"It feels insignificant to us, but to them, It means the world."
Flying Doctors - Chincha, Peru
My very first dental mission trip, as a junior in high school, was a pivotal time that redirected my path to healthcare and service. My job was to maintain the equipment including the compressor and to assist in various dental procedures. My dad who was one of the dentists on the mission showed me how to treat the patients, which was more than just treating the cavity or pulling their tooth. Almost every person we helped kneeled before us and thanked God that we were there. They gave us hugs, played music and danced their cultural dances as thanks. By the end of the week, we almost felt at home by how we were welcomed. This community had almost nothing but was made up of some of the happiest people I'd ever encountered which made our goodbye so hard to say.
Which made our goodbye so hard to say
Project Smile 2014- Haiti
I traveled to Haiti with my church and my father's dental office to assist with cleanings, extractions, and fillings. Traveling to a foreign country for a medical mission trip is an experience like no other. Some of the individuals we saw needed more work than we could provide, and it was heartbreaking to have to close up the clinic at the end of the day. There was one patient whose visit had an impact on me, he was a young man that was my age and all of his teeth were loosely set within his gums. We could see the countless procedures that he would need to improve his oral health, however, our supplies and capabilities were limited. He was so happy just to see us and have his teeth brushed. The warmth in our hearts after being hugged and thanked for a cleaning is a feeling that sticks with you forever. No matter the procedure, the patients left with the biggest smile. It's humbling to think we made a difference it feels insignificant to us, but to them, it means the world.
Project Smile 2018 - El Salvador
I traveled to El Salvador with father's practice, friends, family and church family. Our mission was to provide dental treatment to children that lived on the volcano. Many of which were abandoned and had very little. Many of the children were looked after by their older siblings, not much more than just a few years older. We also had a vocational bible school to spread the good word of God. We spent time in prayer, teaching bible stories, and sang worship music. The vocational bible school was a new addition to our mission and it was a spark that set the good mood and allowed the friendships and relationships to develop.
Project Smile 2018 - Video
Wise Co. Virginia -MOM Project
I have been to this particular MOM Project 2 times now. In fact Wise County was the location of the very first MOM Project. The project was first at a fair grounds where the doctors booths were nothing more than the horse stalls. In 2018 on the 100th MOM Project I worked with BenchMark Dentures. Dr. Miller and Dr.Alouf designed a
thermoplastic system to providing full sets of dentures in 2 days, perfect for a mission setting. It is one of the first of its kind making it possible to deliver over 40 full sets of dentures in a weekend.
Below you will find slides of how the dentures were fabricated.
MOM Project - Springfield
The MOM Project in Springfield has been one of the most attended Mission consecutively. My job was managed the supply table, handling the sterilized instruments, and to play an integral part in infection control by running supplies. Typically in a mission setting things get chaotic and infection control is the biggest problem, It was my main job to curb the problem at the source. I helped to set up pre set trays with all the materials so that less visits were made to the supply and instrument table. I also would lend a hand where ever I was needed whether is be assisting, running patients, or helping with sterilization.