SCREENING IS FINISHED

On Friday, we completed screening. It was amazingly organized, and Operation Smile Vietnam lived up to its reputation as a well-oiled machine. The smoothness with which we screened 225 kids underscored the importance of good in-country support. We were overwhelmed by the number of teenage and young-adult volunteers. The surgery schedule was set in the lobby of the Hong Thai hotel close to midnight, tweaked a little bit yesterday morning, and 137 cases were posted Saturday afternoon. 5 days of surgery begin Monday morning.

Saturday in Bao Loc

It's getting late now on Saturday night in Bao Loc. The day started early for the team members at the Hong Thai Hotel. They had a wake up call at 5:45AM and then came by bus to the Bao Loc Hotel for 6:30AM breakfast. The Bao Loc Hotel team members had a wake up call at 6:00AM (but for those on the "mountain view side" there was the rooster crowing every few seconds starting a bit earlier than 6:00AM). The rooster's wake up call was helpful for me, though, b/c it made me get up and start getting ready earlier which anyone who knows me knows I need to do.

After our team meeting at 7:00AM, we went to Benh Vien II Lam Dong (Lam Dong 2 Hospital) where many different activities took place. Biomed staff, nurses, pediatricians, other physicians, and others continued to set up the ORs, recovery room, and pre/post op areas. The child life specialist and students were involved in activities with the children. The students were also planned to make "no no's" today (the arm restraints made of tongue depressors and tape to keep children from touching their mouths after surgery). Medical records and electronic medical records staff continued to do their never-ending tasks. Plastic surgeons were involved in "education day." The speech therapists went to the educational presentations to provide support for the plastic surgeons. The many Operation Smile Vietnam staff and volunteers did anything and everything to help continue to organize and carry out the goals of the mission. The different team leaders and coordinators continued to be busy overseeing the mission.

The surgery schedule was posted today for the patients and families to see. Most of us were not there when they got the news about whether they or their family member would or would not have surgery. If they don't have it done this mission and if they are a surgical candidate, perhaps they will be able to have the surgery later here in Bao Loc or another town.

Around 2:00PM the whole team took off in buses to the Dambri waterfalls. We drove through pretty countryside with mountainsides and hills filled with tea plants, coffee trees, and more. We had a somewhat treacherous walk (for some of us) down into the area at the bottom of the waterfalls. The steps were uneven and different heights as well as slippery. There was no way to keep from getting wet when walking by the waterfall (which had a lovely rainbow today). I looked like a "wet rat"---hair, shirt, slacks, and shoes were all very wet! It was worth it to see the beautiful waterfalls and the grounds around them, though.

After that, we got back on the bus and stopped at a nearby Buddhist pagoda. The pagoda and grounds were so beautiful and peaceful! This area in the central highlands of Vietnam has various religions. Most prominent in this area seems to be Buddhism and Christianity. There are very large churches near the hotel and hospital.

Tonight the team went to dinner together and continued to become more of a "family" and close-knit group. Then some of the Operation Smile Vietnam volunteers and staff organized a "dancing party" at the Bao Loc Hotel for the team members from the international team (USA, Italy, etc.) and Vietnam (the Ho Chi Minh City team from the Odontostomatology Institute and the staff from Lam Dong 2 Hospital). Music was done by a "DJ." One of the songs was a well known New Orleans piece that we (Kristie Palermo and I from the New Orleans area) felt moved to start a "New Orleans second line" dance. It was fun seeing the different styles of dancing and some fancy dancing we did not know some of our team members had (go, Nicole!).

Tomorrow is Sunday and we'll be in DaLat. Then Monday will start the busy surgery week. Speech therapy will be set up in the post-op area, but we will rotate between a few other areas to see where we need to see patients and their families. We're also looking forward to having Mrs. Cindy McCain visit the mission site.

It's past time for me to sign off---That was the day and evening here in Bao Loc, Vietnam. Charlotte (speech therapist)

A Special OpSmile Guest--Cindy McCain

The Operation Smile Vietnam team was informed today that we will be privileged to enjoy the company of Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain. Mrs. McCain has long been a strong supporter of Operation Smile and last visited with us in 2002. We are honored to have her encouragement and support, and look forward to seeing her here in Bao Loc on Sunday.

TIME TO DO THE SURGERY SCHEDULE

It's almost 10:15 in Bao Loc, and our intrepid crew is in the lobby of the Hong Thai Hotel working on the surgery schedule. It was a grueling day of screening, starting at 5:45 AM We looked at almost 225 children today, many from the Montagnard Mountain tribes in the Highlands near Bao Loc and DaLat. Everyone seemed to find his or her 'favorite' child, and it was heart-warming to see the joy in the eyes and expressions of the volunteers on their first mission. After a team dinner thrown by the hospital, at which everyone clinks glasses and says, "JOE" instead of "CHEERS", we started on the schedule. Dusty Clegg, Dr. Phuong, myself, and Phyllis Ross and Jane Howe are adjusting and re-adjusting the cases for the week. Monday's schedule of almost 30 cases seems to be finished. Tomorrow, the team heads back to the hospital to set up the O-R and conduct educational sessions for the local personnel.

