ReSurge International Blog

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers around the world who consistently inspire us with their strength, selflessness and unconditional love.
 
For more than 42 years, ReSurge has had the opportunity to meet extraordinary mothers world-wide. Mothers who travel miles on foot with their children on their back, determined to get him or her the care they need. Mothers who leave their families behind and travel to remote areas of the world to volunteer their medical skills to families they’ve never met. And mothers who send in donations because they’ve allocated part of their family’s budget to help others.
 
Every day, we at ReSurge have the unique opportunity to witness some of the most beautiful human characteristics a mother can possess. Today, we celebrate all mothers and reiterate our commitment to serving them, their children and their families around the world.
 
 From all of us at ReSurge, Happy Mother’s Day!

ReSurge President and CEO Wins Health Care Heroes Award

This morning, the Silicon Valley Business Journal hosted its annual “Health Care Heroes Awards,” in which they highlight the top men and women in the Silicon Valley health care industry. ReSurge’s President and CEO, Susan W. Hayes, was one of three finalists in the board member category for her active role as a board member at Good Samaritan Hospital. Shortly after the breakfast ceremony began, she was announced the winning nominee!

Susan has served as ReSurge’s President and CEO for more than 16 years; in that time, she ushered ReSurge through a strategic evolution from a direct-service organization to one that also educates overseas medical professionals and builds permanent surgical capacity in developing countries. For the last 3 years, Susan has been able to contribute her international health care experience and her expertise in board governance to Good Samaritan Hospital as a highly committed board member. Good Samaritan Hospital nominated Susan for this award.

ReSurge would like to thank the Silicon Valley Business Journal for recognizing Susan’s leadership and commitment to health care, not only domestically but for thousands of ReSurge patients annually around the world. Congratulations Susan. We are very proud of your accomplishments and thankful for your leadership!

National Nurses Week 2012

This week we are celebrating National Nurses Week with the theme of “Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring.”  Here at ReSurge, we are fortunate enough to continuously witness the extraordinary contributions of nurses both domestically and abroad.

Just recently, our volunteer nurses hosted an all day conference on burns and nursing. They spent their day-off work learning how to better treat burn patients around the world—a true testament of their dedication and passion for their work.

Join us in celebrating nurses and thanking them for their hard work and endless compassion!

Photo by Phil Borges.

Reuniting Friends with Flickr

Amy Laden, ReSurge director of international services.

A young woman wrote to ReSurge recently, hoping to get in touch with a former domestic program patient (we brought over 500 children to the U.S. for care through that program, which we discontinued about 10 years ago for many reasons).  

Fifteen years ago, Adaneli was a classmate of Delmira's (pictured right), who is from Ecuador, when she spent several months in the U.S. for surgery on her burns in 1997.  Adaneli tutored her, and they became friends. They were pen pals for several years after Delmira went back home, but they eventually lost contact.  Adaneli was looking through ReSurge's flickr pictures, came across a photo of Delmira, and wrote to us hoping to re-establish contact.

I had overseen the domestic program, and was easily able to contact Soozee Shireman.  Soozee speaks fluent Spanish and  joined many teams as a coordinator/translator before she married and had children, two of whom are adopted sisters from Colombia.  Fortuitously, Soozee is planning to go to Ecuador in June, with her children, to help Dr. Jorge Palacios, ReSurge's outreach director there.  While in Ecuador, they will visit Delmira and her family, who live in a house that was built with funds that Soozee and others raised for this purpose.

Delmira was only 8 when she was badly burned  by the explosion of a kerosene lantern,  She had been doing her homework by its light in the wooden hut where her family lived.  She had undergone 14 surgeries in Ecuador, including 4 by ReSurge, before Soozee, with ReSurge's help), brought Delmira to the U.S. for care.  Delmira had lost sight in her right eye and her skin was scarred.  Delmira stayed with a host family - the mother in that family organized efforts to raise money to enable her family to build a new house.  

Delmira went home several months later, with a beautiful prosthetic brown eye, and improved skin.  In addition to six suitcases filled with gifts and clothing, she went home with more than $8,000 that had been raised to help the family buy food, medicines, school supplies for Delmira and her six siblings, and to build a new house!  Soozee went with her, to establish bank accounts and to talk with Delmira's father about the house plan.  The house was built.

