2008 Cebu City, Philippines
Day One
Cebu City, Philippines
The Cebu 2008 Mission Team has arrived in Cebu City. The Philippine Airlines steward on the 747 flight from San Francisco to Manila noticed we were some kind of team (22 navy blazers, white shirts, and tan... Read More »
Day Two
Cebu City, Philippines
This morning we ate a huge and tasty breakfast in the hotel, and then walked a block or so via a pedestrian bridge to the Vincente Sotto Medical Center where we'll be working for the next week. A coupl... Read More »
Clinic Day at the Tian Sian Temple
Cebu City, Philippines
After another excellent breakfast at the Midtown Hotel, the Rotarians took us in a mini-bus to the clinic site across the bridge, about a ten minute drive from the hotel. Having visited the site the... Read More »
First Operating Day
Cebu City, Philippines
Today I was part of 12 little miracles that took place in an unassuming hospital called Vincente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, which was founded in 1913 in the heart of Cebu City. The transport tea... Read More »
Reception with the Governor, Gwen Garcia, at Government House
Cebu City, Philippines
After a full day operating, we all rushed off to Government House to dine with the Governor. What a reception we received. The wide approach to the building’s portal was lined with young people, dressed ... Read More »
A Day Off!
Cebu City, Philippines
The Cebu City Rotary Port club provided a mini-bus and a guide (Edwin, AKA Al) to show us some of the sights of Cebu. We crossed the bridge to Mactan to visit the site of Magellan’s death by Lapu-Lapu an... Read More »
One New Smile Coming Up!
Cebu City, Philippines
One of our patients and dad – both very excited for their big day. Read More »
Second Operating Day
Cebu City, Philippines
There was excitement in the hospital with a visit from the governor, the lovely Gwen Garcia. For a busy politician, she had plenty of time for the many babies, children, and parents she stopped to comfort ... Read More »
Day 3 in the Operating Room
Cebu City, Philippines
Early morning rounds in the ward saw all of Monday’s patients discharged except three who will stay another day. The ward was immensely busy, with parents and children eating, being treated, being discha... Read More »
Operating Day 4
Cebu City, Philippines
This morning Rosalie handed me a pin with the words “A smile lasts forever” surrounding the Rotary wheel. There was a quote on the backing paper that really brings home what a Rotaplast Mission... Read More »
Operating Day Five
Cebu City, Philippines
The walls of the “Conference Room” at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu are plastered with cute drawings from the patients. The volunteer Rotarians working in the ward had handed out co... Read More »
Starry Starry Smile
Cebu City, Philippines
This morning little Jesimiel Lopez was scheduled to have a cleft lip repair. Nurse Sandy was helping him become familiar with the anesthesia mask. He was having such a good time blowing into the mask, she ... Read More »
Rotarians on the team
Cebu City, Philippines
The non-medical Rotaplast team members in Cebu – all Rotarians – fill roles necessary to the success of the mission. One role that can be stressful if things go wrong is that of Quartermaster. Our QM, ... Read More »
On the Ward
Cebu City, Philippines
The Children’s Survival Center is the building used as a ward for the Rotaplast patients. It is divided by curtains into a pre-op and a post-op area, with a central nursing station. It’s a busy, noisy ... Read More »
Medical Records
Cebu City, Philippines
Consuelo is our medical records keeper. She describes her job: "I keep all the records in order and change the skeds when necessary. I also audit the anaesthesia records. The last day is always hardes... Read More »
Thanks Cebu City Port Center Rotarians and Partners
Cebu City, Philippines
Last night the Rotary Club of Cebu Port Center, our superb hosts during our stay here in Cebu, had a few surprises for us. It was the wind-down night, where certificates and plaques were presented to the k... Read More »
Anesthesia and Rotaplast
Cebu City, Philippines
The anesthesiologists, Sarah, Steve, Helen, and Denise (pictured) often experience difficulties that they might not have to face back home in the USA. Denise explains: My major challenge is in making the k... Read More »
Orthodontist, Dr. Rosie
Cebu City, Philippines
"We start our day setting up the dental tables to check each patient who comes in. We need to check the dentation of each patient. Some of them have been scheduled for extractions, so we have to make ... Read More »
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Over the course of seven days, approximately 48 patients, ranging in age from just three months to 78 years old, are scheduled for various procedures, including cleft lip and palate repairs, as well as bur... Read More »
Day 2: Pre-surgical clini...
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The mission starts with a full-day of patient evaluations in a pre-surgical clinic. The surgeons, pediatricians and nurses evaluate each patient to determine whether the patient will be a good candidate fo... Read More »