Snow, Tears and Hope

Tison has hit the road running. He had to first get settled in his host family. Dr. Greg and Sue Johnson have opened their arms, hearts and home to him. He not only has his American Mom and Dad, in Greg and Sue, but he has a big brother in their son Andrew. In many ways, Andrew was the person who got this rescue started. Andrew met Tison on a trip to Indonesia in March of 2009. Andrew and his father joined a dental team from Alaska that went to our base in North Maluku, Indonesia. Andrew met Tison and built a bond with him and never forgot him. After coming home, Andrew asked about bringing Tison to Fairbanks. Then the amazing Liz Wood got her teeth into it and she moved many mountains and asked for help from her medical colleagues. Step-by-step this offer of help for Tison was becoming a reality. When Tison stepped off the plan he was in good hands. He got a good nights rest and in the morning of his first day in the arctic, he went outside without a coat, so he can feel the cold. I wonder what he thinks about all of us who choose to live up here in the cold. He is fascinated with the crazy white dust, we call snow.

He had a very good visit with his primary physician. I was amazed at how he and his doctor seemed to have immediate rapport with each other. There was laughing and smiles as he was examined. The needs are great and the surgeries will have to be planned according to priority. The prospects are very bright and he will have major improvement by the end of the year. He put on his coat, hat, a smile and went on to his next event.

Today, he got to see his family physician. He did great and was given a thumbs up in his general health. In order to go to school he has to have his immunizations. It was his first ever immunizations and he got six shots in the upper leg. There were tears when the syringes appeared in the room. The nurse did a wonderful job and gave him six shots very quickly. He wiped the tears from his face, put on his coat, pulled his hat over his ears and was on to the next event.

The last two days of adjustment have been filled with appointments, shots ( a few tears), playing the Wii with Andrew, taking pictures from Liz's I-Phone, eating American food, staying warm, imagining what school will be like. These first days have been filled with more than exams and appointments, they have been filled with hope.