By Leila Hawken | Executive Assistant, Surgeons of Hope
Progress on our project in Nicaragua has two successes to report. The new Pediatric Heart Center of Nicaragua is virtually completed now, with inside walls being painted in December, 2012. The coming months will see the acquisition and installation of modern hospital equipment to bring one of the two operating rooms and half of the facility to a ready-for-occupancy status for the targeted opening in spring of 2013. The role that our GlobalGiving donors are playing in this equipping and supplying stage is impressive. You have been with us from the early stages of construction, and you have supported our medical missions along with way, as the local team has increased in expertise and confidence in the complex procedures necessary for pediatric cardiac surgery. For that, we thank you, but there is more to be done if we are to succeed with the 2013 opening of the new Center.
The other success to be reported is the completion of our latest medical mission, led by Dr. Dominique Metras, a noted Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon from Marseille, France, and his truly international team. Dr. Metras gathered a team of colleagues from France (Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux), Jerusalem, and Colombia to convene at La Mascota Children's Hospital in Managua. Dr. Metras reported smooth communication because a number of team members spoke fluent Spanish.
Surgery was performed on nine little patients (a tenth patient could not be accommodated for lack of the right equipment), five little girls and four little boys, ranging in age from nine months to 12 years. Because the local team has achieved a high leven of competency, the local staff surgeons at La Mascota led the surgery, and the visiting team collaborated and advised. This achievement is tremendous leap ahead in our program in Nicaragua.
Because of Hurricane Sandy, our team from Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York needed to reschedule its mission from November to February, 2013. They are all ready to go and eager to contribute their expertise in collaboration with the local team. This will be their first mission with Surgeons of Hope Foundation.
Remember that this progress is substantially supported by you, our GlobalGiving donors. Please remain with us as the active supporters and friends that you are, and let your friends know about us. We are a very small office in New York, with no budget allocation for public relations, so it is largely up to you to help us spread the word in conversation, and by Facebook and Twitter. There will be more positive news from us throughout 2013, so stay with us.
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