Operating in Hue, Vietnam, on congenital cleft lips, palates, hypospadias, undescended testicles, syndactyly and polydactyly. In additional to burn and scars revision. Serving as volunteer anesthesiologist
Indigenous people from Vietnam highland that has very limited access and resource for expertise surgical repair.
These surgical corrections are life changing for patients.
Most impacted were the patients from many different regions of Vietnam. They came from the poor mountainous region of Central Vietnam and various indigenous ethnicities. Some traveled over a thousand kilometers via buses over days. A mother first view of her child with repaired cleft lip is indescribable. The interaction with the local doctors, nurses, technician was also very important. They learnt from the visitors, and we also learnt from them. The friendship and collegiality developed will be long lasting. Last but not least is the impact on all the volunteers. We rediscovered and reinforced our main reason to become health care providers.
