2009 Oaxaca, Mexico
Greetings from Dr. Frank Leake, Mission Director
Oaxaca, Mexico
Rotary District 5130 is very excited about our Rotaplast mission to Oaxaca, the capital city in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, January 15-25, 2009. Although it’s the fourth mission to Oaxaca for Rotaplast ... Read More »
Arrival in Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Mexico
The sun is shining in Oaxaca on our band of 15 medical and 11 nonmedical volunteers as we spend a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sights and flavors of this beautiful city. Our overnight flight went quit... Read More »
Pre-operation clinic
Oaxaca, Mexico
The bright morning sun flooded through the huge skylight shining on about 60 families gathered for our pre-operation clinic. It was beautiful to see moms and dads together holding their babies along with b... Read More »
Meet Eladia and Luis
Oaxaca, Mexico
When Eladia brought her son Luis into the pre-op clinic, she caught the attention of the staff because she, too, had a cleft lip and palate. Three-year old Luis’ cleft lip had been treated two years by a... Read More »
Simple idea, big results
Oaxaca, Mexico
Sometimes a simple idea turns out to have major rewards. Such was the case during the last Rotary District 5130 mission to Guatemala. David Mark-Raymond of the Sebastopol Sunrise Club was the lead steriliz... Read More »
Emotions X 3
Oaxaca, Mexico
There are a few intense moments in the patients' flow from pre-op clinic through the post-op final exam. One of the most delicate is the hand-off from mom or dad to the operating room nurse. Pri... Read More »
New Smiles Courtesy of Rotaplast
Oaxaca, Mexico
As the mission progresses we begin to see the successes. Faces of fear and anticipation, punctuated by untreated clefts are transformed by the skill of our medical team and supporting volunteers. Each of u... Read More »
A Volunteer’s Perspective
Oaxaca, Mexico
It was a beautiful day when we arrived at 7:30 AM from our bumpy bus trip from Oaxaca City. Our patient transfer group felt very confident as we had a very good idea of where the important places, people, ... Read More »
View From The Quartermasters
Oaxaca, Mexico
It is always with a certain amount of excitement and trepidation that one approaches a new Rotaplast Mission. Unknown conditions, a new country, an unfamiliar hospital and a whole newly configured t... Read More »
Moms and Morphine
Oaxaca, Mexico
Months or even years of anticipation lead up to the day for surgery. Some families have traveled up to eight hours by bus to reach the hospital. Once the surgeon, anesthesiologist and OR nurses have comple... Read More »
Remember Eladia?
Oaxaca, Mexico
Remember Eladia and Luis from the other day? Well, first off, her name is Hilaria. It was very difficult to understand her speech due to her cleft palate. You may have noticed that in the photo she is not ... Read More »
Farewell
Oaxaca, Mexico
As the last child was seen in the post-op clinic we were all filled with a sense of satisfaction and joy from helping so many children with cleft anomalies. We will be leaving this delightful ... Read More »
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