Camp for Grown Ups

I just got back from a week and a half in Chiapas, Mexico with Operation Smile. 

Operation Smile missions are equivalent to a strong cup of coffee on an early morning. They totally reinvigorate me, they fill me with pure joy and for the entire length of the mission my face is nothing but smiles. 

Between with my intensive graduate and post-graduate programs and my new role as a nurse practitioner I simply didn’t have the "luxury of time" to spend on these trips. I turned down opportunity after opportunity with Operation Smile to travel the world with incredible people while doing what I love. What I didn’t realize at the time was I didn’t have the "luxury" to say no either. Each time I turned down a mission it felt like a someone turned down the burner on my fire. 

This is why when I got a call 2 weeks before the Mexico Mission saying they needed a last minute recovery room nurse I jumped at the chance. Our work was based out of San Cristobal a charming little city in Mexico with a very European feel. It reminded me a lot of Antigua Guatemala with it’s cobblestone streets, flower boxes hanging from brightly painted houses, and live music on every corner. The streets are lined with pubs, wine bars, cafes and great little restaurants filed with bohemian Mexican hippies. The central park has a big white gazebo where you can order Mexican hot chocolate and listen to live calypso music. 

Small tienda in San Cristobal

Selling balloons in San Cristobal

San Cristobal

Yet beyond the beautiful esthetics of San Cristobal lie it’s most brilliant treasure, it’s indigenous people. Chiapas has 3 main indigenous ethnic groups each with their own distinct language and culture. It is one of the largest concentrations of indigenous populations in Mexico and with over 56 different languages spoken.

family waiting for screening wearing traditional clothes

Selling flowers on the streets of San Cristobal

Screening (the 2 day clinic where we screen kids for surgery) was filled with parents and children dressed in a manner distinct to their indigenous group. Many women wore colorful blouses with elaborate hand embroidered flowers and black wool rebozos which look like animal hair skirts. Their hair was neatly tied in two long braids with ribbon interwoven between the strands. 

Indigenous man entering a church

Indigenous woman

An indigenous woman selling handmade goods on the street

One such beautifully dressed indigenous girl was Xochil.  Xochil is a 12 year old girl born with a bilateral cleft lip which distorted her appearance so much so that her parents kept her home all day, everyday. In fact, the day I met her in clinic was the first time she’d ever left her house in her entire life.

Daniella, one of our outstanding volunteers came across her while searching for children in remote areas of Chiapas who needed help. With Daniella's encouragement, Xochil's family made the journey into San Cristobal and received a gift they never believed would be theirs; Xochil has a new smile. She can go to school for the first time in 12 years. She no longer has to hide inside her room imagining what life is like outside her door. She has a chance to live, to explore, to be a child! I couldn't help but beam as I handed Xochil back to her mom after her anesthesia wore off. Our entire team cried along with her family as they uttered a million thank you's and blessings. In reality, I was the one who felt totally and utterly blessed. 

Vania is another pumpkin who stole my heart during surgery week. Vania is a beautiful little 8 year old girl who had a cleft lip and a cleft palate repaired 2 years before which left her with a slightly deformed nose and a speech impediment. She was constantly bullied at school for her physical differences. In fact, when I met her she had a black eye from being beaten up at school the day before. Vania has the sweetest little smile and talks a mile a minute about disney princesses. Although her impediment made it difficult to understand much of what she was telling me, her spirit spoke volumes. 

When Vania's mom brought her to us she had convinced herself that we might not do Vania's surgery because in the past she'd been denied by previous doctors who told her it was unnecessary since it's "only cosmetic". She was so distraught that we might turn her down that she immediately began crying and pleading with us as soon as she walked in the room. We understood that although Vania's defect might appear cosmetic the wounds she suffered as a result of it were not merely superficial. Vania was selected for surgery that week, and now she has a beautiful little nose. 

Vania during screening week

Despite my  physical fatigue from working 14-16 hour days at the hospital, my soul never felt so alive. I found myself belly laughing at the silliest things and waking up with sore cheeks from smiling all day. We performed 106 surgeries on this mission, each one drastically changing the fate of children who might not otherwise have a shot at a normal life. I worked with an incredible team. I reunited with old friends I’d made all over the world on previous missions and made beautiful new ones who were immediate kindred spirits. As my friend Skylar said, “it’s like camp for grown-ups”.  A camp I can’t afford to miss out on!

Part of our international team, Guadalajara, El Salvador and California

A mom and her daughter just about to get vital signs done

A little pumpkin just waking up from anethesia

Kids waiting to be screened

Our Recovery Room Team

If you feel inspired to help me serve you can donate to my mission by clicking here. Every little bit helps! Thank you for your support! I could not do any of this without you!