Smile Bound- Thank you Guatemala and Operation Smile- Luke found his home

 I've been home just over a week now and it's been hard finding the right words to articulate this journey with Luke . I was given the honor of taking Luke to Guatemala to find a new home and I wondered how will I ever know who the right child is..and how could I only give to one child. All those worries in the grand scheme of this journey  I now realize were trivial. 

How lucky the world is to have such kind, caring and compassionate people who volunteer their time and skill to help others, and how lucky and grateful am I to have spent 7 days with this Operation Smile team to work and learn alongside them.  You can never forget people like this. The Dr's and nurses who came from all over the world and the local Guatemalan team at the hospital and volunteers who came together was a beautiful thing. 

Luke made friends all over the place , receiving lots of hugs and at times playing an important role in providing comfort and smiles when needed the most. He followed the route each child and parent followed during screening, he visited the pre-op area , the OR, and hung out in post op. First hand he got to experience the journey a child went through once arriving at the hospital. 

I came across a quote this week.." I don't know how to do this but something inside me does"  which embodies when you know something deep inside it leads you in the right direction. I am so happy it did.

Screening Day

Handing over the Peace Candle my parents gave me from Keswick United Church during a special mass

Colgate volunteers and PIT team

Medical records set up time- Luke helping out

Luke hanging out in in the PIT

Awesome people

Luke getting checked over by Nurse Cathy and Lucy

Luke following the same route as the kids during screening

In Pediatrics

Speech therapist Erica was busy talking to parents and kids

Hematology

Luke making friends everywhere he went

Dentist visit

Open wide Luke

Hanging in the Electronic Med Rec area

More friends 

Jess and Luke hit it off

Sister Gabriela loves Luke

In the crib 

Putting on his scrub hat

Child Life Specialist and Luke helping the kids to understand what will happen when they enter the OR

Sweet volunteers

After 2 days of screening, time for our team day which brought us to Antigua. The gifts I  found there were in the most unlikely places and they were not material items.  

Local artisans

Volcano beauty

Antigua 

Beauty everywhere

After 7 days what did I learn from this journey:

When you have faith and hope you find the courage to face even the scariest of things and we are never alone

Courage 

The overwhelming sense of unconditional love , kind , compassion and giving of yourself to help others brings joy from the inside out and its the most amazing feeling in the world. We are all humans connected..

The next time I  think I need something...I know I will be pausing and reflecting. 

Before you judge a book by its cover...explore the story inside

Material things are not the path to joy

Be yourself ..take risks..let the walls down 

Love

 On day 2 of surgery Luke found his new home. It wasn't a difficult decision at all, in fact we both knew he belonged with Yesamin. She was as beautiful inside as her story which represented exactly what Operation Smile is about. I am grateful and blessed to have met her and her mother Mary Elizabeth. 

Luke found his home with Yesamin and I know he will be loved

 When I left, Jim, Andrea and I never knew one another, other than the fact we were J&J colleagues. After 7 days we returned home friends and forever connected by sharing in this life changing experience.  Not to mention the friends made along the way  

Photo bomb

 Guatemala and Operation Smile I came home a much better person grateful and blessed for having this experience and the gifts you gave me are forever in my heart. Gracias! 

Thank you

Smile Bound-Update from Guatemala

Luke and I have been in Guatemala for 6 days and so far the experience is beautiful. My room has a great view of the three volcanos!
 Two days of screening brought in 200 families. Many traveled hours by bus with their child (children). The stories are both warming and heartbreaking at the same time. The love they have for their kids you can see in their eyes.
The team of nurses and Dr's are outstanding! Each volunteer their time to be here. For many it isn't their first mission. For some it's their 50+ mission and as they tell me , it's addictive. They are all passionate , kind, caring souls and I love being around this energy.
It is never we can't do it but more how can we find a way!

We spent a team day in Antigua which was stunning. This was the first capital city of Guatemala before an earthquake destroyed the city and they named Guatemala city the capital. Lots of history, churches and people eager to share their culture.

Day 1 of surgery was yesterday and it was beautiful. Twenty children received their new smiles. It was a long day for the kids and their parent but it was worth it. A very emotional day all around.

I wish I spoke Spanish so I could communicate better with the kids and their parents but I've learned a smile, and a hug break thru the barriers!

Today we do it all over again. FEELING GRATEFUL!

Smile Bound

Eight months ago the mission to raise 200 smiles for Operation Smile began. I set a personal goal to raise 20 smiles and be one of the employees Johnson & Johnson Canada would sponsor to be a part of an operation smile mission. The first day I remember sitting in our conference area listening to the Dr

, I knew I had to be a part of this. What followed in the months ahead was amazing as family, friends and colleges supported my goal and together we raised $6700 surpassing my personal goal allowing me to be the top fundraiser and attend a mission.

To add to this our IT team took on their own challenge and raised money to bring Luke to Canada so I could take him with me and give to a child.

Fast forward to today, day before I depart to Guatemala to join a team of 50 volunteers who over the next 15 days will perform 120 surgeries bringing new smiles and hope to children and their families.

Everyone tells me this will be a life changing event and an incredible experience. That is a given and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. 

Today I am reminded of the following "If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes -then learn how to do it later"  I can tell you that is true because while I am indeed excited, I must be honest I'm scared. I don't know what I am doing other than I will learn when I get there. 

I know feeling scared is normal and if there is one thing I have learned in life..with any new challenge we must be brave enough to follow our dreams and not let fear stop us. 

So my suitcase is packed with toys, stuffed animals, clothes, coloring book's  and my essentials..and of course Luke has a special seat for the journey. 

I read a fitting posting by Elizabeth Gilbert that went like this

"Your fear is the most boring thing about you. We think our fears are precious and special 

but they aren't. WE are precious and special,but our fears are not"

Tomorrow Luke and I are smile bound, I will turn him over to a special child who will give Luke a new home.