Surgery begins - Day 4

 Mother Mercy at the Orphanage for Malnourished Children

 Waiting for cleft lip surgery in the morning with his Mom and Dad

 Emily and Wendy giving a talk about dental care at a local school

 We got a ride on the police truck with a police escort to the orphanage.

 This was the dorm room of a boys facility we visited. It is really a juvenile detention facility until they can go back to regular school. I have to tell you the boys were so good and listened to the presentations and were really wonderful.

 This is the post-op ward. Marco has done a fabulous job decorating the room to make it happy and nice for the kids in recovery. Below are pictured Deno and Jevon who are just the cutest boys ever. We followed their surgeries and are happy to report they are doing just great!

After 2 days of screening the first group of kids will have their surgery. The families check in the afternoon before surgery at 3 o'clock. It is hot and humid and the kids and I entertain the little ones by playing games and giving out balls and stickers and coloring books. Then the families spend the night in the hot gym. They arrive the day before so the kids will be ready for surgery sometime the next day.
Here's how it goes:

Pre-op   the gym floor on a mattress with your family
next morning....
Admitting paperwork
Playroom (this is a small holding area for kids to play and keep calm before surgery)
Surgery
Recovery room next to surgery room
Post -op ( this is in an amazing air conditioned room thanks to a great nurse Marco)
Speech
Dental
Discharge

A cleft lip will stay one day and a cleft palate two days. This mission not only has the op smile staff , but all the nursing and staff from the hospital on site. They are amazing and so helpful.
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The girls and I had three planned visits out into the community. The first was at a Catholic mission for malnourished children. Mother Mercy showed us through her facility of which she was rightfully proud. The kids were left under her charge for up to a year while they were literally fattened up. After that time they can be returned to their parents if they are able to take care of the kids. The order of Calcutta which is the order of Mother Theresa does not usually have their picture taken, but Mother Mercy allowed the students to have one picture.

We also went to a Christian Orphanage that is run by Pastor Dan. He has been director of the misson for over 12 years and they take children from birth to 6 years old. When we walked in mission there were two mothers there visiting their newborn infants. Mothers are able to leave their children at the mission for 3 months and within that time can get their babies back, however after 3 months the children are then placed in adoption. Most Philippine couples want babies, but the international adoptions include all ages.
Gosh, the kids were so happy and we always greeted in English by the kids saying , "Hello, visitor."
It just makes you want to take them home.......

It was a long day, but no complaints knowing that 20 feet away families were sleeping on a single mattress on the floor of a hot gym . Good grief...no complaining for sure.