An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 5:30 PM

I know I will be asked what a typical day is like. I think these pictures show it the best, but nothing can compare to seeing the looks on the children's faces, when they emerge from surgery. It truly cannot be explained in words.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 5:00 PM

bob12
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Joy as seen through Fausto David Cartuce Saraguro, 11, who looks like he is ready to hit the futbol field after the successful web release in his hand.

The look on his face tells me that I have a made a difference in the world today.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 3:45 PM

bob11
Originally uploaded by interplast.

As with Dr. Moore, this young boy really touched me too, because I knew Francisco was reborn due to Tom's multiple surgeries. With this third surgery (assisted by Dr. Nadia Afridi), a skin graft is added to bring out the ear more, finishing the ear. Dr. Moore is returning to Guayaquil in the Spring to teach Microtia III as part of the Visiting Educator program. I can tell that Tom really gets a kick out of passing on his knowledge.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 3:00 PM

bob10
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Dr. Thomas Moore gleamed when Francisco arrived in the waiting room, and he examined his previous microtia (ear) surgery. This is the third time back for Francisco who was bouncing with joy around the reception area. Dr. Moore told me that he used to hide his ear with long hair. Now he regularly sports a short cut.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 1:30 PM

bob9a
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Seemingly out of nowhere (actually from the far away highlands) came this Saraguro mother/daughter pair in their very identifiable traditional dress. Interplast examined and scheduled burn work for next week.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 1:00 PM

bob9
Originally uploaded by interplast.

The nurses show their appreciation after the lecture from Helena and Katherine.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 11:30 AM

bob8
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Helena Hellberg translating for Katherine Griffin on proper hand washing and other cleaning protocol.

Education is another pillar of Interplast, as seen today in the first of a series of lectures. Katherine Griffin is here with our all-purpose, all-star volunteer from Sweden.

Helena Hellberg, who is her last year at University of Chalmers in Sweden, does the valuable job of translating for the team, so the Interplast volunteers are always calling for Helena.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 10:15 AM

bob7
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Local general surgeon, Dr. Jack Banda, working with Dr. Lisa Gould from Interplast on a complicated hand case. Dr. Banda later remarked that he is so thrilled to work with the premier Interplast team: "I do this because I learn so much, and I help people who are poor".

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 9:30 AM

LIGHTS OUT! I came back to the operating floor and the electricity had gone out. The team was prepared, and safely continued with a flashlight momentarily before the resumption of electricity.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 9:00 AM

bob4
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This is the wall behind a patient. It says, "No spitting on the floor". And notice the broken light. Conditions here are a little off-kilter, but things work.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 8:45 AM

bob3
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This leg belongs to Jaluline Jaramillo Pinzo, 26. Here is her awful burn being examined at the clinic by the Interplast doctors.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 8:30 AM

bob2
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This is me with some of the nurses. I am the one in the back row, second from the right, in case you couldn't guess.

I was impressed by their compassion for the children.

You can see some of the pediatric nurses are amused by my height. Some, such as the one on the far right, are even a little terrified.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 8:15 AM

bob1
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Dr. Bloome and Nurse Griffin with Alex Javier Jimbo Jumbo, 7, who had a burn contracture release. Ken has a special knack of making the kids laugh.

An Ordinary Day, Extraordinary Hearts - 8:00 AM

8:00 AM: First, I accompanied Dr. Ken Bloome and Nurse Katherine Griffin to see the overnight patients.

Dany in 2003 After His Interplast Surgery

danny after surgery1
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This is Dany after his surgery in 2003. Interplast boardmember Sheila Wolfson (the wonderful woman who provided all of the 2003 pictures) is reading a book to Dany in the recovery room.

Making The Rounds: A Typical Day

I’m now getting a sense of a “day in the life” of an Interplast team. It’s like those traffic roundabouts which have designated lanes, yet there is still the unexpected darting all over the road.

These pictures and posts were recorded Friday, but I was so busy working that I did not have any energy left to post them until now. I posted them in the order that they happened, so the beginning of the day is one post above this, and the end of the day is at the top of this section. I apologize for any confusion.

Dany in 2003 Before His Interplast Surgery

danny1
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This is a picture of Dany (from a few postings ago) from before his Interplast surgery in 2003.

Luz and Her Mother

Luz
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Luz and her mother. Unfortunately, Luz is not well enough to handle the surgery, so we can only hope that she comes back next year, and is more healthy.

Cases like hers emphasize how important it is to build medical infrastructure so that local doctors can operate year round, so that no child must wait.

A Heartbreaking Case, A Strengthened Resolve

Luz’s mother wore the traditional Ecuadorian black hat, flowing skirt and pancho. She also wore a grief that seemed to be just as ingrained.

She held her daughter and waited.

This was not the first time she waited in Loja with hundreds of others wanting surgery for their children. Luz, now 2, was born with a cleft lip. Last year, Luz’s family made the same eight hour journey from the Peruvian border only to be told that it would not be safe to operate on Luz, for she was too sick with fever and an upper respiratory infection. Tragically, Luz was sick again this year, making her little body too weak to undergo surgery.

It was nothing less than heartbreaking.

But when these U.S. doctors go overseas to perform surgery, they bring the same excellent safety standards and high-quality medical practices they use at home with them. There was nothing to be done for Luz this year, for even medicine would not have strengthened her enough during the two-week stay of the doctors. Hopefully, Luz will return healthy next year.

It’s cases like Luz’s that reinforce Interplast’s focus on training and empowering local doctors so that they can perform surgery themselves year-round and for generations to come. Interplast’s vision is a world in which Luz would only have to wait until she was healthy---and not another day longer.