Vietnam

I just wanted to say what a pleasure it was to meet everyone on the Vietnam team. What an amazing and talented group of people. My particular thanks to Charlotte Ducote, Speech-Language Pathologist Extraordinaire, for her deep dedication to the children of Vietnam and for her continuous work to make their lives better. When you look at this group of people, you have to believe that real humanity exists everywhere.

Elisabeth Ward
Speech

OpSmile Vietnam Mission Complete

Normally, missions are completed in 4 1/2 days and range from 115-125 surgeries. In an incredible whirlwind, this crack OpSmile Vietnam team has screened 231 kids and completed its entire schedule of 143 cases in 3 1/2 days enabling the team to depart a day early. What a Great Team!

Dr. Nhut's New Assistant

This little patient is lending assistance to Dr. Nhut, our Vietnamese Anesthesia Team Leader. Now that he spent all that time in the playroom, he knows exactly how to do it.

The New Patient

Here is our new patient.........testing her stethoscope.

The Playroom

Early on Wednesday morning, under the supervision of the Child Life Specialist, the fears and concerns of the children and their families are addressed. In this picture, Anna, our student from Orland, and Dena, from Opsmile Development, help a little girl understand what she will experience. The children can see and touch play stethoscopes and oxygen masks, and even wear the caps and gowns.

On the left, is Nicoletta, our pediatrician from Rome, Italy. She not only likes to entertain the children she examines for surgery, but keeps the team entertained as well. Our Nursing Team Leader, Dusty Clegg, from Utah couldn't quite match Nicoletta's choice of headgear.

The Family Waiting Room

The International OpSmile team has been working hand-in-hand with our Vietnamese Counterparts. By the end of Tuesday, we had already completed 73 surgeries. Here, families wait for our Pediatrician to examine the patients.