Reflecting

It has been one week since we've come home, and we are all starting to settle into our lives. Though, it is is not easy. I am not sure how to to deal with the images that keep popping up in my mind. They are of the faces of those families and orphans we left behind. There is definitely guilt for me knowing I get to go back to my cozy home. But for the families and the orphanages, their reality has not changed. But, having been through that, I do appreciate the smallest things now. The fact that I am sleeping in a king size bed makes me feel like, well, a king. We have all the best of intentions to stay in touch, but I fear it is easier said then done. But I think the pictures,and stories, both touching and silly will permanently stay in our memories.

Every person I met had a story. Stories are the things that I love. Everyone I talked to on the team had amazing stories of why they joined the mission. Usually there was a catalyst, a series of events that brought them to the mission. But my favorite stories, the most touching stories are the ones of the patients, and since we've been back, I think of those often. So I wanted to share one.

I was fortunate enough to meet a courageous family. The patient is Hung, an 18 month boy, and oh he is the sweetest child you could ever imagine. He so deeply loves his mom. During the first nights of surgery, in the ICU, when parents aren't allowed in to see their children, he cried for his mom. "Me oi, Con nho me" - translated, "Mommy, I miss you". It was heart breaking, I can imagine how scared he was. Hard for us on the mission to not to just stay there and sleep next to him all night. His devilishly good looks just made him even more so charming. I also got to meet his mother and interview her before the surgery. I had not been aware of her back story, so when I asked her about her husband, I wasn't prepared when she broke down crying and explained that he had just passed in an accident. I had to stop interviewing because she made us all cry. She then told us about Hung and his persistent shortness of breath and coughing. And the doctors told us that without surgery his life expectancy was very short because of the congenital defect. That is too much to happen to one person all at once. Over a few days, as I saw her again and again in the hospital, she really warmed up to me. Before I left, she grabbed my hand, and just told me how thankful she was that we came there and saved her son's life. She felt so lucky.

I just really wanted to pass that onto everyone, because for those who were on the mission, for our family, our friends, supporters of CardioStart and HSCV, you were all a part of that success. I know we all worked really hard. And for me, sometimes you put all that energy and heart and you wonder if it really helped anyone. And I really glad that I can tell you that it did. Just one clear cut instance of it, as I know there are so many more.

On a lighter note, besides the faces of children that need us, I've been thinking about all the funny things that happened. The techno dance party we had on the Ha Long Bay boat (the most peaceful place on earth), Megan all dressed up as a mock patient (diaper and all to you left), Suresh taking pictures in front of anything and everything that he deemed interesting (which were a lot of things), Jim flirting with every single nurse he could find and quickly getting admirers. I think we helped people, but I'm glad we had a few laughs a long the way. I hope this album showcases both, the profound impact we left behind but also the fun we had a long the way. Please take a peak at the Medical Mission album. Special thanks to Rick Burian who shared his talent in photography to capture such amazing moments!

Feel free to reach out to me on email if you have questions or comments on the blog, CardioStart or Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV). Contact me at Thao.Truong@hscv.org.

Happy Holidays!