My Smile Journey

The PITs de Ecuador!

2009-05-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

These were my fellow PITS (Patient Imaging Technicians) from Ecuador! Right to Left: Juan Pablo, Jaime, and Rodrigo.

They have all been PITs on other missions throughout South America so they helped me practice what I learned in the Operation Smile office in Norfolk and also helped me with my Spanish. I miss them already, but Rodrigo will be with me on my mission June 10-17 to Paraguay!

MISSION #1- GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR

2009-05-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Guayaquil, Ecuador at about 12:15 am (1:15am US time). When I walked through the terminal of the airport, a man from the hotel was there holding a sign for "Gabriela Filasky". As we drove towards the hotel, I was captivated by the scenery around me- a new city, a new chapter, and a new adventure were ahead.

At 6am, on Wednesday morning, I received my wake up call to meet all of the other volunteers downstairs for breakfast. Through a groggy haze, my nervousness arose, and quickly shot down my spine. I was about to meet 60 new people, few of who I imagined spoke much English, and these were the people that I would be spending the next 5 days with. What if they did not like me?

When I arrived downstairs, all my nerves vanished, as I was greeted with countless warm welcomes and smiles from people all throughout Latin America. There were plastic surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, photographers (PIT), and many more people I am sure I am forgetting. But, you would never know who was what. Everyone got along like they had been friends forever and I immediately felt at home.

SCREENING

After breakfast, we took a bus to the hospital for our first day at the hospital- screening day. During screening day, hopeful patients and their families come from all over Ecuador to be evaluated by these medical professionals to see if they are eligible for the surgery that can change their lives.

People waited all day in a hot and cramped hospital, hoping that their son, their daughter, their mother, their father would be eligible for surgery. Each patient that came in to be screened was evaluated by medical professionals and then given to us (the PITs) for their pre-surgery photographs. These photographs are all at specific angles and lines that help the physicians evaluate the severity and unique issues of each patient that enters the hospital.

Screening day was undoubtedly the most exhausting of all the days. After being on a plane for 9 hours the day before, I found myself on my feet all day taking pictures of patient after patient. The most difficult part was taking the photographs of the very young children- squirmish and sleepy and wanting to be anywhere else but in front of the camera. They undoubtedly pose the greatest problems when attempting to take photographs that require precision!

But, though it was the most grueling day, it was also one of the most rewarding. To be surrounded by so much hope and love is really one of the most incredible parts about being part of the Operation Smile team. It is the most beautiful piece of humanity. These individuals take time off of work when money is more than tight, travel from far and wide, and stay strong throughout it all- all because of love and a desire for their child, or parent, or brother or sister to lead a normal, healthy, and happy life. That to me is the most beautiful part of it all. Surgery, or no surgery, these individuals have already overcome great obstacles in their path. From a distance, one may see the poverty or the misfortune, but up close, you see nothing but warriors all around, and that is awe-inspiring.

SURGERY DAYS

The surgery days were without a doubt the most fascinating. Each day, we would wake up around 5:30am and leave the hotel around 6:45 am to brace ourselves for a two and half full days in the OR.

In the mornings, we would help set everything up, as the first patients of the day were prepped for surgery. There were 6 operating table with 1-2 plastic surgeons on each, and after each patient was done prepping for surgery, we would hear the echo of "PHOTO!" throughout the halls and we knew it was our time to take the photographs. We photographed each patient immediately before surgery, and immediately after.

In between surgeries, the other PITs, Rodrigo, Juan Pablo, Jamie (y yo) would be comparing pictures, laughing, and even practicing a couple of salsa steps for the final party. The hallways of Hospital Guayaquil permeated with a ceaseless energy of love and compassion. Each patient would go into surgery in the arms of either one of the doctors, or nurses. While you knew that they were scared for the surgery to come, you also knew that those loving arms disseminated much of the fear ahead. While it was strange at first to see these children being brought into surgery, once I saw the first child after the surgery, I knew that this was all worth it. The fear and the nervousness that each child felt was matched by a feeling of absolute joy at the sight of the results.

Having the opportunity to sit in on some of the more fascinating and complex cases, I came to realize that plastic surgery, especially in the context of these missions, is truly an art form. Each stroke of the scalpel is part of a greater vision that each surgeon has for his/her patient. Every surgery is unique and each masterpiece is different than the next. It is truly miraculous to be so close to such a life-changing transformation.

