Thousand Smiles gives
help where its needed most
Also see http://www.thousandsmiles.org
Dr. Howard Tobin and Cosmetic Surgical Center anesthetist
Robert Laird recently returned from their annual visit to Encinada,
Mexico, where they participated in the Rotary International sponsored
cleft palate surgery clinic headed by California maxillofacial
surgeon, Jeff Moses. It is a touching story off commitment in
which the givers truly feel that they receive far more than they
give.
Since initially volunteering four years ago, Dr. Tobin has
returned yearly in February to join this massive effort of humanity
and goodwill. Joined by his wife Gail, and more recently by Laird,
this year the group also included Robert,s daughter Beth who
assisted in a number of roles from food handler to OR assistant.
Gail, who has been present from the start has undertaken jobs
ranging from instrument sterilization to food preparation as
well as clothing distribution and patient guide. While Dr. Tobin
carried out cleft lip and palate surgery years ago, his current
role focuses on nasal surgery, which is common in children with
cleft lip and palate deformity.
While the surgeons often get the focus of attention, the work
would not be possible without the massive cooperative effort
that goes with the project. Within the course of a few hours,
an almost empty Red Cross building is converted into a rather
bare bones, but fully functional operating room and dental clinic.
Truck loads of equipment are brought it and set up in a very
short time. While the project looks like total confusion, everyone
seems to know his job and very quickly hundreds of patients are
been seen and screened for treatment.
Children are provided routine dental treatment -- often totally
lacking. They undergo hearing tests and speech evaluation. While
at the clinic, they are fed and provided with clothing and toys.
Many of them travel thousands of miles to attend the clinic,
which is entirely free.
The next day, surgery is carried out in five operating areas
that have been fully equipped with donated equipment that, while
not the most modern, is fully functional. Three of the operating
theaters are in a common room. The other two are set up in tiny
offices which are hardly bigger than closets. The nurses, anesthetists
and doctors work in conditions that far more resemble a MASH
unit than the typical U.S. operating room, but there is a spirit
of cooperation that exceeds most any seen at home. Whatever is
lacking is more than made up for in ingenuity. Local doctors
are recruited look after the children after surgery, and also
are provided training so that they can eventually take over part
of the care.
Dr. Moses, who heads up the surgical team, makes four trips
a year, and has a list of surgeons who are anxiously awaiting
vacancies. While the list grows, he reports that it is difficult
to work in new surgeons, since the ones who have come before
keep returning over and over. Certainly Tobin and Laird exemplify
this commitment. Before the trip was over, they were already
planning next years visit.
While not all the volunteers are from Rotary, certainly the
international service club deserves high credit for all the work
they have done in making this Thousand Smiles project the success
it is.
Also see http://www.thousandsmiles.org
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