Monday, February 16, 2009. Today was our second day of surgery. We started at 7:30 am with our first little one in Dr. Canady’s room, Maricela Perez Morales. This is the second time we have seen Maricela. Last year in Xela (Quetzaltenango) the team repaired Maricela’s cleft lip. If you scroll down on this blog, you can read her story from 2008. This year in Huehue we were delighted to Maricela again and fix her palate. Now she will not only have her sweet face whole, she will be able to eat and drink and talk without the difficulties presented by her palate.
“Our kids” ranged from 15 months to 9 years old. Although four palate repairs were planned, not all were accomplished. A number of the children we have seen have serious dental problems. Infection permeates their mouths so the diseased baby teeth are removed to enable the mouth to heal. Then the structural issues of the palate can be addressed safely with a much greater likelihood of long-term success. One of our little palate patients needed 10 teeth extracted so his palate repair was cancelled; the trauma would have been too great. Our hope is this patient will come again to Xela or Huehue when we are here, so we can fix his palate. As with Maricela, one goal of Iowa MOST, through our repeat trips, is to fully address the multiple needs of these kids. In the last two days, we have been able to help 24 children and their families.
Our day wound up with the last of the team leaving the hospital at 9:00 p.m. All are hoping for a slightly shorter day tomorrow…….
“Our kids” ranged from 15 months to 9 years old. Although four palate repairs were planned, not all were accomplished. A number of the children we have seen have serious dental problems. Infection permeates their mouths so the diseased baby teeth are removed to enable the mouth to heal. Then the structural issues of the palate can be addressed safely with a much greater likelihood of long-term success. One of our little palate patients needed 10 teeth extracted so his palate repair was cancelled; the trauma would have been too great. Our hope is this patient will come again to Xela or Huehue when we are here, so we can fix his palate. As with Maricela, one goal of Iowa MOST, through our repeat trips, is to fully address the multiple needs of these kids. In the last two days, we have been able to help 24 children and their families.
Our day wound up with the last of the team leaving the hospital at 9:00 p.m. All are hoping for a slightly shorter day tomorrow…….
1 comment:
Thanks for the updates! I have several nurse friends there with and love knowing how everything is going! Shelley Haganman (Iowa City)
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