Posted by: Dr. Albin Leong
in FOT Blog on Jan 30, 2010
This week has been an intense journey of stories of human despair, caused by a congenital facial abnormalities. transformed into hope. Seven-year-old Francisco and mother travelling 10 hours by bus hoping to repair his cleft lip deformity. Young adults like Vernonica, Maria, and Manuel hoping to correct lip and nose deformities in order that they might literally better face the world. Yet another of 5 year-old Paolo, whose parents were told at birth that he would not live more than a week due to his cleft lip and palate deformities, a story repeatedly told by many of the other parents during this week. Paolo´s parents were later told they he would not have normal intelligence due to his cleft lip and palate deformities. His parents heard yet another professional opinion that his cleft deformities were a cause of his small penis (his penis is normal for his age). He was so brave and had a remarkably quick recovery after his latest surgery. Paolo is a bright, playful, cute young boy, who loves posing for a camera! Five-year-old Jesus whose father literally ran away from the hospital upon seeing his son at birth, not believing that this newborn with the deformity could be his child. His father, a very religious man, apparently had an epiphany or vision, depending on the interpretation, turned around and returned to the hospital, accepting and vowing to help his son as best that he could.
There are so many stories of despair and poverty we have heard told with so many tears. We have felt the intensity this week of so many hopeful faces of families of infants to young adults with cleft lip, cleft palate and associated nasal deformities. We have been moved by the expressions of apprehension and concern leading up to their surgeries followed by the feelings of relief when the surgeries are successfully completed. We have cared for them during their emotional and physical exhaustion in the difficult hours after surgery. We are uplifted and deeply touched by the outpouring of profound gratitude from the patients and their families with faces and lives now literally transformed, now more hopeful for a better tomorrow.
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Posted by: Dr. Albin Leong
in FOT Blog on Jan 27, 2010
There have been many, many touching and intense moments during this mission. Today, we had a 16 year old teenager, Oscar, who arrived after a long bus ride late this morning, after walking for more than an hour to get to a bus station, with his mother in order to be evaluated for possible surgery. She had just heard about the presence of Faces of Tomorrow, so they had missed the screening day on Saturday. He had a cleft lip that had been repaired in infancy, but circumstances precluded any repair of his cleft palate, with consequent effects on his speech and eating for years. His father had died and this family was very poor with no hope for surgery.
When they arrived, he was promptly evaluated by Brian, who had just emerged after finishing his first surgery for the day. He indicated to them that surgery was not only possible, but would be arranged for tomorrow. Oscar´s mother immediately put her hands together as if in prayer, moving her hands trembling up and down, overwhelmed with gratitude and crying with joyful tears. Between sobs she expressed her gratitude for the surgery and for the FOT team. Oscar, who had been quiet, began crying also and hugging his mother. It was a profound and moving moment for all of us who happened to be present at this outpouring of emotion. It is a very proud moment for all of us in the mission, and a proud moment to share with the families, friends, and supporters of Faces of Tomorrow.
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Posted by: Dr. Albin Leong
in FOT Blog on Jan 25, 2010
Today was an early, busy and hectic day full of emotion for both the families and the FOT team! It was heart rending as soon as we arrived. There was spontaneous applause from the families, who had filled up the waiting area, upon our arrival. Many of us had tears and all of us were moved as we saw the sea of faces of children and some adults with facial surgical needs along with their patient and hopeful families. Some have traveled from many hours away, including one family from Colombia in the Amazon basin. This was a day of evaluation, including registration, intake, dental and speech therapy assessments as well as screening physicals, and assigning surgical priority. Since not everyone can have surgery performed, it was hard to have imploring families ask whether or not their child was having surgery and when. There are so many stories among these children and adults.
I am very proud of our group and the spirit of trying to improve the lives of these children and their families, truly giving them hope about improving their appearance, and/or their ability to speak and swallow. We know we will have a very busy week of work ahead of us.
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In early January Sam Ahani, DDS, boarded a plane for a life-changing trip which would take him to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador . Ahani, who co-founded Shore View Dental here in Pacifica with his wife, pediatric specialist Sepi
Lucio Parro is an active 7-year-old boy who just wanted to be like all the other kids in his village. He came to us with his mother and he had already put a lot of thought into his surgery and those who would help him.
16-year-old Oscar reinforced why we are doing mission work. Oscar was born with a cleft lip and a very large cleft palate. His lip was repaired when he was a baby. His mother told us that she had 6 children and her husband had passed away. She was very poor and having Oscar’s palate repaired was never an option.
Thirty-Nine year old Carmen Rivas touched the heart of every member of our team. Carmen had spent her entire life hiding because of her cleft lip.
