Somewhere Over the Rainbow…
This is now my fourth mission to Ghana and as much as I had thought that all of the hurdles had been jumped before we left Boston, I (we) encountered not only more, but higher hurdles once we arrived at KATH. Still all-in-all, we evaluated and operated on fourteen children, more children than we had operated on in the past.
With all of the planning and organizing, creating and rearranging of schedules, not only for these past four missions, but life at home, I have had the loving support of my family and friends. Without them, these missions would be impossible. But because of them, these missions will continue. How fitting that while I was away, my daughter Tara (who came as a volunteer on our first mission), opened the play that she has been directing entitles “Alive and Kicking”.
We have operated on a total of forty four children, evaluated hundreds of children with heart defects and continue to touch thousands of lives. Dreams really do come true……
This past mission was dedicated to my Aunt Lou.
-Judy
As I say goodbye to Ghana and friends, I am happy for the 14 families we have touched. They are all home today, back with their family and friends. Ready to go to school and play soccer. I am sad though for all the families who have to wait till our next mission for their child to have surgery. With the memories of their sad faces, I will work hard in between missions to make sure their smiles return when we return to Ghana. Yes there is something in this world free…..heart surgery for the poor and smiles.
-Bev
I received a list of things to bring, they did not tell me to bring tissues for the tears. This mission has had an incredible impact on my life, and the way I will see life from now on. I have learned that a smile is universal. The sweetest thing was when each child became comfortable with our team and would show their biggest smile. I will always remember the sweet laughter and the painful tears which in the end was turned back into smiles and thankful prayers and words that will I will never forget.
One lesson……no matter where you are, everyone wants the same things, health, love and happiness. I hope we left those things behind. See you next yeat Ghana! Bring on the FuFu!
-Stephanie
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this mission. I have had such an amazing and gratifying time. I will always remember the smiling faces and how appreciative and thankful the 14 families were. I have seen people that live without so much, but have given me more than I can imagine. This mission is unlike anything that I have ever experienced. Thank you for everything!
-Lily
Well, we are on our way home now, only 2.5 hours to go before we land in JFK airport. We are all hopeful that our connection to Boston will not be cancelled. We are growing anxious by the minute to see our families and a have a great “BIG” salad.
Also, as we journey home, we put behind us our 4th mission. This mission was the most successful and well organized by far. The hard work by the entire team was unbelievable. The miraculous “handywork” by Francis, 14 patients…incredible!
Our biggest wish, is this mission will continue with lots of support and fundraising, so we can give many more families this opportunity to live a happy normal life.
-Cheryl
What an amazing experience! I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with this amazing team again. Fourteen surgeries on complex heart defects in 6 days with all of those kids now home is truly remarkable and speaks volumes to the skill and dedication of the team. I am humbled by the patients and families we were able to help. From the mothers who literally sat in a chair at the bedside until their child was discharged, to the nurses at KATH who were there to comfort and encourage them.
I have learned quite a bit in the last 10 days. I had the opportunity to discuss the challenges and practices of healthcare in Ghana, as well as some of the aspects of the culture. It has reinforced to me, what can be accomplished with a high functioning team with limited resources. Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac surgery is such a special field with such special people. It has been a real joy to be able to care for these patients again. Thanks to Bev, Chris, Judy and Francis and the team for letting me tag along.
Josh B.
When you tell people you are going on a medical mission, you receive the typical response,”how nice, honorable:, however the reality is hard work, dedication and most of all gratification of a job well done. This team are my heros and without everyone it would not work. Once again, one of the most rewarding events in my life. Thank you team Ghana! Thank you Ghana….
-Pam
Dr. Fynn-Thompson and his team have collaborated on an incredible mission. I am honored to have been a volunteer member on this journey. The passion and dedication of the Children’s team is something you do not see everyday. They have changed so many lives. Thank you Ghana for welcoming us into your country. Thank you Children’s team for giving me this rewarding experience, I am forever grateful.
-Laura Martin
“Wow!”, I have just completed my third mission to Ghana, and that just about sums it up for me. As with the other missions, I am coming home experiencing a variety of emotions. I feel honored to be part of yet another successful mission. The faces of the team may change, but the drive, dedication and work ethics of the individuals never change.
We volunteer for the mission with the intention of changing the lives of children. This is accomplished through surgeries and school donations. What I have come to realize is that we are the ones who are forever changed. I am going home feeling grounded after 15 days in Kumasi. I take so much for granted-food, shelter and even the ability to walk a flight of stairs. Each trip my life is enriched by the families, children and our experiences as a team. I will forget the “glitches”, but will never forget the gratitude and thanks bestowed on us.
Thank you to everyone on the team- this mission succeeds because of everyone working together with one goal-enhancing the lives of children….Wow!
-Mary
The end of a “long": but “rewarding” 2 weeks. Looking forward to getting home and back into a normal routine, my bed, meals without rice and spring rolls, American coffee, and a fresh garden salad. Thankful for the things we take for granted. Thanks for another great experience.
-Roger
What an unreal trip we have had. I have learned a lot in the past 12 days-especially about the human spirit. We helped more than just the kids who had surgery. We have made new friends and shared experiences with each other that are hard to describe. I am so thankful I was able to experience this mission and look forward to helping their mission continue in the future.
