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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Loja, Ecuador--Liliana Vazquez, Interplast Communications Technology Coordinator
After a breathtaking plane ride over the Andes we finally arrived in Loja. Overwhelmed by the beauty of the world's longest mountain range we slowly made our way away from the view and in to the airport. There we were greeted warmly by Interplast´s long-time partners and friends in Loja and taken to the bus that would take us on a 45-minute ride to our destination. Although tired from the various travels we'd all had to make in the previous two days, we were all eager to see the hospital, the place where we will be spending the next two weeks.
