Posts from Past Missions

Day 7- Working day off

Medellin, Colombia

This is Sunday and our only day off during this mission.  However, the surgeons still had rounds to make at the hospital to check on patients that were admitted for the night.  There were four of them. Samuel- Photos: Dr.

Day 6- Giving people a voice

Medellin, Colombia

It amazes me how we have had rain every night we are here but it has cleared up by breakfast.  It seems mother nature is watering all these beautiful plants while we sleep.  Some of us got up extra early

Day 5- Shedding happy tears

Medellin, Colombia

We arrived later than normal to the hospital due to COVID testing of our team (at 7:30am).  We were surprised, and a bit guilty, when we entered to a round of applause from the patients scheduled for surgery who were

Day 4- Making waiting fun

Medellin, Colombia

Even though we arrived at the hospital at 6:30am, we have one patient here already waiting for his surgery.  After setting up, I accompanied the doctors on their rounds this morning checking on the five patients that were admitted after

Day 3- Changing lives

Medellin, Colombia

Early mornings are starting to feel normal now.  When we showed up at the hospital at 6:30am, we already have a line forming outside of parents and children I recognize from clinic days.  They were excited and hopeful for their

Day 2- Double duty: clinic & surgeries

Medellin, Colombia

The day started with another early breakfast and on the bus to the hospital at 6:15am.  Upon arrival, everyone got right to work setting up our different areas.  Notice the picture of Roger Schulte proudly displayed on the medical records

Day 1- Clinic Day, Decisions to be made

Medellin, Colombia

We began the morning bright and early with breakfast at 5:30am with a quick meeting to follow.  Then we boarded a bus around 6:30am and took a 15-minute ride to Hospital General de Medellin.  After checking in with security, we

Travel day for some, work for others- Sunday

Medellin, Colombia

This is a dedicated group of volunteers with service hearts.  They jumped through hoops and dealt with troublesome websites getting all the paperwork done for their Visas and immigration but never gave up.  Our team has come from Northern California,

The Roger Schulte “100 Sonrisas” Rotaplast 2022 Mission to Colombia

Medellin, Colombia

This Rotaplast mission is dedicated to the great humanitarian, Roger Schulte who passed away on Monday, July 18 after his courageous battle with ALS ended.  This member of the Rotary Club of Upland, California had a passion for the mission

Day 6 – Going Home

After breakfast, several team members met with Dr. Elizondo to discuss the mission and future opportunities for Rotaplast to work with them.  He expressed thanks to the Rotaplast team for coming and assisting them on the mission.  In total, 36

Day 5 – Last Day of Surgery

Several more surgeries were performed on this last day. Perhaps one of the most under-rated, yet most valuable aspects of surgery is that of anesthesia.  On television and in the movies, the anesthesiologist sits idly behind the surgeon, seemingly playing

Day 4 – Third Day of Surgery

After breakfast the team trekked down the hill to the hospital for another day of surgery.  By now everyone was familiar with the local partners and things were really clicking.  Though the mission was much slower paced than what is

Day 3 – Second Day of Surgery

The team performed several cleft palate surgeries.  Due to the limited size of the team, as well as that of the local nursing staff, scrub technicians were substituted by mostly local medical students.  In addition to Loubette, who was previous

Day 2 – First Day of Surgery

The team enjoyed a good Mexican breakfast before walking to the hospital, which was located a convenient block and a half away from the hotel. Arriving a hospital, the team met other Casa Azul volunteers, along with the hospital medical

Casa Azul – Day 1

After meeting in Dallas / Fort Worth, the team traveled to Monterrey, arrived in the evening, and were met by Dr. Elizondo and two local medical students.  After securing a rental van for transportation, the team traveled into the city

First Mission With Casa Azul

After 18 months of Covid restrictions, Rotaplast returns, cautiously, to international service work. On Wednesday, November 3rd, a carefully selected, fully vaccinated team, joined up at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and proceeded to Monterrey, Mexico for a brief five-day

Rotaplast Summer 2021 Newsletter

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  Click on the Newsletter image below to view the Summer 2021 Newsletter

Rotaplast Update – June 2021

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Loss of a Great One, Joe Grasso

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It is with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of Phillip Joseph Grasso on March 28, 2021. Since 2008 Joe has devoted his time, talent and treasure to Rotaplast which became his passion and for him another

Passing of Rotarian Bent Harder

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It is with great sorrow to inform of the passing on February 10, 2021 of Bent Harder. Bent devoted his time and money to six Rotaplast missions in Venezuela, China, El Salvador, Peru and the Philippines. He was a dedicated