Morning! It's amazing how much has been accomplished and how many lives have been changed by our incredible team so far!! So let's celebrate this accomplishment and the bravery of all the children with some chócala's (high fives)!!! Yay!!

 

Dr. Milton and Ana

Dr. Milton and Ana

 

Norma and Nurse Ophelia

Norma and Nurse Ophelia

Eduardo Victor and Dr Payosa

Dr. Eduardo, Victor, and Dr. Payaso

 

Dr. Julie and Marcos

Dr. Julie and Marcos

 

Silvana and Issac_2

Issac and Silvana

 

DSC_3486

Dr. Mark and Ana 

 

Dr Julie and Ediberto

Dr. Julie and Ediberto

 

Dr Amir Jorge and Norma
 Before Norma left she asked Dr. Amir for another chócala because she had been so brave before and after surgery…of course Dr. Amir gladly complied! Awesome!!

 

Nurse Lisa and Carlos

Nurse Lisa and Carlos

 

DSC_3488

Luis's mom and Sangita chócala for Luis!
 

 

DSC_3449

Ana and Carolyn Johnson (Rotary District Governor 7780)

 

One of my favorite parts of the day is visiting the children in the pediatric ward. They perk up when they see my camera because they love having their picture taken and then being able to see themselves on my camera right after. Many of them enjoy having their pictures taken with their new stuffed animal friends as well as new friends that they have made in the ward.

Alison

 

Antoni

 

Angel smiles

 

Juan

 

DSC_3361

 

DSC_3359

New best friends

 

Cesar and his mom

 

Now let me introduce you to some awesome kids that I met today!!

 

Meet Victor

When Victor was a year old, his aunt Gladys went to visit him and found him left alone, abandoned, and totally malnourished. He was even afraid of anyone touching him or going near him and couldn't sit on his own because he was so fragile and weak. The aunt took him into her care and went to three different cities asking for help with the operation for his cleft lip and palate, but no one would help. She tried to obtain legal guardianship of the child but because his birth had never been registered, and his father never acknowledged that he existed, they wouldn't give the aunt guardianship without the mother's approval. Just as he was about to be taken into the care of the government, a judge told her that if she was able to obtain surgery for Victor, it would prove to him that she was a good guardian and he would grant her guardianship. Driven by her determination to be Victor's guardian and finally provide him with a stable and loving home, she discovered Rotaplast. Last year Victor was able to have his first surgery (on his lip) thanks to Rotaplast!! Victor is now back to have surgery on his palate. 

Before Victor went into surgery today, his aunt told me that the surgery was going to change his whole life. Before, she was so worried that he was going to be bullied his entire life and that kids would call him names. She now believes that he has an amazing future ahead of him thanks to Rotaplast!!!

Even more amazing to all of us was how much Victor loves hugs now, especially from Dr. Payaso!

 

Victor and dr payaso

 

Meet Ana 

 

Ana’s mom died a year ago and her dad, who is a bus driver in Xela (about four hours away from the City), couldn’t afford to pay for someone to look after her. Her older brothers refused to stay with her because they didn’t like the way she looked. Ana spent the next month alone until her next door neighbor, who in the past had acted like a grandfather to her, agreed to take care of Ana while her dad was at work. He takes her to school, feeds her and he is the one who heard about Rotaplast and brought Ana to us on clinic day!! 

Ana told me that she is very happy that she was selected for surgery and that she knows that it will “make her life better.” 

After spending time with our doctors Ana now wants to become a doctor and be part of the Rotaplast team someday to help out others just like her!

You’re great ANA!!

DSC_3451

Ana and her "grandfather" 

 

DSC_3455

Ana was a little nervous before surgery so Sabina and Dr. Payosa helped to comfort her. 

 

 

DSC_3460

 

DSC_3464

 Maria and Dr. Amir helped to take Ana to the OR. Good luck Ana!!

 

Time to end the day…with another chócala!! 

 I would like to end the day with one more chócala from our last patient Rosalinda as well as sharing some sweet moments from our day!! Night!!

DSC_3504

 

wait….one more with Ted!

DSC_3505

 

Sweet times….

 

DSC_0305

 

DSC_3468

 

IMG_6502

 

DSC_0290

 

DSC_0298

 

Sara before_1
 

Vivian before