Hanging Out in Ho Chi Minh City

We made our way back to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It was a five hour bus ride from Can Tho. I enjoyed the ride, as there is always something interesting to see. Aflac?!!

It was great to return to HCMC. I was spent the afternoon exploring some of the city, saw the Reunification Palace, and had a drink at the Rex Hotel. I'd like to stay longer, but instead will have to compromise and return in the future. The majority of us are returning, but some of my colleagues are going to explore the Cu Chi tunnels tomorrow. Others are visiting different parts of Vietnam, including Ha Long Bay, and Sapa.

All of the southern Vietnam Operation Smile Teams are here, and we had a big celebration tonight. It feels like a class reunion, seeing so many friends and colleagues from previous missions. Bill and Kathy Magee, the founders and CEO/president of Operation Smile International, visited our site in Can Tho. Dr Magee performed a surgery on one of our children. Of course, they both attended the celebration. They have motivated me to take the initiative in re-starting a Minnesota Operation Smile Chapter. Here's a photo of Bill, me, Kathy, and Khai, our mission coordinator, at the celebration

As long as I'm posting photos of myself (yuck), I thought I'd include a photo from last night. Some of my colleagues bought me gifts...including not one, but two traditional Vietnamese outfits, called, "au dai." This is me and my friend Dao. We're both wearing an au dai. Of course, she's quite elegant!

It's almost 1:00 AM in HCMC. And so begins my very long day. I fly out this morning. Due to the time zones and crossing the International Date Line somewhere between Tokyo and California, November 15, 2009 will last 37 hours for me.

Before I log off, I'll post some of my photos of some of the people I saw on my trip down the Mekong (Hau) River.

A Girl Named Nhu

During my time in Can Tho, I had the pleasure to meet many patients and their families. They all have special stories to tell. For example, Nhu is an eight year-old girl with a severe bilateral lip and palate deformity. Our lead surgeon, Rafael Gottenger, was immediately taken by her during patient screening. She was so scared, she was shaking. She had never met a foreigner before.

Nhu's father also has a facial deformity. He had surgery twelve years ago. Although it is evident that Nhu inherited this trait from her father, we do not have a very good understanding of the genetic relationship with deformities suh as cleft lip/palate. Based on our current state of knowledge, currently only 10% to 20% of all cleft deformites have been shown to have a genetic relationship. We had a genetic researcher who was present during the mission. Over 500 genetic specimens were collected from patients with cleft deformities and their family members. Hopefully we will be able to learn more in the future.

Rafi performed Nhu's surgery, and she did very well with her immediate recovery. When she was discharged from the hospital, Rafi presented her with a bicycle. Afterwards, he was waxing philosophic, mentioning that the next time he's frustrated with traffic or issues at work (for example), all he'll have to do is think of Nhu and what she's had to endure to give him some perspective. This morning, Rafi and some of our team members visited Nhu at her home. Although she only lives a few kilometers away from Can Tho, the trip took almost two hours via various modes: taxi, motorbike (the road became too narrow for cars) and then walking the final few kilometers. Her home, which is essentially a small shack, is nestled between a banana plantation and rice paddies. She and her neighbors were quite surprised with today's visit. She gave the team a tour of her village and showed them her school. She is and bright girl, and is appears to be doing very well. She will need additional surgery in the future.

Photo courtesy of Graham Wilson

Rafi has been on numerous Operation Smile missions. He was the surgical team leader for this mission, and I had a wonderful time working with him. He is an amazing human being. Rafi had actually been to Can Tho with Operation Smile ten years earlier. Rafi had operated on little boy with a bilateral cleft lip deformity.

photograph circa 1999

The boy returned to be screened. He still has a cleft palate, but had a wonderful outcome from his lip surgery. Although he showed up too late to have his palate repaired on our mission, we were able to arrange for him to be evaluated and and hopefully receive surgery from Dr. Phuong in Ho Chi Minh City.

What Did You Eat Today?

Breakfast: Flat rice noodles (with nuoc mam (fish sauce), bean sprouts, peanuts,

chilis and basil), boiled egg, yogurt, watermelon juice and green tea

Lunch: Cha gio (Imperial egg rolls) with rice noodles,

taro root, and nuoc mam (I passed on the sausages)

Afternoon snack: Dragon fruit and lychees

Dinner: Can Tho Beer, banana chips, papaya salad, squash blossom fritters,

and tofu with lemon grass and chilis (oh, yeah...and more rice!)

