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Zambia-2012
Surgicorps’ Zambia team of 20 volunteers has returned after another successful mission. This year’s team performed surgery on 60 patients and screened well over 100 patients, the majority of these patients presenting with burns and hand deformities. Many of these patients traveled for hours for the opportunity to be seen by the Surgicorps team. It was a very full week in Zambia with the medical teams completing 40% more surgeries than the previous year.
Screening Day was hectic. It was a hint of things to come and made extra special by a visit from a teenage girl who had surgery on her webbed toes last year. She stopped by to show us her healed foot, complete with nail polish and wearing flip flops, a simple indulgence not possible before her Surgicorps operation. She was so pleased with the results that she wanted to thank the surgeons.
Many of the patients needed surgery for burns and hand deformities. Following surgery our hand therapist provided much needed splinting and was able to create many types of splints, custom fitted for each patient. A follow up visit in the ward the next day helped to ensure a proper fit and parents were given written instructions—at times on the splint itself!!– on how to wear the splint. Thanks to the skill and creative use of materials, these patients have a much better chance of healing successfully. Before leaving Zambia the excess materials were donated for the use by the therapist at CURE hospital.
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Guatemala 2012 — In the words of Sara Schiavi RN
How are we to know how much we can offer a team, a mission, a country? I didn’t really know what I had to offer when I volunteered for the Surgicorps mission to Guatemala in August of 2012. What I did know was that I very much wanted to be part of an organization of the caliber of Surgicorps, that has so much to do with teamwork. As an RN working in the PACU at St. Vincent Hospital, I had heard about the previous year’s trip from Dr. David Kim, Stephanie Charron and Heather Archambeault. Their firsthand accounts were much of the impetus I needed to apply.
The Boston contingent, including Dr. McNicholas and her son Darragh, met up with the Pittsburgh team in Houston. For me, as a first timer, it was all about keeping the names straight! Everyone right away was so welcoming and genuinely glad to see us. It was especially great to meet Linda who knew right away what everyone was supposed to be doing, where they were going and who they were going with!
Sunday was a very busy day. I was told screening day can be very busy, seemingly chaotic, but usually goes very smoothly. I was so impressed by the helpfulness of every member of the team, from taking photos of patients, to escorting them to various departments, assisting with histories, and thank goodness for interpreters! On a personal note, it was incredibly humbling to meet with the Padre that morning and have a tour of the hospital. The insight it brought me was invaluable. I was impressed right away with the staff of the hospital; their daily care and compassion of the patients they serve is clearly evident.
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4th Annual Memorial Golf Outing Benefits Surgicorps®
4th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Surgicorps International
September 10, 2012
Loch Nairn Golf Club
Avondale, PAOn Monday, September 10, 2012 the Loch Nairn Golf Club will be the site of the 4th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Surgicorps International in loving memory of Hank Smedley and Jackie Baird.
Join us for a great day of golf and support Surgicorps. This 18 hole tournament includes: Captains Choice, prizes, green & cart fees, refreshments on the course, individual and team contests, a cocktail hour and a buffet dinner complete with awards for the day’s winners! See highlights from last year’s event: Facebook.
Registration: 12:00 PM
Shot Gun Start: 1:00 PM
Cocktails & dinner: 6:30 PM
$145.00 per person – includes cocktails & dinner
$65.00 – cocktails & dinner onlyGolf and/or be a sponsor! Sponsorships begin at $125 and include tee signage on the course and in the Clubhouse that will be on display for one week. For more information call 610-268-0824 or 610-268-2235. Deadline for sponsorship is August 20.
One of the many exclusive opportunities of the Golf Tournament is the chance to win a week-long vacation at a villa in Jamaica. The 4 bedroom villa is staffed with a housekeeper and cook. Winner is responsible for airfare and cost of food. Suggested donation: $35 per ticket, available in advance at the Surgicorps office 412-767-4185 or on the day of the event.
Finally — the day ends with a cocktail hour and buffet dinner and program. Cocktails and Dinner only tickets are also available.
