Rotaplast Missions

Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 10 - Final Scheduled Day of Surgeries and Recognition Day

On the final scheduled day of surgery, the Rotaplast Lima medical team performed as many cleft lip and palate surgeries and procedures as they possibly could. Once again, we heard the inspirational stories of travel and sacrifice by families who brought their children to Lima to undergo life changing surgery. The Rotaplast team, lead by Mission Director Barbara Saffer, gave thanks to the administration and staff of the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza for their gracious hospitality and support during our two-week mission. Later, the Rotary Club Rimac hosted a goodbye dinner for the Rotaplast Lima team. 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 9 - Communication is Key

The Lima Rotaplast team operated on many more cleft lip and palate repair cases today. We've enjoyed serving as many children and adults as possible, but we know our time here is coming to a close. So, as we look at patients one more time in rounds before check out, we hope to leave them with proper counsel on recovery and next steps. Communication is key. 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 8 - Ebb and Flow

The Rotaplast Lima team completed another incredible day of surgeries with multiple cleft lip and palate procedures on patients young and old. 

As the surgery schedule proceeds at a brisk pace, the post-op wards are busy maintaining a balance of patients coming in and patients going out. Thanks to the coordinated work of our medical volunteers, the ebb and flow of patients (and happy parents) seems to be as swift, and yet calm, as the Peruvian coastline. 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 7 - Circle of Care

 Circle of  Care

Parents are naturally nervous about the upcoming procedure to be performed on their child. But, when they meet our  volunteer medical and non-medical staff and go through our circle of care, their concerns are put to ease.

Dr. Marlene Salas-Provance consults a parent on changes in speech production after her child's surgery.

Families that have traveled long distances and patiently waited for their child's scheduled surgery are feeling relieved. The opportunity to change the life of their child has arrived.

Our sensational medical team continued with their robust surgery schedule. The results throughout the day were fantastic. 

Reunited

Recovery Bound

Meet Katy Wetterstrand

Say hello to Katy Wetterstrand, one of our many non-medical volunteers joining us in Peru. Katie is serving as our instrument sterilizer. She comes to us from Paso Robles, California - the "other" wine country. She's been a Rotarian for about 13 years and has taken teams to India and Nigeria for polio eradication. Katie has a daughter who is a travel nurse, specializing in Labor & Delivery. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 6 - Giving Hands & Giving Hearts

Our third surgery day was by far the most productive. Many children and adults were able to receive corrective surgery for cleft lip and palate anomalies.

For a volunteer, whether this is your 1st or 25th mission, you begin to see by the third day that the team synergy is rolling and it's not going to stop. Not until the last patient is released to go home.  

Anyone who watches the surgeries can see the remarkable exchange between the pediatrician and the parents or the interaction between the speech pathologist and the patient. You become aware that giving hands and giving hearts are in full motion. It's humbling. It makes you proud of the entire Rotaplast Lima team. 

 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 5 - Making a Difference

After an amazing first day of surgeries, the Rotaplast Lima team arrived early at the hospital to take on more cases. Medical Director, Dr. Dennis Dundas, summed up Day 1 while looking forward to Day 2. "The first day  is always hard because it's the first time for the surgical teams. It takes a little to get know each other's routines. So we had a challenging day, but ultimately it was successful. Today, I anticipate a smoother ride as we transition into a normal working pace. Again, with great results in mind. We are making a difference."

Morning Rounds

Before taking on new cases, the medical team made morning rounds to check on yesterday's patients. 

Say hello to volunteer Catherine Flechsig

Kate, is our patient transporter (and play-with-the-kids) volunteer, She comes to us from Michigan where she is working on her masters degree in public health. Thank you for all you do Kate! 

 Pediatric Ward

  

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 4 - Ready to Change Lives!

"Hi Mijael, we're ready for you!" said anesthesiologist, Dr. Jonathan Khersonsky. His warm greeting to his 7-year-old patient set the tone for what became a long, but successful day of surgeries performed by our outstanding surgical team.  Enthusiasm and "can do" spirit ruled the day as one patient after another rolled away from the OR to the Post-Op wards with successfully completed procedures. Yet, as we met patients and parents with our hands and hearts extended, it was still tough for many to overcome the emotions connected with having a loved-one go off to surgery. 

 

Mijael, is ready to go to surgery with Dr. Jonathan Khersonsky and OR nurse, Gina Brown.

 

 

Meet Alexander

One of the first patients on the schedule was a 1-year and 5-month-old boy named, Alexander. His parents, Jose and  Carla, leaned nervously against the hallway door that leads to the operating rooms and watched Alexander enter into our care. "It's hard not to be nervous about what is going on at this time," said Jose. But, mixed feelings soon gave way to joy as Clara and Andrew exited the PACU in good spirits on their way to the post-op ward.

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 3 - Clinic Day

Day 3 - Once we arrived at the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza in mid-town, Lima, our team set its sites on screening as many candidates suitable for surgery as possible. This process typically involves checking/registering each potential patient, taking pre-surgery photographs, getting vital signs, a medical history, and determining if a patient is fit for surgery. Our surgeons counseled parents on the children who qualified for surgery and offered a surgical plan. We registered and pre-screened over 100 candidates, and after discussions with the surgical team and hospital administrators, it was decided that 75 would be scheduled for surgery. It was a long day, but the team is really looking forward to getting into the OR rooms tomorrow. 

 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 2 - Getting Started in Lima, Peru

Our first full day in Lima, started with breakfast at the Hotel Colon in the Mira Flores district. The team conducted break-out meetings led by Mission Director, Barbara Saffer and Head Nurse, Sharron Newton. 

We traveled by bus to the Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayzo in central Lima. Medical Director, Dr. Alexander Espinoza Vargas welcomed our team to the sprawling medical campus. We toured the clinic's day facilities, operating rooms and patient wards that will become our place of work over the next 10 days. The Rotary Club El Rimac invited us to a wonderful lunch event. Looking forward to Clinic Day tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures from our great start. 

 

 

 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

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Lima, Peru 2014 - Day 1 - Travel to Peru

Hello from Lima, Peru! My name is Mike McGuffin. I am the photojournalist for the Rotaplast mission to Lima.  I invite you to join us each day and view the posted images and comments reflecting the transformational work being done by our incredible volunteer medical team and support staff.  

The Lima team consists of 18 medical and 9 non-medical volunteers. Dr. Dennis Dundas is the Medical Director and Barbara Saffer is the Mission Director. Both are experienced Rotaplast volunteers. 

Today, was the team "travel day". Watching the handshakes and hugs, it was nice to see so many volunteers from past trips reunite as if it were old home week. There are several "first-timer" volunteers  (like me) who are eager to get started.

We're glad to have, Parvin Carter, an orthodontist from Redding, CA,  joing us in Peru. Parvin is volunteering as the Ward Coordinator. 

 

Anesthesiologist, Dr. Neil Bailard greets one of our volunteer OR nurses, Gina Brown, at Houston International Airport.

 

As we arrived in Lima, we were met by the Rotary Club El Rimac. We're looking forward to visiting the hospital tomorrow and preparing for Clinic Day. 

Are you interested in donating to Rotaplast to support volunteer medical missions and change lives?  You can donate online via Rotaplast's secure payment system. You can also call the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111.

Donate Now