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Worldwide, the incidence of congenital heart defects is approximately one out of every 100 children born annually, and nearly one-third of these require surgery in the first year of life. Without treatment, 20% of these children will die within the first few weeks of life. In the United States and other developed nations, experienced doctors and state-ot-the art equipment are available to provide care to these children. But in many underdeveloped countries around the world, this is not the case. Hundreds ot these children die unnecessarily because there is no one to help them. The International Children's Heart Foundation's (ICHF mission is to provide medical care to children in underdeveloped countries with congenital heart defects. Since 1994, ICHF medical teams have operated on almost 2000 children in 17 different countries. The ICHF made its first trip to Managua, Nicaragua in 1996. We have now operated on 230 children in Managua. We have provided almost $1,000,000 in donated supplies and hardware over the years. Additionally, we have provided education and training to their doctors, nurses and technicians. Our goal is for the Nicaraguan physicians to become educated and experienced in the treatment of children with congenital heart defects so that they can function independently and no longer require our services. Medical Mission #98 - June 2004 The Rotary Gift of Life Program and the ICHF teamed up to provide cardiac operations to 21 children in Managua, Nicaragua. With a $5,000 grant from The Rotary District 7470 Gift of Life Program, the ICHF assembled an 18-member team of volunteer doctors, nurses and technicians who traveled to Managua June 12-26,2004. This was the 12th time an ICHF sponsored medical team had been to Nicaragua. The team, led by Dr. Thorn Karl, consisted of two surgeons, an anesthesiologist, four cardiologists/intensivists, five ICU nurses, one perfusionist, a biomedical engineer, a respiratory therapist, and three OR nurses. The group was very diverse, traveling from five different countries and speaking three different languages, all teaming up for one common goal -- to provide hope to children with congenital heart defects. Over $51,500 of medical supplies for the children's surgeries were provided by donations from generous medical supply companies. The supplies were shipped free of charge by FedEx. When the team left Managua on Saturday, June 26,21 children had received operations that would not have been possible without the support of the Rotary District 7470 Gift of Life Program. The parents and grandparents of these children were extremely grateful that their children had been given a chance to live longer healthier lives. The International Children's Heart Foundation extends its sincere thanks to the Rotary District 7470 Gift of Life Program for making this trip possible and for helping provide operative procedures for these children.
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Copyright © 2004 Gift of Life of NJ, Inc.
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District 7470, Gift of Life
