Rotaplast Missions

Surgery in Udaipur is complete - but caring about "our" children never ends

The final day of surgery has been completed for the Udaipur Rotaplast Team, pictured below. 

 
In several long and challenging days in India, the team has completed surgery and care for 61 children.  That is a great number of families who’s lives have been changed forever. 

There are 29 members of this Rotaplast team, and our lives have been changed forever too!

Our final lip repair was 10-year-old Suresh. 

Suresh was one of the first patients screened in Udaipur. Because of a cold he had to wait until nearly the end of the trip to receive his cleft lip repair. 

Today Suresh and his parents posed with DGN Doug Everett from Blind Bay, B.C.  Doug has been a patient transport specialist throughout the mission and developed  a special bond with children and their parents.

 

 

 

 

 As we begin to pack and think about our return trip we pack bags full of memories of wonderful families and children along with outstanding dedicated healthcare professionals in Udaipur who were of great value in their assistance to the Rotaplast Team.
 

Our team has taken great joy in working together.  We have wonderful physicians, dentists, nurses, speech therapist, and ten dedicated Rotarian (non-medical) volunteers.   While we miss our families and friends, our day jobs and our own beds, we believe in the Rotaplast mission, and know that you do too. 

We return home with many great stories to share about who Rotaplast has been of service to Udaipur

 

Like All Good Things

As our mission nears a close in Udaipur, India, we are reminded that even thought our trip is nearing an end, for so many children from this city and it’s surroundings, the past ten days have been a beginning.   So, we return to our  homes, and our patients return home to a new life with a repaired, palate, lip (sometimes both), or in the case of dear little Karma, a badly burned body freed from pain and hardship.

We think about Kalish, his repaired lip, and his new transportation, thanks to the generosity of the Rotaplast Team. 

 

Where there had been so much darkness, there is a brighter light thanks to the Udaipur Rotaplast team.

 

One of the other benefits of Rotaplast medical missions is the opportunity to teach – and learn – from the physicians of the host country.  This team was working at Geetanjali Hospital and  Medical School, so Indian and American physicians observed and learned from each other.

 

Our dentists Dr. Courtney Ray and Dr. Sukhmani Marwaha have spent their days working alongside the rest of the medical staff to examine and treat patients who had medical needs.  

As Dr. Len noted in his blog post earlier in the week, they also gave some lessons in dental hygiene  to the youngsters on the medical ward.

 

A team of three hard working anesthesia physicians from Stanford continue to take  excellent care of our patients this week.  Not only do they “put em to sleep and wake them up” they make certain that patients airways are not blocked.  They monitor vital signs throughout surgery.  They are a key piece of the patient safety promise of the Rotaplast team.

Dr. Fred Mihm, in the red surgical cap in the photo above the dentists, is a Rotaplast veteran, and the leader of the Stanford doctors.   Dr. Echo Rowe was pictured earlier in the mission on our blog. 

The third member is Dr. Nate Ponstein.  He will finish his residency training this summer.     

Two worlds meet in India. An old and a new.  We have seen evidence of that every day. Women in traditional dress.  Men sleeping on the floor of the hospital as we arrive, but answering their cell phones when they ring.

 

Another Rotaplast Veteran, Janice Crowder,  is a operating room nurse from Glendale, Arizona.

 

Out and about Russ Mazzola, caught the camera staring his way, as we passed through the City Palance of Udapur this week.

 

Udaipur is an old city, more than 500 year old buildings are common place.  Some of those buildings have seen better days, but there is also great beauty to be seen.  Udaipur is a place that India people flock to for elaborate 7 day marriage rituals.  It has hotel rooms that rent for more than $500 a night.  (Don’t worry, we aren’t staying there!)  

 

It has also been a place where great things have happened for the Rotaplast team, the colleagues we have met at Geetanjani Hospital, and the Udaipur Rotary Club.  We have come together this week to bring smiles to the children of Udaipur.   What a great way to share world and community service as Rotarians, medical professionals, and Rotaplast Volunteers.

 

Our last day in the hospital draws near, and we look forward to return to our families and our “real jobs”, but Udaipur will forever have a place in our hearts.

 

 

 

 

No Wednesday Let Down in Udaipur

 

Your Rotaplast team in Udaipur put in another successful day on Wednesday May 4^th.

 

Today involved follow up on surgeries - and well as several new cases in our three O.R. rooms.

