Day One

     Excited chatter resounded as 23 international volunteers gathered this morning to fly the last leg of our journey from Delhi to Bhubaneswar, where the mission is to take place.  In the past few days, 37 volunteers have begun traveling to our mission site from ten countries. As the plane descended the beautiful green countryside of India became more apparent and our excitement grew, as we got closer.

     Later on in the day, we gathered to begin a tour of the hospital. Hi Tech Medical College loomed big as we pulled the bus up to front doors.  It was amazing to see the large empty rooms we would use for various aspects of the mission (screening, post-op, pre-op, child life  etc.) and know that within 24 hours they would be transformed to serve the people of India and change countless lives.

     The patients traveling to this mission are from the state of Orissa. Many will travel 12 hours or more to get to the mission site. A shelter was set up within the hospital to house patients during the mission. Many patients will arrive tonight and in the early morning tomorrow for screening.  A few patients had already arrived and they greeted us with big smiles and giggles.  Screening begins tomorrow and hundreds of patients will come through the doors for a chance to receive surgery. I am so excited to meet the patients and hear their incredible stories.