Sightseeing & Orphanage

Day 2 - Saturday, November 10th, 2012

Sightseeing & Orphanage

Today the group split up, one group going to see the historical sights in Monrovia and the other going to a local orphanage.  

Dr. Tetzlaff and Dr. Moore with 2 kids at the orphanage

Kids at the orphanage during one of their dance numbers.

The first option was to go to Monrovia  to experience the culture and vibe of the downtown area.  On our way into town, we stopped at the beach to put our toes in the sand and dip our feet in the Atlantic.  Once we arrived in the city, many locals and their kids were out at the market selling anything from toilet seat covers to expensive fabrics.  We were able to stop at a collection of art vendors and several of us purchased carvings and paintings from local artists.  Peter was even able to find a helicopter made out of old flip flops.

The second bus picked up Debbie from Orphan Rescue and Relief and headed out of town to go to the Francis Gaskin orphanage.  We were able to play with the kids and had such a great time.  The kids even put on a little show for us, entertaining us with songs and dance numbers.  On our way home we were able to stop at a market as well to purchase souvenirs and other local goods.  

We arrived back to the Guest House to a delicious Thai buffet, complete with pad thai, curried chicken and vegetable, and fresh pita bread.  

We all went off to bed early to prepare for our busy screening day tomorrow.

Finally Arrived!!!

Thursday - November 8th, 2012

Finally Arrived!!!

Even before we arrived in Liberia, our adventure began!  Friday morning we found out that our last flight between Ghana and Liberia was cancelled, potentially causing the mission to come to a halt.

We made it to JFK in New York, still unsure of the plan once we arrived in Ghana.  We didn’t know if we would have to spend the night in Ghana or if another airline would be available to take us all the way to Liberia.  Our plans in Ghana didn’t matter at this point as Delta wasn’t going to let us on the plane, due to the fact that we didn’t have Visas for Ghana.  Sue worked tirelessly to get us Visas for once we arrived in Ghana, but Delta wanted us to have them before they would let us on the plane.  After hours of verbal persuasion and negotiating, 2 plane delays and potential bribery, we were finally able to board the plane.  12 hours later, a representative from Firestone met us at the Ghana Airport, informing us that a Kenya Air flight for Liberia would be leaving shortly; unfortunately our bags would not be able to make the flight.  

More Firestone representatives met us in Liberia.  They took all of our passports allowing us to bypass customs.  We were then transported immediately to the Firestone Guest House where we were finally able to eat dinner and relax after a very stressful day of travel.  

It is a miracle that we finally made it here!

Day 5 Hermosillo 2012 Heading Home

This morning we pack our things, the doctors make final rounds for the two patients admitted for overnight stay, and we say so long until next year to our St. Andrews and CIMA partners.  Our collaboration with them is a great model of teamwork and coordination for the benefit of children needing the medical services CSI can provide.  We feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve here!

The team is tired but extremely happy with the outcome of our trip, 44 surgeries accomplished!  We're off to the airport and our home cities after one last breakfast at the hospital.

Day Four Hermosillo 2012

Today we had only 10 surgeries and most of the patients were discharged from recovery.  We kept two patients overnight to make sure they were up to discharge in the morning.

As with any mission, there were some inspiring and heartbreaking stories of several of our patients. One of our 15 year old patients was abandoned when he was younger, 5 or 6 he thinks, and has beenliving at a service station since they took hime in several years ago.  They would find him sleeping in the shop for shelter.

Another young woman, now 17, was separated from her parents while trying ot cross the U.S. border on their way to a better life in the States from Guatemala.  She never reuinted with them until this week through a phone call, which made her very happy!  During the years of their separation she had been liing with friends or relatives when she was younger and then made her way to Mexico at the age of 13 or so.  She was then taken in by a family in Hermsillo as a housekeeper.  She has been wanting to improve her life, but she cannot speak!  She came to screening, thanks to Coca and Laura (of St. Andrews) and the CSI team knew after evaluting that they could and would help her.  She came through surgery beautifully and was smiling, talking and giving the thumbs up right after waking up in recovery!  Her first words were "thank you" to the CSI team and all the volunteers who made this happen for her!

Tonight we celebrate: the success of the mission; the collaboration of all the teams; and the making of wonderful new friends at the traditional "banquet",  fiesta style!

This little guy stole our hearts. CSI could not do his surgery last year and told him to come back this year.  Here is is with Coca (the saint) of St. Andrews and Dr. Paul Melchert, pediatrician, waiting to a hospital gown and gear on for surgery.

OR nurse, Ana Vazquez Rojas with patient in pre-op
 

From left to right: Laura, Lola, Elsa, and Coca
The ladies in pink run St. Andrews Clinic and Elsa is one of the CIMA hospital volunteers.

Dr. Sampson (left) and Dr. Grischkan (right) team up 

Dr. Fritz in Surgery

Young lady with voice recovered giving the thumbs up!

Lora Koppel, CSI Clinical Coordinator, CIMA nurse Alan,  and patient along with his  papa in recovery

Dr. Paul Melchert reasuringly holds the hand of an apprehensive patient

Day Three Hermosillo 2012

Today, Monday is our second day of surgery and we have 16 scheduled.  This is the first trip to Hermosillo where bone grafts are being performed by Dr. Dan Sampson of Minneapolis.  These surgeries average about 3 hours in duration.  Dr. Sampson did 4 bone grafts yesterday and 4 today.  Because of their complexity and the need of patients to remain overnight in the hospital, he will not do bone graft surgery on Tuesday, but rather assist Drs. Grischkan and Fritz as needed in OR #1.

We have terrific support in every aspect of this mission due to all the volunteers from St. Andrew's Clinic and CIMA, which includes nurses too who are here on their days off!  They also provide us with  delicious Mexican food for lunch and breaks.

Dr. Mike Fritz setting up lip repair surgery

Drs. Dan Sampson, Jon Grischkan of CSI and Dr. Moreno of Hermosillo

These two little guys became buddies at the hotel as they were roommates and just happened to be in pre-op together due to moving one of them up on the schedule!  They were also in surgery at the same time and in the same OR too, as well as recovery together!  They were checking each others heart prior to surgery and were having a great time playing the role of doctors while waiting.

CRNA Corrina Kettner and little patient on the way to surgery

CRNA Mitch Chermack and his patient on the way to surgery

Day One Hermosillo

Hermosillo, Mexico
Oct. 6, 2012
Six members of the CSI team arrived in Hermosillo yesterday. Today we were greater by 96 children and their families. This medical mission is a joint effort of the volunteers at St. Andrew Clinic in Nogalas, Arizona, the CIMA Hospital, in Hermosillo, Mexico, and the the Children's Surgery International organization.

Of the 96, 44 children will be operated on in the 3 days we are here. The remaining children will be followed up by the St. Andrews clinic staff and hopefully will be back next year. The children are selected based on the complexity of their medical problems and the type of surgery we are able to provide.

This child had her lip repaired last year and is back for palate surgery.

                                             This child is awaiting palate surgery.

                                              Paul and Lael are organizing the medical records.
Thanks to our team members we worked 12.5 hours and were able to see all 96 children. The screening team included: Dr. Daniel Sampson, Dr. Jon Grischkan, Dr. Paul Melchert, Lora Koppel RN, Marian Hehre and Leal McAuliffe  Medical Records.

Tomorrow we hope to complete surgeries on the first 18 children.

Day Two Hermosillo

This patient received a new pair of shoes plus surgery!

                                         
                        Cheryl Shell, Julie Hampson and Katie Pownell in the recovery room.

                                             Dr. Mike Fritz and CRNA Corrina Kettner

Dr. Jason  Pope, Anesthesiologist

Oct. 7, 2012
Great day of surgery today. The rest of our team members arrived last night and all 18 of us arrived at the hospital at 6:30 am. We got off to a slow start but by 11:30 pm we were all back at the hotel.