OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA Giving the Gift of a Smile... a Lasting Legacy
NEWSLETTER December 2015
Our first Missions to Hansot, Guljarat, India at Kaka Ba Charity Trust Hospital We are pleased to have a completed our first successful mission at Hansot in the province of Gujarat. Our team operated out of Kaka Ba Charity Trust Hospital. Under the direction of Dr. Bharathai Champenaria, the hospital has been providing quality medical services and rural development since 1985 in the remote tribal area of Hansot in Bharuch District, Gujarat, India. Our mission received national newspaper (Times of India) and TV coverage. The Indian media were quite complimentary about the scope of our work and estimated that it would cost anywhere from 2.5 lakh rupees to 3 lakh rupees per surgery (equivalent to $5,000 to $6,000 CAD) in India. The team screened approximately 200 patients and performed over 100 surgeries from November 21 to December 3, 2015. At the closing ceremony, Dr. Champenaria asked Dr. Rai to plant a tree to symbolize our continuing friendship and our commitment to provide more free surgeries in the region. ORC plans to return to Kaka-Ba with another team in November 2016.
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Dear Friends, Warm Greetings. I am writing this letter to you from Kaka-Ba Hospital in Hansot, Gujarat India. This is the 17th year of ORC I am pleased to report the conclusion of a successful mission in conjunction with the Kaka-Hospital staff under the direction of Dr. Champaneria. For the past two weeks, our teams shared best practices and learned from each other, but most importantly, we collaborated cross-culturally on how to best serve our patients. 2015 has been a productive year. The Board has been instrumental in keeping Operation Rainbow Canada in a good position, operationally and financially. We are also fortunate and grateful to have had great support from all of you. ORC has always built good relationships with the host countries around the world. One of our goals is to provide education to the host country medical staff and treatment plans for needy children. This year ORC provided an opportunity for 4 Indian anesthetists and 1 plastic surgery resident from Australia to join our Canadian team of doctors and nurses in Hansot. Also this year ORC assisted the Canada Ukraine Foundation in Kiev, Ukraine on a successful mission helping gunshot and severely injured victims of the war. Our participation was warmly acknowledged by Canada Ukraine Foundation president in Toronto. In June I was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. This award I accept on behalf of all supporters of ORC and I am so proud to continue to work with the best doctors and nurses in the world. We all share a passion to improve the lives of children and there is no finer group of people that I would spend my time with, apart from my work and my family. Japan Airlines has been very supportive of our efforts and has extended wonderful hospitality to our team. Herbert Lee, our travel agent from LTA Holidays, has been an exceptional supporter of ORC for many years. The trip to Hansot, Gujarat was very long and this flight was a memorable one as I reflected on my time with a member of my family who had just passed on. About 12 years ago, at an ORC fund raiser, my wife Linda won a bid at the live auction. It was for a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier named Abby and she became a member of our family. Our children are grown now and Abby was our constant companion. The morning I joined the team at YVR was also the day that Abby had to be put to sleep due to illness. I could not be there for her last moments because I had to catch the flight and it was very hard saying good bye to her before leaving. Abby looked at me with sad eyes and I knew that she had to go on to the next world. I wanted to be there for her and for Linda, but I think they both understood why I had to go. My daughter Natalie came to help and she, along with Linda, were at Abby side when she drifted away. People have told me that I am single-minded and determined and I have to agree with them. There is a compulsion within me to use the skills that I was gifted with to help those who would not otherwise receive help. Sometimes it appears that ORC is my only focus and I can only ask for their understanding and forgiveness for the important times that I’ve missed being at their side. My goal is to inspire more medical professionals passionate about the cause and become involved so that the work can continue on until each country will have the same level of medical care that Canada has for its citizens. With gratitude,
Dr. Kimit Rai, M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Founder and President
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR
Big Rock Brewery Fundraiser hosted by Doreen, Ryan, and Trevor for the 2015 Mission to India. UBC Med Student & ORC Volunteer Ben Chan presenting proceeds of MedPlay 2015 (performed by UBC Medical Students) to ORC.
Barwon Health Group from Australia Donation of Anesthesia Monitor Krispy Crème Donut Sale in August organized by high school students, Joshua, Amy and Betty to raise fund for the India Mission.
