So, surgery was interesting and no one fainted...including me!

Each day starts with breakfast at 6:30, then a morning meeting and surgery  at 8am. The girls were able to view a cleft lip repair. They had followed a couple of kids since screening, so it was great to see them through the whole process.

Jovan had cleft palate repair. We first met Jovan and his buddy, Dino on screening day. They were always together and eager to join in all the games we brought.....frisbee, beach ball , and they even joined a yoga class led by the writer on our mission, Julia Plevin. She is writing about our mission for the Op Smile blog that will come out in March.
Jovan and Dino did great with their surgeries and Dino went home after one day because he had a cleft lip. Jovan went home after two days, since he had cleft palate surgery, and it takes a little more time in post-op.

The girls and I visited a school sponsored by the mission who is our partner here in the Philippines, Church of Christ of the Philippines. We visited their mission on the ocean banks of the city which was very poor. However, the people were so nice and the kids happy to have us visit their school and they even did a little dance for us.
We went to a high school later in the afternoon to tell them about Op Smile clubs for students. They were interested in starting a club and joining Op Smile next year when they come back to Davao.

 The girls and I suited up to watch a surgery...That's the plastic surgeons making rabbit ears behind us!

 Tamar, a plastic surgeon, from Egypt.

 Julia Plevin leading us in a yoga class. Jovan is in the front with the balloon. Even a few moms joined the fun.

 Dino and Jovan..best buddies

 Jovan is in the playroom before going to the operating room. He did just great!

 We visited 3 schools today to give presentations about health care of your teeth and body. The kids really liked all the toothbrushes we gave away, too.

 Good kids that really listened, aren't they beautiful.

 This boy came in off the street to see what was going on and listened to the entire thing. We had an interpreter with us and that made all the difference. His name is Joel and he has a little boy, so he was able to talk to the little kids on their level and really made us all laugh.

 This was the taxi cab line for the neighborhood. No motorized vehicles, but tricycles. It really was kind of peaceful and quiet....a world away.

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.

Team Day-- Scuba and Picnic-- Day 3

Each mission trip includes a team bonding day and ours was to a local island. We had the option to scuba or hang out on the beach, everyone decided to try out the dive. It was a 45 minute outrigger boat ride to the island and the first thing I noticed was the absence of condos and hotels obscuring the skyline. All you could see were tall tall palms. They were the kind of palms you would see on the old Gilligan's island T.V. show swaying in the wind.

The water was warm , but boy the wetsuit was chilly. I went on a "holiday dive", which means a dive master is holding onto you tank and vest at all times. All you have to do is breathe in the regulator and kick your flippers. It was like being at the dentist office watching the tank of fish. I got to touch some coral- the fan coral felt like raw chicken and there was a black fan coral that had suckers on the end of the fronds. You know how it feels when an inchworm walks on your hand- well that's what this coral did to my fingers. It was really cool!

While we were out on the boat some guys were fishing for our lunch. They chargrilled it on the beach and served it on banana leaves. There were no forks or plates. You just got a glob or rice and then a piece of fish and ate it. I wish there were a better word for "delicious" and I would use it to describe the smell and taste of those fish! We had 7 varieties on the table and you just could sample them all. Fresh coconut milk for drinks along with papaya for dessert.

The day ended with dinner (rice, bananas and pineapples). Actually, throw in a stir fry and there you have it. Seven of us went out for foot massages after dinner. The students and I really enjoyed our massages- 1 hour for 5 bucks. In fact, we are going again tomorrow night!

Tomorrow the day starts very early with 41 surgeries and continues for the next 4 or 5 days. We will be helping with the kids waiting and in post-op. 

 Here I am getting on the boat, what you can't see is the gang plank is moving back and forth-yikes!

 Out team headed out for the island.

 FIrst glimpse of our picnic spot.

 He caught our lunch!

 My students- Emily and Wendy. They are happy with their student placement today!

 Suited up and a little chilly, but the water was warm.

 The chef

 I am telling you this was wonderful!

Screening Day 2

We ate a breakfast of rice, buns and my friend Regina ( nurse) brought Jif peanut butter! That was a great comfort food to have and there was even some pineapple jam.

The screening of the kids finished about noon and then we helped medical records put together charts.
A group was going to the local market so we tagged along. The girls got in some souvenir shopping and we tried this really weird fruit called durin. It is green and spiky and smells nasty. So, I did try it and it tastes like cream onions. I didn't have a second bite.

After dinner ....you guessed it ....more rice and bananas and meat. Everyone went out to the spa. There are massage spas on every corner , but this one was reported to be the best.
It was a great massage for 350 pesos...about 7 dollars---for an hour!!! Ok I'm going back.

 Emily, Wendy (students) and Regina eating our rice and peanut butter breakfast.

 This is Tajon and his Mom and Dad waiting to be screened and see the doctor.

 Davao City and view from the place we eat breakfast. Otherwise we are in the jungle and it is just lush green all around. Humid too, did I tell you my hair is the size of Texas!

 Ashelix and her mom patiently waiting. This little cutie like the rings and silly bands I gave her

 Street market, it really did smell good.

 Durian Fruit, nasty smell and kind of nasty in the inside. Liked the Jif better....

 Pamello melons, they are good and taste like really large Texas ruby red grapefruits

This is Andre from Russia one of the plastic surgeons. I think he liked the Durian, must be tough to find good fruit in Siberia...hahaha... Really nice guy and I wish Frank had taught me some Russian words.

Just how far is Davao in the Philippines?

The answer to how far the Philippines are... is FAR!

I started out in Memphis , flew to Detroit (where I did the OJ Simpson run to the plane), then on to Nagoya Japan. It was a 14 hour flight to Japan. Many movies and a nap later we landed in Japan, got off all our stuff , went through security and got back on the same plane. Another 6 hours to Manila arriving at 2 am and going to the hotel. I flopped on the bed at 2:30 and had a wake up call for 5am. We met the rest of the team and got on a flight for Davao arriving around 10:00.

But ,we are here and the screening of the patients has started. The mission is at a large compound with the hotel and hospital all in the same area. During screening there are tables set up in a circle where the patients are sent through each station with their paperwork. There is a station for dental, plastic surgery, blood work and before/after pictures. Patients and their families wait for hours and some have traveled 2 or 3 days to get to the mission site. The students and I helped entertain the kids today with all the toys we brought. It was fun watching the little boys play with the toy cars and the girls with the bracelets and rings. I was so fortunate to hold lots of babies  while the tired moms took a little break.

It looks like Hawaii in Davao. The trees are lush and green and there are tropical flowers growing on the side of the road.  It sure is humid and has been raining all day. I found out that our showers are cold water only...it was the quickest shower on earth for me! Tonight what is left of me is going out for a team dinner. So, far I've had rice and bananas and I'm looking forward to something good tonight.

We are 14 hours ahead of Jackson and a world away...that's for sure!

Packing it all up

2 suitcases 50 lbs and 20 lbs later I'm ready to go.

What in the world do you pack for 2 weeks on a mission?

I am a list person and I had lists of lists. My students and I are responsible for bringing lots of toys and crafts to entertain sick and bored kids. So, I packed the large red bag full of crafty stuff...thank you Oriental Trading magazine. The other small purple bag is full of my clothes, electronic stuff and snacks.

I found out after packing the large suitcase that I was allowed 50 lbs going from the US to Manila, but only 30 lbs from Manila to Davao. Good grief, I invested 7 bucks in the green suitcase scale and it saved my life! I repacked again ...and yet again and finally my bag is 42 lbs. Oh well, the over weight will be worth it.