The roosters start crowing at 3:15 am, the dogs start barking soon after and we are up for breakfast at 6:15 and off to the Hospital de Especialidades. The thoughtful planning by the local Rotarians proves to be essential for the day of screening. Drivers bring families over in workable size groups. Patients are registered and given a number for the order in which they will be seen. Local Rotarians assist with translating. They also provide a morning snack and lunch for the waiting families and lunch for MOST workers.
Screening Day always begins in a chaotic manner, but out of the chaos comes the desired result -- a schedule to accommodate those patients old enough and healthy enough to have a life-changing operation. In the morning nerves are a little raw, anxiety is high and many things are out of place. Since this year's mission is in a new hospital and it is on more than one level, the flow of the process hasn't been clearly established and that creates even greater confusion. Patients and their families move through the various stations to be processed at in-take and then see surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists and pediatricians. At the end of this day, however, as always, the process meets its goal.
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