Notes From Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk, Russia

Friday November 9, 2007
Operation Smile Arrives in “the Gateway of Siberia”

The international team members of the Operation Smile Russian Team landed in a blinding snow storm at Novosibirsk’s Tolmenchevo Airport. Eight inches of fresh, blowing snow and 15 degrees Fahrenheit greeted the team as they deplaned. After arriving, team members met with their Russian counterparts to review the mission game plan. The team screened 80 children, many who traveled with their families from 48 to 72 hours to arrive at the Novosibirsk Children’s Emergency Hospital #3.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

On Monday the operating rooms came to life, and by evening fifteen children had received life changing surgeries. On Tuesday the total was raised to twenty-eight. Little nine-month old Irina and her mother traveled two days on the trans-Siberian railway to see the Operation Smile Team. Her surgery was completed on Tuesday. Now she is preparing to return to her small town of Noviy Uoyan with her new smile.

- Bruce Smith, Operation Smile Team Novosibirsk EMR