Each day we are greeted with cheery faces at the hospital upon our arrival. Please meet Sandra Ireheta (a local Rotarian) and Dr. Diaz ( Dr. Diaz is a general in the San Salvador military) who administrates the Hospital Militar. Sandra & her husband Jorge (along with all the other Rotarians & spouses) make sure the team has lunch each day. Sandra and her gang made sure that the team had plenty of snacks & goodies, (fresh baked pastries!). The team began to complain that their scrubs were getting tight! Thank you to everyone who worked to ensure the success of this mission.
Today we had a "walk-in" that was not previously seen at pre-clinic where the patients were initially screened. This family consisted of a the parents, the grandmother, the child, Maria Vasquez ( 3 months old) who was in need of cleft lip surgery. With the assistance of Mission translator Amelia Ward, I interviewed the family. They had left their home in Carton Cacao Conchaque the day before and traveled 6 hours by bus. Lilia, Maria's mother had just learned of the Rotaplast mission from a woman who sells vegetables in her village. Lilia was able to make contact with the hospital and spoke with Dr. Diaz. Lilia is 25 years old and has 6 children, and 5 of the children were healthy. Lilia's husband is a farm worker and Lilia is a housewife. Amelia explained that it is traditional for women to wear veils in the more rural areas. Maria is scheduled for surgery later in the week.