2014 New Delhi, India

Nov 17, 2014

We have arrived!

New Delhi, India

The mission begins. Arriving at the San Francisco airport international terminal midday on Sunday it was easy to spot the Rotaplast volunteers in our navy blue and khaki. On this rare day it was twice as e... Read More »

Nov 19, 2014

Day 1: Opening clinic

New Delhi, India

Today’s the day we’ve been waiting for. Up early, on the bus for a 6:30am rollout so we can set up for the opening day clinic and be ready to welcome our first patient at 8:00. Clinic day can b... Read More »

Nov 20, 2014

Day 2: Surgery begins

New Delhi, India

Gunnu, an adorable, shy five-year old had the honor of being our first patient of the mission. She is the youngest of four children in the family and the only one with a cleft anomaly. The family moved to ... Read More »

Nov 21, 2014

Comments from the Quartermaster: Part I

New Delhi, India

It is indeed an honor to once again return to Rotaplast after an absence of several years. I am truly in awe of the amazing level of dedication each and every team member exhibits on a daily basis. I must Read More »

Nov 21, 2014

Our first new smiles

New Delhi, India

Gunnu was awake this morning and was understandably a bit sore but ready to show off the results of her surgery. By the closing clinic next Friday, the swelling will be down and the blood will be cleaned u... Read More »

Nov 22, 2014

Day 4: More beautiful results

New Delhi, India

At this point in the mission we are concentrating on young children with previously untreated cleft lips. The results are incredible. Immediately following surgery, their repaired lips are unswollen and cl... Read More »

Nov 23, 2014

Comments from the Quartermaster: Part II

New Delhi, India

After the initial mad rush at the hospital to move, store, and organize our equipment….set up the operating rooms, and prepare for the opening screening clinic….the days settle into the surgery schedul... Read More »

Nov 24, 2014

Meet the Team

New Delhi, India

Our New Delhi team is an awesome group of 13 top notch medical professionals and 8 eager non-medical volunteers. We’re an international blend with many seasoned Rotaplast masters, some with over 20 m... Read More »

Nov 25, 2014

Day 6

New Delhi, India

Krishna is a 22-month-old beauty with big, expressive eyes. Her family lives only a few kilometers away from the hospital where her father works as a motorcycle mechanic. Krishna is their only child. They ... Read More »

Nov 26, 2014

This is Thanksgiving

New Delhi, India

When I woke up this morning, I realized  with dismay, that I had only 3 antimalarial pills left:  my trip was almost over! A trip to India was not in my plans this year. However, when the opportunity pre... Read More »

Nov 26, 2014

Comments from the Quartermaster: Part III

New Delhi, India

Through the course of each day, I develop a list of items that the team medical staff needs…or individual team members require. This usually means an adventure into the local markets to acquire theses tr... Read More »

Nov 26, 2014

Crafted with love

New Delhi, India

As children are admitted for surgery, they are each given a lovingly handcrafted, colorful quilt. It will comfort them from pre-op, into the operating room and recovery, then home. Quilters around the US a... Read More »

Nov 27, 2014

A Day for Thanks

New Delhi, India

Four-thirty am: The hotel room is quiet except for the whir of the ceiling fan and an occasional horn honk from the Delhi-Agra Road. Within an hour the melodic morning call-to-prayer will float in from the... Read More »

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