On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Is one of your goals for 2011 to run or walk the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K?

Or have you already signed up?

Why not make the race more meaningful, and run for critically ill children?

Did you know that the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K was named one of the best running races in the country, and is one of the most recognized events in Richmond? The International Hospital for Children, however, is one of the best kept secrets in town. This year, we are going to change that by teaming up with the race.

There are many ways you and others who care about IHC’s cause of healing children can help. You can walk, run, or simply watch the race. If you’re not going to be in town that day—no problem—simply sign up as a “ghost runner” and raise funds for IHC.

So, tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and help us get the word out about IHC. . . and we won’t be a secret anymore!

Start feeling good now! Visit www.firstgiving.com/ihc to create your personal race fundraising page. Participants raising a minimum of $100 will receive IHC–paid entry into the race and a special shirt. The team that raises the most funds will receive a prize.

On the ground: IHC staff member Emily Robertson shares her travel experience to Honduras

Just last week, children with cleft lip and palate and ear deformities in Honduras received life-changing surgeries. I traveled with International Hospital for Children volunteer plastic surgeons Dr. Jonathan Jacobs of Virginia Beach and Dr. Isaac Wornom of Richmond, to meet many smiling faces, including familiar ones! Because this team travels to the same clinic annually to see patients and provide surgery, these dedicated IHC surgeons are able to see patients year after year for check-ups and surgeries requiring more than one stage.

One of these familiar faces was young patient Ashley, who was born with cleft lip and palate and has been treated by Dr. Jacobs since she was a baby.  She had surgery for the first time when she was just 2 months old to repair her cleft lip.  This year, Ashley returned to clinic, a beautiful, happy and healthy 2-year-old and was able to receive surgery for her cleft palate.  Ashley’s aunt proudly announced Ashley already had interest in learning how to play the piano! 

Another familiar face was Antony, who received surgery for his cleft lip last year when he was 9-months-old.  This year, the team surgeons described the result of Antony’s surgery as “perfect” – the cleft lip repair Dr. Wornom provided to Antony had a beautiful outcome and Dr. Wornom happily reported Antony did not require further surgery for his lip.  Dr. Wornom explained the team really feels that these patients are his own – they just live a bit farther away than other patients!  To see children like Ashley and Antony return to clinic as thriving, happy children really illustrates the impact this team has for the rural Honduras community where Clínica Asturias is located.

There were also many new little patients to meet as well!  An especially vocal patient was 3-year-old Jester, who received surgery with Dr. Wornom for a congenital ear defect.  He and Dr. Wornom spent time getting to know each other during rounds after Jester’s surgery – see a video clip of them here!

Another aspect that makes this team special is the continuity and quality of care this team strives to provide to the patients. Speech pathologist Ruth Trivelpiece from Richmond traveled with the team again this year and provided speech consultations and therapy to patients dealing with cleft lip and palate, as well as ear microtia.  Ruth was excited to see marked improvements in some of her patients, even after only one year of exposure to speech therapy through exercises conducted by parents at home! 

Ruth also had more opportunities to do therapy sessions with patients like 7-year-old Luis this week.  Luis came every day for speech therapy, and his mother commented that all of this extra time with speech exercises was really going to help him with the struggles he has with speech as he deals with a cleft palate.  Luis received surgery on Thursday to further repair his cleft palate and we plan to see him next year for follow-up evaluations.  Ruth also provided a lot of information and education to parents to help them better understand the challenges that patients with cleft lip and palate have, as well as to teach best feeding practices to moms with babies and toddlers who have just had their cleft lip or palate repaired.

Thinking back to last week and remembering all the faces and stories of the children treated, I’m reminded of the privilege it is to serve alongside such dedicated medical professionals like the surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses that made the journey to Clinica Asturias last week.  IHC’s volunteers are true professionals and humanitarians, always asking “What can we do to better serve these children?”  And because of this attitude, children like Ashley, Antony, Jester, and Luis will be waiting for the team at clinic next January – waiting to see their doctors, who made an extra-long trip for them!

Submitted by IHC staff member Emily Robertson

IHC Family Holiday Memories

Dear IHC friend,

I hope your holiday season was full of special moments and warm memories for you and your loved ones.  

