about her initiative to help the children of Nepal is that she has worked closely with the community every step of the way.  Nepalese women work with her at the orphanage and were part of the process in planning and building.  Others in the community also worked hand in hand with her to build the school.  She did not go in and place her ideas and values on them, rather she met with the people in the community and the community leaders and worked with them to help establish the best orphanage and school possible that fit within their needs.

She started this when she was younger than 20 years old after having traveled after high school.  She used savings from babysitting to buy a piece of land and begin to build.  She slowly built a support group and applied for grants and donation scholarships. Maggie spoke last year as a Breakout Speaker but I was unable to attend so this year, I made sure that I did not miss her session.  All the students love her and her story and it really brings home the fact that we can all do something, we just have to find our passion and work towards it.  Through it all you need determination and persistence because there will be some tough times, but if you have a dream and a passion, you have the abilities to see it through.

Another highlight was seeing Jackie Chan!!  Yes, he made an appearance at the conference.  He is a big supporter of Operation Smile and its Student Programs. When he arrived on stage, we had a surprise for him.  There was a little boy who had been helped by Operation Smile, his mother, and a Chinese Speech Pathologist (who is the only fully trained speech pathologist in China - she thanked Operation Smile for the training she received). The mother shared her happiness and thanks to Operation Smile and Jackie Chan for his support.  The boy, who was so cute, sang a song as he entered and then asked Jackie Chan to teach him a kung fu move:)  Jackie asked all the participants to continue their great work to continue spreading Peace and Love around the world.

After Jackie's appearance the Student Programs Staff and Student Leaders were able to sneak up to his private room to get a group photo! 

There are so many to thank in making this massive undertaking so successful.  Not only did we have the Operation Smile Student Programs Staff, the ELC and CC student leaders, and the Sponsor Board, but so many more stepped in to help.  I wish that I could list everyone but it would go on and on. We undoubtedly could not have survived the week without the help of all those that joined us in this conference. It was extremely warming to have help from so many.  Not only did it help us get through, but for me personally, it was an opportunity to get to know others better - everyone offered great support, tears and laughs for shared, and through the end friendships were strengthened and most importantly, we all made it through still smiling!

Pre-Conference in Beijing!

Well, I had hoped to share updates from Beijing, but not only was Blogspot.com blocked, but there literally was not enough time in the day to take a few moments to type an update…or even think outside of the next immediate task.  After the conference I was off to Vietnam for a side trip, and that being such a short visit and hoping to see as much as we could, I didn’t get to share any updates then either.  So as I sit in Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (for a 10 hour layover), I will try my best to recap my time in Beijing and Vietnam – I hope you enjoy:)

To start, I am proud to say that Operation Smile held a successful international student conference in Beijing.  After a year of planning, the ISCE (International Student Cultural Exchange) came to fruition on August 1^st and once it began there was no stopping it until everyone had departed back home on August 7^th.

More than 750 participants from 22 different countries all arrived, most with some jet lag, but also with extremely high energy for the conference – to meet new people, learn, build, grow, and challenge one’s self and each other to push the limits in leadership, service and compassion.

The Operation Smile Student Programs staff arrived in Beijing on July 21^st.  Though the students had yet to arrive, work and final details resumed as soon as we landed in China.  We had numerous meetings with the Marriott hotel, the transportation company, and the local university.  The first pleasant surprise were Operation Smile donation boxes that the Marriott had set up throughout the hotel.  We knew that Marriott had chosen Operation Smile as its charity of the year, but this was the first time we actually saw Operation Smile information out.  The jars were strategically placed throughout the hotel – which will not only help to raise funds but also help generate a lot of awareness. This is just one simple example that when people, companies, corporations, etc. come together and join forces, there is so much more positive impact that can be made from it.  

 

In the days before the conference, we also made frequent visits to places like Kinkos and Walmart.  I must say, shopping in a Walmart in China on a weekend is quite the experience and a great opportunity to witness more about another culture.  It is so busy, there are different food vendors and smells, and all throughout the store there are shopping attendants with microphones calling out sales of items and trying to get you to sample them.  

