Posted by: Chona Chatto
in FOT Blog on Jan 25, 2012
THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!! It probably was the most difficult mission for Faces of Tomorrow (FOT) but it was a job well done. The numerous poor people that you have come to help will be forever grateful to this wonderful team. I would personally thank Dr. Charles Shih for his interest of bringing FOT to this little island of Bohol. Politics is such a big issue in the Philippines but I'm very thankful that it did not stop Brian's desire of coming back again to help the poor children of Bohol. To each & everyone of the FOT team, I want to say thank you in behalf of the recipients of this life changing gift that you have given to them. Chona Torregosa-Chatto
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Posted by: Charina Asunto
in FOT Blog on Jan 25, 2012
I would like to thank FOT team for helping the people in the poor island of Bohol,from the bottom of my heart-DAGHAN KAAYONG SALAMAT! (thank you very much)-these words could never be enough to convey how truly grateful we are for having FOT touch the Boholanos..This work means so much to me,i feel so fortunate being part of this endeavour, you brought out the best in me,and forever i am indebted to you for taking a lot of care and so much kindness and generosity to my fellow Boholanos.
again, thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!God bless you all!!
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Posted by: Kathleen Thompson
in FOT Blog on Jan 22, 2012
Our amazing week of mission work here ended yesterday and I am still overwhelmed with emotion at the kids and families we met and and were able to help. There were so many babies and small children whose lips and palates we repaired in a timely manner before their deformities could cause any more undo stress, health and speech issues. However, the older kids we treated in record numbers this year truly broke my heart. These kids have been living with their deformities for many, many, years which in turn has lead to poorer health, severe speech issues and worst of all, lots of teasing. I felt so grateful to be a small part of changing these kids' lives.
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Posted by: Dr. Brian Rubinstein
in FOT Blog on Jan 22, 2012
This may have been my most difficult mission to plan since we started FOT (Faces of Tomorrow) almost 5 years ago. Most people don't know this but less than 2 weeks before the mission started, the City Mayor of Tagbilarin City, Bohol cancelled his support for our mission. Politics became involved with the province Governor and he withdrew his support for the mission. We were encouraged to cancel the mission, but we scrambled with the support of our collaborators on the ground in Bohol (Charina) and arranged our own transportation, and hospital arrangements and a million other things. We also had to change our government permit to work in the Philippines and received the permit the day before we left.
All of the stress, frustration, and sleepless nights all disappeared as the week progressed. After seeing one dream realized after another during the week of surgeries, made it all worth it.
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Posted by: Barbara Northington
in FOT Blog on Jan 20, 2012
Just a quick note to thank all the helpers we have had this year. All your help has made this mission possible. Thank you! YOU ROCK!
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Posted by: Stephanie Rubinstein
in FOT Blog on Jan 19, 2012
I was really taken by a little 8 year old girl in a fairy dress. She walked into the triage room with a HUGE cleft lip . She smiled really big, only to show a maze of missing/rotting/misplaced teeth. I don't think she even knew it. Her smile was huge and her eyes bright. I watched her twirl around while she watched her dress swing. Again, a huge smile. She was so cute, smiley, and seemingly unaware of her deformities. Unlike most other cleft kids who won't even look you in the eye she looked and smiled. I asked her if I could take her picture. She quickly posed with her fingers in front of her face creating the hand sign that signified guapa (beautiful). I was so touched by her confidence and beauty. I was also touched by her parents. What a huge feat. This little confident girl knows she is beautiful.
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Posted by: Barbara Northington
in FOT Blog on Jan 19, 2012
It's so amazing here with all the things you get to do. Yesterday I was medicating the kids in pre-op. They get that versed and they turn all happy and floppy. They look a little drunk and don't seem to care about anything. I medicated this little five year old. She was just the cutest little thing. Took her medicine just like that. She wasn't afraid of me at all. She still had about 20 minutes before surgery so I went out and started doing other things. On one trip by the window I saw her mother holding her up so she could look at everything going on inside the OR. She was smiling so big and then she saw me and started waving the princess wave. I couldn't help but stop to see her. She just kept on grinning and her smile was so big I slid outside the OR to pre-op to get closer to her. When I leaned in she said "I love you" in english. Now she is my new best friend. That versed works so well... anyway if any is missing...... I might be using it to get a few more of those i love you's.
