THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 1, 1995 TAG: 9508300169
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Ryan Winz has learned that some people have problems so great that his own seem miniscule by comparison.
That realization came to the rising senior at Great Bridge High School while he was on a 10-day mission to Bogota, Colombia, with Operation Smile, a volunteer organization that provides free surgery to people in remote locations who have physical deformities or injuries.
``We saw people with real problems, and they handle them so well,'' said Winz. ``A lot of people mess with the small stuff every day, little things like a speck of dust. It reinforced for me the importance of channeling my energy in positive avenues.''
For the first time, he saw children with cleft palates and cleft lips or tumors in their mouths.
``One child had burns all over his face after a house fire,'' Winz said.
The chin of one person had been shattered by a gunshot, and half the foot of another had been blown off.
``One man had no nose, and the doctors made a nose for him.''
Winz prepared for the mission by attending an Operation Smile Youth Leadership Conference at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He learned how to use play therapy to lessen the anxiety of children facing surgery. Other conference discussions covered such topics as burns, dental health, hygiene and nutrition.
``I learned a great deal,'' said Winz, who prepared health education activities for patients and their families.
While he was in Colombia, Winz, who plays piano and percussion instruments, bought claves, drumsticks and handmade maracas to bring cheer to the young patients.
``The children were enthralled with the instruments,'' said Winz as he fondly showed photos of two patients in their hospital beds playing make-believe drums.
``When I came into the room, they would say, `Ryan, bateria, bateria (drum, drum).' '' he said. ``The children were very heart-touching.''
Sometimes he was able to assist with patient care on the ward under a nurse's supervision. He even visited operating and recovery rooms, where he gained a better understanding of Operation Smile's mission.
Cleaning and repacking equipment and supplies for the return trip were also among his duties.
``Ryan did a good job,'' said Maureen Puglisi, a Navy nurse and a member of the Operation Smile team. ``He was able to see the children go through the whole process, and he worked a lot with the children. One boy asked for Ryan all the time by name.''
The Operation Smile team of 35 included a micro-plastic surgeon, three plastic surgeons, one cranio-facial surgeon, four anesthesiolgists, one pediatric intensivist, one orthodontist, 10 nurses, three high school students and a youth sponsor.
The team took 20,000 pounds of medical supplies through customs.
Winz, who would like to pursue a career in medical research, learned a lot while observing the surgical procedures.
``The doctors insisted that we call them by their first names,'' Winz said. ``During surgery, I would stand right next to the surgeon. While he was operating, he explained everything he was doing and why.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Ryan Winz, a rising senior at Great Bridge High School, went on a
10-day mission to Bogota, Colombia, with Operation Smile.
by CNB