Erin Comerford
On March 4, 2009, I traveled to Amman, Jordan, for what was going to be the best next ten days of my life. Not very many people my age are given the opportunity of going on an Operation Smile mission, but I was lucky enough to get this opportunity.
One memorable experience I had in Jordan was with a patient during surgery week. It was the first day of surgery and when we got to the hospital that day, we didn’t have an exact plan. So I went upstairs to try and see where I could help. They needed someone in the area where the pediatrician and vitals were. My job was to make sure the mothers and patients were in the right place and that they were happy.
While I was doing this, I met this very energetic little girl. Her name was Shahed. Shahed seemed so excited to be there and she was very happy. One thing I noticed was that her hair was so perfectly done with little twists and ponytails.
Shahed went back to pre-op and we went downstairs to help out in the pre-op play area. A little later on when it was time for her surgery, we saw her again in the play area all dressed in her gown ready for surgery. It was probably two in the afternoon and she hadn’t eaten since midnight, but you couldn’t tell.
She was not complaining one bit. I couldn’t say that about all the other patients. She was happy as could be just playing and having fun. She did great with the child-life specialist learning about the operating room. The anesthesia mask was one of Shahed’s favorite toys. She was a great patient.
Shahed had surgery to correct her unilateral cleft lip. The outcome of her surgery was gorgeous, just perfect! Shahed was inspirational to me. She was at the age where she didn’t exactly know all the shame and hurt that would come from living with a facial deformity like hers.
And now, she doesn’t need to and never will experience that. It warms my heart that she will be able to continue living just as happy and playful as she is now without being turned away from things just because of her cleft lip. I wish all the best for Shahed in the future. She is gorgeous!
Senior at Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, Va. Amman, Jordan: March 5-13, 2009
