– What have we done in one week in Mozambique? Changed destinies and built bridges.
– To where? To a better life.
It has been a privilege to be part of this crew ⛵️
For me, it meant returning to the place of my very first expedition. Boane. Casa do Gaiato. Seeing María José again, Javi… unique people who have spent years welcoming orphaned and abandoned children and giving them a future.
In our world, we often say expectations shouldn’t be set too high. Here, however, no matter how high they are, reality always exceeds them.
There are always a few “crazy” volunteers in the team who have never worked in an operating theatre before — and on this voyage they were an incredible surprise. Congratulations to Roser, Ana, Ana and Isa for being so generous and brave, for stepping into something so far removed from your everyday lives and doing it with care, lots of chocolate, and always a smile.
And what can I say about Sonia! A true discovery. My deepest professional and personal admiration. An example of care for both team and patient — concerned not only with health but with wellbeing in the operating theatre, whether through breathing exercises, Bob Marley, or whatever was needed. If we had measured patient experience, I’m sure she would have earned five stars — though not the kind Isabel Sendino used to give when she wanted to make Ramón and me tremble.
Esteban, this time you didn’t arrive straight from a pre-expedition festival — but you gave us one every single day. “Phenylephrine, we’re going in,” and whatever was needed on your left with Dr. Cobian, while keeping an eye on your right as well 🙏🏻
Sonia and Isa, how lucky we are to have you again in this wonderful madness. Thank you for giving your all hour after hour — it’s a gift to have you close.
Dr. Cobian, “Monchito,” expert sailor — and not because you’ve only sailed calm seas. There’s little left to say: there’s no better companion for both the good and the difficult moments.
María, you’ve steered the sails so that when the wind blew in our favor, we advanced as far as possible; and when it blew against us — or when we felt shipwrecked — we never stopped swimming, because we knew we would be rescued 🐭. You made us give 100% every day, always with a smile.
Javi, what a joy to see you again! Thank you for all your work, for your sleepless nights, and for the beautiful mission you carry out at O Gaiato.
And heartfelt thanks to the entire Foundation team who make this possible and somehow make it seem “normal” to restore sight to so many people in such a short time. All of us may be replaceable — but you are not. Without you and your daily commitment, many of these people would not be seeing their lives today, nor living the lives they now have.
Congratulations to everyone, from the heart 🙏🏻🩵
We’ve taken a photo that is far too joyful to ever be erased 🥰
