So No Child Must Wait

Transformations Gala 2010

Transformations Gala 2010
Originally uploaded by ReSurge International

Interplast (now ReSurge International) was delighted to welcome back actress Micky Hoogen (Raising Helen) and former MTV VJ and serial entrepreneur Adam Curry to this year's Transformations Gala on November 6, 2010. As masters of ceremonies, they delighted the crowd of nearly 500 guests at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.

Venture capitalist Russell Hirsch and his family were honored for their long-term dedication to helping the organization transform lives. Dr. Shafquat Khundkar, ReSurge surgical outreach director in Dhaka, was honored for his 20-years of service and ongoing commitment to the impoverished in Bangladesh.

More than $750,000 was raised to continue providing free reconstructive surgery for the poor in 14 developing countries.

The evening ended with a historic announcement. Gala guests were among the first to learn that Interplast was changing its name and identity to ReSurge International, but that's its mission to provide reconstructive surgery to the world's poor remains the same.

To learn more about ReSurge International, please go to www.resurge.org and follow our new blog at www.resurge.blogs.com.

Photo by Chung Nguyen

Interplast is now ReSurge International!

Interplast is now ReSurge International!
Originally uploaded by ReSurge International

Since 1969, Interplast has been a pioneer in the field of reconstructive surgery. Today, as we prepare for the next 40 years, our name has changed. What hasn’t changed, and never will, is our commitment to transforming lives through reconstructive surgery.

Please visit our new website to learn more: www.resurge.org. And please follow our new blog at www.resurge.blogs.com!

We believe that this new name and identity will better serve our organization - and our patients - as we move in to the future. Thank you!

Oumar Comforting Child

Oumar and Crying Child
Originally uploaded by interplast

Bamako, Mali - Bonnie MacEvoy, anesthesiologist: This little boy came back for a dressing change, and it was determined that he had to come back for a cleaning and some repair under anesthesia. He had not eaten or had anything to drink, so he was ready to go. Unfortunately, a break in cases did not come for him for about five more hours. During this time, his father sat in the entryway with his son on his lap. His son fell asleep, and the man did not move, not taking a break or getting water.

A while later, after a few hours had passed and the little boy had wakened, the boy was sitting on the floor coloring and the father still waited. I offered to sit with the boy if the father would take a break and go for a walk to get a drink and a rest. He reluctantly agreed, saying the boy did not like to be with anyone else. I insisted, sat down with the crayons and the boy, and the father finally ambled off.

After about five minutes, the jig was up and the boy began to look around and started to cry. I tried and tried to distract him, make faces, and get him to smile, but only made things worse. Luckily, at about this time, Oumar walked in and saved the day. He scooped the boy up, swung him around, and made little noises that comforted the boy. As I caught this photo, Oumar looked askance at me as if to say, "How am I doing?" Great, Oumar, perfect.