Harare, Zimbabwe
Dr. Kolstad’s first medical mission began with a 40 hour journey from Sacramento to Denver, then on to London, Johannesburg, and finally Harare, Zimbabwe. The medical team traveled straight from the airport to the hospital. Medical missions are not vacations and despite the lack of sleep, the need for a shower, the work began as soon as the team landed.
This mission was hosted by St. Anne’s Hospital. Every medical mission begins with a screening day, during which hundreds of infants, children, and in this case adults with cleft lip and palate deformities are evaluated. During the screening, Dr. Kolstad met a 26-year-old man with a severe cleft lip deformity. In careful English, he explained that he knew he would never be wealthy or own a house. His only wish was to look normal so he could find a wife and start a family.
Many families waited an entire year for the opportunity to be seen. Some traveled more than 40 hours by bus to reach St. Anne’s Hospital because there were no other medical missions serving the region. With every mission, Dr. Kolstad heard stories of hardship and resilience as families overcame extraordinary obstacles to give their children access to surgery and the chance for a better life.
Because of the extensive travel required, this mission lasted two weeks. During the weekend between surgical days, the team took part in a water safari. Along the river, homes without running water or electricity were common, offering a stark reminder of the daily challenges faced by many families in the region. Hippos were everywhere in the water and, despite their massive size, proved to be surprisingly fast swimmers.