There are many different brands but also some similar brands that you can recognize through the packaging and logo. Fortunately many labels also had English text so we could confirm what we were buying.  What I find so interesting when traveling is the different flavors and the way certain well known items are tailored to the culture.  Pepsi and Coke products can be found around the world – for the most part the product is the same but the packaging and branding varies. In China, there were Lays Potato Chips but the flavors were not those we would see in the US, other than original and Barbeque (which they called Texas Barbeque):  Cucumber, Blueberry, Fish Prawn Soup, Hot and Sour Chicken, Tomato (tasted like Ketchup on  a chip), and many more… Same goes for the Pringles:)

For the past 2 ½ weeks, it is safe to say that I lived in Beijing with my coworkers. Well, we lived in the Marriott.   There were days were we would set up shop in the lobby and work online from 9am to past 9pm. The Marriott is quite fancy and in order to get a seat in the lobby you must order something, so we kept the coffee and tea coming throughout the day.  I’m not sure that the Marriott was quite comfortable with us utilizing their office as a lobby, especially when there came a point we even brought down a printer, haha.  They soon realized that we needed a better work space and we were delightfully appreciative when we received access to the Executive Lounge where we could work peacefully throughout the day with unlimited complimentary water, drinks, snacks and meals.  We wondered often how the Marriott would adjust once we had more than 700 people arrive; mostly students, who we knew would utilize the hotel lobby during conference free time to network, share conference experiences and get to know new friends better.  

On July 26^th, our trusted and devoted student and adult leaders arrived: the Executive Leadership Council (comprised of 14 high school students from 7 states in the US) and our Sponsor Board (an adult advisory board comprised of 5 members from 5 states). We were so excited to reunite with them all – some we had not seen since our Winter Mission Training Workshop in January, and others we had not seen since our Leadership Retreat in early October.  However, we were constantly in touch throughout the year working on new initiatives, following up with regions, and planning this conference.  They are a huge part of the event and its ultimate success!

Half of the ELC would be leading the Summer Mission Training Workshop where approximately 40 students and some adults would be trained to participate on an Operation Smile international medical mission.  In addition to being part of the team and helping where needed throughout the medical mission, the student team has a specific role to educate; they teach patients, parents, families, local students and more about basic healthcare.  They specifically teach dental hygiene, oral rehydration therapy, burn care and prevention, and nutrition.  All of these may seem like simple topics that would already be well known, but in many places for many people they are not.  This knowledge cannot only be useful for their health, but could also be life saving for many. The student team also gets the opportunity to observe in the OR and watch and learn about the surgery for a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Sometimes they even see a burn patient receiving a skin graft.

This year's trainees were able to get a really unique experience, unlike previous workshop trainees. My coworker, Amanda, worked very hard to arrange it so that the trainees could be split into to groups and go offsite to practice their presentations.  Usually presentations are practiced in the conference room to peers in the group, however, this time they were able to either practice presentations at an orphanage or a local academy for disabled.  Both groups said that the experience was amazing and helped give them a better since of their role in action on a medical mission.  They were able to interact with those at the orphanage and academy and also share the knowledge that the learned during the training.  It was a huge success and something we hope to replicate in future Mission Training Workshops. Though I was unable to attend the visits due to more ISCE planning, I had visited the Huiling Academy for the disabled the week before.  Though it was a weekend and no students were there, we did get a tour of the facility and were able to see some of the creative projects they worked on.  They also perform small plays and even came to the International Party during the ISCE to dance and perform for the participants!

