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Rebecca Bratcher, daughter of Jim and Peggy McConnaughay, owners of Country Collectibles in Nevada City, will be in Amman, Jordan on a medical mission with Operation Smile from June 18 through June 25.
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Va., is a worldwide children's medical charity. Since 1982, more than 130,000 children and young adults with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities have been treated by more than 4,000 credentialed medical volunteers from around the world.
This mission begins with setting up medical and surgical equipment and supplies in the hospital to screening Jordanian children on June 19 and Palestinian children on June 20. After the screening process is complete, the team will make the difficult decision of which infants, children and youth will receive life-changing craniofacial surgery from Sunday, June 21 through Thursday, June 25. They are expected to provide between 150 and 175 new smiles in just five days.
Bratcher has the important role of helping these children understand why they need surgery and preparing them for the experience of the operating room and waking up from anesthesia. Additionally, she will provide a wide range of play and therapeutic activities to help minimize their anxiety and fear prior to having surgery, and throughout their post-operative recovery.
Bratcher, a certified child life specialist employed by Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, has previously completed three medical missions with Operation Smile including two in Peru and one in Kenya.
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Va., is a worldwide children's medical charity. Since 1982, more than 130,000 children and young adults with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities have been treated by more than 4,000 credentialed medical volunteers from around the world.
This mission begins with setting up medical and surgical equipment and supplies in the hospital to screening Jordanian children on June 19 and Palestinian children on June 20. After the screening process is complete, the team will make the difficult decision of which infants, children and youth will receive life-changing craniofacial surgery from Sunday, June 21 through Thursday, June 25. They are expected to provide between 150 and 175 new smiles in just five days.
Bratcher has the important role of helping these children understand why they need surgery and preparing them for the experience of the operating room and waking up from anesthesia. Additionally, she will provide a wide range of play and therapeutic activities to help minimize their anxiety and fear prior to having surgery, and throughout their post-operative recovery.
Bratcher, a certified child life specialist employed by Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, has previously completed three medical missions with Operation Smile including two in Peru and one in Kenya.
