4:00 a.m. Friday: The view from the sixth floor window of the Grand Futura Tikal Hotel is one of silence and scattered street lights. Neither bird songs nor diesel break through the high-rise of our change of venue. Only the hum of the air conditioning that belies the awakening chaos in the predawn. Through the sheer curtains of our luxury, the double rows of razor wire encircling the tops of lesser buildings below are unseen. As unseen as the children who shyly turn their heads to hide the gaps in their lips.
Yesterday by 7:30, 137 of them were already assembled outside of the Centro Medico Militar Hospital, some sleeping in slings of colorful native fabric, others standing close by their parents, all patiently waiting with hopeful eyes for the chance to change their lives.
First stop upon entering the building was medical records to get vitals before heading to pre-op surgical screening. A surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse and interpreter evaluated each child. Those who have not had any previous surgery are given priority, with safety and the likelihood of a quality outcome as additional factors.
The child’s general health is evaluated by a pediatrician who can overrule the surgical screening if there is too great a risk to withstand surgery. Vital signs are recorded, including weight, a critical factor for pediatric anesthesia. A three year old boy was so happy to be there he was running around, clapping and singing.
The older kids who have been living with their clefts into the always difficult teen years were shyer, a bit intimidated, but excited to be getting their smile. One young man who sells flowers has lived his sixteen years without any previous repair for his lip, a surgery that can be done as early as at two months. He is now beyond the age for palate repair because his father wouldn’t let him have the operation. God made him that way.
Finally, all children received a dental evaluation followed by the photo station. By the time they reached me for their chart portrait, many of the babies were sound asleep. The older ones stood proudly with their arms straight down at their sides. By the end of the day, 101 children had green dots on their charts, approving them for surgery and nine more had provisional blue dots. Fifteen surgeries are scheduled for today.
A large banner at the entrance to the sprawling hospital grounds welcomes our Rotaplast mission. Dr. Francisco Javier is president of the Club Rotario Guatemala de la Asunción that has very generously provided our accommodations, meals and transportation. Two local television stations were here, interviewing local surgeon and Rotarian, Dr. Milton Solis. The Rotary club ran advertisements in the local newspaper to spread the word about the mission. Several moms told me they heard about it on Telemundo, local TV.
Yesterday by 7:30, 137 of them were already assembled outside of the Centro Medico Militar Hospital, some sleeping in slings of colorful native fabric, others standing close by their parents, all patiently waiting with hopeful eyes for the chance to change their lives.
First stop upon entering the building was medical records to get vitals before heading to pre-op surgical screening. A surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse and interpreter evaluated each child. Those who have not had any previous surgery are given priority, with safety and the likelihood of a quality outcome as additional factors.
The child’s general health is evaluated by a pediatrician who can overrule the surgical screening if there is too great a risk to withstand surgery. Vital signs are recorded, including weight, a critical factor for pediatric anesthesia. A three year old boy was so happy to be there he was running around, clapping and singing.
The older kids who have been living with their clefts into the always difficult teen years were shyer, a bit intimidated, but excited to be getting their smile. One young man who sells flowers has lived his sixteen years without any previous repair for his lip, a surgery that can be done as early as at two months. He is now beyond the age for palate repair because his father wouldn’t let him have the operation. God made him that way.
Finally, all children received a dental evaluation followed by the photo station. By the time they reached me for their chart portrait, many of the babies were sound asleep. The older ones stood proudly with their arms straight down at their sides. By the end of the day, 101 children had green dots on their charts, approving them for surgery and nine more had provisional blue dots. Fifteen surgeries are scheduled for today.
A large banner at the entrance to the sprawling hospital grounds welcomes our Rotaplast mission. Dr. Francisco Javier is president of the Club Rotario Guatemala de la Asunción that has very generously provided our accommodations, meals and transportation. Two local television stations were here, interviewing local surgeon and Rotarian, Dr. Milton Solis. The Rotary club ran advertisements in the local newspaper to spread the word about the mission. Several moms told me they heard about it on Telemundo, local TV.
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