Soozee has been back several times to visit the family. She will help Adaneli get back in touch will Delmira; she will also have more news after her June trip and we will bring you up to date on Delmira then.

National Volunteer Week 2012

This week we’ve been observing National Volunteer Week. To kick off the celebration, President Obama issued a statement in which he highlighted the importance of volunteerism.

“With every hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of volunteers,” he said.

That is a sentiment we share here at ReSurge. Every year, our incredible volunteers make our work possible.  They give up two weeks of their lives, travel around the world and work under exhausting circumstances.  They give up pay, vacation time and comfort to help transform lives.

Every day, and particularly this week, we are thankful to our volunteers for helping us fulfill our mission and reach those who need our services the most.

Our work would not be possible without them. From all of us at ReSurge and, most importantly, the thousands of patients they help serve annually...THANK YOU!

Photo by Adam Forgash.

Letter from ReSurge's President & CEO on Mali Coup

Susan Hayes, ReSurge president and CEO.

Recently, as I am sure you have heard, reports of the Mali coup reached the United States and the rest of the world. Our hearts go out to our local partners in Mali and all of those affected by the turmoil. Early information indicates that more than 200,000 people have fled from the north and the numbers needing medical care are expected to rise (for more information, click here).

This news hits close to home as we think of our local partner, Dr. Oumar Coulibaly, his medical team in the capital city of Bamako, and all of the patients and families that ReSurge has served over the years. We have heard from Dr. Coulibaly, and he remains in Mali, dedicated as ever to treat patients and continue his studies to become the country’s first pediatric plastic surgeon.

Here at ReSurge, we remain committed to increasing medical care in Mali, especially by supporting the further education of Dr. Coulibaly and his ongoing care for patients such as Awa.

ReSurge continues to receive updates directly from Mali. Recently,

Dr. Coulibaly was able to use the surgical skills he gained as a result of his work with ReSurge to help a 14-year-old boy that was shot by a stray bullet in the takeover.

Events like the current situation in Mali underscore the importance of increasing medical capacity at a local level so that care is readily available to treat those in need. Your support is now more important than ever to ensure that all people, regardless of political affiliations, have access to medical treatment.

I urge you to please join ReSurge by supporting our work to increase medical care locally around the world.

Our thoughts continue to be with those in Mali and our partners there.

For the latest information about Mali visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17582909

WHO Knew It Was Such a Small World

Sara Anderson, ReSurge’s chief advocacy and communications officer

Dr. Atilio Rivera-Vasquez, health advisor with the International Medical Corps, and I are in Nepal to learn more specifics about the burns situation in Nepal. We, with Dr. Shankar Rai and local partners, will be developing a pilot program here to address burns 360 with advocacy, prevention, training and treatment – a program that hopefully we can replicate in other parts of the developing world to help save lives and build a safer world.

Our first meeting today was with the World Health Organization. Dr. Atilio, Dr. Shankar and I carefully strategized on the best approach to take for our introduction to WHO in Nepal; it was going to be a cold call for all of us. However, that cold call turned very warm as soon as we entered Dr. Lin Aung’s, WHO’s Nepal director, office.

Dr. Atilio and Dr. Lin saw each other and began chuckling and embracing. Turns out, they were dear classmates more than 20 years ago in the Netherlands and had lost touch with each other. In addition, Dr. Lin’s father had been the first maxiofacial surgeon in Burma, worked with ReSurge (then Interplast) there for many years, and understood firsthand the importance of reconstructive surgery. Furthermore, addressing burns seems to align well into the Ministry of Health’s and WHO’s recent priorities of non-communicable diseases, disabilities, injuries and strengthening district health systems – and we discussed how better burn care could be integrated into the existing local strategies.

We were very grateful to Dr. Lin for his time and his warm reception – to us and to the ideas we brought forth. On so many fronts, it was an excellent way to start our assessment. And anyone who knows me personally, knows how much I love small world stories.