Please consider joining us at Loch Nairn for golf and/or supporting this wonderful event as a sponsor.
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New Faces and Friends — Bhutan 2012
By Mario Gutierrez — Surgicorps Volunteer
One of the unique and wonderful aspects of Surgicorps is our desire to include a variety of individuals on the surgical missions to experience firsthand what we do, and interact with the people and culture of the places where we go. This past April, the team in Bhutan was composed of 28 individuals, the largest team to date. In addition to our core group of surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, our team included a budding young third year plastic surgery resident, a medical student from the United States and one from New Zealand, and a volunteer preparing to enter medical school. Also for the first time our Bhutan team included dentists. Dr. William Manteris, the leader of the dental team, who on his own, has traveled internationally providing volunteer dental care to those in need, joined a Surgicorps team for the first time. Willie brought a team of two young dentists who conducted educational and restorative care for more than 1,000 children and adults in several isolated rural villages during our week in Bhutan.
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Bhutan 2012
Surgicorps received a Certificate of Appreciation from Her Majesty’s Tarayana Foundation at a ceremony during the Inaugural Session for the Tarayana Annual Fair in Thimphu, Bhutan on Friday, May 4th. Surgicorps is the first international organization to receive this honor recognizing our work on behalf of the Bhutanese people over the past six years. Founder Jack Demos and his father and fellow board member, Tony Demos, returned to Bhutan earlier this week to accept the award in person.
Stories and images from the recently completed Surgical Camp in Paro will be posted soon. The 28 member team completed 59 surgeries, 125 knee injections and the first-time dental camp reached more than 1,000 Bhutanese children in a one-week period. This was Surgicorps’ 6th trip to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
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All the Way to Vietnam
In the words of volunteer Marina Llull from Mallorca, SpainSurgicorps once again has managed to recruit some of the best doctors, nurses, anesthetists and other helpers to travel all the way to the other side of the world with the only goal to provide medical attention to anyone who reaches out for their help.
On the 27th of October all of these hardworking people paused from their everyday lives to make many other lives a thousand times better. Leaving their jobs, routines and their families and friends, these volunteers were willing to go beyond feeling solidarity and take one more step. Spending their own money and time, which we sometimes forget is something pretty hard to find, these special people want to actually make a difference. (more…)
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Guatemala Diary
Alex Kim blogs about his second trip to Guatemala as a Surgicorps International volunteer. Alex’s dad, Dr. David Kim, is leading the trip’s medical team this year.
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Bhutan, April 2011 – Pema Yengehen
In the words of volunteer Mario GutierrezEvery once in while on these surgical volunteer camps reality raises its head, stares you in the face, strikes you deep down in your soul and reminds you just why we do this. Today was a one of those days. After the organized chaos of the first couple of days of getting to know each other, setting up the supply room, organizing the operating theater and just getting into the daily routine of the ebb and flow from pre-op to recovery, the third day usually goes smoothly. That day, we had a full schedule and thought we would be there late, but this remarkable team of 18 gelled very quickly, and surprisingly we were nearly through 13 cases in reasonable time. Lots of cleft palates, cleft lips, fistulas, a variety of burn contractures, cute kid with ear tags that Dr. Jack removed under local, and then, the last case, PATIENT #36 came out of surgery. (more…)
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The Story of Wangdi – The Bear Warrior
Paro, Bhutan
Wangdi is a 64 year old male who lives in the village of Punakua, a two hour drive from the Capital City of Thimphu. Three years ago, Wangdi and some of the other villagers were rebuilding their homes. When he and his friend went into the forest in search of more wood they had an unfortunate surprise encounter with a large bear and her three cubs that had been sleeping under a tree. While Wangdi’s friend managed to run away, the bear went after Wangdi, viciously attacking his face and head. With his head halfway inside the bear’s mouth, Wangdi desperately tried to pry himself free. In the process, the bear tore three of Wangdi’s fingers off his left hand. With his right hand, he was able to pull out his long knife from his “gho” and stab the bear twice before losing consciousness. In the meantime, his friend ran back to the village to get help. Although he was badly wounded, they were able to get him to the hospital and saved his life. Despite his terrible wounds he asked his friends to go back and try and find his watch, which had come off during the attack. Although they didn’t find it, they did find the bear lying dead a few yards from where they had found Wangdi. Today, Wanghi’s face remains badly scarred from the attack, although time and surgery have improved his appearance. He wears a fur hat to cover the loss of scalp on his head and stylish dark aviator glasses to mask the damage to his eyes.
