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Inaugural Transformations Gala On November 8, Interplast donors, volunteers and their guests gathered to celebrate Interplast's inaugural Transformations Gala. Held at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, the event hosted more than 400 guests and honored Ronald McDonalds House Charities (RMHC), McKesson and Dr.Shankar Man Rai, Interplast’s partner in Nepal, for their significant contributions to Interplast's work around the world. After cocktails, the evening began with a special welcome message from acclaimed actress Natalie Portman. During the dinner, guests watched short videos about each honoree and learned more about their partnerships with Interplast over the years. A live auction was also held, which included VIP tickets to the Sundance Film Festival, 2009 All Star Game tickets, a collection of rare wines and several unique experience packages among other items. In total, the event raised more than $500,000! All proceeds from the Gala will help Interplast grow its programs around the world, speeding access to reconstructive surgery for those who would otherwise have no access. Interplast is thankful to its community for coming together in support of this event and excited to welcome newcomers to the Interplast family. We are proud of the work we have done over the past 39 years and look forward to expanding our reach to ever more patients in need. Our goal to Empower a Healthy World, One Child at a Time would not be possible without the active involvement of our volunteer and donor communities. Please refer to links above to view some of the videos shown at the Gala, or visit our Gala website for pictures of the event. If you were unable to attend but would like to donate, please do so on our donation page. Posted on November 21, 2008 
Dayanna is an adorable two year old who, unlike most children, did not start crying at the sight of a doctor. Used to the usual doctor routine, of “say ahhh”, she instinctively opened her mouth every time she was approach by anyone on the team, including me trying to take this picture. Dayanna and her two older sisters all suffer from polydactyly (each having an extra toe). This would eventually make it difficult for them to be able to wear shoes. Interplast’s volunteer plastic surgeon, Dr. Bob Ryan, removed the extra toe on all three sisters’ feet. Posted on September 24, 2008
 A New Beginning after a Lifetime of Pain and Stigma I saw a woman, in her 40s, waiting in the waiting area. She had a surgical mask on her face, so I just assumed she had a cold, was being polite to others by wearing it (as is often the custom here in Asia) and was waiting for her child or grandchild during clinic. But I was wrong. With the help of a translator, Tim Smith, Interplast board member, and I went to talk to her. When Tim asked about her mask, she, Shu Zhi, told us that she always wears a mask because people impolitely stare at her whenever she does not. She had a very pronounced cleft lip---and had lived with the stigma and the mask for 42 years. Tim was very moved by her story and told her that she would never have to wear the mask again after her surgery on Thursday. Tim also shared with Shu Zhi his own personal story about how his own son, now 12, was born with a cleft lip and palate, although his clefts were repaired when he was a baby. He told her he realized how fortunate he was and how it did not seem fair that she had lived with a cleft her whole life. Tim also told Shu Zhi that he was very inspired by her bravery and how glad he was that she will now have a new future, one without the veil of shame she had endured for 42 years. "After Thursday, you will never have to wear that mask again" he said. Tim and I are very thankful that Interplast can help Shu Zhi have a second chance at life. Posted on September 22, 2008
 Inside the Villages of Quang Ngai Deep inside the villages of Quang Ngai, Vietnam, Interplast's partner and anesthesiologist Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien has been spending her days recruiting patients in need ofreconstructive surgery. Because of the remote location, Dr. Hien was forced to take a train and then rent a van in order to reach the underserved villagers, traveling for hours just to get to the first village. Dr. Hien describes her journey as "very hard, but rewarding and interesting." Posted on August 13, 2008
 In 2005, Interplast visited Ganzhou City, China, on a surgical team trip. During that visit Dr. Scott Corlew, Interplast's chief medical officer, operated on a 14 year-old village girl with a cleft lip. When she arrived to the clinic, she was shy, unhappy and withdrawn. Posted on August 13, 2008
 Cao Lanh, Vietnam--Dr. Janet Volpe, Interplast volunteer pediatrician This is Van Canh with his wife and 9-month-old daughter, Thi Sang Sang. Thi Sang Sang was born with a cleft lip, like her father. When Van Canh heard that Interplast was coming to Cao Lanh, he and his wife decided, despite financial hardship, to leave their family store for the day and make the two-hour bus journey to our clinic day to have their daughter evaluated. Fourteen years ago, Interplast operated on clefts on both sides of Van Canh's mouth. He had been told he would need a revision in the future but because of work and family commitments, he had never been able to make it back for the revision. As our team evaluated Thi Sang Sang, we asked Van Canh if he'd like to have his clefts revised during our stay. He and his wife were overjoyed that we would consider this for him. At the age of 26 years, he told us he thought he was too old for Interplast to want to perform another surgery on him, and had no money to have the revision performed locally. We scheduled the surgeries one day apart, and this photo was taken at the time of discharge from the hospital. Van Canh had brought chewing gum from his store; just before going home, he gave each member of our team a stick as a token of appreciation. I taped my Wrigley's Doublemint wrapper in my journal and will always remember this kind and grateful family. Posted on March 26, 2008
 My Tho, Vietnam -- Michelle Springer, Webster Fellow This is one of my favorite photos of the trip to Vietnam so far--taken from the van window on the way to Saigon. The traffic here almost compares to India, except I don't fear for my life while driving (like I did in India, due to the number of vehicles bigger than us on the road). I fear, instead, for the "scooter-ists'" lives. Walking across the street is a different matter, of course. The biggest object on the road usually wins, I guess. I have seen five people on one scooter, usually two adults and children of varying ages. It almost hurts just to see the babies and toddlers balancing on someone's leg, weaving in and out of traffic precariously. Posted on March 26, 2008
 Dehradun, India -- Sheila Wolfson, Interplast Coordinator After a long day of surgery, our hosts took our team to visit “Cheshire Homes,” a residential facility in Dehradun that cares for the permanently disabled in the community. This home was one of several founded by Lord Leonard Cheshire, Britain’s ace bomber pilot in the Second World War. After noting the devastation of war, he decided to devote his life to establishing homes for the upkeep and care of people with disabilities who had no place to live and no one to look after them. The home we visited was home to 50 people. It was immaculate and organized. The impeccable hygiene of the residents and lack of odor in the home stood out to us all. The team was treated to tea and snacks and a dance performance by two of the residents, one being Kamala, a teenage girl who had been operated on by the Interplast team the previous year. Her story was dramatic and moving, as Kamala had been attacked by a leopard on her way home from school. As a result, she lost her leg and her face and eye were badly mauled. After this devastating accident, Kamala left her village to go through her rehabilitation at the Cheshire Home. It was there that she learned to use her new prosthesis. She eventually returned to her home, but less than two weeks after her return, Kamala asked to go back to the Cheshire Home to live, as she felt she received better care and had more opportunities there. She is a lovely girl and now attends high school in the area. She amazed us all with her grace and agility during her dance performance, prosthesis and all. Above, are photos of Kamala before her surgery last year and in her dance attire a year later. Posted on February 26, 2008 
Michelle Spring, Webster Fellow, with Noma patient. Noma Patient's Face Reconstructed Dehradun, India -- Michelle Spring, Webster Fellow Here I am with a patient and a mold of his face. He had Noma (an infection that attacks the face) and lost much of the bone on the left side. We placed an implant, based on that plaster mold, to reconstruct the left side of his face. This trip will remain imprinted in my memory forever. I hope to come back again. The need is absolutely incredible. |
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