Samantha Coxe
A Single Heartbeat in Hanoi
November 2009
I struggle to find the words to describe the transformational experience of 12 days in Hanoi. Having never been out of the country before, the 21-hour flight was daunting yet exhilarating. On board the flight from Los Angeles to Seoul were six adult Operation Smile volunteers. I didn’t feel alone. I was now with family.
When we connected to the flight to Hanoi, many more family members boarded. Upon landing, we were greeted by Operation Smile Vietnamese volunteers and took a charter bus to hotel arriving late at night and promptly went to sleep.
The first couple days involved screening patients and getting oriented to our site. Getting used to the time change, the different, but delicious food, the language and customs was the easy part. We were told in Mission Training Workshop that the two student team members’ roles are as health educators and patient “comforters” during pre-op and post-op. My student partner, Grace, from Ireland was awesome and we clicked right away.
We worked with our student sponsor and the child life specialist for much of the beginning of the mission. The hard part was the emotional experience of families praying for their children to be selected to have surgery and not knowing if they were chosen. I felt so connected to the children and their families even though we did not speak the same language. It didn’t seem to matter.
I feel privileged to be a part of this “Journey of Miracles,” celebrating the rich 20-year history Operation Smile has in serving the people of Vietnam. The opening night’s festivities recognized the magnitude of the mission with Vietnamese performers, speakers and celebrity Jackie Chan, along with Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee. I will never forget being a small part of this huge 12-day event that bridged two countries and healed hundreds of children.
Our daily routine started with waking at 5:30 a.m., grabbing breakfast at the hotel and arriving at the hospital by 7:00 a.m. Grace and I had a space for us to play with the kids in the Child Life Room, the waiting area before surgery. While the heat and humidity took a bit to adapt to, the Vietnamese children and their families consumed us with their hope, joy and laughter. The Vietnamese moms and dads greeted us and thanked us with outstretched hands around our waist, very warm and kind, their way of expressing their gratitude. It's amazing how sometimes we didn't need translators - when a laugh, a smile, a hug, told it all – an international language of the heart.
I was captivated by the devout love the Vietnamese parents have for their children. There is so much hope and joy in the room. I wish I could bottle it and take it home. Grace and I spent much of the time with the children blowing bubbles, drawing, playing with puppets, and giving our health presentation. I’d have to say the biggest smiles from the children and the best diversion were the bubbles – there can never be enough bubbles!
The three days of screening were action packed with lines of hopeful families waiting on the news if their child would be selected for surgery. The medical team set a list of priorities and the highest priority patients received surgery. A list was posted on the outside front entry to the hospital. It was hard to see the families leave that were not able to receive surgery this time, but I know they will be back and maybe next time we will be able to help them.
We also visited a local orphanage and a school to give our presentations on oral re-hydration therapy, burn care, nutrition and dental hygiene. We also gave away over 3,000 toothbrushes. I packed 2,000 toothbrushes (donated by 1-800-dentist) in my carry-on to ensure they would safely arrive. Visiting the orphanage was one of the most special moments for me - seeing the hope and light in the children's eyes, kids who basically have no material possessions but are richer than anyone in the world with the joy they carry in their hearts! That was the moment where it hit me - an overwhelming sensation of thankfulness and gratitude! To be thankful for simply being alive and that happiness cannot be bought with material things – it became crystal clear.
The surgery days were long but rewarding. We began the day with a team debriefing where we summarized our previous day’s work. Grace and I, as student volunteers, also were given time to share our experiences going to the orphanage and the school. We also received a debriefing from the other 15 surgery sites in Vietnam.
I was able to watch an actual surgery on the third day of operations, our “hump” day. It was fascinating to see how complex yet simple the procedure is and the skill of the medical team. We had a great week with a brilliant medical team and an amazing staff of Vietnamese and American volunteers as well as volunteers from Ireland, China and other faraway lands. We screened over 300 people and completed around 150 surgeries!
The memory I most cherish is the special connection I made with a 12-year old Vietnamese girl, Hung, who was having her second cleft lip surgery. I had never seen a more beautiful child with long, shiny black hair, jet-black beaming eyes and a smile that lit up the room. You hardly noticed the scar above her lip. We colored together and wrote little notes to each other. She even spoke a little English. She did not cry during post-op even though she said she was in pain. She did not sit next to her mom all the time in the waiting area and wanted to spend a lot of time playing with me.
It was bittersweet to say goodbye. I asked her and her mom to please wait for me to arrive before they had to leave the next day. I gave Hung a bracelet that I had purchased at the orphanage. She said, “I will always remember you.” My heart melted. Her mom invited me to their village home when I return to Vietnam. I will always remember Hung not only for her smile and joyful personality but for her bravery and independent spirit.
Throughout the 12 days, we had moments of down time to explore the beautiful city of Hanoi. I will remember the water puppet show and the trip to the lake on motor scooters with four of the young adult Vietnamese volunteers. I even ate fried snails with them for the first time! The Vietnamese are such a warm and generous people, always smiling and reaching out their hands to embrace you.
I am forever changed and indebted to Operation Smile. This experience has opened up a whole new world to me. My Hanoi mission showed me the power of a single heartbeat where selfless, dedicated volunteers act as one with the same goal, the same heart. Every adult volunteer, whether Vietnamese, American or from another faraway land – whether they are medical doctors, nurses, medical specialists, adult or teen volunteers – we were truly a team with a single heartbeat. That’s what made this so special – experiencing the power of the human heart! An unforgettable experience - I only hope I can give back all that has been given to me
Senior at San Clemente High School, San Clemente, Ca. Hanoi, Vietnam: November 4-14, 2009