After 2.5 grueling days of surgery, our mission was complete. 53 patients treated and 53 lives changed---

THE FINALE and GOODBYES!

After the final surgery, we all helped pack up from Hospital Guayaquil and returned to our hotel. During some of our free time, we explored Guayaquil. We were right outside this beautiful park right on the water. There were vendors everywhere and kids playing outside- and it was an absolutely beautiful day!

When we returned, we took a little siesta and then were off to a restaurant in the middle of the city. The food was delicious! We had wine, salad, paella, and one of the best assortments of dessert in the land (Tiramasu, oreo cheesecake, chocolate cake). Then Pacho gave a beautiful speech about the trip and our impact on the people of Ecuador. He and Fernando are amazing and Operation Smile Ecuador is so lucky to have two men that have such wonderful hearts!

After dinner, we all exchanged emails and took pictures. I was so shocked because the friends that I had made came up to me and gave me the most beautiful presents- earrings and necklaces and pens from their hometowns- pieces of them that they wanted me to bring back to the US. The dinner was phenomenal and it was such an extraordinary ending to an already amazing trip.

Aftewards, we all went out to a discoteca in Ecuador. Here, everyone, and I mean everyone! helped me learn how to salsa (and trust me I have a lot of work to do hahah). For hours, we just danced and danced from salsa to hip hop to 70s and 80s American and Spanish hits all the way to the YMCA. I had so much fun dancing with everybody and I made a promise that I would come back to Ecuador and salsa with them again. Needless to say, I have been looking up salsa lessons in Boston!

At 4am, some friends walked me back to the hotel and we said our goodbyes, as I had a 6 am flight to catch to Florida! It was so weird saying goodbye because you don't realize how close you can get to a group of people in a matter of 5 days. The whole experience was incredible and I just cannot wait to go back on my next mission! I want to thank everyone in Ecuador for making me feel so at home and I really do hope to go back in the future!

When I got to the airport at 6 am, one of the doctors was on my plane (it had a layover in Colombia)! She sat with me and talked and made sure that I got on the plane with no trouble at all....it was great to have one last interaction before I left and when I got on the plane, I said goodbye to Ecuador and took a great long nap all the way to Ft. Lauderdale International airport...

Photographs from Mission Number #1!

2009-05-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Mission Site: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Dates: 4/28-5/3
Patients Treated: 53

Here are a few photographs from my first mission. To see more photographs, please visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27539678@N07/sets/72157617760619822/

A young boy heading to the operating room for a life-changing operation bites his lower lip, nervous to enter.

A young girl sleeps on her mother's shoulder during the Screening day at the Guayaquil Hospital

A young Ecuadorian girl plays games with local volunteers while waiting to go into surgery.

The News of my First Mission! Una Aventura!

2009-05-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

As many of you know by now, this year is going to be nothing short of an adventure---- a time for me to embrace the unexpected, be prepared for the unforseen challenges that ubiquitously follow adventure, and a time to remember that the passion and love for the cause will always squash the imperfect nature of the venture!

My first mission came as most adventures do- unexpectedly. I originally had a mission to Colima, Mexico scheduled for May 14th, but it was postponed. Unless you have been hiding far far away from the television set, or from the endless stream of news regarding an upcoming pandemic (I don't blame you!), you probably can guess that the swine flu (La Influenza Porcina) was the cause for the postponement.

I was greatly dissapointed to hear of the postponement of this mission. With so much anticipation building in my head, I had dreamed of my first mission and all of the people I would meet in Colima. I had done my research on the culture, the food, the people, and after all that anticipation, an empty set of spaces lay on my calendar. But right after news of the mission postponement, my program director, Diego, rapidly went to work at finding me a replacement mission. With such short notice, I did not expect much , and since I did not originally think I would be leaving until the 14th, I actually had been spending the week in Florida visiting my family and friends. Even amidst the dissapointment, I at least had my family, friends, and the Florida sun and beaches to fall back on- not too bad of a compromise I thought.

Things moved quicker than expected and sooner than later, I heard rumblings of a possible mission to Ecuador. It was here that the first lesson of the year was taught- always be prepared for the surprise mission! Always have your passport, camera, and venturesome spirit with you! Because you never know when an experience of a lifetime is going to jump out at you!

