2018 Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Day 1 – Thinking outside of boxes
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
There are no words to describe a mother’s anguish knowing her child is born with a birth defect like a cleft lip and/or palate. Although it is more common in developing countries, these young mothers... Read More »
Day 2 and 3 – A picture worth a thousand words
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
After a 30 hour journey from San Francisco, the team enjoyed a quiet evening of Myanmar cuisine, team bonding and jet lag recovery. Day 2 started with the entire Rotaplast team, including local medical sta... Read More »
Day 4 – Transformers
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
The day the team has been waiting for, the first surgical day. We arrive at the hospital early to ensure both operating rooms are set up and medical supplies are properly stored for easy access. Following ... Read More »
Day 5 – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
A surgical team is made up of at least a surgeon, an anesthesiologist and a scrub and circulating nurse. A cleft lip surgery usually spans about 45 minutes and a palate about 90 minutes. A typical ... Read More »
Day 6 – Time
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Warning: this article includes graphic images some readers may find disturbing. “Time is the most valuable thing that a man can spend.” – Diogenes Laërtius We are here as volunteers, giving... Read More »
Day 7 – The shoe that grows
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Many of the volunteers on the mission belong to other non-profit organizations. Diana, our medical records keeper, introduced us, and the kids of the mission, to The Shoe that Grows https://theshoethat... Read More »
Day 8 – Happy New Year and Happy Birthday
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
The start of a new year brings new beginnings and a hope for better things to come. Sometimes, it’s a blessing because we may have suffered loss throughout the year and want for a fresh start. And so... Read More »
Day 9 – Never Never Land
Naypyitaw, Myanmar
Netherlands Rotary is a major sponsor of this mission. Not only did they provide the mission with financial support, they provided the mission with volunteer support with Marianne Koebrugge, Marie-Jose d... Read More »
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Stories from the Ward
Faridabad, India
A teenage girl with burn contractures on her wrist, elbow, and knee from an untreated accident as a baby arrived at the clinic with her sister, both burdened by exhaustion and hesitant to trust. They were ... Read More »
Dental Care & Cleft ...
Faridabad, India
Cleft lip and palate deformities can result from genetic disorders or syndromes. As technology and databases improve, our understanding of genetic markers and risk factors for these conditions continues to... Read More »