A Big Sigh of Relief South of Saigon

My apologies for being remiss regarding my blog entries. Yes, it's been very busy, but also very rewarding. We have meticulously worked our way through five days of surgery. I'm thrilled to share that we were able to operate on 146 children with no major complications. There are many stories to tell, but I'll start today by simply posting some photographs of my new friends.

Mr. Potato Head

Our first day of surgery went well. We tucked the kids in for the night, and we will return tomorrow for our second of five days of surgery. Yet another day of fun and challenges. I am quite impressed with my international team and our Vietnam colleagues...a synergistic group. We are working well together.

My day was busy, to say the least. I did have a quiet moment talking with a mother about her son who was going to have his cleft palate repaired. He had a number of developmental issues. In the United States, he would be involved in early intervention/therapies/school. That's not an option for him in Vietnam. However, it was evident his mother was doing all that she could for him.

Prior to departing for Vietnam, I was reviewing the cargo manifest. It listed various items, including pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, anesthetic gases, dressings, suture materials...and Mr. Potato Heads?!! Hasbro has taken an active philanthropic role in supporting Operation Smile, and subsequently designed a special edition Operation Smile Mr. Potato Head. There were two cases of Mr. Potato Heads listed on the manifest. Needless to say, they arrived safely. He is a special plush toy, with the Operation Smile logo on his hat. You may order one through Operation Smile with a donation of $50 or more.

It's fun to hear through the grapevine what's occurring at the other Vietnam mission sites. Jackie Chan recently visited the site at Hanoi. You may read more about the "Journey of Miracles" 20 year Vietnam celebration and Jackie Chan at:

http://www.operationsmile.org/vietnam-20th-anniversary/

Let the Games Begin

We literally hit the ground running upon our arrival to Can Tho. We spent the last two days screening patients and preparing for surgery. I’m thrilled, as I’m part of a terrific team. Things have been going very well.

We are stationed at the Can Tho Hospital. The building is two years old. We have been allocated a nice amount of space in the operating rooms and on the post-operative ward. The only drawback is that it’s an adult hospital, so we do not have any cribs.

Medical Records

The screening process was challenging, as always. Some patients travel very far to be considered for surgery, there is a lot of waiting, and unfortunately, some must be turned away.

New Friends

They are very particular about our footwear in the operating rooms. In some areas, that are “semi-sterile,” you must wear white sandals. In other “more sterile areas,” you must switch to blue sandals. My colleagues who wear size 14 shoes are a little challenged…I’m hopeful they will allow us to wear our shoe covers!

Sandals, anyone?

Operating Room Set-Up

Recovery Room Set-Up

Carmencita Making Arm Boards

Today is our first of five days of surgery. We have a busy schedule with four general anesthesia tables and one local table. So I will sign off here, on my way to our team meeting.

In Transit in Vietnam

I've made it to my final destination: Can Tho, Vietnam. It has been quite the journey. The bus ride went well. We were lucky enough to ride in an air-conditioned bus. It is going to take me a while to get acclimated to this hot and humid weather!

The most common form of Vietnamese transporation is the motobike. The hordes of two-wheeled vehicles brought back memories of Amsterdam. You have to be very careful when crossing the street!

Of course, there are plenty of willing individuals ready to give you a ride!

A family that rides together, thrives together!

Can Tho came into sight at the end of our journey. You could see it just on the other side of the Hau River. However, they are still working on constructing a new bridge. We had to get off the bus and board a ferry to cross the river.

Sunset on the Hau River, Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

We are settled into The Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel, we had a fresh Vietnamese feast, and now we are busy preparing for our screening which starts tomorrow. We will have an opportunity to meet a a lot of terrific kids!

The Other Side of the World

It always amazes me how in less than twenty-four hours you can find yourself on the other side of the world. My arrival to Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Saigon), Vietnam occurred without a hitch. I had an easy connection through Tokyo, and was thrilled to discover I had been moved up to business class for my flight into Ho Chi Minh City. It's decadent, being able to lie horizontal with down pillows and and a comforter at 35,000 feet. I was welcomed by beautiful Vietnamese women dressed in colorful silk gowns. They were greeting those who were arriving for the Mrs. World Pageant. The contestants will be staying at my hotel, The Windsor Plaza Hotel-Saigon.

I've already met a number of Op Smile volunteers and staff, some with familiar faces, others who will be traveling to different sites. We will disperse and go our separate ways tomorrow. Some of my team members won't arrive until the morning. Our bus departs for Can Tho at noon. That should give me some extra time to exercise and explore this part of the city. Although it's only 169 miles away (a little over 100 miles), the bus ride to Can Tho will take seven hours.

Here it's thirteen hours ahead of Minneapolis time. That being said, I'll try to get some rest.