Day Five
July 12, 2000

More than halfway home

More than halfway home.

Sixty surgeries scheduled. Thirty completed. Past the halfway point and the mission team has mixed emotions.

Most are tired. And most are fired up with a high that comes from the hard work and challenges.

The long days start between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. and end early in the evening.

Cynthia Abraham (l) and Adela hold a child in post -op recovery while the mother (r) sings a calming song.

"It takes its toll but is is also an adrenaline rush. Each case is so different–each child different plus you are working with the barrier of language. But one of the benefits is the very skilled recovery room nurses like Triny and Adela," said Kath Schrage.

Cynthia Abraham agreed about the nursing staff. "This is fun. I'm not really tired and it is great working with their staff. The recovery room nurses are excellent and that makes it all a little easier."

After three days of surgery, anesthesiologist Joe Nicotra on his first mission said "I've lost my initial eagerness and now it is just routine" but in contemplating the end of the mission he said "I'm going to wish I had another week because there are so many more out there that need help but the surgery schedule is full. Telling them 'no' is going to be difficult."

Ann Johnson clowns with Joe Nicotra.

Suzanne Smith, an operating room nurse said, "It is good kinda tired, not sad. The missions are rewarding–I feel kinda selfish. I've been lucky in my life so now I can give something back."

During the day, when there is a let up in the surgeries, team members take any opportunity to rest, get coffee, grab a snack or a smoke–to "regroup" or just to horse around.

"When surgeries stop, there is a let down," Smith said.

"The problem is that the screening clinics were not all held on the first day and then the surgeries scheduled for the rest of the week. Screenings each day cut into surgery time," said Smith. "That has made it hard."

Knowing that there are more children that need help was a common thought shared by many of the group.

Kathi Brink who is on her third mission said "I'm excited and disappointed" about being past the halfway point. Disappointed "because we are almost done and I know there are still more children that need surgeries."

"I feel sore and tired but there is a lot more to do. It really kills you on your last day here and 15 kids show up for surgery and what do you do?" said surgeon Joe Mazza.

"Word gets out and people come in with their kids hoping to have something done."

Ann Johnson (closest) and Suzanne Smith catch a quick break between surgical cases while the surgeons evaluate patients for tomorrow's schedule. The team works by the rules: eat when you can, sleep when you can. It's never certain when the next opportunity will come to do either.

Radio, TV and newspaper stories all helped to inform the public that the mission team would be at Hospital del Nino. And the hospital has its own radio stations and broadcasts information to people even in the remote villages or ranches.

Disappointment. Joy. Happiness. Sadness. A gamut of human emotions. And also an ending graced with humor. Kath Schrage said at the end they will all feel "total fatigue but not until you are on your last leg home. You are still on a high, sad because you're saying good-bye. And then you say 'I'm tired and I gotta go to work Monday morning.'"

As the cliché says, all good things must come to an end. And so shall this mission.

But not for four more days.