This is Sebastian, one of our favorite stories from the whole trip. His grandmother brought him to see us on the 1^st or 2^nd day of therapy and we almost didn’t see him because we already had so many kids lined up outside. Sebastian doesn’t have a cleft, but he is deaf. His family was concerned that he was not talking, and at about 9 years old he still wasn’t in school. Theresa and I began teaching him some signs we knew when we realized he was probably profoundly deaf. His eyes lit up and he quickly learned everything we showed him. His excitement brought tears to my eyes as I thought that this might have been the first time that was able to communicate with others in a way that made sense to him. He had never been exposed to sign language and he was so eager to learn more. At the end of the session his family asked about an operation for his tongue (a tongue clip), thinking that would solve his problem and allow him to talk. We had to explain that his tongue was fine, and that without the ability to hear, he would never speak like they did. It seemed like hard news for them to hear, and the grandmother told me the next day that her family cried over the realization. We were so concerned about what would become of Sebastian, because he had already gone so long with no language input. The only option was for him and his family to learn sign language. As luck would have it, Jose, our regional government guide, said he knew a local woman who knew sign language and had connections at the local special education schools who might be able to help. The next day she arrived and was able to explain again to the family (in much better Spanish than me!) that Sebastian needed sign language instruction in school and they offered adult classes as well for the family. We told his family that they should take him right away to be enrolled in this school, and that they could teach him more sign than we ever could. As far as we know, he is now in school and hopefully learning tons. Theresa and I would love to return in the future to visit the special education schools, and hopefully find that Sebastian is able to communicate with his friends and family.

Entered by Jocelyn Noble

A FEW BEFORE AND AFTER...NOW THAT I'M HOME WITH STRONG WIFI!

JJ

OK..So I have internet...but am having lots of trouble entering the pictures in an order with any sense...so a few quick comments about the pictures...
The little girl on top had the most beautiful hair!  She was always happy and always calm (at least when we were visiting the ward!)  She was a little less smiley the day after and day she went home- and so beautiful! The LITTLE boy in second row- was affectionately referred to by his mom as "Gordo"! He was 10 months and huge...and was always smiling (before the surgery- a little less right after surgery). His mom and the mom of the little guy in the yellow bib seemed to become friends since they were in the ward at same time and their babies had their cleft lip surgeries on same day! The moms and babies came over to where Jocelyn and I were doing speech therapy (a building around the corner from the ward and surgical center to say good-bye to us and let us take pictures. THE MOMS WERE SO HAPPY and how special to get to support each other through the surgery.  The little boy in the lion bib had a cleft lip on both sides of the lip (called a bilateral cleft lip) so his immediate "after" has much more swelling. When the swelling goes down it will look all that much better!  Great surgeries by Dr. Williams and 2 other plastic surgeons from Lima who helped.  Also present in OR team were 2 anesthesiologists- one from Lima and one from Oaxaca Mexico.  All the babies, children and adults did well post-op.

50 CHILDREN SCREENED FOR SURGERY OR SPEECH THERAPY
25 SURGERIES, including cleft lip repair, cleft palate repairs, secondary palate surgeries-for speech improvement; and 5 burn cases, and one tongue clip (for tongue tie).
15 speech only screenings and 12 seen for speech therapy.
(I think that's the total on speech... I have to check our notes!)
more soon,
Theresa

 

 



Screening Day!

SCREENING DAY- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013.
          Pucallpa, Peru
Dr. Geoff Williams found a large group of families and children waiting to be screened for surgery at 8 AM! About 35 children and adults waited most of the day for their turn.  Some of the 35 were screened for speech therapy or surgical follow-up from previous mission with Dr. Williams. 19 were scheduled for the week of surgeries on Saturday, and 9 were scheduled for speech therapy. A few were doing very well and did not need further surgery or speech therapy.  On MONDAY, Sep. 30, 2013, 5 more patients arrived for speech screening- 4 were scheduled and one 3 more patients were scheduled for surgery.  4 patients  (3 children and one adult) have severe burns that need treatment and were also scheduled. A few newborns under 3 months old were too underweight for their initial lip surgery and will return on the next mission. It was a VERY busy day and Jocelyn and I were busy screening patients, giving out stuffed animals and books (so fun!)  and assisting Dr. Williams with patient screening; Jocelyn was pulled from speech to surgery at times to offer her special skill of proficiency in Spanish!  One thing I did learn about the mission in Peru, unlike the Philippines, no one speaks English!  In the Philippines most of the hospital staff speak English.  Here, Spanish is the language and I will have to learn additional Spanish before the next mission! It was very difficult to communicate some important information. Jocelyn was AMAZING and the families got a few good laughs out of my feeble attempt to speak the language!

 Jocelyn learning the "tricks of the trade" during speech evaluations!

 This little sweet heart (Lucianna) was very interested in my nose!  Mom is beaming because she just found out the Lucianna is going to have her cleft lip repaired on this mission! When she left the room she was hugging and kissing Lucianna's head and spinning her around to celebrate her joy in getting the amazing gift for her little girl!  Jocelyn and I on witnessing this moment of pure happiness, got to talk and hug mom and Lucianna as she expressed her joy. Soon Lucianna will share mom's beautiful smile (although her current smile is very cute too!)