We are all so happy that our burn patient – Karma – is doing really well.  We are sensitive to those who are concerned about seeing the before and after photos of such a terribly disfigured little child.  But, know this, he now looks like a little boy again.  We are all so happy and hope you are too.   It was a more than 3 hour procedure, but Karma is doing well today, his father is filled with joy.  It is a Rotaplast success.

 

Here is Kalish – before and after.  Kalish is the 18 year old polio patient mentioned in an earlier blog post.  In addition to lip repair, Kalish now has a new wheelchair bike for transportation.  This item, was purchased by the Rotaplast team members.  While it is not a direct part of our mission - - it was a gift from the heart of team mates who are proud to represent all of Rotary, our countries, communities and Rotaplast on this mission to Udaipur.

 

We have had several young patients named Asha.  There was another today.   Asha, you may recall means “hope”.   Rotaplast has meant hope to so many young India children during this visit to Udaipur.

Lastly meet Dr. Dave Dorfman, left, and Dr. Ronald Worland, right, and a family so grateful for the care their daughter received.

We can see the end of this mission in site, but there is no letting down.  We are working hard to care for this children, to be responsible stewards of Rotaplast funds.  We are honored to work with the Geetanjali hospital staff.  We have had the support of the Udaipur Rotary Club.   More reasons we can say that Rotaplast is Rotary World Community Service at it’s finest.

All are well here.  Russ Mazzola has been working in sterilizing along with Scott Rollins.  Jim Pinnell has taken on assistant quartermaster duties.   We anticipate a group photo to share with you all near the end of our journey.  Internet connections have been spotty, but we hear that many of our family and friends have read our blog, and we pleased to pass along as much information as we can.

 

Namaste!  (Look it up !)

 

Changing Lives in Udaipur, India

 

Rotaplast is international cooperation.  Rotaplast is about changing lives, creating new smiles for little children with cleft palate, and or, cleft lip.  This is truly an international effort involving local volunteers as well as our diverse team from France, Canada and the U.S.

It is a mission supported around the world, by clubs, districts, and volunteer medical personnel who step away from their jobs to help the Rotaplast mission.

The beautiful city of Udaipur in India, is the site of our mission.  Great work and good news continues in our second week.

We have screened lots and lots of children for surgery. 

 

This is a process that involves a certain amount of waiting time, because lots of moms, dads and kids converge on the hospital for a screening clinic.  You can see that traditional clothing is the norm where Rotaplast is currently working in Udaipur.  (Photo taken by Russ Mazzola.)

Udaipur is a city several hundred years old, surrounded still (in part) by the remnants of the old walled city.  The walls are visible from the central city lakes that we visited Sunday afternoon.

 

Erin Murphy is one of our hard working PACU nurses.  Erin has a gentle grace and dedication to bringing comfort to those children in her care.

 

Scott Rollins (Ellensburg, WA Rotarian) and Jeanne Kille, an OR Nurse from Salt Lake City, pictured below, are two more dedicated members of this Rotaplast team.

 

The heat has been tremendous, and the team has faced diverse challenges, but all are well.  We appreciate the good wishes, emails, and other news we hear from home.   Keep the positive thoughts and prayers a coming too!  

 

We are happy to be in Udaipur, and proud to represent Rotaplast on this important mission. 

A young 18 year old boy with polio and a cleft lip received special help from the team.  His lip was repaired and the team purchased a 3 wheeled-bike-wheelchair - that will help him move about.  He and his father were overwhelmed by the changes brought to their lives. 

Little six year old  Karma, gave us all joy today.  Severely burned four years ago, his surgery involved freeing his lower lip and chin from where the fire fused it to his chest.  His hand was also repaired where burn damage had limited mobility. 

The PACU nurses said one of Karma's first requests was to drink water from a cup.  What a joy to see this little boy receive help thanks to all of you who help Rotaplast change lives, and create smiles. 

One of Our Pediatricians Writes from Udaipur

 
by  Leonard Friedland, M.D.

I am one of the pediatricians, from Philadelphia and this is my first Rotaplast mission.  It is thrilling and rewarding to be in Udaipur.  We have a fantastic team of medical and non-medical volunteers. It feels great knowing that we are all here for the same reason, to help these children and their families.

My role as pediatrician is to work with the team to evaluate the patients before surgery making certain it is safe and appropriate to operate, and after the surgery to care for the children as they recover (fluids, pain medications, nutrition, medications, wound care). 

I am fortunate that my co-pediatrician is Al Goldberg. Al is a veteran Rotaplast volunteer who is teaching me the ins and outs of cleft lip/palate care. Al and I both trained at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, though several years ago Al saw the light and moved to sunny and beautiful Northern California.

