Today was the first day of surgery on the Operation Smile Guwahati, India Mission. Children and their families had spent the night in the hospital. For many, this was the first time ever in a hospital.
At 7am the first patients were ready to be taken into the operation rooms. Eight operating tables were in full use today. Each child said goodbye to their parents and left in the arms of a loving stranger. The parents were anxious as they waited, but in less than an hour the children came out of the operating theater transformed forever - new smiles on their faces.
Bill and Kathy Magee, the founders of Operations Smile were on site greeting patients and medical staff and inspiring us all. They are living examples of what volunteers can do to change the lives of people, both physically and perhaps more importantly, in spirit.
As the day turned into night, the medical team was still working finishing up the day's surgeries, bedding down those who would spend the night at the hospital for surgery tomorrow and tenderly caring for those who had received life-changing surgery today. And the amazing thing is that these volunteers do it with such grace, day after day.
Tomorrow we will follow 5 year old Sarban through the process. Right before we left the hospital he gave us a big hug and then climbed into bed under a mosquito net. Sleep well little guy. Tomorrow will be a very special day.
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