While the Mission Training was being conducted in Beijing at the Marriott, I had the pleasure of spending the last few days before the conference with the other half of the ELC.  We were very busy with shopping runs, lists, printing, more lists, planning, organizing, preparing conference materials and stuffing conference gift bags, etc…  It was endless planning and preparation, but the ELC were so eager and willing to wrap things up before the conference began that we felt we were as prepared as anyone could be. We were also able to visit the Great Wall section Juyong and test out a lunch site and the Final Party dinner site. We had fun and I not only enjoyed their company, but also enjoyed their feedback at every step.  The Sponsor Board had the opportunity to step out and attend the off-sites with us too, which was great!  Jenna and Julia were the only two to hit the top of the Great Wall – not only were we all so proud of them, but also inspired to push ourselves to do the same when we returned during the conference.

On July 30^th, our College Council members arrived (comprised of 7 university students). This newly created council has made tremendous progress in helping to create and sustain Operation Smile’s new University Programs.  Not only have they been working to help establish and grow university clubs worldwide, they have also been helping to solidify new programs and opportunities of involvement for university students – including U-Voice, U-Lead and U-Pave (www.operationsmile.org/universityprograms). These students are truly exceptional in their continued dedication to Operation Smile and their peers.  They have showed that beyond high school, you can still continue your passion to help others.  A few of them, the 3 ‘bros’ of the group, had decided to travel through China before meeting us in Beijing.  They had been traveling since July 18^th and other than a few quick email updates; we weren’t sure how their travels were going.  Once they arrived they filled us in on some (I am sure not all), and it sounded like quite the adventure.  They stayed in hostels, ate in all sorts of places, met other travelers and locals, and really roughed it for a few weeks.  It sounds like it was definitely worthwhile, a trip to remember and cherish for a long time.

After a year of discussions and planning, the conference was ready to begin.  Whether we felt fully prepared or not, it was happening, and together as a team we knew that not only could we survive the week, but that along the way hundreds of students would leave with a new confidence and stronger sense of commitment and passion to service.  Along with many new friends, they would be returning home empowered that ‘Now is the Time’ to make a difference, and knowing that they had officially become part of the Operation Smile family and together we will continue to work towards changing the world, one smile at a time!

Countdown to China!

It is hard to believe that in a day I will be embarking on a once in a lifetime trip to Beijing, China with other Student Programs staff, volunteers, and supporters of Operation Smile.  Together with twenty one high school and college student council leaders and five adult members of our Sponsor Board, we will be coordinating a massive undertaking.

Operation Smile's 20th annual International Student Conference will be held in in Beijing.  Not only will it be the first time the conference is held in Asia, but it will also be the largest conference participation to date.  More than 750 participants (mainly high school and college students) from more than 20 countries will be in attendance!  Students from Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Morocco, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, Sweden, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Egypt, Nicaragua, Mexico, India, Singapore, Brazil, Bolivia, United Arab Emirates and United States will be coming together through their commitment to make a difference in the world.

The theme of this year's conference is 'Now is the Time...' Now is the time to Lead...Now is the time to Inspire...Now is the time to BE SOMEONE...Now is a time to BE THE CHANGE...Now is the time to make a difference!

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." All of these students are attending this conference - some to take their first step in making a difference for others around the world, and others to continue taking steps to leave a positive impact. All are coming together on a journey to create and share smiles worldwide.

The student conference is part of an even bigger initiative this year - Operation Smile's 20th Anniversary in China! To commemorate 20 years of creating smiles in China, Operation Smile and Operation Smile China will hold The Celebration of Smiles to provide over 2,000 new smiles for children in need. Operation Smile’s medical volunteers will work at over 20 medical missions located throughout China from January to November 2011. Find more information at http://www.operationsmile.org/china-20th-anniversary/. 

Tomorrow at 6am, I will be off - 1st stop Newark, 2nd stop Beijing! For the next 5 days we will be working hard to finalize details and plans.  I'm looking forward to the 26th when the students leaders and Sponsor Board members arrive, as they are a huge part of planning this conference and essential to its success.  Through the year, and for some many years, these leaders have become a tight-knit group that works tirelessly to move Operation Smile's efforts and its Student Programs forward.  We are very grateful for all of their continued support!

