Diane Lee - Junior League of Austin

When I joined the Junior League of Austin in 1999, I spent my first year learning about the volunteer opportunities that I could apply for during my years as an active member. One opportunity that I was very excited to learn about was Austin Smiles. It seemed like such an amazing chance to combine my love of travel with my love of volunteerism. I was told that not many members were given this placement and that  you had to have been a member for a long time. I first applied for this placement for the 2007-2008 year and I did not get it. I decided to try for it one more year and if I didn't get it, then I would become a sustaining member. I was very excited to learn that I was selected for the February 2009 trip to El Salvador.

The experience was all that I had hoped it would be. It was amazing to be a part of a team of generous, highly skilled and ncredibly nice doctors, nurses, translators and volunteers. Everyone worked together to help the children of El Salvador. The families that we met were so appreciative of the medical treatments that their loved ones were receiving. Several parents wrote thank you notes to us or gave us small gifts. The children were very brave and so were their parents.

The surgeries were life changing for these people, but the experience is also life changing for the team from Austin Smiles. So many members of the team had been on mission after mission because they believe so strongly in the work that is accomplished on each trip.

I was honored to be a part of something so special and I won’t ever forget my week in El Salvador with Austin Smiles.