A Smile Comes Full Circle

Kisumu, Kenya

As part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Operation Smile, and the World Journey of Smiles, Dr. Daniel Pyo MD, a plastic surgery volunteer from Morristown, NJ participated in a mission in Kisumu, Kenya. This was not his first surgical mission, but it was his first mission with Operation Smile. This mission was unlike any of his others because of the participation of his son, Christopher Pyo. Christopher is a 9 year old boy, who was fortunate enough to accompany his parents earlier in the summer to Beijing, China on a mission. The trip provided an incredible experience for Christopher, one that would change his life forever. The trip included a visit to a Chinese orphanage which truly affected young Christopher. Seeing the conditions that these children lived in, the things that they did not have, and the things that we took for granted in the states really changed young Christopher’s view about the world. Once we arrived back in the US, Christopher decided that for his upcoming birthday, he would write a letter asking his friends not to give him presents, but instead help him to sponsor a child for Operation Smile. He had recently seen a commercial for operation smile on TV, where they said that the cost to help one child was $240. He knew that his father was going to Kenya for the World Journey of Smiles in November. Christopher sent out the letter to his friends at school and at church, and he had 2 parties that raised a total of nearly $4000. Not knowing where to send this money, his father contacted Operation Smile who informed him that the NJ Gala for Operation Smile was going to be held shortly, and that Christopher would be invited as a special donor to present the donation directly to Bill and Kathy Magee. It was a magical evening that neither Christopher nor his parents will ever forget. Christopher made his presentation like a pro, and was the center of attention the rest of the evening. No two parents could be prouder of a son.
As the Kisumu mission was drawing closer, the family was getting excited. There were donations of stuffed animals, and other items that continued to arrive. Packing and trying to avoid an overweight bag were becoming a bit of a concern. In the preparation for this mission, Dr. Pyo felt a special sense of purpose, a responsibility to his son to bring back the experience for him. He decided to take as many photos as possible, to provide a photo-journal of the mission.

Mission Notes
The mission to Kisumu, Kenya was an incredibly successful mission. The number of successful results was astounding. Dr. Pyo was able to keep in touch with his family and Christopher via phone and internet.

“There were many significant and memorable moments. The first truly memorable moment was the initial visit through the city from the airport, to the hospital in Kisumu, Nyanza regional hospital. We were definitely in Kenya. The mass of humanity was staggering, and the sheer poverty was overwhelming. These people had very, very little, and it seemed that there would be a lot of work to be done. The screening days were long, and exhausting, but with the entire team pulling together, and working hard it was done. It was an amazing team, from the Physicians to Nurses, PIT staff, therapists, etc., to the local volunteers. The next memorable moment was the posting of the surgical list. Postings are always quite emotional, but this one was a little different. There were just so many people who came hoping for the chance to have their child’s life changed. The hope and anticipation in their eyes was striking. There was a father who brought 3 older children all with bilateral cleft lips and palates. He was reluctant to come initially because he felt that the children were cursed. His children were chosen. There were so many small stories that are too numerous to go into, but the final list was chosen, and it was time to set up for surgery. I was proud of each operation that I performed, because I knew that I was not alone. I thought of Christopher, and how his support for these children was a real blessing. The conditions during surgery were difficult. The OR’s were very hot, and humid. There was no AC, and there was no ventilation. We had fans running all the time, and despite that, the heat was oppressive. The first two days were very long, and difficult for everyone on the team. The flow was slow to start, but it was amazing to see how everyone, and everything came together, and the flow was smoother and smoother. The OR staff was incredible, and deserve much praise. The pre-op, and post-op areas were humming, and without the help of the staff in these locations it would have been impossible to have the results that we did. A special note of appreciation has to be sent out to the floor staff – Our Pediatrician, Dr. Mary Wilson, and our nurses Courtney Fratto, Kathy Hayes, Fanuel Mukhove, Jane Karanja, and Appele Ojola. This team had to endure the most difficult conditions, but they made it look easy. The last significant memory was the final wrap-up party in Kisumu. It was Friday evening, after we had finished our last surgery, and had packed everything up. Our hosts provided a wonderful party for us at a different hotel. I was asked to speak on behalf of the team and was proud to do so. After thanking everyone for their support and hard work, it came back to Christopher. I told everyone about his work and his humanity, and I was a very proud father. We had finished a very successful mission, and I was going back home to tell Christopher about all the children that he had helped. I will show him photos of all the children that we took care of, and show him the results of the operations. I will show him the love in their eyes, and the gratefulness in the hearts of the parents. I will bring back home all the smiles that he helped to create. “

Leaving Kisumu and Kenya was not as easy as Dr. Pyo had thought it would be. There is still so much work that needs to be done, but his family was also waiting for him at home. “Part of what makes these missions so special are the lifelong friendships that are made. The friends that are made in very difficult situations are always very special. I salute the entire team that served in Kisumu, Kenya. They will always remain in a very special place in my heart.”

- Daniel Pyo, Operation Smile volunteer