Delays, Delays!

February 9, 2014

Despite multiple flight delays and cancellations, finally the 2014 Iowa Miles of Smiles Team (MOST) has arrived in Guatemala!  Caught in the polar vortex that wrecked havoc with thousands of flights and millions of travelers, the team patiently made its way across the US from multiple locations, all with one purpose in mind...to help children.

More than 20 members leaving from Cedar Rapids were forced to travel by bus to Chicago for an overnight when their flight was delayed and ultimately cancelled.  Still other travelers were overnighted in Dallas after a disappointing delay, delay, cancel day.  Undaunted, the team of many moving parts made its way from New Jersey; Spencer, Jefferson, Iowa City and Swisher, Iowa; Alaska, North Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee  and elsewhere over two day's time and at least a half dozen flight delays and cancellations, to the destination.

Good news gave the team hope as it inched toward Guatemala ...  Word came that the critically important completely refurbished anesthesia machine, which had been delayed in customs, was finally released to onsite coordinator Paco Fernandez, one day before the team arrived.  The machine, vital to the surgical team, was purchased by Iowa M.O.S.T.

Bad news is the brakes on the bus overheated and a new bus was sent from Guatemala City, another delay.  Later the exhaust pipe on the replacement bus needed re-attachment.  But finally the team was united in Huehuetenango, late on Saturday afternoon!  Hooray!!

Submitted by Jacque Andrew