ADVENTURES.

by Val .
ADVENTURES.

ADVENTURES.

The plan is to write blogs while I'm actually at a mission site. Given the circumstances I will write about my adventures in the past nine years. In 2012 I joined a mission with Operation Smile for the first time (https://www.operationsmile.org). I went to Pampanga in the Phillipinnes. The beginning of many more adventures. What do we do? A team of 60-something doctors, nurses and all kind of other supportive staff works together for a week to make sure that at the end of the week around eighty to hundred children have received safe surgery. Amazing teamwork of local staff and people from all corners of the world, in a hospital where most people never set foot before. Couldn't believe my eyes at first. Despite the different backgrounds, languages and experience, the proces runs supersmooth. Everytime again. The pics below show this "train" we board every time we go on a mission (that's how I call this well-oiled teamwork).

FIRST TWO DAYS: SCREENING FOR SURGERY.

Outside the hospital in
Honduras, 
Free consultations.

Mothers waiting with their
children in Mekelle.
Ethiopia 2013.

Three boys waiting in
Santa Cruz.
Bolivia, 2015.

Every patient is registered in Sincelejo.
Colombia 2013.

FIVE DAYS OF SURGERY.

Planning for surgery.
About 100 children
are scheduled.

Waiting with mom just before entering the OR.
Mahajanga, Madagascar, 2019.

Preparing for surgery. Playing with the anesthetic mask.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 2018.

Off he goes... But doesn't
seem to care...
Sincelejo, Colombia, 2014.

Part of my team on the pre-operative ward in Zhengzhou, China, 2014.

Usually 5 tables run at the same time. we aim to operate on 20+ patients every day.

Part of the team in the OR.
Quang Ngai
Vietnam, 2016. 

Recovery room. Try to make it as pleasant as possible. Bunting, balloons and bubble blowing.

Making sure that everyone wakes up happy and without pain after surgery.

Learning to drink again, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 2017. 

Goodmorning! Waking up the day after surgery.
Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2013.

Ready to go home
the next day.
Pampamga, Phillippines, 2012.

The nurse is explaining the mothers how to give the meds at home.

The people I meet on the way make it extra
special.

Back to the hotel
after a long day in Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2013.

 The local program coordinators make sure all runs smooth. Mahajanga, Madagascar, 2019.

MISSION COMPLETED.

After ten days the mission is completed. Ten wonderful days. I always feel a sense of immense gratefulness when we are able to help as many patients as possible in a safe and efficient way. Most patients have never visited a hospital before. So, to make them feel comfortable and safe has a huge priority. The entire flight on my way back to Amsterdam, tired but happy, I think about all the beautiful people I've met, the fun I had, the privilege of being able to contribute to this. So many great adventures!