Amy Laden: Excited and Ready

  Saying Goodbye 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Hello. My name is Amy Laden, and I am director of international services for Interplast.

From April 1-16, 2005 Interplast volunteer medical professionals from around the United States and Canada will go to Ganzhou City, China to provide life-changing reconstructive surgery.  Ganzhou City is an industrial city in Jiangxi, one of the poorest provinces in China.

More than a decade ago, Interplast made its first surgical trip to Shanghai, China, helping heal the lives of children who suffered physically or emotionally from the devastating effects of a congenital deformity or injury.  In 1995 and 1996, Interplast surgical teams returned to China, working in Urumqi, Xinjiang province to perform surgeries and restore more lives.

Interplast is returning at the invitation of the China Population Welfare Foundation.  While in China, Interplast will also receive assistance from the HuaQiao (Bridges to China) Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit based in San Francisco and Shanghai.  Dr. Scott Corlew, an Interplast board member and plastic surgeon from Tennessee, will lead the trip.

I am excited about this exciting opportunity, but not so thrilled about the 13 hour flight ahead of me, but by the end of the weekend we should be in Ganzhou City ready to work. I have been on dozens of Interplast trips in countries all around the world, but each time I go to a new place I still get a little nervous. In a few days I will be updating this blog daily (hopefully) with lots of pictures and stories of our patients, team, and host colleagues, so check back soon!

Comments

[Jade]

*g* Danke. Ja, bin mit einigen Frauen urgenwets jedoch solchen, die allesamt nicht gegen Kamele eingetauscht werden. Da sind Sie einfach zu charmant, als das ich hier ein Tauschgesche4ft annehmen wfcrde :D (Siehe auch das Steinkungfubild im neuen Beitrag ;) ).