Operation Smile in Bhubaneswar, India!

            I am so blessed to have the opportunity to attend another Operation Smile mission as a U-Voice photojournalist.  I have been involved with Operation Smile for about five years now and my time with Operation Smile has, in many ways, shaped my life and continues to do so. Operation Smile is an international medical organization that works to repair cleft lips and palates in developing countries.

I traveled as a high school student to Bolivia in 2010 and my experience on that mission has led me to be extremely passionate about international health care.  I met many amazing people on that mission and have been looking forward to another opportunity to be part of a mission.

Jose Maria, a 3 year old patient in Bolivia. 

I decided to apply to U-Voice, a college-based program in Operation Smile Student Programs that allows dedicated college students to act as photojournalists on Operation Smile medical missions. As a U-Voice student, my job is to document the stories of children, volunteers, as well as the mission process. I was accepted into the program and attended Winter Mission Training Workshop in January 2013. I was not assigned a mission while at training and could not wait to discover where I would be placed. I had notified student programs that I was available in August but I did not expect to be placed so soon! Two days before I left for Uganda I received an e-mail welcoming me to Team Bhubaneswar. I was so excited I ran through the house screaming at the top of my lungs.

Two months later, I type this blog post in my hotel in India! I will post a daily update to the blog as well as patient and volunteer stories. I still cannot believe I am an India and about to begin an incredible mission with Operation Smile.  I cannot wait to see what this week brings and to start screening tomorrow!

            Here is a schedule for the mission:

Friday- Screening

Saturday- Team Bonding/ OR Set Up

Sunday-Friday- Surgery Days