Day 1: Philly to Managua
My team and I departed from Philly, 3 a.m. and 15 degrees with pending Nor’easter and arrived in Managua, Nicaragua 12:37 p.m., 95 degrees with circling, thirsty mosquitoes buzzing our heads. Following the customary body cavity search, we proceeded to the children’s hospital “F. Velez Paiz,” where 25 families had been waiting days for a possible life-changing surgery.
We were met by 25 families who had been waiting for days.
After six hours of triage, seven children with the most severe lower extremity deformities were selected for reconstructive surgery over the next two days. My team was overwhelmed being confronted with a mix of emotions – on one end, they were grateful and humbled to be given this rare opportunity to help people in need but frustrated that they couldn’t help everyone.
Children with the most sever deformities were selected for reconstructive surgery