We have been running the Free Surgical Camp each January since 1999. The beginnings were very poorly equipped and somewhat scary, but with the help of people like Americares and other wonderful donors we have been able to bring the supplies, equipment, and safety up considerably toward modern USA standards. Last January we did 338 procedures on 335 patients, and consulted on over 950 people.

Here are just a couple of actual histories that tell the story of how the work we do can make a major impact on a persons life:

An elderly lady came with a thyroid so large (try placing a large mellon under your chin) that she could not look down at her feet. We took out a benign tumor for her, and she walked home several days later. She came back a week later. We worried there was a problem. She said that she was fine but wanted to thank us. We said, "you're very welcome." With piercing black eyes that could pierce your soul, she said that,  "we didn't understand," while bowing with her hands in prayer position. "What didn't we understand?" we asked.

She explained that she had come to the city 3 years before to find out about whether she could get an operation and found out that it would cost her 12,000Rupees (about $300). "Yes," we understood that. But she said that she didn't have 12,000rupees.......in her entire village!

A very young girl came in with a burn scar deformity which had pulled her thumb 180 degrees so it pointed up her arm. We released the contractures and turned her thumb back to its normal opposition. Dr. Joe Bardenheier harvested a skin graft which we put on her wrist. She is now able to use her hand almost normally. It will make a big difference in her life.