Ganzhou City, China Volunteer Surgical Trip

Bill: Healing Bodies, Changing Lives

We had a frail and depressed 16-old girl who had her lips repaired on Monday under local anesthesia, as she is diagnosed with VSD. It has been our hope that she can receive free heart surgery under the Shanghai Rotary Gift of Life program which is supported by Rotary, with surgery performed at Shanghai Chest Hospital. The team has kind of adopted her in true compassionate spirit.

After her cleft surgery, anesthesiologist Craig McClain talked to the hospital's cardiologist and obtained a copy of her echo-cardiogram. We faxed the cardiogram to Frank Yih at Shanghai, who in turn requested Dr. Chen, the pediatric heart surgeon at Shanghai Chest Hospital to review the case immediately.

I was truly excited to receive Frank's phone call this afternoon telling me the good news regarding Liu Fangjin. Dr. Chen has tentatively approved Liu for surgery subject to examination, and Frank Yih, in support of the Interplast Ganzhou mission, has given Liu priority for admission into the Gift of Life program.

I broke the news immediately to Madame Liu Hongru, the senior Family Planning lady from Beijing

representing Madame Miao, so that her people can contact the girl's family and begin preparation for the trip to Shanghai. Madame Liu will also inform the hospital. They are all thrilled.

I made an announcement during our team dinner tonight and needless to say the whole team was elated...even more so when I told them that it is very likely that Liu and her aunt might be traveling with our team and staying at Asionics, with all travel and living expenses paid by Frank Yih and HuaQiao Foundation.

Interplast - Healing bodies, Changing Lives.  We will have completed about 80 surgeries by tomorrow noon. Little did we anticipate that we are very well on our way to saving a life.

Bill Chiang: Pleasantly Suprised

We have been pleasantly surprised by Ganzhou City, which turns out to be a city full of history. Some of the infrastructure trace back to the Sung dynasty.

The city's sewer system was built in the Sung dynasty and is more than 800 years old.

Chairman Mao's famous "Long March" began in nearby Ruijin City, which was the capital of the Chinese Soviet Republic, known also as the "Old Red Capital."

A few hours to the west of Ganzhou is the Jin Gang Mountain, a very poor and remote region where Chairman Mao and his Red Army leaders hid when the Nationalist Army was in hot pursuit.

Ganzhou is considered the center of the Hakka (literally "Guest") people. They were originally refugees from Henan province in the north who, escaping from war and famine, settled in this region in ancient times.  Being foreign to the region, they kept their ancient dialect, old customs and distinctive cuisine.  From this region, the Hakkas branched out and settled in other southern provinces such as Guangdong, Taiwan, and many countries in Southeast Asia. The 19th Conference of the World Federation of the Hakkas was held in Ganzhou City last year.

Ganzhou is the Tungsten capital of the world. 70% of the world's production of Tungsten comes from

China; and 70% of China's Tungsten production comes from Ganzhou.

The city is clean but full of noises. Honking is pervasive.  A street sweeping truck usually comes around the hotel at around 9 pm, playing loud "Happy Birthday" tunes.

There are no pigeons in public parks or places.

Paul Quintana: Teaching

  Paul Quintana Teaching 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

I am Dr. Paul Quintana, and I am giving a series of lectures to a group of doctors, nurses and students. The lectures have attracted up to 100 during these 2 hour long sessions in the afternoon. I am planning to give three such sessions, and I am excited to share my knowledge with my Chinese peers and their students and residents.

Stuart - Day Off

  Day Off 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

We had Sunday off and took a delightful tour of five of the important historical sites around the city. Led by Linda, we visited a monument, Yugu Terrace, that is dedicated to a poet and political leader from the past.

Then followed a site - Bajing Terrace, where part of the old city wall is constructed with original brick that even pre-dates the Great Wall of China. There is also a large monument resembling a cooking pot erected to commemorate the Hakka people.

Near one of the remaining four out of five city gates there is a pontoon bridge crossing one of the 3 rivers associated with the city. Lunch was in a historical old part of town where an old house was transformed into a restaurant where the local cuisine and beer continue to amaze us all.

Stuart: Fighter Pilots

  Fighter Pilots 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

A short ride out of the city took us to the Tong Tian Rock Grotto – another site illustrating the long and historically importance of this Song Dynasty City. Its interesting stone carvings are in close proximity to an amusement aeroplane ride thoroughly enjoyed by Amy and Jim.

Richard Roullard: Never Worked With Better

  Richard Roullard: Never Worked With Better 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

I am the head nurse on the China team.  Jodi and I work together in the Operating Room with two wonderful Chinese nurses, Sunny and Rose.  Sunny is a charge nurse and cardiac nurse at the hospital in which we are working.  Jodi and I have been on several trips and both agree that we have never worked with better nurses than Sunny and Rose.  They are extremely quick to learn the surgeons' routines and preferences and have been most helpful to us in setting up and running the day's schedule. Sunny went so far as to invite our entire team to her family's home this evening for dinner.  They treated us to our best meal yet, a banquet fit for royalty.

Patricia Leblanc: Fourth Trip So Far

It has been an incredible experience for me to be on another Interplast trip. This is my fourth trip so far, but to be in China is more challenging since none of us speak the language. We are so fortunate to have on our team a secretary who happens to be an RN born in China and who now lives in the States. Cindy is a godsend to us by helping us bridge not just the language, but the culture. An added bonus is Bill, who is also helping as a liaison with interpreting and looking after our daily needs such as eating! Cindy and Bill are often pulled out of our PACU to the OR or to talk with the media. Barbara, one of the local medical students, comes to the rescue when we are left alone with a post-op child.

Stuart: Surprise!

  Suprise! 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

This man brought his grandson to Interplast without telling the boy's parents, who are migrant workers. He said they would have worried. The grandfather is very pleased with the results, and eager to see the reactions of the parents when they next come back to visit.

Stuart: Cooperation

  Chinese and Americans cooperating 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Chinese and American doctors and nurses conferring and cooperating.

Stuart: Mother's Tears of Joy

  Mother's Tears of Joy 1 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

The mother was the first and only one to cry when she saw her daughter's face - They are coming into the PACU (recovery room) when children are waking up.