March 2017 blog 2 — An update on how it's going -- Here, there, and everywhere

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for both of us here, there, and everywhere.

In Fiais, Rory has met some great people, including some of our new neighbors and fellow expats in Portuguese lessons. He also had a friend who lives in Madrid come visit for a few days. They checked out the highest peak in the Serra de Estrela, that even had some ski slopes open. Rory’s also checked out the Sunday morning market in Tábua, just 10 minutes from us. The organic produce, meats and cheeses are all reportedly delicious. I’m pretty excited to get back there and taste for myself, and check out all of the new things he’s discovered around Fiais. He’s been in a routine of working each morning at the Mimosa property, and all of the existing paths are already cleared on the property. 

20 Euro sink picked up at the market to be refurbished

Mimosa in bloom - view of our property from neighbors

Market fresh snack

During one of my many flights over the last couple of weeks, I watched Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary, Before the Flood. I know — sounds random. It’s about all of the changes around the world due to climate change, and what we can do individually and as a global society to help slow/stop it. It was overwhelming at times to watch, but made me even more excited about our Mimosa project, contributing to and exemplifying sustainability. According to Leo, and more importantly science, there is no contribution too small. It’s really worth watching for more details on how every one can help! Here's it on youtube, and there are free versions on youtube as well.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohwU3Sfdckc

And my trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador with Global Smile Foundation. I’m not sure where to begin. It was emotional, uplifting, humbling, heart warming, and eye opening. Each team member brought such important talents to create a cohesive team which changed the life of so many. Friends were made, lives were changed, and the individual patient stories pulled at all of our heart strings. 

  

 

 

Hugs the day after her repair made the longest of hours worth it all

A story from the week that touched me most is Henry’s. He and his grandmother shared a bond so strong you could feel the love between them. They are each other’s only biological family. But Thankfully over the years they’ve also become a part of the Global Smile family. It was beautiful to witness the family-like relationship they have with one of the GSF volunteer nurses they've come to biuld over the years. Henry’s father left when he was 5 days old, and a few months later his mother left. When I first heard this my immediate emotion was anger, but I'd imagine they left out feeling completely of hopeless and helpless with no resources to have their son's cleft lip and cleft palate even looked at by a doctor. His parents have not been seen since which is utterly heartbreaking, but even though Henry’s grandmother is nearly blind she stepped in and has taken amazing care of him since. He’s had a few surgeries with Global Smile to repair his cleft lip and palate, and most recently had a surgery to improve his speech. Henry’s had to deal with severe bullying in school because of his speech which has resulted in anxiety. But thanks to Global Smile he continues to get not only the surgeries he needs to help improve his life, but also support to help him face social issues too.

Powerful photo of Henry's grandmother saying prayers of thanks in the PACU

Henry and his grandmother the morning after his surgery

I could go on with more stories of the lives touched and changed by Global Smile Foundation in the time the team was there. And I already can't wait to go on another trip with them. Since coming back from Guayaquil I've spent time recuperating and catching up with family and friends in Boston. I had hoped to start my contract right away, but because of some paper work I had to complete here in the states, it had to be put off. In a way though it worked out to have some time to catch up on rest and get settled. Self-care in the care-giver role is so crucial. Now I feel ready to start my 13 week nursing contract in the ICU at Boston Children's, save some money, and get back to Rory and the doggies and our Mimosa Project in Portugal. And thankfully with my nursing schedule I'm able to go back on a stretch off sooner than in 13 weeks!

March 2017 blog 1 — Contract signing excitement, trains, and planes

Promissory contract has been signed, and down payment paid! Our meeting with the owner, estate agent, and lawyer went as well as we hoped for. And the mimosa property we fell in love with weeks ago is contracted to be ours. What the contract basically means is that the owner promises to sell the property to only us, and we promise to buy it. The seller's responsibility over the next 3 months is to conduct a “discovery” of the property with the help of a lawyer and architect. It includes things like making sure borders comply with the survey, and ensuring that we’ll be granted the planning permission from the council to build what we’d like from the existing ruin. As long as that checks out, we'll pay the remaining balance, and the deeds will be put into our name. We were thrilled with how it all went!

So we had the most exciting day in Portugal that we've had yet, and celebrated over some wine and dine before I was off to Ecuador via Boston. Rory took the train with me down to Lisbon to catch my flight. He would never turn down a good train ride.

 

Arriving in Boston that evening gave me about 13 hours to repack for Ecuador and get back to the airport. Although it was hectic and a lot of travel, it couldn't be more worth it to be here in Guayaquil as part of such an incredible team. I've been so moved and humbled by the patients, families, and fellow team members over the last 2 days working at Hospital Leon Becerra de Guayaquil during patient screening. We screened nearly 200 patients over the last 2 days, so we were busy to say the least. The rest of the week is surgeries, so it will be even busier but I'm really thrilled and honored to be a part of it. A huge thanks to the generosity of so many I exceeded my goal of raising over $2,000. That money will truly contribute to changing the lives of these lucky children treated by Global Smile Foundation.

 

The seller of our mimosa project has given permission to work on the property as much as we’d like in the meantime, and there’s plenty of clearing water mines and pathways to start. Rory will be working at that, along with designs and plans for building, and I'll be back and forth over the next 13 weeks during a contract at Boston Children's. We're so excited with how things are going, and with what's to come.

one of many mimosa drafts