Author Hugh Gillard at a book signing in Otokoks Library, Calgary. Hugh donated the proceeds of his book “What Did You Say?” to ORC.
Gale Kerslake and the Sewing Group of the Yale and District Ratepayers Association donated hundreds of blankets and toques for patients to use during surgery.
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA PROFILE OF PATIENTS Karan “Bundle Baby”
Madhu
Karan is 1 year old and is Patient # 114. We think of him as the “Bundle Baby” as we first saw him all swaddled up in a pink furry jacket with full hood on. He came in during the ‘cold front’ when the temperature dropped from the high 20’s to 19 degrees! The
ORC’s priorities are babies, children, and young adults. The earlier the surgery is done in a child’s life, the less psychological trauma there will be. However, whenever there is time, we will extend surgeries to adults. One of these was a 30 year old woman named Madhu. Born to a poor family and orphaned when she was young, she was raised by her sister and they still live together. Her sister heard about the opportunity for the surgery, took the 5 hour bus trip to the hospital, and stayed with Madhu
throughout the process. They are poor farmers and Madhu doesn’t talk much due to her cleft lips, but the team could feel Karen with his parents before Surgery that she has a very pleasant personCanadians ality in spite of her were getting a condition. Many bit of relief from patients look a bit the heat and puzzled and stare humidity and in disbelief at the Madhu Before Surgery hoping that the stranger staring weather would back at them in the continue to be mirror. comfortable. Madhu was no different and she quite liked looking at image time after time. Mary, the recovery nurse, gave Karen with his mom after Surgery her a mirror to take home. After many Karan is an only child with two young years of disappointment parents. He loves milk and is a haptrying to get assistance, py child with a sunny disposition. The Madhu’s sister was so family is a small 3 generational one with very grateful that they 5 people: Karan, Mom, Dad, Grandma, made the long journey and Grandpa. They live 120 km from hoping that someone Kaka-Ba which is approximately 3 hours might finally be able to by bus. Karan’s dad is a farmer and help Madhu. We were sells his vegetables to earn income for glad that they took this the entire family. We hope to see Karan chance as well. Madhu After Surgery next year to monitor his progress.
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA PROFILE OF PATIENTS Moviya Patient #112 is named Moviya. He is 18 months old and has a bilateral cleft lip. A weak child from birth, he almost died from not eating. His parents tried for surgery several times but Moviya’s hemoglobin count was always too low. Moviya with his dad before surgery Eventually they found that goat milk seemed to help him and began to gain weight. He lives in a house with 12 family members in the district and they all know how much he loves his goat milk. He has 2 older siblings who do not have any facial abnormalities but one of his cousins had the cleft lip condition. This cousin was one of our earlier patients on this trip. When his parents saw our work, they took a 3 hour trip to bring Moviya to Kaka-Ba. After his surgery, the family sent photo of him to his relatives and they were totally amazed at the change. They didn’t believe it was him! Then we started seeing more of his relatives who came to the hospital to inquire about surgery. Some of them we might be able to help on our trip next year.
Moviya with his mom after surgery
FEATURE STORY Plastic surgery combines the aesthetic of the human body with science and medicine. The best surgeons in facial surgery must have sensitivity and a glimpse into a person’s soul in order to bring about the best features that represent their true self. Many of the surgeons have artistic pursuits outside of medicine. Dr. Julie Kvann is a Plastics Resident who was selected by the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons in a very competitive process to study with Dr. Rai on this mission. Originally from Cambodia, she now resides in Montreal and is a 4th year Resident at McGill University. At Kaka-Ba Hospital, Dr. Kvann has composed quite a few poems about the patients that she treated. Although she is proficient in at least 3 languages, she is very humble and often apologizes for her English. We think her poems are beautiful and evocative. Here’s one we would like to share with you called “Flowing Smile”. Flowing Smile A space between two lips Lips entrouverte Lips introspected Secrets to be told Lips ajar Split apart Sip Spit Spill Shame Disorder Distorted realities Go figure Mix configuration Cut Suture Pull apart Put together Outside in Inside out Mix and separated beyond words Beyond worlds A space to fill up A gap to bridge A bridge to cross Stories to be told Sip Swallow Silence Water flowed and filled up her mouth Fills up her eyes And there, For the first time since she was born, Smile
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Kimit Rai – President Gloria Wong – Secretary Rakesh Patel - Treasurer Dr. Nazmundin Bhanji Connie Ekelund Gary Hanney Al Lane Rose Lane Doreen Lore
MISSION STATEMENT Operation Rainbow Canada (ORC) is a 100% volunteer non-profit medical services organization that functions without paid staff to provide free reconstructive surgery and related health care for cleft lip and cleft palate deformities to impoverished children and young adults in developing countries. The medical teams perform reconstructive surgery for children and young adults whose families could not otherwise afford them. The patients are drawn from the indigenous population of the host country, and often families travel days from their homes in order to have their children treated. In addition to cleft lip and palate surgery, the teams also perform reconstructive surgery for burn and post contractures. Without corrective surgery, children born with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities are often shunned, ostracized, denied schooling and eventually succumb to a solitary life lived in the protection of their homes. ORC also provides education and training to physicians and other health care professionals in the host countries to help them achieve longterm self-sufficiency. For our Canadian plastic surgery residents, pediatric residents and anesthesiology residents who accompany the missions, ORC provides an invaluable handson experience for their future practices.
