Posts from 2019
When you’re smiling (the whole world smiles with you)
Narnaul, India
“Clinic Day”, our last day on the mission, is where patients come back for follow-up medical appointments post-surgery. As access to health care in developing countries is minimal, patients ensure they... Read More »
Better Together
Narnaul, India
We are fortunate to have some very special non-medical volunteers on this mission who are also highly skilled medical professionals. PACU Assistant Ligaya Agustin and Patient Coordinator Deborah Dean are... Read More »
Wrap your arms around me
Narnaul, India
Wrap a Smile: Our bodies are designed to tightly control our internal temperature, no matter what the external temperature is. This natural regulation is called thermoregulation. Our core temperature hol... Read More »
When I see you smile
Narnaul, India
A typical day on a mission starts with doctors/surgeons performing rounds on patients in the ward, those who have had surgeries and those who are scheduled for the current day. The ward is not quiet, with ... Read More »
A Whole New World
Narnaul, India
Stats about Cleft Lips and Palates: Doctors don’t always know why a baby develops a cleft, though some may be related to genetic or inherited factors. Some environmental factors can increase the risk... Read More »
One Step Closer
Narnaul, India
Clinic day is a special day, on every mission. It’s the day we get to meet the patients, hear their stories, learn more about their culture and eat more of their food. I have to be honest, we have be... Read More »
Come Fly with Me
Narnaul, India
33 hours! That’s right, 33 hours of travel time to get the team from San Francisco to Narnaul India. The team of 16 brought with them 32 boxes carrying over 500 lbs of medical equipment including surgi... 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 »
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 »
Latest From Around The World
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 »