Guatemala Day Five
10/18/2017- Written by Susie Awalt; Photography by Ranjani Agrawal
Dr. Patrick Kelley and Dr. Rocco Piazza with Erick post-op after his bilateral cleft lip repair.
Dr. Lauren Crawford, Dr. Patrick Kelley, Dr. Mahlon Kerr inspect Perla’s palate repair.
Vivian with her Austin Smiles bag and T-Shirt getting ready to go home.
Siblings, Kristal and Jeremy, with Dr. Rocco Piazza post-op.
The Reyes Prado Family
Alexis is cheered up, post-op
Susie Awalt passes out toys and stuffed animals to the post-op children to cheer them up.
Mothers in Art and Healing Therapy with Teresa Cox. Mothers reported that past surgeries have stressful memories that cause anxiety. This therapy created calmness that was transferred to their children.
Kevin Daley assist the Mothers into the appropriate attire to remain sterile in the pre-op area. Kevin is fluent in Spanish and acts as a translator as well.
Dr. Mary Zavala and Janice Ryan with four month old Wilmer after his cleft lip surgery.
Vanessa Little holds Wilmer post op.
Ranjani Agrawal, Photographer and Susie Awalt, Blogger, working together.
Martha Mashburn, Austin Smiles Director of Office Operations, with her husband, Michael Mashburn. They keep us organized, on time, and fully supplied among other things. Martha wears lots of hats.
Teresa Squires assists in the pharmacy.
Austin Smiles volunteer, Lucy Cinclair, who is fluent in Spanish and a translator for our group, traveled to the outskirts of Guatemala City to visit the family of patient, Monserrate. This family of six live in a very clean, tidy one room apartment. Monserrate’s parents saw an ad in the local paper about Austin Smiles and they will be traveling by bus tomorrow for her operation.
Cecilia Canales holding Wilmer, four months,
prior to surgery to correct his right lateral cleft palate.
Austin Smiles Volunteers, John Greenwood and Michael Mashburn towards the end of the day. Loading, unloading, stocking and restocking takes its toll.
