2009 Oaxaca, Mexico

Dec 22, 2008

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 »

Jan 16, 2009

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 »

Jan 18, 2009

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 »

Jan 19, 2009

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 »

Jan 20, 2009

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 »

Jan 20, 2009

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 »

Jan 21, 2009

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 »

Jan 21, 2009

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 »

Jan 22, 2009

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 »

Jan 23, 2009

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 »

Jan 24, 2009

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 »

Jan 25, 2009

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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