He was first operated by Surgicorps in 2007 to reconstruct and reposition his eye socket. He has been back each year for additional surgeries. In 2010 a staged reconstruction of his nasal cavity was conducted with a rib bone graft, and his badly deformed eye was also further reconstructed. He’s back again this year (with cooler looking dark shades) to re-adjust the positioning of his lower eyelids to help stop his constant tearing and protect his eyes. He still carries his trusty knife with him at all times and says he’s very grateful that he still has his thumb and two fingers on his left hand so that he can finger his prayer beads and thank his good karma that he was still alive.
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Ethiopia, February 2011
In the words of Linda Esposto, Executive Director
Surgicorps trips are all unique, yet they all have one thing in common-witnessing the love of parents for their children in all lands, and their willingness to sacrifice for them.
Ethiopia was no different. Mothers who brought their malnourished children to us at the CURE hospital in Addis Ababa in hope of a palate repair to change their lives. Mothers who were unable to produce enough breast milk to feed their infants and had no funds to purchase goat milk as supplement.
Their tears brought us to tears. In some cases, all we could offer were hugs of support.
It is overwhelming. It is at times so sad. (more…)
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Guatemala 2010, Katie Babin & Rita DeFrancesco
Rita DeFrancesco and Katie Babin shared the same operating room (general surgery) this August in Guatemala, but how they came to be there – well, those are two different stories.Rita was making her 13th trip, Katie her 1st.
Rita lives in Pittsburgh, close enough to visit the Surgicorps office and warehouse regularly. Katie lives in Michigan and found Surgicorps on an internet search.
But thrown together, they make an efficient and dedicated team.
Rita has worked with Surgicorps teams in Brazil, Paraguay, Nepal, Vietnam, Africa, Bhutan and Guatemala.
She has been awed by the beauty of the land in Nepal and the tranquility of the people and the country of Bhutan.She has been impressed by the paradox of the poverty of the people and the richness of the land in Africa.
A veteran of so many trips, she finds it comforting to know, “I can still contribute in a meaningful way and survive the rigors of a Surgicorps trip.”Indeed, she can.
“Divine intervention.” That’s how Katie describes her opportunity to join a Surgicorps mission. She had signed on, and was trying to figure out how to finance her trip, when she received an unsolicited check in the mail from her brother.
Divine intervention, indeed.
Of her co-workers in the operating room, Katie felt, “People were volunteering their time and efforts, and what made it so special was that we all wanted to be there – in another country for no money.”
“But I received something so much more valuable. I got to work with people who were generous and dedicated to serving others. I got to see people who were genuine when they said, “God will bless you.”
In Katie Babin’s words, “Thank you, Surgicorps International, for allowing me to join your family. I hope I will see you again soon.”
Katie and Rita, we at Surgicorps hope we see both of you again soon.
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Guatemala, August 2010
In the words of volunteer Dave Fortun
It begins in chaos and ends in tears of joy for a job well done.
That is how a Surgicorps medical mission goes.
Sunday, screening day in Antigua, Guatemala, August, 2010.
51 Surgicorps volunteers screen, photograph, and register approximately 100 of the 150 surgical candidates for a week of surgeries. Language barriers, children coloring in busy walkways, crying babies and paperwork demands equal controlled mayhem.
But it all works out, and at the end of the day, 25 Guatemalans per day have been slotted for general, gynecological, hand, or plastic surgery.
Monday morning offers more of the same challenges, as the first patients (not necessarily the patients scheduled first!) are anesthetized, the next patients are prepped, and all 51 volunteers settle into their tasks, their routines, their roles.
And so it goes, Tuesday through Friday, and when it is all done, when 100+ patients from near and far have been sent upstairs or home, and the volunteers have packed, thanked and said goodbye to their hosts for the week, it is time to shed tears of joy for another job well done, for another successful mission.
As has been the case with the past 5 trips to Guatemala, the team was hosted by Obras Sociales Del Santo Hermano Pedro. Seven surgeons performed over 100 surgeries and the non-medical volunteers, besides supporting the medical personnel in the hospital, also made daily visits to the hospital orphanage to feed and play with the young children there.The 100+ surgeries were performed by 7 specialists: Dr. Victor Nieto and Dr. Marguerite Bonaventura (General); Dr. David Kim (Hand); Dr. Joanne Oleck (Gyne); and Drs. Jack Demos, Mel Spira, and Anna Wooten (Plastics).
Surgicorps will return next August 13-20 as it continues its ongoing commitment to the staff and patients of Obras and the citizens of Guatemala. If you would like to join Surgicorps on any of the medical missions, please complete a volunteer application. Please support the Surgicorps mission to provide surgical care to those in need in developing countries by making a donation today on the donation page. Surgicorps needs your support.
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Bhutan, April 2010
The Kingdom of Bhutan: April 2010
In the words of Surgicorps Volunteer Lynda DendtlerArriving in Paro, Bhutan, from Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Virginia, Colorado and Spain, the 25 multidisciplinary Surgicorps volunteers were welcomed by 170 families eager to present themselves for surgeons Drs. Jack Demos, Sarah Pettrone and Marc Liang’s examination. Word had spread quickly in 2010 that Surgicorps was returning! With the assistance of Queen Ash’s Tarayana Foundation, families assembled from the far reaches of the kingdom in hopes of being accepted for surgical repair of a birth deformity or injury that would allow the child or adult to be able to eat or walk or use their hands and arms. And the Surgicorps team was equally eager to help as many as possible during the 2 weeks in country. Starting early in the morning and operating into the evening, some 89 surgeries provided improvement in the quality of life of these beautiful people.
During our fourth mission to this storybook kingdom, several children came for the next stage in procedures started one, two or even three years ago. Others returned to demonstrate their recovery and pride at being able to now extend and use an arm, hand or leg. One confident young boy was able to fully raise his arm above his head, no small feat for a child whose arm only last year was fused to his chest by scar tissue. His father was beaming as the boy showed his new “moves”. But the faces of the mothers whose babies and children’s cleft lips and palates repaired were the most joyful of all. After all, it fell to them to try to nourish their child since birth through badly misshapen lips that didn’t close, to keep their child from choking or starving. What could be more life changing?
Our team included doctors who made themselves available to the community at large. Upon hearing that a pediatrician was available, people lined up for Dr. Janet, who was able to confirm diagnoses or order further consultations, giving parents hope or confirmation. An anesthesiologist did not hesitate to help the staff during a crisis with a local baby in crisis. The monks of the famous Paro dzong streamed down the hillside for a “check –up” with Drs. Gino and Dr. Ron, who, in one case, solved the blurred vision of an elderly monk simply by giving up his own reading glasses!
The skills, compassion and dedication of each volunteer combined to gain the trust of a people who, though largely self reliant, hope for surgical intervention that is not yet widely available to all citizens of this kingdom. Every year children all over the world are born with a congenital lip and/or palate deformity (1 in 700). With the commitment of Surgicorps, many people of Bhutan need no longer face the social isolation, fear and health impairment that such a deformity can bring
Bhutan measures its citizens “Gross National Happiness”. One young mother shared details of her journey home following her son’s operation: 2 full days on a bus to the end of the line, then walking through the mountains from sunrise into the dark of night to her village, child wrapped in a shawl on her back. “But,” she said, “I am so happy…now he will be able to eat!” Surgicorps is pleased to be able to raise the measure of GNH in Bhutan in 2010!
Surgicorps
Surgicorps International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free surgical and medical care to people in need in developing countries.