For today, there is still much left to do....like PACKING!!  You would think after my trips to Senegal, Kenya, India and now China for the 2nd time, I would be a pro at packing, but it is never easy.  Especially since this will be the longest trip away - more than 3 weeks.  After China, a friend/coworker of mine are headed to Vietnam to relax and embrace another new Asian culture before we head home.  Hopefully we will be able to keep you posted on our adventures there as well.

Stay tuned for more updates from Beijing!

Acts of Kindness

Here are just a few special acts of kindness from the Nakuru, KenyaTeam, as if the medical mission itself wasn't enough:

Student Team Necklaces and Tees!
Once we arrived in Kenya, Karina surprised Century and I with a special necklace, made just for us.  The initials K C B, stand for Karina Century Brittany.  This was a sweet surprise that instantly bonded us even more. 

    


Karina was not through with surprises.  She also created tie-dye t-shirts for the three of us! We planned to wear them on the same day, to the hospital and school and orphanage visits.  Everyone loved them and wished that we had more to give out. Though I am only the Student Sponsor, the fact that the girls included me in with the necklace and tee put a smile on my face.

Dresses for Girls in Africa!
One of the medical volunteers, Nancy Kraus (Recovery Nurse), brought more than 100 dresses that were handmade by her and a group of friends.  They make dresses to send to girls in Africa.  Nancy handed out dresses to all of the girls that had surgery, as well as sent some with us to handout at the orphanages and throughout the other patient wards.  All of the girls LOVED their new dresses, even if the only sizes left were a little big:)

Special Notes for the Team!
The Student Team wanted to do something special for all of the other team members and let them all know what an amazing job they were doing and thank them.  After a few nights of working on personalized cards for each team member (there was a lot of team members, so it took us longer than expected), we slid the cards under the hotel room doors on Thursday night.  So many thanked the Student Team the following day for the pleasant surprise.  They said it was a perfect lift to a tiring but fulfilling week, as they started off the final day of surgery!

Coca-Cola and Fanta!
In the United States and other developed countries, these two drinks are so plentiful, that you don't fully realize how great it was to have one during the mission.  They days were long and we were all in need of a daily pick-me-up of energy. Who knew a soda could taste so good!

Across from the hospital, there were small shops that sold Coke products and Fanta.  Coke-Light (or Diet Coke) was a hot commodity and you were lucky if they had some in stock.  Orange Fanta was good, but apparently those who tried they Pineapple Fanta could not get enough of it.  Rarely were the drinks cold, but it didn't matter.  Many of the volunteers were not able to leave the hospital to get a soda, so some of us would go across the street and buy a crate of as many Cokes and Fantas that we could.  The store would give us a crate to carry the drinks over, but we had to leave a deposit for the box and bottles:) After everyone had their drinks, we would return the crate and bottles back to the shop, with full intentions of returning the next day for more.

Never underestimate a random act of kindness.

Final Day of Surgery Week

Final day of Surgery Week

The new King and Queen of Smiles for the day were Kenyan volunteers, Doris (OR nurse) and Albert (plastic surgeon).

Century, Doris, and Karina

Every day, more people showed up to see if they could get help for their cleft.  The surgery schedule had been completely filled with patients who had arrived on the first two screening days.  However, if the person was healthy enough to receive surgery later that day or the next, the medical volunteers were always in agreement to add another person.  Though it would mean that their day in the OR would be longer, up to 12 or 15 hours, they were more than willing to give up a few more hours to create one more smile.

Commitment – the true meaning of commitment is portrayed by the many Operation Smile volunteers that have continued to give so much of their time to the cause. Here are a few that have been helping to change lives since almost the very beginning:

Doris – local Kenyan volunteer and OR nurse has been involved since 1987, when Operation Smile first came to Kenya.  She is an incredible person, always on the go and always with a smile on her face.

Florence – local Kenyan volunteer and nurse who has been involved for 17 years.

Dr. Robert Russell – plastic surgeon from the United States who has been involved for 23 years and has been on more than 35 missions.

