DON HEEBNER, ALLEN, and CAROL SCHWARTZ, McKENSIE BREINLINGER from PARTNER FOR SURGERY address the club
The Club welcomed four participants in the PARTNER FOR SURGERY organization , that has for the last several years, gone to Guatemala to correct birth defects of cleft lip, cleft palate, and deformed hands. The group, formed by physicians for Philadelphia Children's Hospital, and supported by ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, and several local groups, including the Conshohocken /Plymouth Rotary Club, uses local contacts to set up the the surgical facilities, find candidates in need of the surgery, and help screen them to select the patients that would qualify for the procedures. The teams , which number around 25 volunteers then travel to Guatemala, and for the next week, preform the operations on about 200 individuals. The participants , living the motto "Service Above Self" always keep in mind that their mission is always to keep a "Focus on the Kids", work long 12 shifts, and are on call 24/7 to take care of emergencies. The group from Children's Hospital has participated in 12 missions this year.
Cleft Lip occurs in underdeveloped countries at a rate 2 to 3 times that of the U S, and whereas it is courted at a very young age here, it often goes untreated in countries like Guatemala. This is where this teams mission comes in to improve the lives of as many children as possible.
Club member LOUISE ZAWADZKI, who has participated in several such missions, hosted the group to our meeting.
She is working with the group in sponsoring a fundraising event, a Comedy Night, at THE HYATT HOUSE, on SEPT 13 to help fund more of the missions in the future. Louise donated the blanket shown below, for auction.
Thank to all from the group who brought this important message to us.