Our team of three anesthesiologists are all from Stanford.  Dr. Echo is taking a young one to surgery, below.

 I enjoy being in the OR observing their attention and focus on pain management, airway control and patient safety.  Our 4 plastic surgeons and plastic surgical resident are magicians.  They make new smiles and transform lives.  In addition to their plastic surgery skills they are a friendly and fun group. 

We have two dentists, who are a joy to work with as well.  This morning when I visited the patient ward I found them holding a huge plastic set of teeth and a large tooth brush teaching the children how to brush their teeth.  I took some pictures and can’t wait to show my dentist father. Our OR nurses and recovery room nurses are all Rotaplast mission veterans and it is fun hearing their stories from prior missions. I work closely with our two recovery room nurses Erin and Ellen who are caring, experienced and focused on our patients.  Assuring that our patients are safely cared for immediately after their operations as they recover from the anesthetic. 

Carolyn and Frank Walchak are our incredible head nurse and medical director. Carolyn has the difficult job of keeping everything in order -  balancing as much as we can for the patients and doing it safely.  She is a master.   She and Jim Pinnell (Yakima Rotary) are calming a patient prior to surgery, below.

The non-medical team is a great group led by Steve Altmayer from the Yakima, Washington Rotary. They add so much to the team dynamics and compassionate patient care.   Most of our volunteers are from District 5060 in Washington and Canada.  We also have one Rotarian, Jo Kuchle, from North Pole, Alaska.

I just love being here. Meeting and speaking with the children and their families is the highlight of each day.  The children and the families are friendly and love when we spend time speaking with them and taking their pictures.  The women in their colorful dresses fill the wards with beautiful colors.  Coming here and meeting these families who have no money in their pocket and struggle in ways I can’t imagine shows me that all parents are they same- we all love our children. The children we are operating on have an additional hurdle and the work this team is doing is transforming the lives of these children and their families.  It is an honor being part of this – while we miss our families (and our air conditioners!) we know our families are supportive of this effort and a significant part of our motivation to come so far and work so hard.

 

 

 

All is Well in Udaipur - Surgeries have begun!

The Rotaplast team was reminded why they have left family and friends  when surgery began on a warm morning at the hospital. 

Asha was the first patient in surgery. (She is standing next to her mother in father in the picture below.)  Her repairs were performed by a team of trained medical pros.  Her lovely quilt, donated by a woman from Spokane, Washington, was as bright as her face waking up in Recovery to learn, that yes, her lip had been repaired.

 

 

 
Throughout the next few days more and more similar stories will be videoed, and photographed to share throughout the Rotaplast community when we return.

 
 

It was been a challenging trip because of distance, extreme heat, and cultural dissimilarities between India and the Western countries represented on this trip.  Yet at the same time, there is no question that the mission is the same for all involved.  That mission is helping the children of Udaipur.

 

Seven month old Jyoti (above in a before photo with Dist 5060 DGN Doug Everett)  may never remember her time with the Rotaplast team.  The good news is she will never remember when she had a cleft lip.  Her repair was another success story of this visit.

 

Here was the first “Rotaplast Moment” for me on this trip.  As the team was leaving the hospital, a young patient we treated was being discharged.  The entire family was walking out with us.  The patriarch of the family shook my hand  (photojournalist Tom from Dist 5060)) – even though there were surgeons next to me!  Then, he said something to the patient and to her brother , and they bowed down before me and touched my shoes.  This is – obviously – a sign of submission and of great respect.   I was very moved by the level of contrition, honor and thankfulness they were offering.

 

Rotaplast teams are the happiest when they are busy at work.   The week ahead will be filled with more happy smiles – from Rotarians, doctors, nurses, dentists, speech therapist, and especially from the children and families. While we miss family and friends, we are honored to be part of work community service at it’s finest. 

 

Because of all of you -  supporting, sending up good wishes and prayers, and being able to let your favorite nurse, physician, speech therapist, dentist, or Rotarian travel far far away for two weeks – some wonderful new smiles are being shared in Udaipur, India.

 From the children of India, and from everyone on the team, we want to say, “thank you!” - Please also note that everyone is working and well.  We had a wonderful cultural exchange program at the Udaipur Rotary Club Sunday night.   Internet is a bit touch and go at our hotel.  Again we are grateful the hospital for allowing us to update from their computer system!

 

Patient Safety comes First!

 
Before surgery begins, Rotaplast physicians and nurses gather to make sure that patient safety is the number one concern.

