Sandra Mangum is the mother of four children (three daughters, one son), 30 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren. In addition to being an outstanding mother, she has used her skills as a surgical nurse to bless the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Sandi has been part of the Hirsche Smiles Foundation (HSF) multi-disciplinary surgical team beginning when she was a professor teaching at the Brigham Young University College of Nursing.
A tiny energetic woman, Sandi celebrated her 80th birthday in March 2016, having made 27 humanitarian trips to Mexico and Guatemala with HSF at her own expense (the last in February 2016). She provides leadership for the surgical team as team leader in the perioperative and post-anesthesia units on-site.
This non-profit organization is now highly respected for their humanitarian efforts coupled with excellent clinical outcomes. This organization has helped nearly 2000 children, help that has changed their lives forever.
Sandi shares her perspective of this experience: “My life has changed just as much as any of the children. I have been deeply touched when seeing the mother of a baby with a cleft lip cry with gratitude when she sees her child whole for the first time.”
“Mama Sandi” is “raising the village” beyond her own family.