“Death Traps: Tales of a Mega Community”

Photo:Abir Abdullah/European Pressphoto Agency

In this blog, we often speak of the devastating impact of burn injuries on the poor in developing countries.Today, The New York Times shared a powerful piece on fires in Bangladesh and the work of photographer, Abir Abdullah, to document its destructive effects throughout one of the world’s most densely populated cities—Dhaka. 

“Through my work, I have seen civilians risking their lives to save others in rescue operations. Firefighters with lack of training and proper rescue equipment are also part of the rescue operation, bringing injured and panicked victims of fire to safety. I believe my photo essay will raise awareness, and hope that it will act as a catalyst for the authorities to take prompt action to save the life and property of an entire community,” shares Mr. Abdullah. 

Unfortunately, fires and the resulting injuries are acutely tied to poverty. Almost all (95 percent) of severe burns happen in developing countries. 

This photo essay could not come at a better time. Through our recent partnership with International Medical Corps (featured in the Huffington Post) we have been working to raise awareness about burns and their devastating impact on the world’s poor. 

Watch this short video and meet our surgical outreach partner in Bangladesh, Dr. Shafquat Khundkar, who often treats the survivors of these horrific fires. 

For more information on the global health crisis of burns click here. 

 

World Health Day 2012

Tomorrow (April 7th) marks the founding day of the World Health Organization, an agency of the UN striving to improve international public health.

Every year, WHO celebrates their birthday as "World Health Day," during which awareness is raised--and action is taken--on one global concern. 

This year's theme is "Aging and Health," words that will gather increasing significance as we move on in our 21st century world: According to WHO's online post about World Health Day, "the world will soon have more older people than children. World Health Day 2012 focuses on how good health can add life to years, enabling older men and women to not only live longer, but also to extend their active involvement in all levels of society."

Here at ReSurge, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind ourselves and our readers that the right to mobility and good health knows no age group. Reconstructive surgery for people with congenital deformities, burn contractures and disabilities are truly rejuvenating, and mark the first day of the rest of our patients' lives.

Two Thousand Facebook Likes

Today we reached a big milestone—2,000 LIKES on our ReSurge Facebook page!  Thank you to all our followers for their ongoing support. We love having a way to connect with each and every one of you.  The photo above is how our staff chose to show their gratitude.  From all of us at ReSurge … THANK YOU!

Update on Dr. Oumar after coup in northern Mali

Jacques De Deken - ReSurge volunteer, who helps coordinate our work in Mali.

Dr. Oumar Coulibaly is doing fine, although he feels rather demoralized by the current events. He mentioned life in Bamako is otherwise calm and peaceful, at this time, with everyone attending his/her daily work as usual.

The news from Dr. Oumar is pretty much in line with what I've read in available local Malian news media - see, for instance, www.maliweb.net and www.essor.ml (note that maliweb also has several additional links to other local news media). The rebels have now taken the northern cities of Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu, and now seem to be at the outskirts of Mopti.

Dr. Oumar is trying to get his folks to leave Gao and come join him in Bamako. Although there is a local transport company that still organizes such transports of people who want to flee Gao, this may not be easy given the situation. His parents appear to be safe and in good condition, for now.

Dr. Oumar has not heard back from the University of Dakar, where he will continue his studies. One of his classmates will be arriving in Dakar next week and will do the necessary leg work on Dr. Oumar's behalf (checking in with the University, finding a dorm, etc...).

More information as I know it.

Golf-a-thon for ReSurge

Yesterday, long-time ReSurge supporter and former board member, Tim Smith, hosted his famous “Golf-a-thon” fundraiser at the Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.  More than 20 people signed up to play a round of golf while raising funds for ReSurge.

The highlight of the event was the much anticipated “hole-in-one” contest. In which the prize was a brand new car. Unfortunately, nobody won the coveted prize. Everyone did, however, get to spend the day in the sun while knowing they were supporting a great cause.

More than $40,000 was raised!

Thank you to all the participants, especially Tim Smith and his family for putting together such a fun and successful fundraiser for ReSurge!  

