Bob Langert's First Post

At my first day at the clinic, I was awed by both the children´s sense of hope and the doctors that gave them hope.

The 12-person Interplast medical team have the experience of 100 trips behind them already. Many traveled from as far as Juneau, Alaska and Stockholm, Sweden--and all have a genuine inner drive to help these sweet, quiet children.

Most of the children don´t smile yet, but are ready to burst in smile when then are chosen as an operable case.

As the surgeons Tom, Lisa and Nadia examined more than 125 patients this first day, I was impressed with their knowledge and professionalism. But I expected that. So what really impressed me were their skills of humanity. Each doctor gave rapt attention to every patient.

By the end of the day, the team had the next two weeks of surgery scheduled.

Dr. Richard Gillerman's First Post: Evaluation Day

We evaluated more than 125 cases today. Tomorrow we will begin operating on many children and adults who suffer from cleft lips and palates and severe burns.

There were more than 300 people--children and their families, as well as some adults and teenagers who traveled long distances by themselves for the possibility of surgery.

Despite the high numbers of patients, the day went smoothly, largely thanks to our local partners, Dr. Nelson Samaniego and his wife Cora, who have been our hosts here in Loja for 20 years.

In addition, six local people gave their vacation time to help us with translating and coordination. Also, six medical residents observed clinic today, with the hope that one day they may be empowered to provide the reconstructive surgeries themselves one day.

Interplast Surgical Team Trip

Loja, Ecuador January 2005

For nearly 20 years, Interplast has worked in Loja, Ecuador. From January 10-21, volunteer medical professionals (three plastic surgeons, three anesthesiologists, one pediatrician and four nurses) are expected to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery for approximately 75 children who have severe burn injuries and disfiguring birth defects, including cleft lips and palates. In addition, there will also be an opportunity for the doctors to provide acute burn education and training, in conjunction with a new burn unit at the local hospital.

This trip is generously sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities. Bob Langert, senior director for social responsibility for McDonald’s, has kindly agreed to give up his time to participate in this trip. Mr. Langert and the other team members will arrive in Guayaguil on Saturday, January 8. On Sunday, the team will travel by bus to Loja. Clinic-- a day when medical professionals evaluate the cases of children in need--will take place on Monday. This is a day when the hospital is typically filled with the families of hundreds of children, hoping their child will be able to receive the reconstructive surgery that could provide a better life for their child.

According to UNICEF, nearly 70 percent of Ecuador’s children live in poverty. In Interplast service areas like Ecuador, impoverished people generally do not have access to even basic medical services, let alone reconstructive plastic surgery. The supply of trained plastic surgeons in developing countries is often quite limited. Even where some surgeons are available, poor people in developing countries do not generally have the financial resources to afford such care, and must compete against an overwhelming demand for medical services by their fellow citizens.

About Interplast

Interplast, the first international humanitarian organization to provide free reconstructive surgery in developing countries, makes a direct and profound difference in the lives of 3,000 children each year who suffer physically or emotionally from a congenital deformity or injury. Renowned for the highest-quality medical care, Interplast works in partnership with volunteers and overseas medical colleagues to educate and empower local communities so that medical access continues year-round.

Interplast Provides Solutions

Interplast cares for children and adults who might otherwise be sentenced to a lifetime of devastation and suffering. Interplast’s programs provide corrective surgery and related care for impoverished patients with congenital deformities or other disabling conditions, including severe burns and hand injuries. The organization’s scope of services includes:
Partnering with surgeons and other medical professionals in developing countries to coordinate locally-managed surgical outreach programs.
Conducting educational workshops to provide advanced training in specialized skills for host country medical professionals.
Sending volunteer medical teams overseas to perform surgery and assist in skills transfer.

Interplast Manages Programs in More Than 25 Different Sites Around the World

Interplast manages medical programs in more than 25 different sites around the world. Performing surgery and/or providing advanced medical training for local physicians and nurses, volunteers this year will work in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Sri Lanka, Zambia and Vietnam. Interplast has Surgical Outreach Centers in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Nepal, Peru and Zambia. Interplast provides support to the centers with funding, quality review, technological support and advanced medical training.

For more information, please contact Interplast at 650.962.0123 or www.interplast.org.

Medical Professionals and McDonald’s® Executive Donate Time for Surgical Trip

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Helps to Heal the Lives of Children with Burn Injuries and Birth Defects in Ecuador


MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- From January 10-21, volunteer medical professionals from around the United States will travel to Loja, Ecuador to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery for children who have severe burn injuries and disfiguring birth defects, including cleft lips and palates.

“Many impoverished children around the world do not have access to basic medical care, let alone the reconstructive plastic surgery they need to lead normal, productive lives,” said Ken Barun, president and CEO of RMHC. “Ronald McDonald House Charities understands this great need and over the past six years has granted more than $3 million to sponsor Interplast trips and training for local doctors to provide continuing care to these children.”

Interplast depends on generous donors like RMHC and volunteers who give their time to provide life-changing surgeries to children in developing countries. Volunteers like Bob Langert, senior director of Social Responsibility for the McDonald’s Corporation, who will donate two weeks of his time to help the surgical team in Loja. For more than 30 years, McDonald’s®, its Owner/Operators, suppliers and employees have supported the caring cause of RMHC and its mission to directly improve the health and well being of children.

“I am excited about the opportunity to help these children who suffer from birth defects, burns and other injuries,” said Langert. “This trip offers the chance not only to demonstrate McDonald’s longstanding commitment to giving back and volunteering in communities – but also to transform the lives of children in need.”

Worldwide, more than 100,000 children die from fire and burns each year. Tens of thousands more live with the physical and psychological scars of disfigurement and permanent disability. Among children age 5-14, the World Health Organization reports that fire-related burns rank ninth among the leading causes of disease. Most of the burn victims do not have immediate access to adequate burn care, so their injuries heal by themselves, creating scar tissue that can destroy function and movement and disfigure them in ways unimaginable.

In addition to providing surgeries, the volunteer doctors will also provide acute burn education and training, in conjunction with a new burn unit at the local hospital. (Interplast provides educational opportunities, like this burn training, to educate and empower local communities so that medical access continues year-round.) For nearly 20 years, Interplast has worked in Loja, Ecuador, where nearly 70 percent of the children live in poverty, according to UNICEF.

For more information or interviews (in-country or here in the U.S.) with Bob Langert or volunteer doctors and nurses, please contact Sara Anderson at 650.934.3305 or sara@interplast.org.

Interplast, the first international humanitarian organization to provide free reconstructive surgery in developing countries, makes a direct and profound difference in the lives of 3,000 children each year who suffer physically or emotionally from a congenital deformity or injury. Interplast works in partnership with volunteers and overseas medical colleagues to educate and empower local communities so that medical access continues year-round. www.interplast.org.

RMHC, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. The Charity makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of 181 local Chapters in 48 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than US$400 million in grants and program services to children's non-profit organizations around the world. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.