Dr. Dan Sellers – plastic surgeon from the United States who has also been involved since almost the very beginning.  Dr. Sellers and Dr. Russell both came on a mission to Kenya in 1988, and shared their excitement to see so much positive growth in Operation Smile Kenya since then.

Operation Smile Kenya has been around for twenty three years.  There are 3 staff and more than 250 local volunteers and the efforts here in Kenya continue to grow.

The final day of surgery closed with the Final Party.  At another local hotel, the reception was set up for us.  There was initial introductions to the night, conducted by local volunteer, Alan, who I am pretty sure could make a side career being a comedian and mc.  Throughout the mission, he was always smiling, dancing, and saying something funny.

A dance group opened with tribal dancing and acrobatics.  Then we all proceeded to eat our final meal together.  Speeches were made by the coordinators and team leaders, special gifts and certificates were handed out, and to our surprise the Student Team was called up to 'sing a song or say a poem.'  We were totally caught off gaurd, as no poem was prepared and we weren't expecting to sing the song in this formal setting.  Dan had taught us a Kenyan song about togetherness and building Operation Smile.  Karina and Century had created some superlative awards to handout, so instead of singing - which I bailed on, they went up to announce and hand out the awards.  It was FUN break in the middle of the ceremonies, and they did great!  Here were a few of the awards:

'Best at knocking people and babies out'
Anesthesiologists

'Best at making babies cry'
Recovery Nurses

'Most Exercised'
Post-Op Nurses (the post-op ward was far away from pre-op, or, and recovery)

'Most likely to promise the student team an elephant'
Roy, the Kenyan coordinator

'Best Scrubs'
Doris

'Most likely to become a National Geographic Photographer'
Dr. Dan Sellers (he had the best camera on the safari and was getting the best shots)

'Most likely to miss their flight'
Russel (he missed it by a day on the way to Kenya) :)

After the ceremonies closed with a bittersweet thanks and farewell, there was cake and dancing.  Then the girls and I decided to go dancing with the team for a little bit, to celebrate this amazing time that we have had together.

I am so happy and proud to have shared this experience with Century and Karina.  They were an awesome Student Team and I enjoyed every minute of our journey to help give smiles in Kenya!

Surgery Week - Day 4

Surgery Week - Day 4

Another early day! Today the students and coordinator, Erin Kennedy, decided to do some surprise and delights for the team. 

First, at the team meeting, Dr. Russell (surgeon)  and Donna Franklin (clinical coordinator), were awarded the King and Queen of Smiles. They each received a crown to wear for the day, and were awarded a thirty minute massage at the hotel.  Tomorrow, they would have to select two volunteers to pass their crowns toJ

Karina and Century also gave out beaded necklaces that were to be passed around.  If you saw someone doing something special, wanted to thank them for their hard work, or just share a compliment, you would pass along your beads to them. 

There was also a ‘Name that Caption’ game in the tea break room. Three photos were cut out of the local news paper and posted up.  Anyone could write down a caption that they thought best fit the photo.  There were so many funny ones.  At the end of the day, a winner was selected for best caption of each photo.  Everyone enjoyed this so much, that we played it again on Friday.

Half way through the day, I was introduced to a young boy named Peter.  He was in eighth grade and his mother was a local nurse and Operation Smile volunteer.  Since schools in Nakuru just went on break, Peter had a free day and wanted to come and see what the Operation Smile was all about.  Since the student team and I were present, it was only fitting that we show him around.  I told him about Operation Smile, the history, what happens on a medical mission, and showed him around each area of the mission site.  He was fully engaged in learning more and wanted to help out as much as he could.

Karina and Century gave him more information about what student volunteers do on a mission and at home, in their schools and communities. They showed him about the four health care modules they had been presenting all week.  To our surprise he was well informed on all of them, including Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), which he had learned as ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution).  They asked if he would be willing to translate for a few presentations and he was more than happy to. 

 ORT presentation

 Burn Care and Prevention presentation

 STOP

 DROP

AND ROLL!