Helping Udaya from Nepal

Holi is a religious celebration in which people throw scented powder and water at each other. Every year, thousands of Hindus participate in this celebration. Seven-year-old Udaya was not the exception.

“I like to paint,” he confidently shares while sucking on a lollipop in the waiting room at the Katmandu hospital.

This is not Udaya’s first visit to the hospital; in fact he has had several surgeries since his accident.

Two years ago, while celebrating Holi, Udaya’s friend threw what he thought was water at Udaya. It turned out to be acid instead.

In Nepal, it is common to use acid to clean the toilet or wipe paint on the walls. In this case, someone had left a bucket of acid in the street. It was hard to distinguish it from water.

After the accident, Udaya’s father stopped working for a month and stayed by his son’s side at the hospital.

Today, Udaya has been referred to ReSurge’s surgical outreach partner in Nepal, Dr.Shankar Man Rai, to correct the surgeries Udaya had received in the past. His previous doctor had left Udaya unable to blink. He is in good hands now. Udaya will undergo two surgeries which will allow him to blink again.

When asked if he was excited for his surgery, Udaya enthusiastically replied, “yes!”

Huffington Post: "Silent Crisis in the Developing World "

Our President and CEO, Susan Hayes, and International Medical Corps’ President and CEO, Nancy Aossey, are in the Huffington Post today.  In an op-ed titled “Silent Crisis in the Developing World,” they draw attention to the neglected global crisis of burns.
 
“In developing countries, severe burns affect nearly seven million people a year, particularly low-income women and children,” they share.

In February, ReSurge and International Medical Corps began a partnership to address this global burn crisis. The partnership leverages ReSurge's 42-year history of serving burn survivors in vulnerable communities through surgery, with International Medical Corp's health care training expertise over nearly three decades in more than 65 countries.

“Solutions exist, and we want to bring those solutions into action. Our organizations are banding together to save lives and create safer households in these developing countries,” the op-ed continued.

ReSurge is thankful to the Huffington Post for helping raise awarness about this silent crisis. 

Click here to read the piece in its entirety and help us spread the word on this issue by sharing this post.

Photo by John Urban.

Acid Attacks in the News

In the last couple of months, acid attacks have been gaining media coverage. The Academy Award winning documentary short subject, Saving Face, has helped bring this difficult topic to surface, giving us all hope that awareness of these crimes might be the first step in changing its practice around the world.

Yesterday, however, we awoke to the devastating news that acid attack survivor, Fakhra Yunus of Pakistan, had committed suicide after living with her disfigurement for more than a decade. We are deeply saddened by this news.

At ReSurge we have been lucky enough to witness reconstructive surgery success stories, like that of acid survivor Kanchana, who went on to graduate as one of the top nursing students in all of Sri Lanka after her attack. However, stories like Yunus’ remind us that the devastating psychological and emotional scars an acid attack can have on a person cannot be repaired by surgery alone.

Our hearts go out to Yunus’ family and we hope her story helps draw further attention to these horrific acts.

Click here to watch a video by New York Times reporter, Nicholas Kristof, in which photos of ReSurge's work helping acid attack survivors are shown.

Photo by Phil Borges.

One Hundred Speech Camps Provided in Nepal

At ReSurge we increasingly work to provide an integrated continuum of care for our patients. Today, we are thrilled to celebrate the completion of our 100th speech camp in Nepal!

“After surgery, our real responsibility begins,” says Dr. Shankar Man Rai, director of ReSurge’s Surgical Outreach Program in Nepal.

As part of Nepal’s successful program, Rai and his team of interdisciplinary caregivers hold week-long “speech camps” around the country. There they are able to deliver follow-up care to cleft lip and cleft palate patients consisting of speech therapy, dental hygiene, counseling and much more to dozens of children and their families at a time. Therapists work with children individually and in groups, as shown in the photo above. For many of the participants, these speech camps enable them to learn how to speak for the very first time.

Thousands of children have benefited from the program—and many have already “graduated” with successfully integrated speech patterns.

This is a tremendous accomplishment for all of us at ReSurge, especially Dr. Rai and his staff. We look forward to continuing to provide many more speech camps in the future! 

Photo by Darcy Padilla.