OVERVIEW
IN THE NEWS
PRESS RELEASES
NEWSLETTER
|
June 2009 eNewsletter - April 18th & 19th Surgery Weekend Report
Tri-City Medical Center's 8th "Adopt-A-Surgery Weekend"
Tri-City Medical Center Volunteers!
|
During Fresh Start’s April 2009 Surgery Weekend, co-sponsored by the PIMCO Foundation, the Rothschild Foundation, the Norris Foundation, and the WD-40 Company, 104 children and young adults from the U.S. and all over the world received free reconstructive surgery, medical consultations, laser treatments, dental services and speech therapy from 80 volunteers. Tri-City Medical Center (TCMC) brought 16 volunteers, participating in their 8th "Adopt-A-Surgery Weekend."
|
Yolanda, a 4-year-old from Mexicali, had her first surgery by Fresh Start volunteer surgeons during April's Surgery Weekend. She suffers from congenital esotopia, a deformity she was born with, that makes her eyes appear crossed. After just one surgery, Yolanda's eyes are almost fixed. She will need one more surgery to fully correct her deformity. Yolanda's parents are so grateful she is receiving her fresh start before she ever realized she was different!
|
Edgar, a 6-year-old from Vista, Ca, first came to Fresh Start two years ago, but after his initial consultation it was determined he was too young to undergo surgery at that time. He was born with a deformity known as microtia, and his right ear never fully developed. Now that Edgar is six, he is old enough to begin the 3-4 surgery stages that are required to rebuild his outer ear. Edgar has a long road ahead of him, but it will be worth it when he has two "normal" ears!
|
Uriah "Mel" Bridges, BSN, RN, CNOR
1944 - 2008
|
9 reconstructive surgeons and 6 anesthesiologists teamed with 65 other volunteers including registered nurses, interpreters, drivers, and speech-language pathologists to provide fresh starts to children with physical deformities. 9 new volunteers were added to Fresh Start's Surgery Weekend team.
TCMC brought 16 volunteers, participating in their 8th "Adopt-A-Surgery Weekend." Long-time TCMC staff member and Fresh Start volunteer, Uriah "Mel" Bridges, was also remembered.
|
Fresh Start provided 43 reconstructive surgery procedures, 16 other procedures (V-Beam, Scar Revisions, and Laser Hair Removal), 131 dental treatments, 6 speech therapy treatments, and 27 evaluations and consultations. The total value of the donated services was over $184,000 for April's Surgery Weekend and Dental Clinic. April's Surgery Weekend totals brought donated medical services to over $16,503,000 since Fresh Start's incorporation in 1991!
All medical services, transportation, food and lodging, are provided free to eligible patient families. Some of the procedures performed were microtia repair for underdeveloped ears, skin grafting for burn trauma, cleft lip repair, pinning back protruding ears, and scar revisions.
|
Michael Brucker, MD; Anil Shetty, MD; Steven Cohen, MD; Jeff Umansky, MD; James Chao, MD; Ralph Holmes, MD; Joel Berger, MD; Thomas Vecchione, MD; Sal Pachella, MD; Frank Scotti, MD
|
| Volunteer Anesthesiologists |
Shrilekha Champaneri, MD; Steve Merritt, MD; Raymond Sheline, MD; Bill Maxwell, MD; Dave Leonard, MD; Fabian Von Posern, MD
|
| PIMCO Foundation, Rothschild Foundation, Norris Foundation, WD-40 Company, Homewood Suites - Hilton, Center for Surgery of Encinitas, Syneron, Ethicon, Rejeuvine MedSpa, El Camino Pediatrics, Pat & Oscars - Carlsbad, Einstein Brothers Bagels - Encinitas, Starbucks - La Costa, Domino's - Encinitas, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill - Encinitas |
|