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Posted by: Jim Thompson
in FOT Blog on Jan 19, 2012
Kyle Patrick was one of our more heartwarming cases this year. He showed up in a Captain America T-shirt that he was very proud of. He is 11 years old, and right after his mother died this year, his father abandoned him, and now he is living with his aunt. Although he does not have a severe cleft lip, he told us that he gets teased constantly at school about his appearance. You could tell he was a brave kid, and very polite. He also spoke good English, and liked when we spoke with him.
Brian did his surgery, and it come out perfectly. His new lip looked great, and we are hoping that the teasing will stop. We really wanted to bring this kid home with us, and Karen Westmoreland, one our nurses, and I were fighting over who he would come live with . Great example of why we do these missions...
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Posted by: Dr. Brandon Hopkins
in FOT Blog on Jan 18, 2012
Everyone has finally hit their groove. The days are running smooth from preop to OR to PACU to patient discharge. We 've had a couple go down with a stomach or GI bug, but after a well placed IV most have rebounded. It is quite impressive how FOT has thrown a group of strangers from different parts of the country together and really put forth a cohesive team. At times I feel like i'm with Pierce and Trapper in the 4077 where a days shenanigans end with a job well done. Can't wait for tomorrow.
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Posted by: Dr. Charles Shih
in FOT Blog on Jan 17, 2012
We had a long first day of operating. My first case was Marvin who is a 17 year old boy who has a wide bilateral cleft lip and palate that has never been repaired. Imagine going through your first 17 years of life like that.
It turns out that he had come to see FOT for surgery last year but unfortunately was turned down due to the excess number of patients. Fortunately he came back this year and we decided to repair both his lip and his palate together. The surgery took 5 hours but went very well and he went home the following day.
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Posted by: Karen Westmoreland
in FOT Blog on Jan 17, 2012
Yesterday was a bit rough and fairly chaotic but all the kids did great. The team did 11 procedures. Today, we got our groove on and it has been smooth sailing. 16 cases today! This is my 4th mission trip with FOT and I am still continually amazed at the transformation's that take place in the matter of a few hours - makes me smile right along with the patients. :)
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Posted by: Barbara Northington
in FOT Blog on Jan 17, 2012
Joan and Karen are working in PACU. Joan was recovering a 10 year old girl named Mary Ann.She had been in recovery for some time and was stable. Our Philippine nurses and her mother were at her bedside, attending to her. She was close to finishing her first liter of fluids and began to squirm. It became obvious that she needed to use the bathroom. The nurses called me and I asked the Philippine OR nurse for a bedpan. This nurse went to the phone and started calling. I looked at the patient and decided she was big enough to walk to the bathroom. I didn't want to wait for someone to bring a bedpan. She walked with assistance to the bathroom, took care of her urgent business and we headed back to her room. As she was sitting back down on the bed, a breathless Philippine peds doctor arrived at her bedside responding to the 'emergency' he had been telephoned to attend. It took a few minutes to explain the bathroom emergency. I thought I had asked for a bedpan.
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Posted by: Jim Thompson
in FOT Blog on Jan 17, 2012
This is the first chance for many of us to get a chance to write, as the internet has not been available much at the hotel. It is now Tuesday afternoon, and we are in the middle of our second day of surgeries.
Here's the recap. After leaving Davis by bus on Thursday afternoon, we finally arrived in Manila on Saturday AM after a short stop in Guam in the middle of the night. We then had another short hop to the island of Bohol, where we were greeted by a marching band. All of the team arrived safe and sound. We unloaded supplies at the hospital and got all settled at the hotel. After the long journey, it was an early night for most. We did awake early Sunday morning to prepare for the triage day, ( but not before watching the 49ers beat the Saints (on a small PC with no sound). The game was on at 5AM, but many of us were up to watch the glorious triumph)...
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Posted by: Abby Samuelson
in FOT Blog on Jan 17, 2012
Last year, the Magan family had 3 children's lips repaired. I remember how shy they were, hiding their faces, barely speaking. Here are pre- and post-op pictures from last year:  When they saw me for the first time this year while waiting to be evaluated for palate surgeries, I heard a chorus of "Ate (big sister) Abby!!! Ate Abby!" and a family of overwhelmingly happy faces. I wish I could share the eagerness with which they showed me their smiles and told me how their lives have been completely transformed. Hirve proudly announced to me that he had SIX friends now at school! Virgil was the opposite of shy, talking nonstop - transformed into a gregarious 8-year-old. Berlyn just sat there, beaming, posing every angle of her face for me. I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to see firsthand the transformation in these kids' lives - it shows in their eyes, in their personalities, in their emotional states, and in their smiles.
