Okay, so you've checked off all the school supplies, new clothes, backpacks and lunch boxes. Now let's check off the sundamage, wrinkles and frown lines and crows feet  that took residence on our stressed faces over the past few hectic months.

 

Now is the time to take action--Autumn is the season between Summer Vacation and the Holidays. It is definitely Time for You!

 

Certainly, BOTOX Cosmetic and Juvederm will provide a much needed pick me up, but autumn is also the perfect time to tackle some more difficult issues such as sagging or sundamaged skin with the Fraxel Re:Pair Laser. Or, after the ravages of sun, wind and outdoor activities this summer, you may delight in a skin refresher such as a Fraxel Re:Store laser treatment or a Vitalize Peel.

 

As an added perk for busy moms, come in during school hours (9am to 3pm) and receive an additional 5% off of any product or procedure--including our Fabulous Fall Features--during the month of September. Mention this newsletter for your discount.

That is what everyone who has been on a mission trip told me...that it would be a life changing event. Well, they were right. It is hard to put into words just how great of an experience this was. Sure, we gave a lot--3,000 patients seen in the clinic and 151 operations performed--but we all received more than we gave. We were all truly blessed and humbled to see these gracious, appreciative people stand patiently in the hot sun, or the pouring rain, waiting in lines of hundreds to be seen. Many walked for miles to our makeshift hospital. In fact, when we arrived in town on Sunday afternoon, they were already forming a line for the clinic that wouldn't even open until the next day.

 

Long work hours followed by short nights spent on military cots in a dorm with 47 other women, cold showers (or no showers), missed lunches, tired feet. All thoughts of these minor inconveniences disappeared at the sight of an eight year old boy who could now smile after we had repaired his horribly disfiguring cleft lip. Children in the US usually undergo this operation well before their first birthday, to avoid the speech, eating and social problems that he endured for eight long years. 

 

The excellent planning and organization denote the forty plus years of experience this group, T.I.M.E. for Christ Mexico Ministries, has had doing this work. It was a privilege and an honor to work alongside the many participants who have gone for 15, 20, even 40 years.

 

A two and a half day drive from San Antonio, our destination was a small village in the mountains of Puebla State, at @ 4,000 foot elevation. We were treated to some incredible mountain and lake views, and also witnessed the extreme poverty afflicting many in the area. We drove through Tampico, which had flooded the prior week. The devastation that these floods brought to people already forced to live in "lean-tos" built from scraps of wood, metal and cardboard was severe.

 

It is always good to come home from a trip. But, I certainly have a better appreciation for my bed, pillow, toilet, hot water heater, washer and dryer, doctors, schools, hospitals...

 

 

Fondly,

Dr. V