As a member of our IHC family, I wanted to share with you a special story of a young boy helped during this holiday time. He is 7-year old Jorge, and he and his mom, Irma, arrived from Honduras in early December. Jorge was first diagnosed with a brain tumor by an IHC mission team in October, and because of the size of this tumor, we expedited travel arrangements for them so he could receive surgery to remove what ended up being a golf ball-sized tumor. He was discharged from the hospital right before New Year’s Eve and is laughing, playing and doing well. His quick recovery was the best gift for his mother, Irma. Though worried about her son’s life, she was kept in good spirits by the many volunteers who spent time with her and Jorge over the holiday season. We are grateful for the time and love shared by these volunteers, especially new members of the IHC family from Mondial Assistance.

With best wishes for 2011,

Susan Rickman
IHC President

A Heartwarming Story for The New Year

Dear IHC friend,

I have quite a story to share with you about Oscar and his journey to healing. On a recent surgery mission to Belize, I met his parents who revealed to me they were urged by their friends, family and neighbors to let their two-year-old son die. Oscar’s father said, “I couldn’t give up on him, he is my son, I’ll do anything for him.”

This family had sold almost all their possessions in an attempt to afford medical care for their very sick little boy who was not getting better through local medical treatment. When the family learned International Hospital for Children would be sending a surgical team to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, they immediately made plans for the seven-hour bus trip to Belize City. Oscar’s mother even sold her gold earring – a traditional Mayan family heirloom, to pay the bus fare. 

I met Oscar the first day of our mission clinic and determined he had a serious malformation which limited his body’s ability to eliminate waste. I performed surgery to repair the condition the very next day. By the end of the week, Oscar was smiling, laughing, and well on his way to recovery!

His parents expressed their relief and gratitude to me, which I extend to you for making Oscar’s care possible. I hope you’ll take a moment to view this short video and meet Oscar and his family yourself. 

Click here to view video.

Dr. David Lanning
Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital of Richmond of the VCU Health System

Experiencing the joy of the holiday season all year long

A personal story by staff member Emily Robertson

The joy of the holiday season comes to the United States each year on the wings of generosity – people are delighted by festive decorations, delicious and familiar aromas, and, most importantly, by a spirit that compels them to share with others.  

International Hospital for Children (IHC) is fortunate to have friends who carry this generous spirit all year long – not just during the holiday time –to provide IHC’s patients with the precious gifts of hope and health during all seasons.  This is especially clear for me when I hear directly from families who benefit from IHC’s programs.  As the holiday season arrives again to Richmond, 12-year-old Kristopher and his mother, Glenda, from the country of Honduras, bestow some precious thoughts to convey how much gifts to IHC impact young lives and carry on the spirit of giving.

***

Kristopher came to Richmond through IHC’s program in early November because he was in need of a catheterization procedure to repair a potentially dangerous heart arrhythmia.  Kristopher’s mother, Glenda, explained that Kristopher felt anxious about his heart procedure and was homesick during his first week in Richmond.  Fortunately, Kristopher did not have to wait long for his treatment with VCU electrophysiologist Dr. Richard Shepard.  On the day of Kristopher’s procedure, an equally nervous Glenda accompanied her son through a successful process.

Kristopher required only one night’s stay in the hospital after treatment and recovered quickly.  When I asked Glenda and Kristopher if they felt relieved now, Glenda smiled and said, “Do you know what Kristopher thinks?”  She then repeated the plan that Kristopher had outlined for her –to return to Honduras with a new determination to work hard at school so he can become a physician.  Then, he will use his medical skills to volunteer for an organization like IHC so that he can help others, just like Dr. Shepard did for him. 

“Kristopher has learned a lot from IHC’s volunteers about giving,” said Glenda.  “My son is truly grateful, as am I.” 

For the present time, Kristopher plans to start giving back by encouraging and assuring another IHC patient currently in Richmond who will go through similar treatment soon. 

As a member of the IHC program staff, I have the privilege of working with brave children like Kristopher every day.  It’s moments like these – the moments when, out of the mouth of a child, you hear a simple yet completely perfect explanation of why IHC’s work matters – that direct me back to the spirit of generosity that envelops IHC as an organization.   Gifts of time and donations  not only repair a heart like Kristopher’s, but also instill in that newly healthy heart a desire to give in return. 

That’s a spirit that endures far beyond the holiday season.