Plain and simple, MMFC volunteer team members ROCK! Their incredible passion, professionalism and pumped-up-personalities came together to create an amazingly productive two weeks in Gitwe, Rwanda. During our two week mission, MMFC performed 38 cleft lip surgeries, 27 thyroid surgeries and a dozen miscellaneous procedures for a total of 77 surgical procedures! Our surgeons held several lectures and hands- on workshops for the local surgeons, including “Care of the Cleft Patient”, “Suture Materials” and “Knot Tying Techniques.” And the IT System implemented at Gitwe Hospital under the auspices of Stanford University and the Hellman Family Foundation is beyond unbelievable in the impact it will have on patient care in this remote central African village and beyond.
The MMFC dental team donated a portable dental unit and reference books to the one local dentist practicing out of Gitwe Hospital. Using the new equipment, the MMFC dental team and the local dentist performed fillings and extractions on over 100 children and adults in just one week’s time. During the same week, the dental team visited the village elementary school, provided screenings and education on oral hygiene and dental care , and distributed toothbrushes and toothpaste to over 750 students.
We are inspired by the people of Gitwe and the work we were able to accomplish there. And we are inspired by you, our dedicated donors and supporters. We are also grateful to the Hellman Family Foundation, the Smile Train and the American Society of Plastic Sugery’s Educational Foundation, without whom this mission could not have happened. All of you are an integral part of this success story!
And the Gitwe success story continues. As many of you might remember, MMFC had the privilege and honor to have six-time Emmy Award winning writer and producer Janette Barber and producer Barry Brown join us on our annual mission to Gitwe in 2009. During that mission Janette and Barry spent time with our volunteers, our patients and their families. This dynamic duo also took lots of amazing photos and raw video footage. A year later, here is the amazing result. Three MMFC stories that will bring you right smack dab into the middle of the village of Gitwe where we work for two weeks each year. Watch all three episodes right here on the MMFC Blog (see next 3 entries below). Like you and our volunteers, they ROCK!
So watch these videos, and send them along to a friend or two. And please, donate to MMFC today!
Let the Healing Begin …
