Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy
NEWSLETTER December 2013
OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA CELEBRATES 15 YEARS!
“
We give a heartfelt Thank You to all our Members, Volunteers, Donors and Sponsors for being so generous.
”
Throughout our history, ORC members and volunteers are usually focused on three work items:
Planning Fundraising Executing All in efforts to fulfill our mandate of providing free surgery. At one of our meetings, our members expressed wishes for a celebration to relax, reflect on our good work and have some fun... The ensuing evidence can be found on our website. Founding Members; Al Lane, Rose Lane, Linda Rai and Dr. Kimit Rai cutting the 15 Year Anniversary cake. * Thanks to all the event organizers: Cindy, Doreen, Gloria, Ben, Connie and many, many more!
GOVENOR GENERAL’S CARING CANADIAN AWARD This year, our President and Founder, Dr. Rai, was the recipient of the prestigious Governor General’s Caring Canadians Award. Created in 1995, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others and to build a smarter and more caring nation. The award also highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are so much a part of our Canadian character. It allows Canadians to thank them for their contributions and for the positive impact they have had on the lives of others. Dr. Rai will be receiving the award in a presentation ceremony at Government House in Victoria on January 24, 2014. Congratulations on a well-deserved award, Dr. Rai!
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Another year has sped by and I cannot believe that we just celebrated ORC’s 15 year anniversary! As Linda, Al and Rose Lane were cutting the anniversary cake at the party, we were overwhelmed by memories of our humble start all those years ago. At the same time, we were mindful that there is so much work to be done. Since its grassroots beginning, ORC’s surgical teams have treated over 2000 children around the world. Our last mission to Cambodia was in February 2013 and this time, we had over 10 local medical students joined us as interpreters. They were very enthusiastic learners and our medical team members were thrilled to be expanding the teaching beyond the local physicians and nurses and reaching the next generation of medical caregivers. My hope is to see that our relationship with Cambodia becomes a long term legacy where the locally trained people would continue to run their own hospitals through support from Operation Rainbow Canada. We are presently in negotiations to make sure that this becomes a reality in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Our next mission will be on February 12, 2014 and we will meet with all the key players in the long term project. My vision is to see Operation Rainbow Canada continue on with a team of involved volunteers, directors, and members. Our team has been very hard working and diligent in raising the appropriate funds to provide future services to underdeveloped, needy countries. I am very proud of the fact that we have kept our mandate of not one single paid staff after all these years. At this time were in the midst of planning for India in 2014, Uganda in 2015 and possibly to Ethiopia in 2016. Reflecting on the privileges that we enjoy as Canadians during this holiday season, I am most thankful about being able to make a difference in the less fortunate parts of the world. I see Operation Rainbow Canada going on as a volunteer non-profit organization doing good work in the future with the appropriate supporters and volunteers that have made it such a successful program. Looking forward to another wonderful 15 years with ORC!
With gratitude,
Dr. Kimit Rai M.D., F.R.C.S.C. – Founder and President
Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy
PROFILE OF A DONOR Mr. D. Hugh Gillard, successful businessman, philanthropist, generous supporter of Operation Rainbow Canada and author of the book “What Did You Say?” It started with a phone call to our 1-800 line, about three years ago. Mr. Gillard wanted to know more about ORC and spoke to our Director, Al Lane. Al informed him of the organization’s mission and simple mandate. “We are all volunteers, no administration staff and very little overhead. We go on one or two surgical missions a year, and we provide free surgery for under privileged kids who need our help.“ When Mr. Gillard told us he was coming to B.C. to see his daughter, Al invited him to one of our meetings, offering to drive him to and from the airport. At the meeting, Mr. Gillard spoke about his challenges of growing up and living with a cleft lip and palate and ended with a large donation to ORC. A year later he phoned to check up on ORC. Al informed him about a recent fund raising shortfall on a mission. Mr. Gillard then generously offered to make up the difference. Since that time, Mr. Gillard has kept an active interest in ORC via the Lanes. He gave us another ‘surprise’ this year by publishing his memoirs “What Did You Say?“ and donating all proceeds to ORC ($7,000 raised so far). We are very grateful for Mr. Gillard’s financial support, as well as his continued encouragement for us to keep working to better the lives of children. •
Available both in hardcover and electronically at KoboBooks.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.
What Did You Say?
