Late night soccer & Team Day

This is going to be quick as we have to get to bed for the 5 a.m. start to the first surgery day. Everyone is so excited! Last night went until 12:30 playing soccer on a gloriously lit turf field. The Hondurians were very good, but Riley held his own and was one of the first picks for teams. It was a great night.

Today was team day and after a fun couple of hours shopping in Valle de Angles, we went to a students mountain house to chill. That is what we did. It was a bit cold for the pool, but the kids made it in along with a few of the team members. It was a warm sunny day eating Papousas and learning about each other. We then drove back to the clinic where we held our team meeting and played the infamous name game. Riley and I both proved our worth and it is amazing how you really do get to know everyone. My dad finally arrived with a potential donor from NJ with an entourage of people. They received a tour of the clinic and will be with us tomorrow at the hospital. We are off to bed to be ready for the 6 a.m. breakfast meeting and the last cheer for a good start to the week. Riley will be going into surgery tomorrow so it is going to be a big day! Buenas Noches! (is that right?) love to all my ones at home.. brigette and riley

Surgery List & OR Set Up

Since we have a minute, I wanted to catch everyone up on the days events. We starting this morning with the surgery posting. 216 children were seen on Thursday and Friday and 96 have been set for surgery. There are a few on a waiting list depending on how quickly the days go and maybe a few more may be selected. There were no major tears today which was very nice. It is again, a nice scenario here because the kids who were not selected can be taken care of eventually through the OpSmile clinic.

The most exciting news was that we may have Wendy Maria Gutierrez Rodriguez coming to Virginia Beach for Shamrock's Operation Smile Final Mile. She and her parents will stay with the Cooper family and we gave them great reassurance today that they will in great hands. The parents are very excited and the little girl is completely adorable. She is the one in these pictures. We have to process her paperwork, etc. so even if this does not work out, she will be taken care of. She comes from a town Aidea Agacualpa Gamarauguila and are part of an indian tribe there said to be one of the kindest and most honest of the country. They were twinking with excitement today at their opportunity saying that they feel like God has chosen them. I feel very good about the prospects and will keep everyone informed.

We are leaving now to explore the city a bit and I will try to post again later!

Screening Day 2

It was a quieter morning at the hospital today... a nice flow of people that showed up for screening, but a calmer group of children. We did lots of crafty things with the kids todayas the patients could all fit inside. The puzzles have also been a hit although I have been amazed at how few of the kids know how to go about piecing a puzzle together. I tried to teach them with my limited spanish, but to no avail, the kept trying to put together pieces that did not fit. oh well. to our surprise, a 50 year old woman showed up today. The Hondurian people said it has been a long time since they have seen a patient so old. I believe they will be able to take care of her which I cannot imagine. It will be interesting to watch her reaction when the list is posted tomorrow.

Riley took off by 11 to go spend some of the school day with Gustavo at the American School. While he was gone, I took a wonderful tour of the Operation Smile clinic where they treat children monthy with cleft lip and palate. The whole place was more than impressive. clean, happy, and all about the taking care of the whole child. Our countries that have pushed to erect these buildings are truly lucky to have a place just for these kids to come. One of the pictures posted is a mural which displays all of their donors on fired tiles. It is way cool. I loved it. We also had a chance to visit the shelter just a few blocks up from the hospital where the patients stay to wait for treatment. again, another impressive component of this mission for it is run by the Sonrisa Amigas, a wonderful group of friends that have taken on Opsmile with their heart and soul. They have food there for the patients and if possible, a bed for them to sleep in. It is bed to bed, separated in a women's area and men's but clean and available to all that come from far away to seek surgery. The volunteers are very happy and even the high school volunteers are a part of this initiative. I watched one of the volunteers lead the families in prayer before lunch. They even have that covered. It is a wonderful feeling to know the Hondurian volunteers are here to take care of their people in such a caring way. I have no doubt this country will one day catch up with this problem and be able to treat their people without us. A beautiful thing.

Then it was my turnn to visit the American School and many of you will be happy to hear that they are going to organize the Operation Smile Final Mile for the elementary program. The principal was so excited! Riley's new friend Gustavo is so excited to lead the way too, which is even better. He keeps asking, "so after that, how can I help?" He will come with Riley to the hospital on Monday to witness a surgery and then I cannotl imagine what will spin in his little head! The school is amazing, especially this outdoor covered area that has basketball courts and lot of space. Riley loved how everything was outside. It would be nice to have something like this at home for sure. Wednesday we will visit back at the school to give our presentation to the entire elementary school and then will visit with 3rd, 4th and 5th to show the videos. Should be a great day!

