Hand In Hand…A Walk Toward Happiness
Managua, Nicaragua
The mere mention of “Australia” conjures up happy images of kangaroos hopping across the bush with little joeys peeking out of mysterious pouches. Curiosity led me to question a new Australian friend about this idyllic image at the beginning of the Operation Smile World Journey mission held in Managua, Nicaragua, where our team of international volunteers gathered for ten magical days to create miracles. This talented, young woman, Anita, of Brisbane, Australia, volunteered to provide speech screening and important language instruction for each patient. With big smiles, she happily answered questions about that fascinating creature, the infamous “Kangaroo”. Anita laughingly announced that she had even brought one with her. It was plastic, inflatable, four-feet tall with a big tail and, yes, had the requisite joey peeking from its pouch. The children were delighted upon its arrival, and even the adults broke out in smiles as the brightly-colored icon of “hip-hop” made its way to the warm and dimly-lit play area where children waited for their call to surgery.
As a “medical records assistant”, I soon learned that my job of creating hundreds of medical files was a piece of cake compared to positions that entailed entertaining hungry and thirsty children waiting long hours for their facial surgeries to begin. Hour after hour, efforts by team volunteers to create diversions and entertainment were rewarded with big smiles from the soon-to-be surgical recipients. Standing close by were weary parents who accompany their children through hours of selective screening and now wait patiently to gently place their precious babes in the arms of virtual strangers as they are whisked away for lip and palate reconstruction.
It was during one of these long days that Anita’s “Kangaroo” appeared and towered over the little ones as their bright eyes reflected the wonder of such a happy creature in the midst of all the chatter and challenging chaos. One little patient, Eduardo, was particularly intrigued with “Kangaroo’s” presence and quietly sat on his chair patting and squeezing his new friend when suddenly his name was called. Karen, an anesthesiologist-CRNA, appeared from behind swinging surgery doors to claim him for his life-changing surgery, an answer to the prayers of his family.
But, frequently, the separation of child and parent is quite traumatic as medical personnel gather up a new patient who then begins to protest and reach back toward the safe arms of family. I watched as Karen instantly recognized the attachment Eduardo had made with his large, plastic friend and quickly reached out to place one puffy paw in Eduardo’s little hand. She then took hold of “Kangaroo’s” other paw and beckoned. Eduardo happily hopped off his chair still tightly grasping the paw; and, together, the happy trio rounded the corner to begin their journey down the long hallway. It was a sight to behold by surgeons and nurses alike as the smiling threesome made their way toward the surgery table. But “Kangaroo” wasn’t done with his mission. He was given “patient status” and happily succumbed to an oxygen mask along with his brave friend, Eduardo. Operation Smile was the recipient of a new ambassador that day.
As volunteers come to know, all language barriers and fears between parents and volunteers alike are absolved once the “magic begins”. I quietly stashed away this memorable, magical moment and returned to my ever-growing stack of medical records knowing that a picture in my mind of “kangaroo” and a little Nicaraguan boy’s walk to life-altering surgery would linger with me long after I disappeared into regular life.
- Connie Engel, Operation Smile Volunteer, Medical Records