Tienes valor!

We began this morning at 6:30 am with a wonderful breakfast spread of fresh fruits and the most delicious coffee I have ever tasted! I could truly become addicted to that drink. We then loaded the bus at 7:00 am to head to the hospital for our first day of surgeries and clinics. Here is the first group that headed to the hospital as this was the surgeons, anesthesiologist, pre-op, PACU, and OR nurses (and myself). The clinic group joined up with us an hour or so later to begin their visits at 9 am. Our first patient of the day was the sweetest little girl who was having some repairs done to burns on her face. We then moved to our first cleft lip repair of the day on a four year old little guy. I was able to see him in the PACU, too, and met his father who held him throughout the time that he was reacclimating himself to his surroundings. Our next little girl was having some burns on her foot repaired that she received from walking through hot ash. All smiles in this picture, but I was able to observe her in PACU, as well, and she was definately NOT happy with us at that point. She'd had enough with the IV and the waking up in strange surroundings. Our next surgery for the day was the most beautiful two-year old boy. He was born with an extra digit on his left foot and the doctors were able to remove it. His smiles melted my heart and when he woke up from his surgery he was still smiling! I don't think I heard him whimper at all. Tienes valor! We then admitted

our next child, this little guy also needed a cleft lip repaired. I was able to go in and observe his surgery and watch the surgeon repair the muscle that circles around the mouth. After the surgery, I was able to console him as he was waking up from his anesthesia. Amazing what such a surgery can do for these patients. Our last surgeries before breaking for lunch were two brothers. One was two and he had a tumor in his hand that needed to be removed and the other a thirteen year old who also had a tumor to be removed. We then broke for lunch while we were prepping our afternoon cases which included four adults who were having burns and scars tended to.

That afternoon, when Dr. Hubbard (our anesthesiologist) was checking on our patients who were getting ready to head back for surgery, we encountered a national news station! They interviewed him and one of our pre-op nurses, Rachel, about coming to Ecuador and the experiences that we had already had since being here. Along with this news crew, a local news station also came and did more videoing and interviewing. I hear I made the 7pm news, but we were at dinner at the time, so none of us were able to see the airings. We also found in the local paper a picture of Rachel and Dr. Kolanda screening a patient with a very nice column about our mission.

Around 4pm we finally had our last patients in surgery so a small group of us were able to leave the hospital and head back to the hotel. When we arrived, our liason for this trip, Martha, suggested that we visit a local church on the main square in the town as it was only open till 6 pm. Upon arriving we were disappointed to find that it was not open, but Martha promised to go to 8am Mass in the morning and find out when we could visit. Since the church was located on the largest square in the city, we decided to wander through the grounds and admire the magnolia trees, various statues, and the many people that were strolling through and enjoying the day. I did want to add another photo as these vendors are all over the streets. The one I captured today was a fruit vendor, but there are so many types of carts selling some form of goods it is quite overwhelming.

When we returned to the hotel from our walk, Rachel and I headed to the gym for a quick run and then to meet up with a group to head to dinner at 6:30. We dined at an Italian restaurant, called Ali's, and enjoyed a fabulous dinner with fascinating conversations. I am now nicely relaxed in my hotel room listening to the rain fall outside my window. There are still many people walking about on the streets, but for the most part the city has gone to bed, as I should, too. Please remember to watch the mmfworld.org website for the blog that is being put up from a neutral party, so a better feel of what the entire mission is accomplishing as I cannot be in all places at once! Buenos noches!