We head to the hospital tomorrow early to help post the surgery list. Gustavo and Giselle will come with us. I hope to quickly show them the shelter and the clinic too. We are supposed to go to Tatumbla, a mountain town, where the Gomez' have a home. They said it is so different then where they live in the city. We're there! good night to all of our friends and family back home!

oh, and Riley's quick comment " it is cool to see different places in our world." can't get him to say anymore because he is working on his journal....

Screening Day 1

Yes! We finally have internet access! Last night we were so wiped out we had to get to bed. That 5:30 wake up call came at us too fast. So, with that being said and a full 11 hour day of screening behind us, all is well from Honduras!

We are with a team full of Hondurian volunteers as well as members from the US and they could not be more supportive of Riley and I being here. As the team briefed everyone at breakfast this morning, the key word was patience and that stood strong all day. The in country staff expected a larger turn out, but after still working on the 140 or so kids that showed up today, it is probably good that they will get to treat everyone who came. The great thing about Honduras Operation Smile is that they have a clinic which treats children year round and so even if a child could not be operated on this time because of low weight or health, the opportunity does exist in the near future. There was a 40 day old baby that came today with a bilateral, so small, she looked like she was newborn. They have given the mother all the instructions and means to fatten her baby up with the hopes that they can take care of her in the next year. That being said, I did see this mom in tears talking to the psychologist when leaving tonight, so of course, this is still very difficult. The poverty is great here and I am sure this mommy is trying to figure out how to afford the food to make this happen.

So, how did Riley do? Really great! I do not think he can believe he worked for 12 hours today. his little eyes were starting to waver while waiting for pick up. as I expected, the kids loved him. One little boy stuck to his side all day long which I am not sure how he felt about that! There is another adorable child that won his heart and he has said this is the child his $240 will go to. I believe he will be scheduled to get his palate repaired next week. I think the great needs of these children sunk in a little bit for him today. Everything we pulled out to play with the kids somehow made it into the bags of the parents and luckily will get great use. Riley was expecting to hold on to one ball for the week to play with the kids and that snuck out with an older child. I asked him to realize how insignificant this really is to him and how truly significant this is to this boy who may finally own his own ball for once in his life. We'll see if he turns up during surgery week with the ball! The music was a big hit and helped us for musical chairs and red light, green light. We tried to teach them Big Bootie, but they did not pick up on that so well! Maybe Ninja tomorrow?

I have nothing but good things to say about the people here. Our Operation Smile staff and volunteers have done everything right and they are so enthusiastic about helping us and the children. The children are extremely happy and loving, eager to play and engage. Some of the older children took some time to warm up, but eventually were at least close by to watch what we were doing with the younger kids. We did not see many kids with primary lips, mostly younger children a year and younger. Most have had their lips repaired and are back to get their palates done. We did see some older kids who are in desparate need of revisions in hopes that they can look more normal. They will post the surgery list at 6 a.m. saturday morning!

We are staying with Giselle and Gustavo Gomez and their children Giselle and Gustavo. Gustavo is in 5th grade and Giselle in 7th. Riley and Gustavo took no time to be friends and we are lucky for that! Gustavo is very outgoing and happy and so excited to have us here. Tomorrow Riley will go to school for a bit with Gustavo and we will talk to the principal about the Final Mile program. Gustavo has already said he wants to help and with his personality, it is sure to be great! Posted is a picture of Gustavo and his mother with Riley last night.

That is a wrap for day 1. They do not expect as many children tomorrow so we will start at the hospital and then head over the the American School. This weekend, we hope to see a bit of the area and Lopsang, our mission coordinator, has already arranged for a soccer match for anyone who is willing. I only realized tonight at dinner with the Gomez' that the Hondorian team is in the World Cup and they said it has the whole country in high spirits. We will be sure to watch them compete this summer.

Missing you, dave, alec, will and isabelle.... thinking of you alot and hoping you had a great day. hasta manana..
love, riley and mom

Pre-MIssion Trial

We are two days out from jetting off to Honduras with Operation Smile on what is sure to be quite an experience. Our bags are almost packed and all the goodies that were donated by friends are filed away in baggies ready for play. Thanks to all of you who helped us with that. The children will be so thankful! Also thanks to the 5th graders at Alanton Elementary who helped us with the hospital gowns. We will be sure to post some pictures so that you can see how much color they brought to the hospital.

So, log on and get ready to follow us. We will try to post nightly. We will be gone from Feb 23rd - March 4th. smiling all the way... riley and brigette