Twinkz

Have you changed someone’s life immeasurably? I am privileged to be a part of an organisation that does that. Operation Restore Hope is a charity set up to provide free surgical treatment to less fortunate children with cleft lips and palates in the Philippines. There are 50 000 of these children born every year in the Philippines, so our work is just a drop in the ocean… but a very valuable drop. Operation Restore Hope does not receive government funding from here in Australia or in the Philippines. There is no paid staff or administrators. All work is done on completely on a voluntary basis. We rely on monetary donations as well as medical supplies to continue our work. Each lip surgery cost approximately AUD $500.I have been part of ORH since 2005 where I participated in my first voluntary medical mission to the Philippines. I must say, it is the most humbling and most rewarding experiences of my life. Every year I see babies, children and even adults born with deformities in a country where poverty is great and help is too is dear. Every year I see the pain and the humiliation in their eyes and in the eyes of their family. Every year when they come to us they see hope.For just one week of our time we helped change their future.April 2007 Mission66 PATIENTS SCREENED 54 PATIENTS SCHEDULED 53 PATIENTS OPERATED ON 75 PROCEDURES COMPLETED29 LIPS 37 PALATESBREAKDOWN OF CASES: • 16 UNILATERAL CLEFT LIPS • 8 REVISION OF LIPS • 5 BILATERAL LIPS • 37 PALATES (including fistulas) • 6 RHINOPLASTIES/NOSE REVISIONS • 1 EYELID/FACIAL CLEFT • 1 PHARYNGOPLASTY • 1 VELOPLASTYYou can help too! Please visit http://www.operationrestorehope.org