It was an adventure we would never forget.
On July 23rd, 2008, a group of thirty-one volunteers journeyed to Ecuador on a program called Causes For Change International. Most came from the Chicago area, but others ventured from Ohio, Michigan, California, Jamaica and even from as far as Australia. For many, this was a first-time experience. Our purpose was to provide free medical and dental services to poor children who had never received help before. For those who weren’t healthcare professionals, we offered to do whatever we could.
It was a life transforming experience, filled with the joys of giving. My husband Joel Sanders, a holistic dentist in Highland Park, couldn’t resist. Soon, our intrepid teenage son, Andrew decided to join, along with his buddy, Jack Fuller of Winnetka. Others from the North Shore included Highland Park college student Anne Bartels, Dr. Ricardo Senno of Evanston/Lincolnshire and Wilmette photographer, George Pfoertner.
As my son Andrew recommended, sometimes you’ve got to “step outside the box.”
So, although nervous, I decided to go along too. The trip pushed me beyond my preconceived limitations, and offered much more than we all anticipated. Causes For Change International showed us a wider perspective of the needs beyond “our box,” and the value of giving. After all, the deepest connections are the inner ones.
When given the assignment to collect 1000 small stuffed animals for the Ecuadorian children, it seemed impossible. Yet, with faith and effort, we were able to surpass that goal. Thanks to the generosity of North Shore locals, about 1800 toys were donated, which the children cherished. Dental supplies were also donated, and monetary contributions purchased 1700 new toothbrushes and 250 solar calculators for the schools which lacked electricity.
It was amazing to realize these children have no toys. The stuffed animals motivated the children to sit down for dental treatment. Dentistry consisted of a check-up and if needed, dental extractions. (They were more afraid of the shot than the extraction!) There was no electricity. No fancy equipment. And no x-rays. A flashlight provided light over each child’s mouth.
From our hotel base in Naranjal, Ecuador, a bus drove us to different remote schools. Each day, about 500 children waited at a schoolyard, accompanied by a parent.
They came by bus, canoe or on foot, often traveling for hours. An armed guard stayed with us for added protection.
We were a handful of people serving 2,300 children in one week. Three dentists. Two general doctors. An ophthalmologist. An occupational therapist. And everyone else – both youth and adults from different professions. Using five separate rooms, we set up stations at each school: an education room – teaching kids how to brush teeth, a dental room, medical room, eye doctor room and a pharmacy, rationing out 10 children’s vitamins, anti-parasite pills and aspirin.
Children sat in a plastic seat, alongside a garbage pail with a plastic bag for spitting. With plentiful sugar cane and no toothbrushes, toothpaste or dental checkups, children in the past had died from dental abscesses. Before treatment began, some children screamed. Some cried. And some refused to open their mouth, even with their desperate mothers urging them on. There was no other healthcare option for them. Most children in need lost their baby teeth. Some had adult teeth removed to prevent bigger problems in the future.
Under 90-degree heat, as the kids waited their turn for hours in the schoolyard, we distracted them with activities. Everyone pitched in, doing whatever they could. You could see by the looks of gratitude that we were appreciated.
As the Naranjal Mayor said in an inspiring speech, “You are the causes for change.” I learned that he was right. Yes, we each can create change. All it takes is the belief.