Out of all of my mission experiences with student teams, I can honestly say that Peter was the best translator for the presentations, even compared to some adult volunteers.  He was a very intelligent boy (who hopes to one day be a neurosurgeon), and he was genuinely interested in helping get the word across to the patients, parents and families.  He was engaging and interactive and not one bit nervous about speaking in front of others. I was so proud of them all after the presentations and we were delighted to hear that Peter wanted to accompany us to our orphanage visits that afternoon.

We were able to visit two orphanages.  At the first, we were able to meet the children and get a tour of the facility.  It was basically a large home and the children were referred to as a family.  There was a room for boys, a room for girls, and a room for infants and toddlers.  In the rooms there were bunks, and typically two children slept per bed.  The caretaker did not own a car, so there were a number of strollers in their garage.  The kitchen was very clean and there was a small front and back yard.  The home was fenced in with a tall cinderblock wall and heavy metal gate.  They children seemed happy and everyone was welcoming.  After Peter, Karina and Century presented on burn care and prevention and dental hygiene, they handed out toothbrushes, and then some toys, clothing and school materials.

The ride to the visits were bumpy, to say the least.  We rode in the enclosed back on metal benches, and because most roads aren’t paved other than the main road, there were dips and pot holes everywhere.  We were bouncing around in the back as our driver, who later admitted getting lost, drove in circles on the back roads until we finally made it to the next orphanage, school, and home for adolescent girls. 

At the second visit, most of the students were already gone for the day, and for the ones there we had a difficult time getting the administration to gather them for presentations. So, we settled on a tour of a portion of the facility.

That evening, we were delighted to take a break from eating at the hotel. Dan Odaba, aka – Dan the Man (Electronic Medical Records volunteer), took us out to a Chinese Restaurant. Of course you don’t think about eating Chinese food in Kenya, but I think it was one of my favorite meals of the trip. Donna (Child Life volunteer) came with us too.

The Kenyan’s philosophy seems to not only be ‘No worries – Hakuna Matata’ but also ‘No Hurry.’ Dinner at the hotel always takes more than an hour to get served after you order. Most of the international volunteers showed a little frustration with this, as we are all so used to the fast pace in our daily lives. At dinner, we talked to Dan about this and he says that people are always in too big of a hurry to just sit back and enjoy.  In Kenya, it is usual for dinner take longer because it is a time to relax, socialize, and fully enjoy your company and meal. If you think about it, it makes so much sense! 

Surgery Week - Day 3

Day 3 – Surgery Week

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to observe in the OR, watching the surgery process and children’s lives transform before our eyes.  This was Karina and Century’s first time in the OR and my third.  Each time, the expertise and drive of surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists never ceases to amaze me.

We changed into our brightly colored scrubs and animal print scrub hats.  Donna Trent, the Child Life Therapist, had made some fun scrub hats for the team and Karina, Century, and I chose the animal print. Perfect for the OR when you’re in Kenya!  We saw some other cool scrubs, including an Obama scrub hat worn by quite a few of the Kenyan volunteers.

Once changed, the Clinical Coordinator, Donna Franklin, showed us around the OR, so we could see the schedule, the five surgery tables, and best practices in observing. I must say that Donna is a truly amazing woman and clinical coordinator.  Never once did I see her stop and rest throughout the week.  Her role is to coordinate the surgery schedule and make sure everything runs as scheduled.  She would retrieve patients from child life, when they were up next for surgery.  Her beautiful smile and warm heart, always kept the patients at ease as they left their family members to walk into the OR for surgery. 

We were all a bit nervous to view a surgery, as there have been horror stories of people and students passing out in the OR.  I myself almost passed out on my last mission in India, while in the OR. A student did too.  There were a few tips to try and avoid this: don’t lock your needs, don’t forget to breath, and step outside to set and get some fresh air if you start feeling the slightest bit off.  Karina and Century were initially cautious about getting to close, but in a short time they were accustomed to the OR and watchig surgeries as they happened, right along side the medical volunteers.  The surgeons and other volunteers were very engaging and welcoming to us and happy to share their knowledge and the surgery process with the students.  I was able to capture some photos of their incredible work.

