Air Gladys

Air Gladys
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Here I am pictured with my other favorite, Gladys, who had her cleft lip first repaired by Interplast in 2002. Now her palate has been fixed. In my hands, she flies in the air and is anxious to go home, play with her dolls, and dance to music.

Each of us -- Ecuadorian patient and Interplast team member -- has so much to be thankful for in our own way, each assisted by helping hands in different ways.

Nadia and Angel

Nadia and Angel
Originally uploaded by interplast.

Two of my favorites were in the pediatric ward, Angel Cartuche, 3, and Gladys Gualan, 5. They have been in very good hands. Surgeon Nadia Afridi is pictured here changing Angel's dressings. The two seem as different as Loja and NYC, but maybe not. Angel walked two hours from a northern village, and burned himself playing with a lamp filled with gasoline a year ago. Nadia's family is from Pakistan, raised in Canada, and now newly married, living in NYC/Manhattan. Nadia said she's really admired Angel because he has shown a lot of strength and courage through the operational ordeal. This could describe Nadia as well.

Nadia has been in good hands, too. As a Webster fellow, she learns and operates by working with Dr. Moore and Dr. Gould on the team. "You see one, do one, and teach one", Nadia remarked. "That's the way to learn".

Antonia Lugo

Antonia Lugo
Originally uploaded by interplast.

This is Antonia Lugo, an adorable 11 month-old. It took two and a half hours for the doctors to repair her cleft lip, but everything went well, and she is recovering nicely. She is a doll and lit up the pediatric ward.