By Maya Brook, Mending Faces Executive Director
Although I have been with Mending Faces for years, this is my first Medical Mission that I have attended. I have always been behind the scenes- seeing photos and hearing the stories, so I have been excited to finally attend a medical mission in person (and bring along my three sons and husband.)
Screening day began early Sunday morning. Even though we all arrived at the hospital before 9 a.m., the halls were full of 47 patients and their families awaiting their turn for screening. As it was Mother’s Day, I thought about all the moms with their children. Eager, yet nervous, waiting to find out what day their child will have their life-changing surgery- a procedure that they have been waiting on for months, or even years. When a child is born with a cleft lip or palate deformity in the U.S., they start their first surgery when they are just a few months old. In the Dominican Republic, like much of the world, the families cannot afford the surgery, and so they wait for organizations like Mending Faces, to travel to their country and provide the surgery free of charge.
This means that some of our patients are just six months old, while others are teenagers. My three sons are 9, 7, and 5 years-old, so they fit right in with the mix of the ages of the patients on screening day. My two oldest, along with my husband, spent hours making balloon animals and swords for the kids. It was a great way to break the anxiety of waiting for a turn to meet with the nurses, dentist, and surgeon. There were plenty of giggles from all the kids as they waited for their balloon. One nine-year-old girl with a cleft lip, the same age as my oldest son, hung out near him much of the morning- eager to learn how to create balloon animals alongside him. Although my son only knows a handful of words in Spanish, they were able to communicate the way all kids do- through laughter and play.
My youngest and I handed out stuffed animals generously made by one of our past medical mission volunteers, Jahnavi, and her girl scout troop. The smiles on the moms and children as we handed out the stuffed animals with tiny hand-sewn Mending Faces t-shirts filled my heart.
While we were with the patients, the behind-the-scenes team of nurses and admin volunteers were busy unpacking the surgical tools and medicines and preparing the Operating Room for the surgeries the next day. I’m in even more awe of our volunteers than I was before. The time and dedication they each give is inspiring. Most of our volunteers come to one or more of our medical missions each year- donating their time and energy to be here as well as paying for all of their expenses. Those that have travelled to developing countries know first-hand the mental and physical toll it can take. And of course, the complete wonder of the world and beauty, too.
In the end we screened 47 patients and determined 44 were healthy enough and ready for their cleft lip and/or cleft palate surgery. 44 patients were given a day and time to return to the hospital this week for their surgery. Today we have 11 patients on the schedule that will be operated on by our two Colorado-based surgeons, Dr. Jeff Swail and Dr. Gary Snider. Some will also have dental care and extractions provided by Dr. Chris Biety, also from Colorado.
Years ago, when my middle son was just 6 months-old, he had to have surgery for a hernia. I remember learning he would need the surgery when he was just a couple of days old. It’s never easy to learn your child requires medical care. The day of the surgery I was so nervous- handing over my baby to a nurse and needing to trust that they would take care of him, provide a safe surgery, and return him to me. The hour or so that the surgery took felt like days. I can remember the intense feeling of gratitude and relief as the nurse came and placed him back into my arms after a successful surgery. My thoughts are with all of the moms today and this week that will place their child in the trust of our nurses and surgical team. I’m looking forward to returning to the hospital tomorrow and witnessing the relief of the mothers. They will leave the hospital with the knowledge that they have provided their child with much-needed surgery and a chance to lead a healthy and productive life. We may come from all backgrounds, parts of the world, and have different colors of skin, but all moms want the very best for their children.
Towards the end of the day yesterday, my middle son and I were standing next to a mom and her 10-year-old daughter. “Kids are making fun of her at school,” the mom tearfully told the translator who then told our surgeons. “We will fix her lip and show her beautiful smile,” the surgeon replied.
It’s an honor to be part of this Medical Mission in the Dominican Republic and witness the gift of cleft lip and palate surgeries, not only for the children, but for the mothers, too.