 

Dr. Fred Mihm – anesthesia director for the Udaipur Rotaplast team – led an hour long discussion with nursing and medical staff right in operating room one.

 

“What do we do if there is a loss of power?”

 

“What do we do if there is excess bleeding?”

“What do we do if a patient codes (stops breathing)?”

 

“What happens if we need a blood transfusion, can we get that in our local hospital?”

 

These were the kinds of questions the staff discussed.  Nurses and doctors learn from each other.  They refresh their skills, and share what has happened on other missions.

 Special thanks to the administrative staff at Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital for alllowing our photojournalist to post to the Rotaplast blog from their offices.  Just another fine example of how warm and gracious the staff have been to the Rotaplast visitors.

This focus on safety is one thing that Rotaplast team members, and supporters should be very proud to proclaim:

 

Patient safety comes first.

 

 

Udaipur Rotary Greets Rotaplast Team

 

What a night in Udaipur!  After a successful screening clinic, the Rotaplast Team was invited to the Rotary House near the lakeshore in this lovely city.

 
There was a formal greeting, similar to what the team received on arrival at the hotel earlier in the visit.

 The team then received special greetings from the club at the start of the meeting.

 

Rotary in India includes lighting an incense candle in honor of those observant Hindu members of the club.  Our team leader, Steve Altmayer, was given the honor of assisting to light the opening candles.

 

Rotary  District Governor Elect for District 3050 (India)  Mr. Ratnesh Kashyap, met with Team member Doug Everett who is the District Governor Nominee for District 5060. 

Mr. Kashyap told the club that the Rotaplast visit sponsored in part by District 5060, was motivating the Udaipur Club and his District to sponsor another Rotaplast visit in 2013.

 

Gifts were exchange, as is the Rotary Tradition -  Tom Lathen, Sunnyside Daybreak Rotary presented an heirloom book of Rotary History – published in 1955 – as a gift from his club.

 

After a long day of clinic, it was evident that Rotarians, and team members were tired, so good nights were offered, and the team retired for the evening to prepare for another day of surgery.  However, it was also evident that the cultural exchange between India,  Canada, and US  (Rotaplast team members) was a significant part of the success of this visit.

 

 

A Giant Step Toward a New Smile

Rotaplast patients are very special children.  They come to the opening day clinic frightened by all the sights and sounds of these strangers from far away.  But, the smiles and the warmth of our volunteer Rotarians, Physicians, Nurses and Dental team quickly melt through to the children.   Bonds form rapidly, and as our team works the little ones begin to trust.  

The opening day clinic is that first giant step toward healing.  The first day clinic in Udaipur say 41 children screened for potential surgery. 

The children and their parents wait patiently (while OK, some of the children are pretty eager, or nervous) but happy parents have been known to come from miles away and wait patiently for their turn to meet with the surgeons, pediatricians and anesthesia teams. 

While our first little infant was just to young for the rigors of surgery, many of the children seen on opening day will be treated here in the days ahead.  That is the good news we travel to give, and that is the good news that parents want to hear too.   Doctors look pretty big and scary from a child's point of view. 

Udaipur is a warm place in so many ways. The weather right now is warm.  The people are warm and welcoming.  From hospital staff, parents, bus drivers, hotel staff, we know we have come to a place that appreciates the distance that Rotaplast has come to deliver smiles. 

First time volunteers Jo (left) and Jean, got a glimpse of what is ahead during surgery days, when they put on scrubs and toured the OR. 

A Rotary Welcome in Udaipur

The "royal welcome" the Rotaplast team received in Udaipur Wednesday afternoon, quickly brightened road weary hearts.

The Udaipur Rotary Club has been preparing for the Rotaplast arrival for months, and that was evident by the enthusiasm to which we were welcomed.   Scott , the other Scott , Nurse Carolyn, and QuarterMaster Tom posed for a welcome photo. (Above.)

Our transfer to Udaipur took well over 24 hours.  We rested where we could.

Nothing could have been more perfect than the hospitality of our Udaipur friends, to prepare us for the days of clinic and surgery that are ahead.  We are all so happy to be in Udaipur and ready to go to work. 

Clinic begins later this morning and we know that the combined work of the Udaipur Rotary Club and the Rotaplast volunteers will bring many more smiles to the children of Udaipur in the days ahead. 

Our accommodations are very nice.  The food is terrific.  At this writing all are well and anxious to get down to business.   As you can see from the photo above, there is tremendous local support for our mission, and together we will be a great Rotaplast team helping the children of this city and surrounding villages.