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Former University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball Coach Agnus Berenato traveled with Surgicorps International to Vietnam in 2015 where she met our patient, Le Thi Thanh, featured in this story. As a non-medical volunteer, Agnus interviewed Thanh and captured the details of her 2 year struggle after a kitchen fire burned her face and neck. Surgicorps returns to Vietnam this fall and, with your continued support, anticipates a follow up visit with Thanh.  

In Thanh’s words…

One of my favorite things to do is cook. I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for my husband and two children.  A long day of work at our coffee shop made us hungry for the meal and family time we were about to share. I was stirring a pot of soup and an explosion took place. I did not hear anything or notice anything remiss with my gas stove. It just exploded.

Fire…Noise…Pain…Fear…Commotion…More pain

My husband, close by, wrapped his arms around me, flames on my chest, arms and hands, fire covering my neck shooting upward of my face.  He was strong. I felt his love. He picked me up and doused me in the oak bucket of water in the kitchen.

Pain…Fear…Sadness…More pain

911 was called…I lay in the HCMC Burn Hospital with only pain and fear…I thought I would die.  We had no money to pay for treatment or surgery. My only thoughts were of

Sadness…Fear…Dying

Two years later, HOPE arrived. Someone sent a picture of my scarred face to a health organization that aids people with no money but big scars. I am the “Lady with No Mouth”. I have dreams of being helped, having surgery, having a mouth again, releasing my neck of burned scar tissue.  I dream of food.  I dream of smiling.  I dream of having grandkids that are not afraid of me.  I dream of courage, I used to have that! I dream of not wearing a mask every day, every place.  I dream of retirement with my brave husband. I dream of eating any kind of food.  I dream of my inner beauty shining through my scars. The health organization came to town.

They would see me.  They did not need money.  They would not be afraid.  They gave me HOPE.

I waited in line to be evaluated. I was so nervous. I had no fear, no pain (because my neck and face were one, as my skin and tissues formed a mass of scarring). I prayed, “Oh my Buddha, please let this group see me fit for surgery. ”   Again, it crept back…

Fear…Sadness

When I met with Dr Jack and his Surgicorps team, my fear and sadness disappeared. I could not understand what they were saying, but I felt

Anxious…Upbeat…Joy…Help

Maybe, just maybe, I would get a mouth.  That’s all I wanted, a mouth to eat with! Dr Jack said “YES” and I prayed to Buddha again, “Please let me have courage and trust”.

I had my surgery.  I had pain, but no fear. I never thought I would die.  I can eat all kinds of food.  I smile.  I have courage.  I can laugh. I can shake my head.  I am so thankful.

Surgicorps did for me what I could not have done on my own.  I had no money, no insurance.  I had NO hope. Surgicorps operated on me, gave me a mouth, released my neck, did skin grafts, gave me TLC , hugged me, wiped my tears away.

My constant sadness was replaced by HOPE, a future, a smile, a nod, a dream come true.

I am so thankful and appreciative to the team at Surgicorps. I am so thankful for my friend sending a picture of “The Lady with No Mouth” to Thanh and Linda.  I am so thankful that Dr Jack said “YES”.  I am so thankful I am no longer “The Lady with No Mouth!”

         

Surgicorps is preparing to leave for the 2nd Annual Sarah Pettrone Memorial Trip, which will be our 10th visit to Bhutan from April 22-May 3, 2016. Our team members bring a vast amount of talent and resources on each trip to help us change the lives of many. There are a total of 16 team members including 9 from Pennsylvania and 7 from other states.

Michele Misher-Harris, Cliff and Mary Bierman along with Naomi Quillopa and Warren Schubert, Ron Stiller and James Fleck are the veteran Bhutan volunteers. Mike Brett, DeNese Olson, Sara Reardon, and Charles Yang will join us on their first trip to Bhutan. Surgicorps founder, Jack Demos, will lead the medical team and Linda Esposto, Director of Programs and Logistics, will ensure a successful trip for all.