When the news came on the morning of April 28th that I would be leaving in five hours to Ecuador, I just so happened to have all the essentials I needed to embark on this 9 hour trip through Bogota and eventually to Guayaquil. Adventures work in chaotic synchrony that amazes me every time. It is as if hundreds of conflicting and seemingly unconnected needs always fuse together to create the possibility of adventure. And with that, after only two days basking in the Florida rays, I was saying goodbye to my parents.

As an only child born of hippie parents, I have always had that thirst for adventure. And you would think they would be used to this...you would think...but I still always see that twinkle of anxiety in their eye, that hope that I packed just the right amount of underwear and neosporin to get me through the day, the prayer that they don't get the call at 3am that I am patient 2013 of the swine flu, and that one and only wish that I will not lose my passport (again).

My mom will always be stuffing packets of tylenol and Q-tips into my bag at every chance she gets, and my dad will always call the state department to ensure the color coded safety level is up to par with his stringent safety standards. These things all make me laugh, but they are also the things that make me know how much I am loved. I am eternally grateful to have parents that love me enough to worry so much , but that trust me enough to let me go and live a life guided by intuition and faith.

So with all of this, the adventure begins....

2009-05-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

This was an article about me in the April 09 Benjamin Alumni Newsletter: Enjoy!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE:

2009-03-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

Training at Operation Smile Headquarters. Norfolk, VA. 3/24-3/28

Hello all,

Last week was my training for the fellowship at Operation Smile's Headquarters. Here, I met the other fellows Laurel, Brian, Federico, Thomas, and Karly, as well as my Program Coordinator, Diego.

It was a jam-packed week filled with organization history, medical terminology, photography technique and medical views, and information on cultural sensitivity. It was fascinating to hear more about the cleft-palate and some of the cultural issues that affect these individuals.

Here are some interesting facts:

1. To date, there are 192 ways to perform the cleft-palate repair! This information is from a study called EuroCleft and is one of the reasons that we will be performing the research- to see which of the 192 have the greatest immediate results, as well as long-term outcomes for the patients.

2. Most scientists believe that the cleft-palate are a result of environmental and genetic factors. Research indicates that one of the reasons that developing countries have a greater occurrence of the condition is because of the lack of pre-natal care in impoverished areas.
Some believed causes:
-Lack of Folic Acid
-Smoking
-Genetic Disposition
-Diet
-Maternal Age

3. There are many Ethnocultural beliefs surrounding why people are born with the cleft-palate? Some cultures believe that it happens because of something wrong they did earlier in life and this is transmuted to their child, other cultures believe that if a mother stares too long a solar eclipse that the baby will be born with the cleft-palate. It is important when we are in the field to know our region's ethnocultural beliefs and be understanding, but also try to teach them the medical reasons for the condition to eradicate some element of guilt.

More about training...

There are many, many other interesting facts that I learned over the week. Throughout the week, we had lectures from plastic surgeons, international mission coordinators, and individuals who had been on mission trips similiar to the ones we would soon be venturing on. One of the most hysterical parts of training was when the employees at Operation Smile let us practice taking some of the pictures on their own children. This was a much different experience than the dummies we were using throughout the week. The entire endeavor of photographing 200-300 kids will definitely be a bit more gruelling I am sure than any of my expectations can suggest, but I am excited for the challenge.

All in all, I left Norfolk feeling a bittersweet family of excitement and nervousness. While I am beginning to feel a little bit sad about leaving all of my friends, my boyfriend, and my new hometown of Boston behind, I also know that the sacrifice will lead to a very fulfilling reward. I have been so incredibly blessed in my life with perfect health, a great family, and a wonderful support system. I have never been in need, and not received the help that I needed. If I can give back to people who not only fight each day for their food, shelter and health, but also for their sense of dignity and confidence, then it will all be worth it in the end.

I look forward to keeping everyone updated on my journey! I love each and every one of you and thank you again for all of the support!

In the picture below: From Front Left to Right: (Back) Thomas, Brian, Federico, (Front) Me, Karly, Diego, and Laurel--also known as the PIT (Patient Imaging Technicians).

Besitos y Abrazos por todo!