Angels of Mercy spreading smiles on Roi Namur.

Packing plenty motivation and a cool breeze of humor, seemingly fazed by nothing; Nora Harmsen DDS, and her trusted assistant, hygienist Jinky Agtarap RDH arrived at Roi Namur on a hot humid Thursday afternoon; armed with 150 lbs of dental equipment and supplies in several bags packed to the explosion point. Their goal: to treat as many children on Third Island around the third grade range and also any emergency adult cases such as abscesses and other pain, for which the allotted time allowed. They were especially looking for children with 1st molars coming in, and new adult teeth that needed to be tended for cavities. This is also the perfect time to apply protective sealant to reduce future problems.

Nora has ventured to this end of the world (in flatlander terms ‘the drop off point’) three times before to perform this pro bono effort; sponsored mainly by the Rotary Club of Waialua-Wahiawa on Oahu, Hawaii and others as well as Continental Airlines and with Host Nations support (namely Alan Taylor). Jinky is out here for the first time (“it’s hot!) and having a great experience. Nora and Jinky will be on Ebeye till the 9th of May hoping to improve as many young smiles as they can. Last year Nora was only allowed one day on Third Island and that was eaten up largely by locating gas for the local generator and coaxing it to keep wheezing along. This year the allowance was two days (well on Saturday they had to get back to Roi on the 2 o’clock boat to make the 4 o’clock plane) and the logistics worked out much better allowing her and Jinky to see 35+ kids on Friday and 20 on Saturday along with several adults. That’s near 50 happy faces if I’m doing the math!. “They all needed something” Nora quipped with a warm smile. This atoll has special meaning to Nora: "this dental mission gives more to me than I can ever get from my private dental practice, which I love as well. There is something special about the children of the Marshall Islands and being able to give them dental care that they may otherwise never get. I can't wait to return again next year and this mission has just begun!"

The team is set up to set up anywhere; give them a school room, a porch or I imagine a flat place on the beach as long as they have a good generator. Their kit consists of fishing tackle boxes (the large kind), Tupperware (the large kind) and trunks stuffed with I can’t name it. Nora handed me a fresh opened scalpel to change a fuse on the portable dental machine. That was a moment of panic; the antique surge strip lent locally started flickering right before the most important piece of equipment failed. We had 10 things plugged into it I swear including a halogen array of construction lighting. I think the last straw was when the carpenters next door started up their heavy duty worm gear saw. It was hooked to the same generator. Yes we really were set up in the first grade classroom, the carpenters busy remodeling the actual medical clinic next door. Short story: a timely fuse transplant, replaced the surge strip, unplugged halogen and carpenters, a rushed little prayer and cross signing, and we were back in business. The Carpenters generator did prove invaluable and they had plenty other work to do so mucho thanks to them. Just part of the scene for Nora; MacGyver is her couz.
I had accompanied the dentists Friday morning to take pix and help with the logistics. It took them about a half hour to set up in the small classroom and the children were all lined up all curious already. In no time the first victim was on the portable chaise lounge with his mouth agape. Both Nora and Jinky are naturals and the kids were enamored by them. All the children were also amazingly well behaved and brave. I think I only heard a whimper from a smaller 3 year old. The gifted toothbrushes made it all better; the children stooped around in little circles admiring the lucky recipient’s unopened packages.
And they really enjoy the children too. They are very comfortable with the kids and the kids felt very comfortable with them. Namen(?spell); a dental tech from Ebeye and also a natural with kids, accompanied them on this trip doing extractions and training alongside them. Nora and Jinky had an assembly line going, prepping and injecting Novocain and filling cavities, and staging the kids in threes in another part of the classroom and Namen pulling teeth as necessary. They hadn’t planned on any extensive teeth cleaning (time constraints) and any major work such as root canals (more equipment required) so as to minimize problems and see as many as possible. Both Nora and Jinky are acutely efficient and talented; Jinky says she does 6 or 7 patients in a normal day on the isle of Lanai, in Hawaii, where she works at Nora Harmsen’s Dental Clinic “and Nora sees a few more”. “Seeing the children’s faces and smiles made it all worth it and wishing I could stay longer and do more”. A Cavitron, a specialized machine for cleaning, would have come in really handy here, she added. “We had to jump from tasks to tasks to allow the portable dental machine several cooling down periods”. I’m amazed at all the Karma these two are building up; and hoping a little rubs off.

The concept for this mission was the brainchild of Gen. David Bramlett, a retired General, who lived for a year in the Marshall Islands as a teacher in Gugeegue. He saw the dental decay in the children becoming worse and wanted to bring additional dental care to the Islands. “This little idea he shared with me became the start of a Rotary Club Dental mission in 2005” reports Nora. “His wife, Judi, became my guide and the dental assistant, despite her dislike of seeing abscesses close up. We returned again in 2006 and saw an even greater number of patients, last year seeing over 225 children and some adults”.
More than 100 fillings or sealants were placed on Third Island this time. “We were warmly received and helped immensely by the staff on Roi”.

By the time this gets out; The Team will have been to Third Island, Carlos (Tue.) and Gugeegue (Wed). If you missed the dates there get your little dears to Ebeye before the 9th. In future visits Nora hopes to get to other more remote places such as Ebedon and Majetto. Thanks should be directed to Nora at lanaismilesATwave,hicv,net if you don’t see them in person and I for one hope they understand how much they are appreciated.

Kerry