I have only been on three Operation Smile medical missions, and out of those three, this mission has the most burn patients, by a lot.  In previous OR visits, I have viewed cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, which are truly a work of art by the surgeons.  This time, there were quite a few burn patients on the schedule, so I was intrigued to try and watch the process. 

One burn surgery was on a young girl named Debra.  Since the first time I met her during screening, her sweet smile and somewhat shy personality touched me.  She had been badly burned on her entire right arm, chest and some of her back.  Without the proper care, the skin will become contracted as it heals and can leave a previously mobile part of the body, immobile.  This was the case with Debra.  The skin had contracted and she could no longer flex or move her arm well at the elbow and under arm area.  Two dedicated Kenyan surgeons, Gome and Albert, worked together to adjust the skin in certain areas, so to correct the problem.  Since the skin had contracted so much, they also had to do a small skin graft, taking skin from her stomack and putting it on a small spot on her arm.

 Debra in Pre-Op the morning of her surgery

This is her burn scar, before surgery photo

The girls and I were hesitant to watch the second burn surgery.  The little girl’s story was painful enough, but to watch was even more heartbreaking but also uplifting knowing that Operation Smile volunteers were going to help her as much as we could.

Her name was Joyce and she was seven years old.  She had recently been burned over more than 25% of her body (all over her head and face, her back, her arms and hands, and her chest).  The burn had happened a month ago. Joyce and her family are refugees and lived in a refugee tent community.  One tent caught on fire, and with it being windy out, other tents quickly caught on fire too.  The tent that Joyce and her sister were in also caught on fire.  We came to learn that Joyce’s older sister escaped the fire but returned to the tent to help get Joyce out.  Somehow, Joyce survived with the extreme burns, but sadly her sister did not. 

Not only did Joyce survive a devastating fire, but she lost her sister.  I myself have lost a sibling and know that words cannot describe how that alone can turn your world upside down.  I know I will continue to think of Joyce and hope that as her scars on the outside heal, that the scars left on the inside too will heal.  No doubt it will be extremely hard, but I have confidence that Joyce and her mother, who tried to remain calm and strong at the hospital, will be able to endure through this terrible tragedy.

It was difficult to watch the surgeons unwrap her bandages.  Though a month had passed, the burns on her forehead and forearms seemed fresh.  In hopes that her burns would heal better, Dr. Robert Russell, a surgeon who I later found out has been volunteering for 23 years, and Resident Surgeon, Ryan, worked together along with many others, to take skin grafts from her thigh and fix them to the worst burned areas (forearms and forehead). Because her entire face had been burned, as it healed, the skin around her eyes had contracted to the point where she was not able to close them.  They also created new eyelids for her. Once you removed yourself from the emotions and Joyce’s life situation, it made it easier to just watch in amazement, the work of the medical volunteers. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to be among such talented, compassionate individuals, and witness them working alongside one another in the OR to change lives.

We spent all morning in the OR.  Afterwards, we helped out in Child Life and Post Op and visited the patients in Pre-Op that had arrived to receive surgery the following day.  Later, we had the unique opportunity to accompany another Operation Smile staff, a few guest volunteers, and a previous Operation Smile world care patient, to a local Kenyan Museum, Hyrax Hill.

It is a pre-historic site near Nakuru that is considered one of Kenya's most important neolithic excavation sites. The museum was much different from our museum standards, but very interesting.  Hyrax Hill was an archealogical site, where they had found artifacts and other information about earlier peoples that had lived in the area dated as far back as 1500 B.C.  They were pastoral tribes that traveled around with livestock.  After we walked through the small museum (three rooms), we followed a path over Hyrax Hill to see some of the actual excavation sites.  It was an enjoyable experience.

Closing with another photo to SMILE about:

Debra the morning after her surgery!  I was able to visit her before she left and gave her a pillow made by a student volunteer in California:)