An Operation Smile team of more than 40 medical and non-medical volunteers worked in Santa Cruz to provide free medical evaluations and surgery to children born with facial deformities. The Operation Smile team of plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, a dentist, speech pathologist and others worked at Hospital Japones to treat children and young adults. The team consists of medical professional from Canada, Ecuador, Honduras and the United States, working with their in-country Bolivian counterparts to provide patients with life-changing surgeries.

This is Operation Smile's 11th international medical mission to Bolivia. Since its first international mission here in 1999, Operation Smile medical volunteers have provided free physician examinations to more than 2,900 Bolivian children suffering with facial deformities. More than 1,300 have receive free reconstructive surgery.

Here are two posts from the Web site about this trip.

March 28, 2008

"Today, March 28th, was the second day of screening for the Operation Smile mission in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Over 200 patients were screened. It is amazing to see how far families traveled to get to the mission site! Many ranged from the local inner city to 75 hours away, traveling several days to make it to Santa Cruz. All of the families were incredibly patient when waiting in the warm hospital, and we were greeted by many smiles.

"At screening we met many children and young adults with stories of courage and culture. One 19-year-old girl who was screened had fallen into a fire at the age of 5. This visit to hospital Japones in Santa Cruz was the first time in her life she received medical evaluations of her severe burns. If chosen for surgery the medical team will focus on releasing the skin around her eyes so that she may blink normally. We hope this is the first step in helping her live a more comfortable life.

"In addition to the screening process the student team gave several presentations on topics including oral rehydration,dental hygiene, nutrition and burn care. Both parents and children were engaged by the information. Games and question sessions reinforced the modules so that we knew they would leave the hospital well informed. These presentation will continue throughout surgery week, and we will keep you updated on patients stories and our success in making many children smile!" (entry by Student team members Anne Goodwyn, Brooke Foster, Monica Ruzicka)

April 4, 2008
Today most of the team left Santa Cruz, Bolivia, after a successful mission. Our international team represented 11 countries. 127 patients received surgeries.

A special patient was Victor, an older teen who didn't know how old he was. He was orphaned at a young age and has been living on the streets for years. The nurses in the hospital brought him to us during screening. Victor had been hit by a car and had been in the hospital for the past week. When Victor was much younger he had been severely burned. The burn scars prevented the use of his left arm and prevented him from closing his mouth or raising his head. He touched all of us as we tried to gather clothes and other items he might be able to use.

During the week the scar tissue on Victor's neck , which had contracted when healing, was released using skin grafts. Although he was initially frightened about the operating room. Bolivian surgeon, Dr. Moises Fernandez took his time to reassure him, proceed slowly, and managed to give Victor the surgery that will enhance his life. He will now be able to lift his head and look you in the eye!" (posting by Melissa Cole, medical records)