August 6-17th passed by quickly for the team of OBI volunteer and staff in Da Nang, Vietnam. Each of the ten work days were filled with different faces in need of medical care. During the 2-week mission, Vietnamese men, women, and children received 4,415 medical services!

Over at the Da Nang General Hospital ENT surgeon Alex Lozano was busy helping six people through surgery and neurosurgeon Bert Park successfully performed tweleve long operations. In Da Nang Eye Hospital, volunteer opthalmologists helped restore the sight of 254 young and elderly Vietnamese through cataract, strabismus (crossed eyes), glaucoma, and corneal transplant procedures. Operating nurse Jean Bird commented, "The work environment was very different from the States. The Vietamese are able to do so much with so little and we do so little with so much." She continued, "Their surgeons and staff are very skilled and their results after surgery are very good. Our surgeons were able to teach them some techniques in corea surgery, but they also learned some techniques from their surgeons on repairing ptosis of the eyelids."

OBI's temporary medical clinic was held in Hoa Vang District Hospital. Each day, residents from different villages were invited to receive the free medical, dental, and optical care. Both medical and non-medical volunteers worked together with the Vietamese hospital staff and translators in providing 4,143 free services to those in need!

Both in and out of the hospital and clinic settings, volunteers saw people in need. One evening operating room nurse Janet Stookey and other team members were using an internet cafe's E-mail services. They came across a girl who had crossed eyes. Come to find out, her father was the internet cafe's owner, and her mother suffered from multiple sclorosis. After Janet looked at the girl, it was determined a pair of glasses would correct the problem and not surgery.

In the midst of a few logistical obstacles, OBI's volunteers and staff helped many that would not otherwise receive medical care. "Vietnam was an incredible mission," said mission leader Dwight Lohrenz. "This one was special."

"Two weeks of my time and some minor physical and financial inconveniences are a very small price to pay when I have been given so much," Jean commented.

Stories continue to come in from our Vietnam volunteer team!

Later this week meet non-medical volunteer Hope Dooner and share in her amazing experiences behind three cameras and in operating rooms!

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2010 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.