A Hometown Mission to Be Thankful For

11/21/2025

Last Saturday, over forty medical volunteers, staff, and board members showed up to provide our first Hometown Dental Surgery Mission for patients with special needs who required full sedation to be treated. This was our tenth hometown mission and our first dental surgery mission. We returned to the MemorialCare Outpatient Surgery Center, which opened its doors to our team. The focus was on special needs patients who had sensory issues, some handicapped, some nonverbal, some wheelchair bound. Some had never received a dental exam, some had waited seven years, and some had aged out. All were championed by their loving families who came from Fresno, Bakersfield, the Inland Empire, Oxnard, and Los Angeles to receive the care.

There is nothing spontaneous about getting the patient population we served last Saturday. Between the distances traveled, the multitudes of medications that had to be timed to keep them stable, and braving the rain, it was like threading a needle from fifty feet away. Nevertheless, what a mission it was.

Beyond the dedication of this enormous dental team and the grace of the surgical center, we have to thank the California Dental Association for providing the portable equipment, and XDR Radiology for the loan of the technology that allowed us to operate portable X-ray machines to screen dental needs. To Dr Willner for providing all the patients with additional ear, nose, and throat exams, to the nurses and all who participated to give these patients as many services as possible, it was an enormous feat, especially not knowing what would present itself.

Under general anesthesia, the team provided thorough dental exams, a full mouth set of radiographs, thorough cleanings, thirty-six fillings, eleven extractions, phlebotomy services, ear exams, and cleaning for seven patients, a laryngoscopy, and a bronchoscopy for one patient. These numbers represent real people, individuals, and families who have been waiting for care and support. The help provided prevented countless tooth losses, alleviated suffering, and brought joy to those in need.

This mission was especially meaningful. These were special needs patients who had been waiting years for care, many of whom had aged out of other options, and to see them finally receive the treatment they needed was powerful for everyone involved.

As we head into Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for everyone who made this possible. Our donors, foundations, partner companies, medical volunteers, and this entire community came together so these kids would not have to keep waiting in pain. We hope to do this again soon, and if you are moved to support a future hometown mission or help mend a child, this is the moment to make a real difference.

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.

With gratitude,
Isabelle Fox
Executive Director

Mend A Child This Giving Tuesday

Hometown Mission 2025 Photo Album