MISSIONS COMPLETED Operation Rainbow Canada Founded in 1998 - Giving the Gift of a Smile – A lasting Legacy Cambodia 2016
Jalandhar, India 2005
Hansot, Gujarat, India 2015
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Cambodia 2014
2005
Cambodia 2013
Chandigarh, India 2004
Cambodia 2012
Lebanon, Beirut 2004
Linyi City, China 2010
Oaxaca, Mexico 2003
Baru Sahib, India 2010
Philippines 2003
Baru Sahib, India 2011
Oaxaca, Mexico 2002
Indonesia 2009
La Trinidad, Philippines 2002
Cambodia 2008
El Salvador 2001
Cambodia 2007
Northern Philippines 2000
Ludhiana, India 2007
Philippines 1999
Cambodia 2006
Villahemosa, Mexico 1998
Philippines 2006
Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Lifetime Achievement Awards
This June, Dr. Rai received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from his peers at the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons.
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA FUTURE MISSIONS
DONORS
February 17 to 27, 2016 Mission to Preah Ketmelea Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Operation Rainbow Canada thanks its supporters for their generous donations towards future programs and missions. ORC is very grateful for the support and fundraising efforts done by its volunteers.
In February of 2016, ORC team of doctors, nurses, support staff and trainees will be returning to our long-time partner hospital, the Preah Ketmelea (PKM) Hospital for a teaching mission. Doreen Lore, R.N., will be the Mission Coordinator for the trip. Dolly Khanna, R.N., will be the Mission Coordinator Trainee.
WAYS TO HELP 1. Donate Directly By cheque, on-line via Canada Helps, or by donating securities. OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA Suite 400 - 601 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 4C2 1.888.956.3399 www.OperationRainbowCanada.ca info@OperationRainbowCanada.ca 2. Volunteer We are always looking for passionate people to help us with our charity. If you have spare time or a particular skill you would like to share with us, please get in touch! 3. Host a Fundraiser 1. Have a party or event 2. Set a $ goal or admission cost 3. Invite your friends and tell them about ORC 4. Collect the money and donate to ORC 5. Receive a Tax Receipt for your donation 4. Sponsor a Smile: 1 Medication per Surgery - $100 1 Surgery - $900 1 Mission (all surgeries & medication) $75,000.00 - $100,000
A partial list of 2015 donors and donors-in-kind! Angel Care Dental BC Textile Innovations Inc. Borwon Health - Australia Cactus Club Camber Resources Services Canadian Cleft Lip and Palate Family Association Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Crescent Point Resources Partnership Ethical Bean Coffee Harbour Centre Dental Health for Humanity Services Society Home Depot Ideon Packaging Japan Airlines Keir Surgical LTA Holidays (Canada) Ltd. Mannkind Charity McAllister Development Mr. Hugh Gillard Mr. Thomas Tait Mr. Joshua Wu Ms. Amy Chang Ms. Betty Chang Ms. Joanne Hagel Ms. Nancy Kawazoe NWM Private Giving Foundation Parallel 49 Brewery Qi Integrated Health Real Canadian Superstore UBC MedPlay Yale and District Ratepayers Association