Loja,Ecuador 2008

Dr. Jimmy Mejia

Photo By: Adam Forgash
Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador-Emily Ulm, Interplast volunteer nurse

It has been over a week since we left Ecuador and returned home.  While it is great to be back home (as I am a newlywed!), I definitely miss the dynamics of the team. It is difficult to make such close friendships over such a short period of time, and then have to say good-bye, knowing that I will possibly never see these wonderful people again.  And I do miss making a difference in the lives of people who may not have otherwise had a chance to be helped without Interplast.

One very encouraging result of this trip was that a third-year plastic surgery resident, Dr. Jimmy Mejia, was taught, first-hand, by Dr. Ian Wilson to operate on cleft lips and palates.  Dr. Mejia, who is originally from Loja, is completing his training in Guayaquil.  Once he’s through with his studies, Dr. Mejia plans to return to Loja to help continue what Interplast has begun.  With excellent teaching, and equally excellent translating by medical student Sophie Post and by Interplast staff member Liliana Vazquez, Dr. Mejia was able to successfully operate on a palate and a lip by the end of our trip.  Dr. Wilson was very proud.

I must also add that Dr. Mejia was an excellent host of his native city.  One evening he took a few of us to the local fair where we played foosball, ate fried coconut and shopped for souvenirs.  Thank you Dr. Mejia.

After David's Operation

After David's Operation
Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador-Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

After David’s surgery his father quickly met him outside the operating room. As soon as he saw his son, he broke down into tears. This picture was taken only a day after David’s surgery. Although David will have to return for another procedure to repair his cleft palate, this operation marked the beginning of a new life for both him and his father.

Before David's Operation

Before David's Operation
Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador-Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

Three-year-old David arrived at clinic accompanied by his father. Unlike the other kids around him, he sat quietly on his father’s lap awaiting his turn. David was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. On this visit, Interplast surgeons will be fixing his lip. The cleft palate will be repaired on Interplast's next trip to Loja. The night before David’s operation, his father spent the night on a chair by his bedside, anxious and concerned, but well aware of the impact this operation would have on his son’s life.

Ahhhh…

Ahhhh…
Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador—Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

Dayanna is an adorable 2-year-old who, unlike most children, did not start crying at the sight of a doctor. Used to the usual doctor routine and being asked to “say ahhh” she instinctively opened her mouth every time she was approach by anyone on the team, including me trying to take this picture. Dayanna and her two older sisters all suffer from polydactyly (each having an extra toe). The condition would eventually make it difficult for them to wear shoes. Interplast’s volunteer plastic surgeon, Dr. Bob Ryan, removed the extra toe on all three sisters’ feet.

Dario the Photographer

Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador--Frieda Zandbergen, Interplast volunteer nurse

Dario is a warm outgoing boy who suffered a terrible burn on his upper body. The burn occurred when he was innocently playing with gasoline.  He won most of our hearts but especially that of Adam (our trip photographer). Adam took time to teach Dario some photography while he waited his turn on clinic day. Dario followed Adam around and got to use his camera. It was inspiring to watch Adam cheer up this child and introduce him to the world of photography.

Today, Dr. Robert Ryan performed a burn contracture release on Dario´s face, which will allow him to open his mouth fully. We hope that Dario can one day become the photographer he now tells us he wants to be.

Lucky to be Home

Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador--Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

Coordinator/translators form a very important part of our team. They work diligently at the hospital and, even following surgeries, continue to translate for everyone on the trip. Their job basically never ends.

Ana, who was born and raised in Ecuador, is one of our coordinator/translators, and she celebrated her birthday while on this trip. The day before her birthday Ana mentioned she felt lucky to be back home, celebrating her birthday while being able reach out and help those in need. The team wanted to celebrate, so we surprised her with a birthday cake and ice cream.

Mr. Sunshine

Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador--Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

Victor is a shy 10-year-old with a smile and warm personality. Victor was accompanied to the clinic by his grandmother. As soon as he walked through the doors, the local staff paused to greet him. He was introduced to us as "Mr. Sunshine" and after a few minutes with him, we discovered why. His smile and talkative nature brightened the room. Inteplast operated on Victor a few years back but today he was here to accompany his nephew Diego who was being evaluated for a cleft lip operation.  He spoke proudly of how he took care of his nephew and was accompanying him since he himself had been operated by Interplast. It was great being able to meet a former Interplast patient who trusts us with the nephew he watches over and protects.

Smitten

Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador--Emily Ulm, Interplast volunteer nurse

The highlight for me today was watching the interaction between our photographer, Adam (pictured here), and one of our patients.  This little child took a real liking to our resident teddy bear.  Whenever Adam tried to hand off the child after holding him for a while, the child would stretch his arms back out toward Adam.  The heartwarming thing is that I think Adam was just as smitten by our lovely boy as he was by Adam. 

There is something about these trips that gives us all a reality check and help us remember what is really important in life.

What I Love

Originally uploaded by interplast

Emily Ulm, Interplast volunteer nurse.

Today we were able to reap the rewards of all of yesterday's clinic day work.  We get to operate on these patients and change some lives, in a small or a big way.  I love this part of the trip. 

Well, I love so many parts of the trip.  I love it when a child passes all the criteria for surgery on clinic day and the parents have such an anticipated excitement about their child's upcoming procedure.  I love seeing how, also on clinic day, an initially chaotic situation starts to run like a well-greased wheel.  And I love to see how friendships among the team members begin to blossom out of our common desire to help others.

On operating days, we are really getting into the part where we make a difference.  Ian Wilson is our chief plastic surgeon, and he has a heart of gold.  His concern for each and every patient shines through when he operates. He is meticulous in his work and meticulous in his teaching.  Our anesthetists are calm, extremely capable and also excellent with the patients. I am an operating room (OR) nurse, so I won't go overboard with the self-praise, but I do think that my OR nurse colleague, Lorraine and I are doing a great job in getting the rooms and equipment prepared for the procedures, and we love these little kiddies, too. Our post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses, Jan and Frieda, are angels in disguise as they love and nurture the wakening child, and keep the fears at bay.  And I must mention our pediatrician and our translators who are working non-stop and are never letting the fast pace get to them. I feel blessed to be on this team.

Clinic Day

Originally uploaded by interplast

Loja, Ecuador--Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator

Today was clinic day at the hospital, a day for all patients who want to receive help to be evaluated by Interplast doctors. We saw more than 350 potential patients. Each one received a careful evaluation. By the time the team arrived at the hospital there was a long line crowding the hospital’s lobby.  Children quickly made friends with each other as they were surrounded by others who, like them, looked "different" from those outside the clinic doors. As the day went on, the line of patients did not seem to get smaller, but the team stayed at the hospital until the last patient was seen and every parent question was answered. We left the hospital eager to try local food and get some rest for the next day’s first set of surgeries.