Last Friday, August 9, 2024, Rotary Club Los Cabos invited to the breakfast and delivery of Smiles International Foundation program results at the Puerta Vieja restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, where information was provided on the program’s progress and results.
In the first week of August, the Smiles International Foundation, led by Dr. Jeffrey J. Moses, returned to Los Cabos for the second round of 2024 charity surgeries for cleft lip and palate patients. Working in partnership with the Los Cabos Rotary Club, led by current President Linda McHatton, and with the help of a committed team of experts, the foundation carried out the first round of surgeries for patients with cleft lip and palate.
During the campaign, 55 out of 359 registered patients were carefully screened. A total of 63 reconstructive surgical procedures were performed on 18 children, including one complex orthognathic case that required specialized care at the H+ Hospital.
The campaign involved 4.5 days of surgery, using intensive general and pediatric anaesthesia to ensure the highest level of care. In addition, comprehensive speech-language pathology evaluations, therapies, and endoscopies were performed to support the patient’s overall rehabilitation.
The medical-surgical mission is estimated to have a relative value of USD 411,500, with total cash expenses amounting to USD 8,500. It is made possible through the dedication and expertise of professional volunteers.
The success of this mission was made possible by the collective efforts of a 22-member expert team, which included physicians, nurses, and speech therapists. Their tireless work enabled complex, life-changing surgeries for each child, optimizing pediatric anaesthesia whenever possible. The dedication and expertise of these professional volunteers were crucial to the mission’s success.
The Smiles International Foundation has been in Los Cabos for 12 years, conducting biannual missions to provide continuous care. More than 350 children have been treated through this program, receiving the surgeries and therapies necessary for their rehabilitation and a better quality of life.
Club Rotario Los Cabos thanked the doctors, nurses and specialists, especially Dr Alejandro Avalos of the Hospital de Especialidades, Dr Arlet Fong, Medical Director of Hospital H+ and Dr Jazibeth Zorrilla, Chief of the Operating Room.
Thanks were also extended to all of this year’s sponsors: Clínica de Especialidades, Hospital H+, DelMar Los Cabos, PR Solutions, Mise En Place, Mango Deck, Mucca Empanadas, Los Cabos Ride, District MX, and Restaurante Puerta Vieja.
And a note: “If you know a child or person who needs cleft lip or palate surgery, we ask you to share this information with them. Remember that the more people this message reaches, the more support we will receive. For information and appointments, please call (624) 228-9888.”
