The boy with the golden eyes….
All of the children here are beautiful, but a few really stand out. One would be Apon, the boy with the golden eyes.
He was noticeable even on our first clinic day for several reasons. He was very shy to begin with, hiding behind his mother’s sari. Then he became one of my bubble chasers. The sheer delight with life on this little boys face was quite evident. His smile was infectious. By the time he had been approved for surgery and admitted to the hospital he was giving me high fives, voluntarily sitting in my lap and giving me hugs and kisses. All the while with the sweetest smile on his face.
He was one of the easier surgeries. A lip repair. Nothing dramatic. Simple for the team. Life changing for him.
His surgery went smoothly and he came to the PACU. He woke up easily and had very little pain. As we were getting ready to take him to the ward I held a mirror up so he could see himself. The instant emotion that passed through his golden eyes said what words could not. It was the realization that his face was now like all the other kids.
For him it is chance for a happy childhood and a normal life. Not to be pointed out as being different. Not to be made fun of by others.
The next morning as we made out way to the OR through the open ward I spotted him. I walked over to his bed where his proud mom sat by his side. He held his hand out to me as I kissed his forehead. His momma hugged me and kissed my cheek. Thanking me for what the team had done.
He was discharged today. He will go on with his life. I will probably never see him again or know what path he travels. I am just happy that I was lucky enough to be a tiny part of changing his life. What an amazing gift for me to receive.
I seriously doubt that he will even remember me when he gets older, but I will forever hold in my heart the boy with the golden eyes.
On a Mission 
You have captured the emotion of being a mission volunteer very well… Keep the words and photos coming, it helps us all feel part of the great work you are doing. Tell the team, especially Fowler, to behave! Stan
Fowler is a mess! He is wonderful.
Thank you so much. I am with an amazing team!
That just makes my heart swell & eyes tear up!
Thank you Laura. This is an incredible place. I cry everyday over something. I’d come home with several of the kids. They are all so sweet.
you have a captivated audience with me…..brings back many wonderful memories of my trip to qiqihar. keep up the good work! please tell fowler “hello” for me and tell him Nana sends her well wishes too!
Will do. Fowler is a jewel. I just love him.
…..but of course he will remember you and all your team did for him! A look in the mirror will always bring you back. That would be a good gift….mirrors for all the kids!
True. Very true. Thank you.
I got chills again!
I must be doing something right. 🙂
I will never get tired of stories like this,great work with much rewards.
Thank you Jim! Your mom is a very neat lady. I’ve enjoyed hearing about all of her adventures!
What a heart warming story and beautiful child! God is so good and those children are so blessed as well as you all! Love, Candy
Sent from my iPad
Thank you Candy! I appreciate your sweet words!! I’m lucky to be here.
You are truly making a difference. Look forward to each & every story with admiration for you. Your recap of today brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you Michele. I so appreciate the people who take the time to comment!! You are so sweet.
beautiful story, and you might just be surprised he may remember you forever those who do good deeds are easier to remember, it brings to mind a story or a World War l soldier who became friends with a Jewish family he was kind and kept them safe from the Natzi soldiers he would bring the little boy chocolate and when the child got older he searched for this soldier until he found him, he wanted to thank him for his kindness, so never say never you may very well be remembered by these children you have helped with your warm heart and kindness.
Thank you Tammie. That is such a sweet thing to say. You are a sweetheart.
You are, indeed, having a most profound impact on so many lives! What a selfless endeavor you are undertaking. You must feel so good inside as abundant blessings are being exchanged. We are honored and proud to have you serving as an ambassador from Cartersville!
Thank you Bryan! I am honored to be representing Cartersville. I am the one who has been profoundly affected. Not only by the people but by how lucky I am to live in such a fantastic place. We as Americans take so much for granted. One hears that all the time, but now i understand it. When out work is done I can not tell you how happy I will be to get back to the best little city in the world!
Rommie – it is 3:25 am and for what is now the 4th morning in a row … My internal clock has told me it is time to get up. Subsequently, I took the time to get caught up on your posts. Amazing! You take 16 hours of the most grueling, emotionally and physically demanding day and are able to clarify it with one salient moment that captures the essence of what we are trying to accomplish here. I am humbled by this experience. I am struggling to work within the limits of what we have to provide the optimal outcome for each and every child. I feel as if each one is my very own child and anything less is unacceptable. I have heard repeatedly from team-mates ,,, “Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas anymore” and it is so true. We gripe in the US because we have a copay, we have to wait 1 hr to see the doctor, because the doctor won’t give us what we want when we want it, because we don’t have a private hospital room or the hospital food sucks. But in Dhaka, they are happy for scraps. They don’t complain because there are 60 children on an open ward (with 2+ family members crammed in a small twin bed with them) and only 3-4 nurses. They don’t complain that they have to provide their own meals (except for the giant bowl of gruel that is proudly passed around each night), that they provide their own sheets, or that they have to provide all their own nursing care including medication administration, and cleaning/tending/consoling of their child. What happens to parents who have to work and can’t just come and sit day and night ? – well, they just don’t come! They don’t complain that they share their open ward with a ferrel cat, geckos, and more cockroaches than I care to think about. They don’t complain that there is no air-conditioning and only a few random fans that actually work and it is 90+ oF. They don’t complain that the lighting is so bad that you can hardly see the layers of refuse, dust and grim that coat everything in this place or about the rust that covers every surface of the 40 yr old iron bed that their child is laying on that tilts awkwardly to one side (and safety side rails … what they heck are those?). They don’t complain as the hold their child’s IV bag over their heads for hours in order for them to take their child out to the open air hallway to get some “fresh” (by that I mean polluted but less stagnant and rancid) air. They don’t complain that they have traveled 5 hrs, wait all day to be evaluated, and are told at the end of the day that they must wait for another 6 -12 hours in order for a charity bed to become available. Instead, they are overjoyed that their child will have a chance to not be a Monster. They are ecstatic that their child will actually have an opportunity to be a wife/husband, have a family and job of their own rather than be an outcast or freakish beggar on the street like so many other Bengali unfortunates born with physical deformities. They don’t complain about the dead and dying all around them … They are just thankful that for today, it is not their child.
So, today as things may not go as planned, as I am frustrated repeatedly, as I am thwarted by inefficiency and by my own short-comings as a person and a Doctor … I will remember these people and how grateful they are. I couldn’t agree more with You – I am humbled by these people and I ALWAYS receive much more than I ever give.
So, as I make rounds with the team in the next few hours, i will remind myself again …We (I) make a difference, but not just in individual smiles … we provide HOPE – a commodity in Bangladesh that is often in very short supply.
Wendy Delaney
Scary alike we are!! And funny that we are separated by a cracked door and communicating via Internet. I was lying here (also up way too early) thinking exactly what you just wrote and was going to be my post today. I couldn’t have said it better. I’m not sure how many comments are read so I am going to repost this in what I write today.
I’m honored to have been able to share this experience with you. Most people who have known me for years don’t understand me like you do. You have one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve met. You are an amazing physician and a fantastic friend!
!
Ditto! What a Blessing to find you here!
Trish~I am humbled by your words that I am reading daily but more than that, by the actions that you and your fellow health care providers and Rotarians are providing while there on your mission. Wow~you have such a healing gift and are without a doubt giving all of the children you treat a gift of a lifetime. Keep on posting and I look forward to hearing all about it when you are safely back home.
Thank you so very much! again I can not believe the response I’ve gotten. I do hate that I am missing 3 weekends of soccer. Plus I’m betting I am late on Josh’s RSVP, sorry. Depending on the game time, C will al least be at the evening party. 🙂 See you soon!