February 2012 Archives

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

On the last day, we held our end of mission clinic. It was wonderful seeing so many of the children we operated on the past 10 days return with their families to the Nurture Hospital for a wound check.

As they walked into the exam room, their new smiles were gleaming. Our last day was also spent doing dressing changes on the 23 children operated on for burn scar contracture releases or congenital and functional finger or toe anomalies. Their skin grafts and wounds were healing well. All told, we operated on 92 patients and changed 92 lives for the better.

Volunteering my skills and knowledge to transform the lives of these children and families in need around the world is an honor. This medical mission was my third and I look forward to volunteering for many years to come. My camera was at my side at all times. Attached are pictures which capture the beauty and the experience.

As the director of the NC GSK Foundation, I've had the good fortune to work with many organizations on a variety of issues in education, science, and health. One of those organizations is the Hill Center in NC--who has received grants from us to train K-5 teachers on methodology for students with learning disabilities.

Independent analysis has shown that the Hill methods are successful. But what makes my job so rewarding is hearing directly from those students--and knowing that young lives are being transformed. Take a look at what they've said:

·         If you put kids in this class they will understand what the teacher is saying and then they will have A's and B'...You never know what they will be when they grow up. They might be a CEO. So put them in this class.

·         I just can't tell you how much I want to thank you...At my school, when my Hill Write teacher came, I was the first one to be in her class. Ms. W has improved my writing 100%. Before she came, my writing stunk. So, thanks for bringing her here.

·         Thank you for donating money for HillRAP. HillRAP taught me new words so that I can go to the next level. I didn't have to guess the big words. I knew how to read them. I am a better reader. Thank you.

Now, I am thrilled that the foundation is extending those learning services to college students. The NC GSK Foundation has approved a $1,000,000 grant over three years to support the College STAR (Supporting Transition, Access and Retention) program. The College STAR program is designed to provide access to higher education for students who struggle to learn because they learn differently. The funds will support students as they apply to one of six UNC campuses, and to welcome and help transition the students through graduation. Initially, the project will be piloted at East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and UNC Greensboro and then transitioned to three additional campuses. 

Though our work with the Hill Center we know that interventions unlock new worlds for students with learning differences. It boosts their confidence and enables them to reach their real potential.

On the evening of January 25, I had a special spring in my step as I joined UNC President Tom Ross at the President's residence to announce the new venture--because one of our students just might just be a CEO one day!

Photo courtesy of NCNSP

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

Shuveecha (greetings) from Bangladesh! The mission is now in full swing with patients coming in and out of the operation room and the wards full of children and their families. It's wonderful to walk among the hospital beds attending to the children as they recover from their surgery and speaking with the families.

Our patient mix is varied; mostly cleft lip and palate surgery, but also a good number of surgeries to separate congenital fused fingers (syndactly) and to release scars from burns that have caused joint contractures.

One of our patients operated on yesterday is 12-year old Mra. She lives in the rural Hill Tract Khagrachari area 5 hours by from Chittagong where her parents are farmers and extremely poor. Mra is one of nine children in the family, but four of her siblings died as toddlers from diarrhea and other infectious diseases. Most likely some of the children died from rotavirus, a GI virus that causes 1 child to die every minute in underdeveloped areas of the world.

Fortunately, there are now two rotavirus vaccines available to prevent rotavirus and supranational organizations like PATH are working to introduce these vaccines at minimal cost in low incomes countries. I am very proud that GlaxoSmithKline developed one of these rotavirus vaccines, and that our vaccine is being used to prevent illness and death like that which occurred in Mra's family.

When Mra was one year old, an oil lantern in her home fell over while she was asleep and caused severe burns to both legs and ankles. Mra's parents could not afford to get her treated by a doctor and she was left with scars on her right lower leg and left ankle that make it impossible for her to open her right knee and to move the left ankle. As a result Mra can barely walk. To add salt to the wound, Mra has never attended school because she cannot walk to it.

A few weeks ago, a neighbor in her village spotted a poster hanging on the fence at a nearby army base that was advertising this Rotaplast mission. The neighbor told Mrs's parents and her father contacted the army base. Six other families in the area similarly contacted the army base about their children's surgical conditions. A captain at the army base called the Chittagong Rotary club and arranged for all seven children and their families to come to our screening clinic. In a stroke of good luck, all seven children qualify for surgery and will be operated on by the Rotaplast team this week.

Mra's father told us that he had no money to travel here and he is grateful that the army drove him and the other families five hours in a jeep to come to our hospital. The dad has a cell phone (like everyone else here) and he will contact the army base when he needs a ride back to his village. Dad expressed his gratitude for the staff at the hospital not only for the surgery to help his daughter regain the ability to walk, but also for the hospital staff who are giving him (and all of the other families) vouchers for food.

Mra's operation yesterday involved cutting away the scars behind her right knee and over her left ankle, and the wounds were covered with skin grafts taken from her belly. Mra is doing remarkably well today and the pain medicines she is receiving are keeping her very comfortable. To keep Mra busy we brought her some paper and crayons. Mra had never seen a crayon or pencil before and we needed to show her how to color. She took to coloring like a flower does to water. You can see in the picture one of Mra's beautiful creations.

GSK PULSE Volunteer, Len is back working with a non-profit organization, Rotaplast, to provide pre-operative and post-operative pediatric care for cleft palate surgeries in Bangladesh.

The Rotaplast team arrived in Chittagong yesterday after 24+ hours of travel. The team of 24 physicians, nurses and non-medical volunteers are an experienced group. I am amazed that many team members have gone on more than 20 other medical missions!

Today we set up the hospital and conducted our screening clinic. Upon arriving at the hospital this morning, we were greeted by a large crowd of children and their parents. We registered 223 patients, and over the next 12 hours all were evaluated by our plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses, dentist and speech pathologist. We were not able to schedule surgery for half of the patients because what they require we cannot safely or effectively provide given the capabilities of our hospital which has no blood bank, lab, x-ray or pharmacy. 

The good news is that around 100 patients met our criteria and are scheduled for surgery. As I expected, some of the children we operated on when I was here with Rotaplast last May came back to the clinic to be evaluated for a next-stage surgery. It was wonderful seeing them....attached are pictures of Subrina, Puja, Shajjadar, Humayun, Jannutaul, Arita and Nilardi, some of the children from the last mission who are scheduled for further surgery to make their smiles even more beautiful. Tomorrow is the first day of surgery.