Memories on a Road Less Travelled By Mr. D. Hugh Gillard
ABOUT THE BOOK How does one find happiness in life when they can’t even say their own name correctly? Memories on a Road Less Traveled is the life story of Mr. D. Hugh Gillard, a young boy born with a cleft lip and palate who grew to adulthood and achieved great success. Although faced with the many challenges of being “different,” Mr. Gillard was raised to see himself only as “normal.” Nevertheless, he struggled with a severe speech impediment, unusual appearance, hearing loss, and discrimination, which so many clefted individuals are forced to deal with. This was all while trying to build a life and career. And that, he did. After four decades in the Oil and Gas industry, Mr. Gillard has retired as a pillar of the community and inspiration to many, including his ever-growing family. What Did You Say? Memories on a Road Less Travelled shows the heartache and triumphs of a man determined to have that “normal” life. With his uproarious sense of humor and whimsy, Mr. Gillard shares his unique views of how to succeed in life and business and have a good time while you’re doing it. This collection of memoirs and recollections is motivational, historical, candid, self-effacingly humorous, and moving. From his earliest days growing up on the family ranch, to his ascension to the heights of the corporate boardroom, Mr. Gillard shares it all; from family life, to making friends, dating, surgeries, discrimination, getting educated, career successes (and failures) and married life - in his entertaining and down to earth style that he hopes will inspire anyone facing the challenges of being just a little bit different. * Mr. Gillard is kindly donating all proceeds to ORC
Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy
PROFILE OF A PATIENT Another successful mission to the Preah Ketmelea Hospital in Phnom Penh in 2013. Battambang Baby - Story of a Special Patient who has touched the hearts of our Surgical Team By Doreen Lore, Mission Coordinator (Cambodia 2012 and 2013)
Her name was Sok Nai Yen, and at a year old, she was only 3.5 kg. Description on her chart: severely undernourished, dehydrated, weak, and listless (basically failure to thrive). Her parents were in their twenties; farmers from a faraway village near Battambang. They heard about ORC on the radio and contacted Dr. Meng Chhay Nob in Phnom Penh.
With that said, since Sok Nai would occasionally suck her thumb on the other side of her lip, I knew she had good suction, so after we located a bottle and some formula, I tried to bottle feed her and she drank about three ounces before falling asleep. I then taught the mom how to feed her with a bottle. The family stayed in the hospital so we could monitor Sok Nai’s progress.
“
... we found some doll’s clothes for Sok Nai, but even they were still too big
”
They could not afford the trip and were pleasantly surprised when Chhay explained that all transportation and food would be provided by ORC. The small family then travelled to the capital with another family whose child also had cleft lip and palate. When the family arrived, Sok Nai was too small and sick to be operated on. In addition to being the size of some newborns in North America, she didn’t walk or talk. She had a large unilateral cleft lip and palate. The anesthesiologist examined her and deemed her unsafe for an anesthetic, (therefore, unsafe for surgery). She looked very grey, had a distended abdomen and looked liked she was starving to death. Due to lack of knowledge, her mom could only feed her rice soup with a spoon.
Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy
Everyday she ate more and more and she became more alert and smiling. Unfortunately, although we had brought some donated clothes and toys for the children, we had nothing small enough to fit her. Then we found some doll’s clothes for Sok Nai, but even they were still too big.
PROFILE OF A VOLUNTEER Sok Nai’s condition improved a lot, but she was still an anesthetic risk so she could not undergo surgery this time. With proper instructions we sent the baby home after our mission and told the family to come back next year. The plan was to provide enough formula for six months until contact with another NGO near her village could be made. I went to the store with Chhay to buy enough formula but was focused on the bottle because it needed to be particularly softer for ease of feeding. Chhay would keep in contact with the family and ensure that she had follow up care near her village.
Cindy Leung, Director of Finance at Globe Group Cindy is a dynamic businesswoman with a true entrepreneurial spirit in both the for profit and nonprofit world. She has founded and owned several successful enterprises and is currently the finance director of a large non-profit organization. Cindy is also the co-founder of Stratford Hall World IB School, one of the top ranked non-profit independent schools in Vancouver.
“Dr. Rai is an amazing doctor who has done numerous cleft lip surgeries to help underprivileged children. I thought I will do my part to at least help recognize his and his team’s accomplishments. I am glad with my past experience in organizing events, I was able to deliver a great party to celebrate with the members’ 15th year of dedication to a great cause.” - Cindy
Randy Mennie, Cameraman at Global TV BC At the 2013 mission, our fourth patient registered was Sok Nai! I recognized the parents but Sok Nai had changed so much. She was running around, super active, smiling and laughing. She had grown so much and was really delightful. I was worried that because she was so malnourished that her brain development might be compromised but she was so smart. Amazingly enough, mom was still feeding her milk with the same bottle I obsessed over buying. Heather Posno, OR lead, collected clothing and toys from Vancouver for Sok Nai and even had cartoon girly special arm bands for her post-op. Dr. Rai performed the three hour clef lip and palate surgery. Seeing the reaction of mom and dad to Sok Nai’s lip/palate repair was priceless. They are quiet people, but both parents could not stop smiling. This was the highlight of the 2013 mission.
Randy been a news cameraman at Global BC for the last eight and a half years and in training as a news editor. A man of many talents, Randy is a freelance videographer, video editor, and also write iPhone and iPad apps.