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Posted by: Dr. Brandon Hopkins
in FOT Blog on Jan 16, 2012
So today was the first OR day, busy but exciting. 7:30 am-7:30 pm cases were moving on and off the tables. As part of the surgical team, I headed back to base post cases while our diligent PACU team ensures a safe night for our patients. With four ORs running and 3-4 cleft lips or palates apiece, the learning is exponential. However, I must admit i'm ready for nap. Cant wait for tomorrow.
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Posted by: Dr. Brandon Hopkins
in FOT Blog on Jan 15, 2012
Hello,
First time blogger but here goes. Today was our first day at the hospital. After 40+ hours awake and a good night sleep. I have shifed to whatever time zone this is. However, today I was rested and ready to go. We have seen over sixty patients and setup most for surgeries over the next week. So manycute kids and grateful families... I can't wait to get started tomorrow. I look forward to sharing pictures and stories. More to come.....
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Posted by: Cheryl Chamness
in FOT Blog on Jan 27, 2011
It was indeed a tough week for FOT team in Tagbilaran City, Bohol..tiring on my part but a very precious experience being one of those who extended help to give the kids a new hope for better life..
Thank you so much FOT for the kind visit, which we know entailed so much sacrifice, you gave to the Boholano people..In behalf of the Boholano kids and their families,DAGHAN, DAGHAN, DAGHAN KAAYONG SALAMAT (thank you very much)..our words of thank you could not even be enough to express how grateful and blessed this island to have been visited by such people with such a noble cause..
from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for the experience of self enrichment and fulfillment..again, thank you, thank you, thank you..till next time!!
Charina Asunto, Bohol, Philippines
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Posted by: Dr. Michael Lovely
in FOT Blog on Jan 24, 2011
written January 22, 2011
Last day and I find myself looking forward to greeting the families that will be waiting for us this morning. Our planners have once again chosen a very talented team and absolutely hit it out of the park in choosing this location. The obvious need for the services which we are able to provide was evident from the 100+ patients we saw at screening. The Filipino people have been gracious hosts, cooperative patients and families, and eager assistants. As I reflect on the week, my mind's eye recalls many recently altered faces and their appreciative families and I am unable to suppress a smile. Thanks to all of you for all of your help and support.
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Posted by: Dr. Brian Rubinstein
in FOT Blog on Jan 20, 2011
Emron is a boy we did surgery on yesterday. He is an 11 y.o boy that has a cleft lip and palate. I can't believe an 11 y.o boy still has such a deformity. my daughter Brooke is 11 and it is not even something that I can imagine.
in the morning on rounds, I met Emron again (we first met at the screening clinic). He is a quite kid but friendly. I don't think he said one word to us, but he did not shy away when we tried to talk with him. I taught him to do the fist bump with the hand explosion. He thought it was pretty cool and so did I .
His cleft was really wide and he had his teeth showing in the cleft - a big deformity and disfiguring to say the least. He gets teased a lot and has stopped going to school.
After we did his surgery and he woke up in the recovery room, the nurses showed him a mirror. He had the biggest smile you every saw! he couldn't believe what he was looking at. I was pretty excited about his repair, but after I heard about the mirror, I was thrilled.
I saw Emron again today and we did the fist bump and explosion. Pretty cool!
I am buying stock in Emron for sure. He said he is going to go back to school and is not going to be embarrassed anymore!
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Posted by: Stephanie Rubinstein
in FOT Blog on Jan 20, 2011
As we carry the third of her three children to be repaired into the operating room she says," I never thought that God would give a day like this to a person like me"
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17 year old Marvin Contiri came to our screening clinic in 2011 to have his bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate repaired and unfortunately we had to turn him away. He learned about the mission late and by the time he arrived our schedule was jam packed and we could not take any more patients. He returned in 2012 and this was his year.
During our 2011 mission to the Philippines we met 19 year old Irene. Irene has a severe cleft lip and palate. She also suffers from various neurological deficits leaving her severely delayed. She came to us with many family members as supporters. Our doctors examined her and as a team decided it would not be safe to operate on her because of unknown health risks.
11 year old Patrick "Captain America" touched the heart of every member of our team. He arrived at our clinic wearing a Captain America t-shirt and to our surprise speaking freely in English to our team. It was really special being able to communicate with him directly.