Surgery: Day 3 Last Day

July 2:

Today is my last day here at the Jordan mission. I'm headed back to the States with a full heart and the feeling that together with all of you who supported Operation Smile, we have made a difference. Although I'm excited to be headed back to the US, today however the children from Zaatari refugee camp return to the hospital for their surgeries. So this last day stirs a lot of emotions for me, and impresses upon me the need to return soon to continue the work that we have set in motion. I am especially hopeful we can crystalize the collaboration with the medical teams at Zaatari refugee camp, and create something permanent for the thousands of refugees in need.  Of all the missions I have done with Op Smile, this one by far has been the most meaningful and the mission that I've worked tirelessly for, giving it my heart and soul.

Here are some parting photos including some of the children we have been following:

Mohammed: I will never forget those eyes

Mohammed, the beautiful blue-eyed boy from screening day, arrives today for his surgery.  He's in great spirits and played the whole morning with the student volunteers coming from the U.S.  Others from the camp also arrived, particularly patients in need of surgeries related to burns.

Evan, one of our student volunteers from Virginia, playing with Mohammed. Student volunteers were absolutely critical to the success of the mission. We had 2 students from the US and at least 25 from Jordan. Cheers to the student volunteers!!

Play Time

Aisha from Somalia patiently waiting for her brother who was getting cleft palate surgery.

Aisha provided me with a steady stream of colorful art work. I have one in particular I plan on framing at home.

Volunteer Ghalia

A Mother's love is universal

Finally, I will arrive back in the US on July 4th, Independence Day.  A very significant and meaningful day for the country I love. Through my participation in Operation Smile, I have been able to peek behind the curtain of many countries' customs and cultures, the positives and the negatives, the strengths and the shortcomings.  Each time, there was always the evidence of contributions by Americans to help those in need. The grand fireworks celebrations will be even more significant for me this year. I look forward to seeing all my friends and family and planning my next mission. I sincerely hope you all will continue to support Operation Smile and continue to change lives one smile at a time.

Warmest regards,

Daneia

Surgery: Day 2

July 1:

Even earlier start today. As the bus pulled from the hotel with many of the team members, there was an air of anticipation. While it's a seasoned group, everyone I spoke to said today would be the most gratifying as we see the children now rested with the effects of the surgery wiped away. For me the ride seemed to take much longer than usual.

My first stop was Hanan, who's Mom greeted me at the door of the room.  That morning, Hanan saw herself for the first time since surgery. Despite out enthusiasm, Hanan greeted us in the same understated calm fashion as she did on screening day. The other relatives were very animated and expressed great pleasure with the results. Her brothers, who seemed very skeptical on screening day, were very appreciative and asking when their sister could return for what could be a follow-up surgery in December.

Hanan, after living with her cleft for 13 years, still adjusting to the dramatic change. One of the bravest girls I've ever met.

I couldn't believe the difference

Dr. Sunil Richardson, the surgeon who performed the cleft surgery, comes to check on his patient.

Next came little Sabr,  who his mom said cried all night. The happiness on her face was priceless. She was more than willing to sacrifice a night's sleep for her precious little man. 

Sabr catching up on his sleep

Then on to little Suliyman who was sleeping soundly. His mother and the grandparents were extremely elated and couldn't contain their joy. There were kisses and hugs all around. 

Team Suliyman

Rest my little love

Grandma was all love..XO

Some of the amazing Operation Smile folks from Jordan

Operation Smile really does change  lives, one smile at at time. 

Another satisfied customer

Smiles all around

Surgery: Day One

June 30:

We had an early start with a 45 minute bus ride to Toutanji Hospital outside of Amman. As we entered the surgery area, we had to pass through the waiting room of nervous parents and children.

There were 17 surgeries scheduled this day to be performed by our Operation Smile team of plastic surgeons from Italy, India, USA and Jordan. Among the patients was 13-month old Suliyman, the Syrian boy we introduced you to on screening day. Although he fasted all night in preparation for surgery, he was still smiling and full of life. 13-year old Hanan as we saw during screening was quietly and patiently awaiting her turn. Also there was Sabr, the 10-month old Jordanian boy in need of a bi-lateral cleft and palate. He would only receive the bi-lateral cleft surgery today with the palate as a follow up surgery since he was a bit under weight.

Operation Smile gave me permission to observe in the operating room. When I say observe, I was literally standing next to the operating team during surgery, looking over shoulders and watching them tirelessly perform with amazing precision and professionalism hour after hour. I was honored to be in the same room with them, but mostly humbled by the realization these world class surgeons from the likes of Yale and Harvard where here giving of their own time transforming the lives of less fortunate children.


Baby Suliyman with Mom seeing pediatrician Terry prior to surgery. As I said, non-stop smiles from this little guy.

Precious Suliyman

Me giving Kathy Magee and Dr. Chris some tips on my approach to cleft lip surgery.

Delivering Suliyman to the OR

Our doctors who came all the way from Yale to meet Suliyman

Your $240 at work.

Surgery complete. After a short stint in Post Op, I had the honor of handing this beautiful symbol of everything good in the world back to his tearful and thankful Mom. Nothing in life can prepare you for when you see the surprise, relief and happiness at that moment.

Next up was Sabr, scheduled for the bi-lateral cleft with his Mom. He was quite unhappy about the fact he fasted all night and then ended up having surgery late in the day. I may be limited in cleft palate surgery tips, but I called on my extensive experience as a mother of two boys and here is the result.