“I was made aware of ORC by your videographer Gary Hanney. When it became apparent how completely altruistic the ORC members are, along with the breadth and depth of skills and training of those involved, I immediately wanted to be a part of that. If creating videos, which reflect the purpose and passion of ORC to the general public, helps draw more people and resources into the fold, then more disadvantaged people of the world will benefit. That will be a good day.” - Randy
Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy
FUTURE MISSIONS We are very excited about 2014 as we have two missions lined up. In February 2014, we are going back to Phnom Penh to the Preah Ketmelea Hospital (PKM Hospital). This will be our third mission to the PKM Hospital and our 10th year of working with our dear friend, Dr. Nous Sarom, head of the Maxillo-facial and Plastic Surgery Department at the hospital. The Mission Planning Committee has been in discussion with Dr. Sarom to formulate a plan to enable the hospital to be self-sustaining in the future. This involves a joint venture between ORC and the hospital providing initial support and training in order to establish a Centre of Excellence in Plastic Surgery. This is a very exciting development for ORC as we wish to migrate from a pure service model into a teaching and training model in Phnom Penh. We believe that ultimately, there will be greater benefit to the Cambodian people if we help them to help themselves. Stay tuned for further details! In November 2014, we will be heading to Armoor, India. Originally we intended to be there in the fall of 2013; however, we had to postpone the mission due to regional political unrest. The need for free cleft lip and palate surgery is great in Armoor and we are very much looking forward to working with Dr. Shekhar at the MJ Hospital in Armoor. Planning is underway for 2015 for Uganda and 2016 for Ethiopia. We are really looking forward to providing free surgery to needy children in that region and hope for more missions in Africa.
SOCIAL MEDIA Stay connected! www.facebook.com/OperationRainbowCanada www.twitter.com/ORCanada
Giving the Gift of a Smile‌.a Lasting Legacy
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.com info@OperationRainbowCanada.com 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 Have a party or event Set a $ goal or admission cost Invite your friends and tell them about ORC Collect the money and donate to ORC Receive a Tax Receipt for your donation 4. Sponsor a Smile: 1 Medication per Surgery - $75.00 1 Surgery - Half $125.00 or Full $250.00 1 Operating Table (10 - 20 surgeries) - $5,000.00 1 Mission (all surgeries & medication) - $65,000.00
SHOPPING
DONORS
Shop in our Store for Gifts! This is a fabulous way to give the gift of giving! All profits go directly to help a child in need of a surgery, plus you get great products you can give to everyone on your gift list!
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.
Visit: www.cafepress.ca/orcshopping
A partial list of 2013 donors and donors-in-kind: Canadian Cleft Lip and Palate Family Assn Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Cindy Leung Como Lake United Church Dr. & Mrs. Ukani Dr. F. Robert Purdy Ltd Dr. Richard C. Chan Encana Corporation Fusion Publishing Good Life Connoisseur Magazine Harbour Centre Dental Health for Humanity Services Society Helena How Hugh Gillard LTA Holidays (Canada) Ltd. Lyle Langlois Mr. & Mrs. L.R Nicole Petrie NWM Private Giving Foundation October 17 Media Pat Posno Score Four Holdings Ltd
Teddy Bears $31.00 Infant Sleepers $32.00 Pajamas $69.00 T-Shirts $22.50 – $65.00 Xmas Stocking $31.00 Clock $26.50 Large Mug $28.50 For full product list please visit the store online:
Synergy CMC TELUS Corporation The Howard Group Inc. Thomas Land & Conracting Ltd. United Way United Way of Niagara Falls Greater Ft Erie United Way of the Lower Mainland Victoria Whisky Festival
www.cafepress.ca/orcshopping
Giving the Gift of a Smile‌.a Lasting Legacy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS • • • • • • • •
MISSIONS COMPLETED Operation Rainbow Canada has performed 2,000+ surgeries on 23 missions in various countries so far.
Dr. Nazmundin Bhanji Connie Ekelund Al Lane Rose Lane Doreen Lore Rakesh Patel Dr. Kimit Rai Gloria Wong
ORC missions have trained approximately 22 Plastic Residents, 19 Anesthesia Fellows and 12 Pediatric Residents (the Residents were sponsored by their respective training programs and Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons).
MISSION STATEMENT Children with deformities are almost always alienated from society and restricted in their potential. Children with facial deformities, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, are further marginalized because of the dramatic nature of these abnormalities. Operation Rainbow Canada reaches out internationally by providing reconstructive surgery for these children and by sharing skills with local physicians. Operation Rainbow Canada volunteers, supported by donors, proudly represent Canada and promote understanding of the needs of developing countries.
1998 - Mexico 1999 - Philippines 2000 - Northern Philippines 2001 - El Salvador 2002 - Philippines 2002 - Oaxca, Mexico 2003 - Philippines 2003 - Oaxaca, Mexico 2004 - Chandigarh, India 2004 - Lebanon, Beirut 2005 - Jalandhar, India 2005 - Cambodia 2006 - Philippines 2006 - Cambodia 2007 - Ludhiana, India 2007 - Cambodia 2008 - Cambodia 2009 - Indonesia 2010 - Baru Sahib, India 2010 - Linyi City, China 2011 - Baru Sahib, India 2012 - Cambodia 2013 - Cambodia
Charity Registration #866060189RR0001
STAY CONNECTED OPERATION RAINBOW CANADA Suite 400 - 601 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C2 Toll Free: 1.888.956.3399
www.OperationRainbowCanada.com www.facebook.com/OperationRainbowCanada www.twitter.com/ORCanada E-mail: info@OperationRainbowCanada.com
Giving the Gift of a Smile….a Lasting Legacy