Such focus!  Both from Dr. Williams scheduling another surgery- but also this little boy who is getting a surgical repair of his cleft lip this week!

Nannge (Dentist from Peru to the left) and Jocelyn (left, above)

getting intake from patients as Dr. Williams works to find a spot for all the patients who arrived on screening day! The little 4 year old above was so verbal and delightful, we were sorry we wouldn't get to do speech therapy with her but she was doing so well since her palate repair last ICSF mission in 2012!

MORE SOON... I HOPE! We have had very inconsistent internet, a 5 hour "brownout" with no power on Sunday and have put in long hours (7:30 to 8 pm today/Tuesday with speech therapy and visiting patient on the ward)! the surgical staff is still hard at work this evening at the hospital (11PM)!
It's what we're here for and Jocelyn and I
are so happy to have so much to do! Will post more soon- the week is flying by!
From Peru...
Love, Theresa
                                   

2 of the 3 babies above had their lip surgeries today- The little girl with all the beautiful hair is scheduled for the morning! Before and after pictures to follow!! Amazing.....

 

 

Thanks to Erin and Megan S for "Pets for Peru" children!

A special "THANKS" to my nieces Erin and Megan for their very generous "donation" of these Beanie Babies that all the children will get tomorrow at SCREENING day! It's a LONG day of waiting for the children and families and these become very TREASURED friends!  Erin and Megan were going to sell these at their yard sale this past summer but instead donated them for the children of the mission! 
Love, Aunt Theresa

Day 1- Arrival in Pucallpa, through Lima, PERU!

 

Jocelyn’s first visit to South America (Theresa’s too) with our arrival at 6 AM to Pucallpa, Peru!  Jocelyn is fluent in Spanish- which she has already put to good use (keeping Theresa from being lost since she is NOT fluent in Spanish) by getting us through the Lima Airport with customs, immigration and re-checking our luggage!  Jocelyn is also a Graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology and is working on her online class in Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Conditions (right now as I am typing)!!  She has 3 on-line classes this semester so she will be busy with course work, interpreting for the team, and co-treatment for speech therapy! This week will give her hands-on experience with speech therapy working for children with, “now repaired”, cleft palates! All is good- although “all” are tired and slept 3 ½ hours after checking into hotel at 7 AM!  Very nice hotel; VERY hot city!

 

 

 Theresa looks rested, but really isn’t! BEAUTIFUL morning arrival to Pucallpa where the other passengers (in background) had already realized the temperature difference between Lima (in the 60’s making for a rather chilly walk to the stairs of the domestic flight) and Pucallpa- at about 89 degrees! It is the beginning of rainy season so we are happy to have such clear blue skies! This is the first time for both Theresa and Jocelyn in South America! Also the first time we can say we are SOUTH of the Equator!! The mission with ICSF to the Philippines (which Theresa has traveled to for the last 3 years) is about the same distance north of the Equator as the distance we are south of the Equator in Pucallpa! The time difference is only 1 hour later than Denver so the adjustment has been easy compared to the Philippines time zones!

The screening for the surgical mission and speech therapy start tomorrow, Saturday September 28^th at 8 AM!  We are looking forward to getting to meet the children and families who have waited a long time for someone like Dr. Geoff (Williams) to come and provide free surgery for their cleft lip and palates!  Please keep the surgical team (which we’ll introduce later) in your prayers and the children/families here for surgery and speech therapy. 




Departure date...September 26!

Hi Again to my friends, family and loyal supporters! I'm getting ready for the first "speech therapy" mission with ICSF in Peru!Dr. Geoff Williams, surgeon and mission director has been to Pucallpa,Peru on several previous cleft lip and palate surgical missions. This year we will do speech therapy for children who previously had their cleft palates repaired and now need speech therapy to optimize the outcome of the surgery. As in the Philippines, the children have NO access to speech therapy. We will set up the same program as we have done in the last 3 years in the Philippines. One week of twice daily speech therapy for any children who can attend. We will again have the support and coordination of the local Rotarians for our week in Pucallpa,Peru I will try and add to the blog when I can! I have a graduate student in Speech Pathology joining me. Jocelyn Noble is fluent in Spanish and after a semester of doing some internship hours in my private practice office in Lakewood, has had a great introduction to speech therapy relate to cleft palate! I'm very excited to have her joining me on the mission... And hope she adds to the blog to make it more interesting than me doing all the "blogging"! Jocelyn, working as my interpreter, is a tremendous blessing to the speech mission! Thanks again to my friends and family and patient's families who have supported the development of the speech mission with ICSF!! We'll be continuing the mission in Dipolog, Mindanoa, Philippines in March 2014! Please pray for our team as we travel to Pucallpa, Peru and start screening patients on September28,2013. Please also pray for all the beautiful children and their families who will receive this amazing, life saving, and FREE surgery. For more information about the foundation and Dr.Geoff Williams year round mission schedule, please visit the ICSF website at www.ICSFoundation.org. More soon!! Theresa and Jocelyn Theresa M. Snelling, MA,CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist