By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
Lake Arrowhead resident Nolan Massey had just celebrated her 15th birthday. As part of her gift, her grandmother, Catherine Savich, took her to Belize to participate in the HAFDRA dental and medical clinics.
The Rim High freshman had talked about doing a mission trip but had never done anything like this before.
Truth be told, both Nolan and her grandmother have had a hard time with dental care. But Nolan rose to the challenge under the guidance of dental hygienist Shellie Boydston. Nolan was her only assistant at the four dental clinics conducted at a hospital, a school and in two villages.
“She was an excellent teacher,” Nolan said of Boydston, who taught her how to polish teeth, provide suction, administer sealants and numb a patient.
Boydston told Nolan and Savich that is often those who have had a hard time who become the best dentists and assistants “because they have the most empathy.”
In fact, Nolan is now considering a career as a dental hygienist.
The patients were all wonderful, Nolan said. “Some had never been to the dentist before,” she noted.
Her favorite part of the trip was being able to help people. The trip to Tikal National Park was “cool” and she’s glad she did it but the clinical work really made the trip for her.
Having the two other teens on the trip made it more fun. As the days wore on, the three became inseparable and plan to stay in touch.
Would Nolan recommend this trip to her friends? “Definitely, if this is something they want to do. I liked it a lot – seeing a different environment people live in, a different culture.”
The people in Belize, she added, “have so little but they are so happy.”
Did this trip change Nolan as a person? “It gave me a different perspective,” she said. “Seeing what other people go through, live with. I gained an appreciation for what I have.”
The people at the clinics, Nolan added, were so patient, so kind, so grateful.
“I loved all the hugs,” she said.
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