Operation Smile Smiles Across Province Borders
From Sunday, February 18th until Wednesday, February 20th, Concordian’s Operation Smile club was fortunate enough to attend a medical mission in Mae Hong Son province, northern Thailand. It was a rewarding experience for the six club members who were able to attend, and we wanted to share this experience with everyone.
Day 1
On the first day, we boarded a 3-hour flight to Mae Hong Son and went to eat dinner with all Operation Smile volunteers and associates and were introduced to Dean, the Operation Smile supervisor.
Day 2
On the second day, we visited the wards at Srisangwan Hospital, wherein, we were able to distribute toys to the children in the pediatric ward. We were also introduced to the “No No Arm Band,” which helps keep surgical incisions clean. All of us utilized our sewing skills and helped sew about 10 armbands for the hospital.
84 CONCORDIAN IMPACTISSUE 39 Student Life and Service
Day 3
On the third day, Tuesday, February 20th, we revisited the Srisangwan Hospital in the morning session, specifically the female ward, where we briefly interacted with the patients, visited the OR, and saw surgeries on cleft lips. In the afternoon, we continued to sew more armbands and delivered them to the children’s ward. We then saw how the armbands were used on the children to prevent children from scratching their IVs.
Day 4
On Wednesday morning, we went to the Pang Oung reservoir where we were met with a beautiful view of the tranquil lake surrounded by the lush forest. Next, we went to Baan Rak Thai, a Yunnanese village to eat breakfast. Lastly, we went to Thum Pla where we fed fish food to the fish in the cave and finally went to the airport to board the flight back to Bangkok.
The Operation Smile trips are crucial for us as students because they give us opportunities for hands-on learning outside of the classroom. Our participation in viewing the operations, sewing armbands for surgery patients, delivering gifts, and fundraising money for this cause provides us with important insights into healthcare procedures and also provides us with acknowledgements of the community’s well-being. This trip can raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals in our community who are in need, offering us a tangible opportunity to witness the direct impact of the funds we raise. Through these experiences we can gain a deeper understanding of healthcare in Thailand.
Mindy, Prin, Proud, Prom, Wei-En, Zen G11 Operation Smile members
1 CONCORDIAN IMPACTISSUE 39
85 CONCORDIAN IMPACTISSUE 39 Student Life and Service