Hello. I am Bob Langert, senior director of Social Responsibility at McDonald's. I am currently accompanying an Interplast volunteer surgical team to Loja, Ecuador. On this blog, I will share some of my thoughts and impressions.
The first girl I saw upon arrival at the hospital had mesmerizing brown eyes and incredibly smooth skin. Fany, 1½ years old, and her mother were slotted into the schedule last minute. She is in for a macrostomia repair, which is a little unusual as I understand it (notice the left side of Fany's mouth and the cleft opening that stretches to her ear).
posted by Bob Langert @ 3:35 PM
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Pictured here is Pam St. Louis getting 12 year old Saraguro native Lourdes ready for surgery to remove an extra toe (polydacaly). Lourdes is pictured earlier in this blog as well, during the clinic. I talked to Lourdes and her mother Maria later. Lourdes said she couldn't wait to wear shoes and run with her friends.
posted by Bob Langert @ 3:31 PM
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Dr. Tom Moore made an ear today. I witnessed what Tom had told me about the first day--magic unfolding. Tom went on to take a rib graft and then artistically craft it into the shape of an ear. I was impressed, as I am sure the teenage boy will be, Fredy. The past day has had a steady flow of the unusual, including the return of the Saraguro.
posted by Bob Langert @ 3:31 PM
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Lourdes mother (pictured with Helena, Ken and Richard of Interplast) is a fascinating character. She has six children; widowed for 10 years; makes cheese for a living; and is a very proud woman. I had to retake a Polaroid picture of her because she did not like her hair. So she went into the bathroom, wetted and combed her hair, repositioned her clothes, all in order to retake a photo she could bring back to her village.
posted by Bob Langert @ 3:30 PM
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As we finished the day, we had completed over 80 procedures since our arrival in Loja 11 days ago…and it continues to mesmerize me.
posted by Bob Langert @ 3:29 PM
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Hello! I am Bob Langert, and I am senior director of Social Responsibility for McDonald's.
I am in Loja, Ecuador, accompanying an Interplast surgical team.
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.
