Portoviejo, Ecuador - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff: I took this picture of Carlos five minutes before he entered the operating room. Carlos was really excited right before his surgery, which is pretty unusual. Most patients are initially jazzed when they learn that they have been chosen to receive free reconstructive surgery, but their joy fades to a quiet anxiety as their hour approaches.
But not Carlos. Carlos was excited even when he was minutes away from going under the knife.
He told me that he was most excited about the fact that he might now be able to have a girlfriend. I told him that he would have more than just a chance, and he should immediately procure a large stick so that after he recovers he can defend himself from all the overzealous ladies who will be flocking his way. He (and Maria, my volunteer translator for the day) had a good laugh, and he went into the operating room with this smile on his face.
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