The Drake Days: Roatan, Honduras Dental Clinic 2014

My mom is an incredible woman. She is a dentist, and years ago we had some family friends that encouraged my mom to go to the island of Roatan, Honduras to do some much needed dental work. They have a home there and are always serving the LDS branch members and locals. It was a great opportunity for our family to do some service, so we decided to head down with their family and spend a week doing dental work. My mom was the only dentist, and my sister and I did hygiene (I was only 12 years old- ha!). The others were running around filling oxygen dive tanks (used for the pressure for the instruments), sanitizing instruments, translating Spanish, and running the whole clinic. Needless to say, it was a busy and exhausting week, but one we wouldn't soon forget.

This year was the sixth dental clinic that my mom has done in Roatan, except this time it was not just my mom. There were 8 dentists, 2 dental students, and 3 hygienists, along with many other family members and friends. The whole group consisted of over 50 people, which was amazing! Here is most of the group:

A few years ago, the LDS church filmed my mom and the others serving in Roatan and created this I'm a Mormon video, which you should check out:

http://www.mormon.org/me/1k30

Also, just because I am a proud daughter, this month's issue of the Friend (a Mormon magazine issue for children) has an article featuring my mom, which I thought was way neat! You can also check it out here if you'd like: When I Grow Up, I Want To Be A Dentist

My mom is one in a million, and I couldn't be luckier to call her my mom and best friend. These clinics have been some of the best memories and experiences I've ever had. And what better people to share them with than my family and dear friends! I am amazed at what the clinic has become, and all the service that has been provided, because of my mom.

I have not been able to go the last two times due to school and work, but this year David and I made it a priority, seeing as he just finished his first year of dental school. He loved it, and I was so grateful to be able to share this experience with him.

He got a TON of practice in! He did tons of injections, fillings, extractions and his first root canal as well!

A view of the whole clinic:

Victor (next to David) was my mom's first patient ever on the island, and we see him every year:

This little girl was so excited to help the dentist by shining additional light on her sister's teeth:

A member with all his dental work done so he can now put his mission papers in!

Part of the group going out to visit the schools and give dental hygiene kits to the children:

Cute kids in their uniforms:

Although we worked hard, we also played hard! We stayed on the beach and got a lot of snorkeling and relaxation in after the clinic everyday. David and I also went scuba diving for the first time!

We went with Brent and Tessa who were also with our dental clinic: