STRUGGLES BEHIND THE SMILES

It wasn’t by chance why I’m here today, it’s a choice…and I’m so happy …

Kids playing, crying, some don’t know what’s going on…people are running all over the registration area at ONA which was prepared for kids and some adults for the operation that would change their lives forever…

Two weeks ago, pre screening was held at ONA, where kids and some adults who have cleft lip and cleft palate problem was given vitamins and other medications to make sure everybody is in good health and their physically and mentally prepared for the operations.

And today, September 18, 2008, 55 were listed as the final number of kids and adults who will have the operation.

There are 3 stories which really touched my heart…3 kids who has almost the same story and came from the same place, who flew in and travelled almost 27 hours by land and sea from the province of Samar just to have an operation whew!!! Imagine that????, Edrian, Charito and Mary Jane.

Let me tell you the story of Charito...

Charito didn’t eat anything from 12midnight of September 17 up till 2pm of September 18^th , because he was scheduled on the 1^st day and he needs to fast...same thing his father did...

But unfortunately, before he entered the operating room a pediatric doctor checked if he has heart murmur (final screening) and the doctors said he has it and he can’t be operated.

Just imagine how was his father felt during that time...it’s like everything collapsed...they supposed to go back to Samar the same day…but Mr. Phillip Terrell didn’t stop…

He asked me to bring Charito to a pediatric cardiologist to get a clearance for operation…

Several test were done, x-ray, ECG oh my!!!He almost broke the ECG apparatus, it was really a traumatic experience for Charito…

But after an hour of waiting for the results, he got cleared.  Yuppie!!! His father was really happy and you will see the smile again in his face…

And you know what?  The same day… Charito got operated successfully… =)

And now Edrian…

Adrian was the one who had the first operations, both cleft lip and cleft palate. What a tough boy, I just saw Edrian when he was at the recovery room…he’s the reason why the operations smile here in Angeles was born… and the reason why all these kids will be operated…many people was inspired with his story… and started to help the less fortunate families not only those who has cleft lip and cleft palate problem…but for those who cannot afford to pay for their medical needs…

Edrian’s sacrifices doesn’t end on that day…hmmmn…just 50%percent, because he has a problem also with his eyes…and he needs operation…wait till I finish the operations smile story and I will let you know about what happened with Edrian’s eye…

My final story for now would be Mary Jane…

Mary Jane is a twelve year old girl who also lives in Samar, she came in on the last day of the mission.  All the way from Samar, she went directly to the hospital for the screening not unlike the other kids who was pre screened, Mary Jane didn’t have that chance…so sad to say, she failed also and didn’t make it on that mission…for the reason of being anemic. 

Yes, her hemoglobin count is like only 35 but she needs 80 to 85, she was suspected to have leukemia but thank God after series of blood transfusions, her blood count stabilized… after that, we brought her to the pediatric cardiologist to check if she has heart murmur, and again…the Doctor’s recommended her to have a 2d echo test which will determine if she’s really fit for the operations…Mr. Terell and Jane went to all the hospitals in Angeles just to found out that nobody could give Mary Jane the 2d echo result the same day…so they went to the Philippine Heart Center in Manila and luckily she got cleared….but the Doctor said she has a pulmonary problem which needs treatment…

Mr. Phillip Terrell told Mary Janes family that after a week she will be operated in Manila…it’s just that, they need to treat first Mary Jane’s pulmonary problem and was advised to take a rest.

I saw how Mary Jane fights, her strong personality and willingness to have the operation is there, she’s one of those kids I’ve seen how brave in facing her situation.  I remember, her aunt told me that Mary Jane is sometimes talking to herself in front of a mirror, saying that “Huh, babalik ako at hindi nyo nako pagtatawan, dahil mas maganda nako sa inyo.”  (Huh, ill come back, you will not recognize me because I’m more beautiful than you now.” 

After a week, Mary Jane got operated, she’s so beautiful now and was excited to go back to her province and go back to school.

Wow, with that…it’s the first time in the history of Operations Smile all over the world, that all patients who were listed got operated…what a faith!!!

It is true that, through determination and the belief that all children deserve health, people like Mr. Phillip Terrell, Jane, the doctors, nurses, volunteers and the people who are helping financially, will not stop in doing these kinds of missions…

It’s unforgettable to work with a team of people who are all dedicated to the same result, to see that people whom you never met before can become a colleague in a matter of hours.

I’ve been doing a lot of missions already from the past, like during college, in the church in our community, but this mission touched my heart so much! Not only because I have a niece who has a cleft palate problem, but it’s the hope I see in every kid’s eyes, their parents, relatives…it’s very inspiring.

I felt so lucky that day and that reminds me that God really works…wonderfully and amazingly!!!

STRUGGLES BEFORE, NOW IT’S A NEW HOPE, A NEW DREAM AND IT’S A BRAND NEW SMILE! =) Hope to see you on the next mission!!!

Story by:

A volunteer of the Operation Smile Angeles, Sept 2008