Here is Hanan, smiling prior to surgery. When the moment came, she was overwhelmed with emotion and openly sobbing. My heart went out to this beautiful and brave young girl as she solemnly walked into the OR area.  My only consolation was knowing what awaited her in Post Op.

Hanan

A kiss from Mom

One unexpected moment was with Souad, who didn't make it to screening, but heard through her uncle who lives in Italy there were Italian doctors in town to perform surgeries. Her personality was like a ray of sunshine and she left such a lasting impression. Souad's facial deformity is the result of a genetic disorder and she has had 5 previous surgeries. We'll keep you posted on her.

Visit to Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp

It’s been a very hectic and emotional couple of days for the team here in Jordan. Some of us visited a Syrian refugee camp on the border and that led right into the first day of surgery. That means 12 to 14 hour days, leaving little time for updating all of you on our progress. So now I’m back and I would like to provide you all with the updates of the last several days.

June 29:

Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp

After much red tape and months of back and forth, we finally got approval and drove about an hour north towards the Jordanian-Syrian border to visit the Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians coming into Jordan.  All Syrians who are fleeing the Syrian civil war and going to Jordan go through the camp. The camp is 12 kilometers from the border, and estimates range from about 500-1000 refugees a day entering Zaatari.  It is very close to the war.  Although there are a lot of registered people, today realistically, there are around 120,000 refugees there.  When we arrived, we were escorted in and met with the Senior Field Coordinator, Kilian Kleinschmidt.  He and his staff gave our Operation Smile team a detailed briefing on the camp and it’s evolution.  Next we got to our primary objective of the trip with an extended discussion on health care. At that point Kathy Magee, the co-founder of Operation Smile took the lead and discussed ways that OS could work with the camp to assist them with their massive and overwhelming health care needs. 

Post briefing, members of the UNHCF took us through the camp.  I will try to briefly describe what that experience was like, but honestly for me I’m not sure how to express my thoughts eloquently enough to vividly portray the impact of seeing firsthand how life in the camp was unfolding but I’ll try.  

First we were taken to a trailer where we met up with the families who came to the screening day.  It was so wonderful to see all of the beautiful faces of the children we had just seen the day before.  My boy Mohammed was there with his parents looking as sweet as ever.  We also saw baby Mais, a severely malnourished 6 month old baby girl with a cleft (she is only 5 pounds).  Thank God she was brought to screening day so that she was identified, and now can be properly fed with the necessary bottles and formula.  Had she not arrived that day, I honestly believe that baby would not have survived.

Kathy Magee discussing feeding techniques

Baby Mais

Burn victim from war

More burns

Moroccan Military Doctors

We left the secure compound of the UNHCF and toured the Moroccan field hospital. It’s completely staffed and run by the Moroccan military providing everything from basic care to emergency services. We met with the doctors and discussed how we could collaborate. I think we made some great headway.

As for the camp itself, I expected a field of tents, simple, rudimentary items and people in need of basic everyday items. However, the camp was very different from what I envisioned. It is a city that sprung from the desert with all the good and bad a typical city possesses, along with some unique problems and challenges. I will follow up in more detail in the coming days but for now I will let our photos tell the story.

Rows of "stores" have popped up

Portable units in parts of the camp 

Syrians innovate using any materials they can obtain

UNHCR provided tents

Water distribution is via large water towers

Some of the children from the camp

Thursday June 27:

The team arrived in Amman, Jordan and we had our first team meeting. It included getting to know each other and the logistics of Thursday's screening day. The team includes members from the US, Italy, Egypt, Brazil, UAE and Jordan. The experience varies with some members on their first mission and one woman on her 60'th Op Smile Mission!

Friday June 28:

A hectic screening day. We assembled in a hospital on the outskirts of Amman. Children and family members assembled early in the day under makeshift tents outside the hospital to begin the screening process. It includes a number of stages in which we interview the candidate and evaluate they malady, physical health and medical history. There is a high level of anxiety on the part of the families as they have traveled far and wide in the hopes of having their loved one treated. For many, Operation Smile represents their only chance for their child to live a normal healthy life.

Here are some of their stories:

Beautiful Sabr from Jordan, is 10 months old. I was struck by his big brown eyes, frail body and young mother trying to cope with both his cleft lip and palate. His Mom traveled far to give her son a chance.

A young Syrian baby, Suliyman arrived with his Mother and Grandmother who moved to Jordan after his father was killed in Syria. At 1 1/2 years old his smile was pure and innocent. At first his family refused permission to photograph him in fear of reprisals. They later relented.

Muhamed is 7 years old and lives in the Zaatari refugee camp on the border of Syria and Jordan. We had a more extensive interview with his father who described his exit from Syria so vividly and with such emotion we were moved to tears. Conditions in the camps are barely manageable with a limited access to basic needs and level of lawlessness due to the sheer volume of refugees.

Now meet Hanan at 13, older than many of the children we screened. From a poor family with no father, she waited quietly and patiently all day for her chance to at a life changing experience. With little material possessions to show, her humble and grateful attitude compelled us to ensure she had the opportunity to smile.

Finally, one more child namer Amr. We interviewed his mother who spoke in anger and despair of the state of her country. Her impassioned description of the bloodshed and generations lost was a firsthand accounting of the reality of what has become of Syria.