-kristen G.
Closing thoughts. I am deeply appreciative and filled with emotions that are hard to pinpoint in words. Thank you to Bev, Judy, Chris and Francis for making this vision happen. Thank you to the Ghanians for welcoming us crazy Americans to their country. Thank you to the kids who constantly remind be that “a smile can stretch across nations and leave me with a lingering feeling of joy and personal growth. One last thank you to the team for making this mission everything it was. I will miss you all.
-Joanne
I had been to Africa once before, on safari, on a vacation. I had been so impressed by the magnitude of poverty, lack of proper medical care, and populations of children that were suffering and even dying, that I promised myself the next time I return I would have to try to help in some way. I am proud to have been a part of the team that helped 14 children. This time my trip to Africa was not a vacation. I was happy to participate as both the Physician Assistant for the OR and as a photographer any chance I got. Every morning we arrived at the hospital I couldn’t wait to see the faces of the 2 or 3 children we had operated on the day before. That was always my first stop. The smiles on the mom’s faces were the best part of the day. After the day of surgery I tried to document as much as I could with photos. I made several trips up to the old hospital to photograph the medical/surgical/maternity wards, I walked around the local military base, I went to local orphanage and schools with the volunteers, and took hundreds of photos from our buses driving 6-8 hrs at a time through the many villages of Ghana. Putting the camera down was difficult for me at times because I was determined to capture not only the faces of our children, but the sights of the buildings/huts/tents, the sounds of crying and laughter in a foreign language, the smells of burning rubbish and unimaginable diseases, and the emotions that represented the hundreds of families, workers and trades people we encountered in such a brief period of time. I have grown as both a PA and as a photographer on this trip. I have seen some deplorable conditions and witnessed some unacceptable deaths and I am grateful for the people who allowed me to photograph some very sensitive and private moments. I hope that I will be able to tell even a small piece of this story with my photos to help educate others to help. A team of 30 people helped 14 children last week so they will not only survive but also be able to play soccer with their friends (Israel and David could not wait!). Thank you Francis for making it possible for me to participate and congratulations to Judy, Bev and Chris for organizing another very successful mission.
I am look forward to more trips to Ghana and more missions.
~ Brenda
These trips distill our skill and passion to their essence. And the interaction with the families and team are similarly condensed and intensified. Heading back to our regular routines of work and home, I will use the memories of this experience to illuminate the time until I have an opportunity to do this again.
-Judy B.
The defining moment for me of this humbling yet inspiring experience was the small gathering we held with the parents and the patients at the culmination of our medical mission. The mothers, united in sheer joy of seeing their children receive new chances at life, spontaneously broke into a magical chorus of heartfelt song. Unforgettable emotion united the room and I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to do but a small part in alongside the selfless doctors, nurses and volunteers that made this incredible journey possible.
-Nitish
I am leaving with a lot of fond memories from this great experience! Over the course of the trip, the people of Ghana taught us a great deal about resourcefulness. In many ways we were able to replicate that lesson and show them how a little can be stretched into a lot. Thank you to Bev, Judy, Chris and Francis for allowing me to be a part of this special program.
-Matt G.
44 children….it is hard to believe it has been almost 4 years since our first scouting mission. Each child’s smile is still so clear in my head. Helping each child and family reminds me that we continue to touch lives and improve people’s well being. I take back more memories each time we come to Ghana, from Gladys showing me how to carry a baby on my back to David’s excitement when he was given his new soccer ball. Giving the opportunity of heart surgery to people that otherwise would never be able to have it done makes this trip so gratifying. Thank you team Ghana!
-Christine
Another job well done. A mission accomplished by a great team. Well put together and how hard every single one of us worked to make it happen. I am very proud to be part of the team. This is my third trip with the team. I am very committed to the mission because there is so much need for the kids. We need your help for the next mission, so much is needed.
I was touched at the end of the mission during a goodbye party for the kids. How thankful the parents were and they included us in their prayer ceremony, singing and dancing. You could see joy in their faces and tears in some of the nurses faces. They see the appreciation and how hard they work to bring joy, laughter and happiness to the Ghanian parents.
African proverb: A good laugh is like sunshine in the house.
-Frantz
There is no way to be a part of this mission and not be forever changed. When you see what little these families have, yet you see and feel their hope, happiness and thanks, it reaches deep inside. This trip was really the families and kids that touched me the most. Since I have been here before and have seen the overwhelming conditions of the hospital, I was able to really take in what it is we do for these patients and families. The group we operated on, the 14 children, became one big family. When one patients mom would leave to get food for their child, another parent would go over and sing to the child to calm him/her while their mother was gone. At our farewell party, the patients united as a group and gave thanks to us in an overwhelming moment of prayer followed by singing and dancing. Their appreciation was palpable, and we were humbled. Never have I been a part of something quite so moving.
This mission continues to succeed because of the hard work and dedication of all the team members. Each person on the trip contributed to the cause and enabled us to fulfill our goal of treating these children as well as some of the local schools and children's homes. I am honored to be a part of such an incredible team. Thank you all!
~Meghan