2018 Chittagong, Bangladesh

Jan 10, 2018

Day One and Two – Chittagong Crew Arrives!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Our Rotaplast crew met in San Francisco full of excitement and anticipation!  We loaded up on an Emirates A380 Airbus and landed 15 hours later in Dubai; the flight was was very smooth, the flight attenda... Read More »

Jan 11, 2018

Day 3 – First Clinic Day!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Our excited 2018 Chittagong Team left for the hospital at 6:30 am. We were greeted by a large colorful group of families! Potential Patients! The people are lovely and friendly! Karen Davis, Pediatric Nurs... Read More »

Jan 12, 2018

Day 4 – First Day of Surgery!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

After much anticipation, surgery begins!  Our first patient, Sha hitches a ride from Head Nurse Sandra Swiatek, of Pennsylvania, into the OR… Nishu travelled 5 hours by bus to have plastic surgery t... Read More »

Jan 14, 2018

Day 5 – Surgery Day 2!!!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Dr. Ron Gemberling of El Granada, CA, led the day’s first surgery with a cleft palate procedure.  Dr. Gemberling is an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University; he is a member of ... Read More »

Jan 15, 2018

Day 6 – Surgery Day 3

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Team work – Dr. Worland performing the final surgery of the day, a contracture release, Dr. Solis harvesting the skin graft, Dr. Gemberling and Head Nurse Sandy observe the procedure, releasing a co... Read More »

Jan 15, 2018

Day 7 – Mohammad’s Big Day!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

I met the most adorable boy, Mohammad who is 8 years old.  Mohammad had an accident about 13 months ago, he tripped and fell into a pot of hot cooking oil.  Most families living in rural areas cook their... Read More »

Jan 17, 2018

Day 8 – Surgeries continue we meet Pakhi!

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Pakhi is a delightful 6 year old with a severe wide cleft lip.  He is one of 7 children and his father is a rickshaw driver.  Pakhi’s family lives in the village nearby the Southern Medical Colleg... Read More »

Jan 22, 2018

Day 9 – So many burn victims

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Sharmin has an elbow contracture from a kitchen burn requiring surgery.  She is unable to move her left arm.  Dr. Worland performs surgery, including a skin graft to allow freedom of movement. A local do... Read More »

Jan 24, 2018

Our Team says farewell for now

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Our team says goodbye to our patients, Rotary and Rotaract partners. Meet more of our team volunteers – Brian Walker, our Mission Director and Quartermaster – Brian made this difficult job look... Read More »

Jan 24, 2018

Day 10 – Last day of surgeries

Chittagong, Bangladesh

It is easy to see the compassion and caring in Dr. Melissa Rinck.  On this day, she performed a tooth extraction in the OR as this child is also having surgery. On this mission, Dr. Rinck has completed ma... Read More »

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