Operation Smile is a club I became involved in since 9th grade. I love service and this was a great opportunity to be part of such a remarkable experience. For the past two years I have been involved in fundraising throughout the year and helping out at the "Operation Smile" booth in the Kermesse. Aside from that I had have the amazing opportunity to be part of the actual operation here in Lima which takes place every year during the month of May.
Both years were totally different and unique experiences. The first year, I went the day the doctors were actually doing the surgery. Our job, as part of a bilingual school, was to translate between spanish and english. Sometimes we were in rooms with the nurses' were we had to translate from english to spanish telling the family members what the procedure was with the patient after the operation.
I remember being nervous but at the same time excited. I was translating from a spanish-speaking nurse to a english-speaking doctor, when she suddenly said "dile que tiene que poner el medicamento en la jeringa." Jeringa is syringe but at that precise moment my mind went blank so I remember using my mime skills to sort of show the nurse so she could understand, and I even said jeringa with an english accent. I was so embarrased but she finally understood. Aside from translating I was able to enter the surgery room. This was a great challenge because I normally faint with blood but you know I believe in miracles. Scared that I would be translating and suddenly faint, my body proved my brain wrong. It was very interesting everything that took place behind the surgery doors. This is definitely a memory I can remember vividly.
THE BRAIN CAN DO MAGIC AS LONG AS YOU THINK POSITIVE!
This year I was also able to participate but this time I wasn't able to go when the operations took place. We arrived the first day of the "Operation Smile" week so patients were still arriving and they needed to go through a certain procedure to check if the patient was in good condition to have the surgery. Our job was to start the record, where we were in charge of filling out information about the patient. It was a totally new thing, and I was sort of nervous because we were the ones that began the record so everything needed to be done correctly for the doctors to fill in.
Both years were totally different and unique experiences. The first year, I went the day the doctors were actually doing the surgery. Our job, as part of a bilingual school, was to translate between spanish and english. Sometimes we were in rooms with the nurses' were we had to translate from english to spanish telling the family members what the procedure was with the patient after the operation.
I remember being nervous but at the same time excited. I was translating from a spanish-speaking nurse to a english-speaking doctor, when she suddenly said "dile que tiene que poner el medicamento en la jeringa." Jeringa is syringe but at that precise moment my mind went blank so I remember using my mime skills to sort of show the nurse so she could understand, and I even said jeringa with an english accent. I was so embarrased but she finally understood. Aside from translating I was able to enter the surgery room. This was a great challenge because I normally faint with blood but you know I believe in miracles. Scared that I would be translating and suddenly faint, my body proved my brain wrong. It was very interesting everything that took place behind the surgery doors. This is definitely a memory I can remember vividly.
THE BRAIN CAN DO MAGIC AS LONG AS YOU THINK POSITIVE!
This year I was also able to participate but this time I wasn't able to go when the operations took place. We arrived the first day of the "Operation Smile" week so patients were still arriving and they needed to go through a certain procedure to check if the patient was in good condition to have the surgery. Our job was to start the record, where we were in charge of filling out information about the patient. It was a totally new thing, and I was sort of nervous because we were the ones that began the record so everything needed to be done correctly for the doctors to fill in.