Mike Reusing, my mentor

The irony of events often baffles us. It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of my friend and mentor, Mike Reusing, who along with his wife, Melissa Cole, has been a member of the OpSmile family for many years. Mike shepherded me through the beginning days of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in Cambodia and Peru, and I was honored to have his insight, guidance, and inspiration. Vietnam was a very special place for Mike and Melissa, and a little part of him will still be here with me throughout this mission.

The Gang's All Here !!!

It's 7:30 am here in Saigon (HCMC), and we've just concluded the first team breakfast. Everyone arrived safely last night, and the last of our group arrived at the hotel a little after 1:30 am. The energy level is high, and we're ready to dive in. I love the positive attitude of OpSmile volunteers, and I can already feel how energizing it is to work with so many skilled, upbeat, and adaptable people from all over the world. We've been busy renewing friendships and telling stories of past missions. Our bus leaves for Bao Loc in Lam Dong Province at 8 AM, and it will be an adventurous 5-hour ride up Highway 20 toward Da Lat.

Please stay tuned for an announcement about our very special guest on this mission.

As family, friends, or supporters of Operation Smile Vietnam volunteers, please post any comments or messages by clicking on the COMMENT section below.

Hi from Ho Chi Minh City

I arrived in HCMC from Hanoi around 1PM today. Was happy to meet one of the Op Smile volunteers from Hanoi who was on the same flight. Her name is Dao Le Trang. She is a student and will be going to the USA in a few months to attend Long Island University to work on a degree in finance. She has a cousin who is already studying there. Miss Trang and I came to the team hotel togethe . The hotel is very nice! Some team members are already here and some won't be in until around midnight---they'll have a "short night" with getting in late and the 8:00AM bus take-off for Bao Loc. Met Lily (OR nurse) in the elevator. And, saw Ngoc Nguyen (one of our biomedical team members) getting off the elevator as I was going to my room---it was great to see him again since we've been on many missions here in Vietnam. I went next to Vien Rang Ham Mat (the OdontoStomatology Hospital where Dr. Phuong, our medical director works) to see the "speech therapist" there. It was fun to see each other again and to meet re: how to do more for speech therapy in Vietnam. She'll be with us tomorrow for the trip to Bao Loc.

It's rainy season here in Vietnam---raining tonight and rain is forecast for tomorrow. A little rain in the evening is perhaps not so bad if it cools things off.

Rich and Kristie are on their way from Hanoi to HCMC---they've been cruising on Ha Long Bay today. Should be interesting to see what they have liked best on their busy sightseeing agenda here in VN. See you tomorrow. Charlotte (Speech therapist)

Hello from Hanoi

I'm typing this fast b/c I've had some difficulty getting or staying on the internet. So, please forgive any typing errors. I hope that all of you are doing well and had a safe trip to Vietnam. I've been in Hanoi since late last Saturday night (May 26th). The luggage didn't arrive, but I "made do" with what was in my carry-on bag until the luggage arrived late Monday. Definitely will think more about what I do and do not pack in my carry-on. Sunday and Monday I was with the "physician speech therapist" who is the leader of efforts in Vietnam to get more speech therapy training and staff. I enjoyed meeting with and collaborating with her, her colleagues, and a group of people who are in training to learn about speech therapy. I've been at the Op Smile office in Hanoi most of the day today in meetings about speech therapy issues.

Rich (electronic medical records) and I have been text messaging to stay in touch. I've enjoyed reading about Rich's adventures throughout Vietnam. He and Kristie (guest on the mission and a from the New Orleans where I'm from) have had an ambitious travel agenda! The plans right now are for Rich, Kristie , Jimmy Grotting (Op Smile staff member) and I to have dinner tonight in Hanoi if we can coordinate our location and plans. Tip: If you visit Hanoi and come to the Op Smile office at 16 Ngo Quyen Street (across from Citibank, near the corner of Trang Tien Street), be prepared to see a nicely appointed office with very industrious, helpful staff. Also be prepared for walking up 4 flights of stairs. Can help if you need to rest to stop in at the art gallery that is on floors 2 and 3. Looking forward to seeing you in Ho Chi Minh City and then in Bao Loc. Take care! Charlotte (speech therapist)

Operation Smile's New Clinic in Hue Vietnam

This morning in Hue, I was privileged to tour one of the 7 new clinics Operation Smile is opening worldwide. Through the courtesy of our mission co-ordinator, Scott Snyder, I met with Dr. Thao, who is the clinic director. He very graciously gave us a tour of the free-standing facility, including the pre- and post-op wards, the recovery room, and Operating Room. The meeting and training rooms were impressive, as well. All if it will better enable Operation Smile to serve the needs of the children of Vietnam.


Dr. Thao, who stood with me outside the clinic for this picture, said that everything will be in place for the 25th Anniversary World Journey of Smiles.