DOES TV HATE CHARITY?

Felt like a reality show.
Only it was, you know…real

In El Salvador

In a van.

In oncoming traffic.
Passing 4 cars.

Or more.

Maybe it was 6.

At least I had doctors with me.
2 gods of plastic surgery from Beverly Hills.
You’d think I could get a free consult.
But they were too busy fixing kids.

And surviving the driving.

Traffic in San Salvador is like playing bumper cars on the 405.
Dr. Rady Rahban and Dr. Andre Panossian left the 405 and the 10.

Left the boobs and the tummy tucks.

Left the most superficial…

Richest place…
To help the poorest kids.

On a mission trip there’s always too much blood.

And not enough toilet paper.

But we also had oysters the size of beer cans.

And poured hot sauce in our beers like the locals do.

It’s Anthony Bourdain meets Mother Teresa.

They did 14 surgeries.

They saw babies with burns.
They made skin grafts.

They saw kids with no fingers.

They made fingers.

They saw kids with facial paralysis.

They made smiles.

14 lives changed.

By this Beverly Hills odd couple.

Dr. P is happily married with children.
Dr. R should be on The Bachelor.
I should call Bravo.

They’re a reality show.

They go medical missions together.

Like a buddy movie.

Their Lethal Weapon is a scalpel.
I went to El Salvador to volunteer on the mission.
And to see my Mending Kid.
My Sandra.

Haven’t seen her in 2 years.

Boy did I cry.

Two years ago Mending Kids brought her to LA for surgery.
She lived with my family for four months during recovery.

She came here with a hand that was one piece of flesh.

She left with 10 fingers.
And two pierced ears.
Two years later Sandra is in her own country.

Helping me give diapers & lollipops to kids having the same surgery she had.
I call this saving the world one lollipop at a time.

I also call it fun.

People say…such sacrifice you make for charity.
Shopping with Sandra in San Salvador is not a sacrifice.

I got to see her.

I got to see her world
When I got to El Salvador I saw smoke.
She said…it’s just the volcano.
Oh OK.
They have over 200 volcanoes in El Salvador.

Who knew?
The doctors went to hike a volcano.
And I had quite the journey ahead of me…
A beautiful 8 year old boy was born without an ear.
He’s getting one here.

I brought Rodrigo back with me for surgery.
We got to the airport.
I said goodbye to Sandra.
Tears.
Rodrigo said goodbye to his Mommy.
More tears.
I promised him video games on the plane.
Damn it, the TV was broken.
We both cried on the plane ride.
But thankfully I had some lollipops.
He’s having life changing surgery.
My life is changed forever.
I’ve worked for both charities and TV.
I know each mission trip is a reality show episode.
I’ve pitched that show.
But TV types say no.
Even though I try to hide the do gooding (like vegetables) in all the travel and adventure.
Maybe it’s just too much real life and death for a reality show.
Maybe we should give out roses after each surgery…