The other team members are first time Surgicorps volunteers and include Donald Laub, Maggie Mangham, and Alexander Preus. We look forward to once again serving our friends in Bhutan. Please follow us on social media for trip updates and pictures.

When I first met Linda Esposto of Surgicorps International I asked her, “Do you have any need for a Basketball Coach?” She replied, “We don’t need a Basketball Coach, but we do need good people.” The wheels in my mind began to turn, and my heart began to pump!

Knowing nothing about Surgicorps or Vietnam, I took a giant leap of blind faith. I was excited to receive details regarding our trip: what to bring (definitely individually wrapped chocolates), daily schedules and visa/flight information, but I still did not know what to expect, or what role I would perform…but the appeal for “good people” kept me motivated.

The introduction to the Surgicorps team took place on a mini bus that transported us to the hospital for Screening Day (an important day to determine who would be scheduled for surgery). Each volunteer and team member shared their name, hometown, and their connection to the Surgicorps cause.

The bus pulled into a small driveway and many people — young and old — were cheering and yelling, waving hello in welcome. I thought, “Why are they here? And, what are they cheering for?” I had only seen this type of fanfare after a team won an important game or championship, but I quickly realized they were here for us! They were here for Surgicorps!

Many of the welcome committee were former patients who returned annually for continued reconstructive surgery by Surgicorps doctors. The joy and tears in their eyes told me I was about to take part in something special. There was Jack (the Medical Director) saying hello and Michele (the Lead Anesthesiologist) hugging and greeting folks like long lost friends. I started my journey with a high five for anyone that would return the offering.

The week was a blur. The amazing Surgicorps team saw 112 patients and performed 73 surgeries. Friendships were made, jokes were told and relationships strengthened. Fatigue set in, humor screamed, and great food was shared.

Countless lives were changed.

Yes, the lives of those with cleft lips and palates, ear reconstructions, burns, and neck releases, but this work also impacted the patient’s families and communities.  Many patients are so badly scarred they can’t go to school or rarely leave their home. This team gave hope to every person that was seen. Physical appearance is one thing, but confidence is another and Surgicorps gave every person a little touch of swag!

The doctors were masterful, the nurses amazing, volunteers willing to do whatever was needed, and with Linda as lead, we had an amazing TEAM.  Coaching teams has been my business, but I pride myself on being a great teammate. There is no better TEAM than Surgicorps and I am honored to be a new teammate.

My heart melted with every baby I carried, every mom I hugged, every fist I bumped, every high five I gave, every tear I shed and every smile I received. I did things I did not think possible; I learned things I never imagined; and I loved every minute of the experience.

Surgicorps reinforced my belief that there is no “I in TEAM,” and “Teamwork makes the Dream Work.” I find myself praying for the woman who we gave a new mouth, the little girl who had her wrist released, the teenage boy who had ear reconstruction and the mom who sobbed when she saw her baby with an upper lip for the first time.  I cry silently to think how lucky I am. Indeed, this was a special game and I was happy to have a uniform.

My emotions run deep for the Surgicorps team that so graciously opened their arms to a Basketball Coach who knew nothing of medicine or surgery. I returned home from Vietnam with a mission: I would be part of a medical trip every year. I dream of next year when the bus pulls in and the cheers are heard and the smiles warm our hearts. I will greet the parade of patients knowingly — with joy, compassion and happiness, because giving is the greatest gift of all. Linda was right, Surgicorps just needs good people!

 

Learn about the remarkable story of Ruth, a patient from Surgicorps’ 5th trip to Zambia. Read Ruth’s Story…

Surgicorps is preparing to embark on our 12^th medical mission to Vietnam from October 30th-November 10th with 21 medical and non-medical team members. This will be our final trip of 2015.

We will once again partner with Odonto Maxillo Facial Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Our team this year includes: 10 members from Pennsylvania, 3 from Arizona, 3 from Virginia and 1 each from Canada, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

Brian Gierl returns this year as the first attending physician from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center who was a resident on his first trip to Vietnam in 2011. Willie Manteris will return to provide dental services. Robert Schemmer is excited to expand Surgicorps’ services by providing dermatological care. Other return team members include Thanh Armagost, Tu Armagost, Christine Bowman, Tara Burns, Paul Kim, Michele Misher-Harris, and Duc Pham.

We welcome several new team members this year as well:  Agnus Berenato, Andrew Berenato, Janet Belitsky, Jamie Boykin, Caitlin Hickey, Lauren McGrath, Nancy Mitchell, Tran Nguyen and Bruce Yee.

Jack Demos will lead the team as Medical Director and Linda Esposto, our Director of Programs and Logistics, will ensure each aspect of the trip runs smoothly.

Best wishes team Vietnam 2015 as you set out to change many lives. Stay tuned and follow us, for trip updates and pictures, on Facebook, Twitter and most recently on Instagram and LinkedIn!

 

The air is hot and thick in the makeshift waiting room at Beit CURE Hospital of Zambia, a pediatric teaching hospital specializing in the treatment and care of children living with physical disabilities.  There is standing room only in a crowded area where mothers wait with patience for their children to be taken to the OR for surgery.  Some have walked great distances with their babies strapped to their backs while others have traveled hundreds of miles by bus.

They hear about Surgicorps through a pipeline of sources; some learn by word of mouth or through a chance radio broadcast. CURE’s staff spreads the word and reaches out as far as Zambia’s Copperbelt (hours away) to provide impoverished villagers with the opportunity for life-changing surgery.  Many have waited an entire year for the Surgicorps doctors to return and perform a second and even third surgery.  In a country where tribal medicine and natural healing with herbs is still practiced, some of the parents have stepped away from their cultural realm and comfort zone to seek help, out of sheer desperation.

Three operating rooms provide a wide scope of surgeries. Frequently seen in developing countries are children born with extra digits, who come to have extra fingers and toes removed. Because of the use of open flames for cooking, severe burns are also customary in the rural areas of Zambia. Some children suffer from limbs that have literally melted together from burns and undergo surgery to release the contracture, followed by skin grafts.  Webbed fingers are separated, cleft lips and palates are repaired, and sometimes an unexpected injury can arrive that will startle even the most seasoned medical professionals.  Such was the case with a 3-month-old infant whose young mother brought him in without his left foot and with his bone exposed.  The severe injury was presumably caused from a snakebite that went untreated.

There is a common thread amongst these modest, polite, and humble people.  They are kind and gentle souls whose love and devotion to their children is palpable. They are unentitled and accepting of all outcomes, even when learning that surgery might not provide the miracle that they had hoped for.  They are never with anger, and always with a thank you and gratefulness.

It is in the patient ward that we are able to experience the true essence of these religious and joyful people.  They have appreciation for the smallest of things; a new stuffed toy, a sundress, a coloring book with crayons, or a simple bottle of nail polish.  For many, their hospital stay is seen as good fortune, mostly because they are assured three meals a day for themselves and for their other children in tow.  Although shared, they have a clean bed, an indoor bathroom, and a running shower.  There is a sisterhood established amongst them, even those who have met for the first time.  We observed each other with a sense of wonder and with admiration.

In our final hour, this group of magnificent mothers joined together and sang for us.  They sang in their native language and brought each and every one of us to tears.  Through song, they thanked us for changing the lives of their children.  Through song, they blessed us, and they blessed our children.  They thanked us for giving them back their dignity.  It was with pure joy that we basked in the warmth and gratefulness of these beautiful people.  We left the Beit CURE Hospital of Zambia knowing that their lives had been changed, that their lives had been bettered because of us.  What they didn’t know was how much they had changed our lives.  What they didn’t know was that we left wishing that we were a little bit more like them.