Wednesday, January 10th
Yesterday I went to the orphanage at Fonelisco that Belle went to the previous day. They have around 50 children there, from ages about 5-17. The kids there are very sweet, divided into two houses of girls and boys. The administration staff work very well with the children. The children have a school there and I was able to teach them an hour long lesson about English and music. Since they were still working on their colors, we continued their teaching. We worked on English words going through the alphabet. We also played a bit of Pictionary, guessing and acting out English words. From there I showed them how to play kazoos that I had brought along for them, and they loved creating music with them. Later in the day some government officials came bringing the orphanage some food as well as words of encouragement for the people there. It was nice to meet them and experience more of their culture there at the orphanage.
-Sierra
Wednesday, January 10th
Today has been eventful in the operating room. I was greeted as I entered the operating room by Dr. Danny who asked if I could speak with our 5 years old patient who was scheduled to have clubfoot repair. As the door swung open, a sea of nervous patients awaited for surgery to begin. Some awaited for 20 years, some awaited longer to have this one opportunity to heal. One opportunity to finally take their first step without pain. I followed the hospital orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Danny as we approached our little 5 years old boy and his father. Immediately, the father stood up with a smile as he approached us. He spoke to Dr. Danny, “Thank you for helping my 5 years old boy.” The father’s hand begin to shake in a slight tremor as he continued, “I work 2 to 3 months at a time away from my family, and one day I came home to find out my son was given away, thrown out, by his mother because of my son’s clubfoot deformity.” He begin to cry as his trembling hands wiped his eyes, “Today, Dr. Goswami and your team will be fixing my son’s clubfoot. I have been waiting for this day.” He clears his voice as he finally states, “Today is the happiest day for me. My son will be able to walk now, wear normal shoes, go to school, find normal job. My son was given the opportunity to live a normal life because of your team.” I couldn’t help but hug the little boy and his father. I repaired and reconstructed a rare clubfoot deformity today on our 5 year old patient knowing that this day, January 10th, Hope Ministry have changed the life of a little boy.
Dr. Goswami
