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In this section we will periodically add mentions of our work in the press worldwide. As we grow, so does our exposure to the world. Hopefully this exposure, coupled with this webpage and all our fund-raising efforts will help bolster donations and thus allow us to help even more children. Some of these articles are in Spanish, so a short synopsis is included. It is in this section and in the "Current Sponsorships" page that you will be able to find out just what your dollars are buying. June, 2006 In our last visit to Ecuador, we had some work to do, planning the Health Center and Vocational School for the children (Chamberitos). A 3 years term Project, which we expect to achieve with the generous Donations from other International Charity Sources. And we had also the great pleasure to meet again our little patient: Gema. In our follow-up, we got some shots from Her and her mother. Gema already has reasons to be hopeful. Thanks to the kindness of a Donator from Quebec, Canada, she'll be operated in the coming years. A new mitral valve and the Surgery is awaiting for her, once her heart will reach its adult size. Here, our President and Administrator: Dr.Julieta Z.Petroni, in a short interview with Gema, at Portoviejo, Manabi, Ecuador. June, 2005 We're proud to announce our involvement in a new Project on behalf of poor Ecuadorian children, workers of the public garbage, called "Chamberitos". A diversity of Projects will be developed as soon as we end the precedent one. Our first Project of Reconstructive Surgery for burned children is almost achieved, what with all the generous Donations of equipments for the Clinic of the Foundation that we've received. We move to Phase 2: to get money for the follow up of all these children who're actually been operated and treated in the Clinic for free. So we move forth at the same time to a new and exciting challenge: a School of Careers and a Health Center for the Chamberitos (see video). So, we'll keep you up to date right here, and all the fundraising activities to develop this new Project will be publicized. New partners will be added progressively. December, 2004 We'd like to bring your attention to this young girl. She's 13 years old, and in desperate need of a mitral valve replacement. She needs this to live, and to help her, we need your help. Please give generously.
November, 2004 Christmas time is coming soon. In the giving spirit of the season, we would like to introduce to you some children we encountered in Ecuador. They are from Portoviejo, Manabi. They work in dumps, all day long, looking for bits and scraps of anything that could be useful. They then sell this for recycling, only to make 2 or 3 dollars a day for food. The smell in this particular neighborhood in unbearable. Vultures circle the skies and feed on carcasses or rotting food. And in the midst of all this, these children, often as young as seven or eight, spend their days working, only a few hundred yards away from the more affluent neighborhoods where children their age get to go to school instead. They are known as the Chamberitos. We have this video
for you to see, for yourselves, the extent of their plight. We ask you, for Christmas, to help us help them. To give them a little something. Your donations would go a very long way. In other news, here are some pictures of the coverage our foundation is getting in Ecuador.
This first picture is of an article describing the various things our efforts have acquired for the needy people of Ecuador.
This second picture is of Francisco Daza, a 79 year old man who received a pacemaker implant. He had been needing an implant for over two years, suffering from a low heartbeat. However, he could not even consider the procedure, as the cost can reach 4000$ to 7000$. The donation from our foundation however gave him a new lease on life. September, 2004 As you can see in the pictures below, our work has been prominently mentioned in the monthly newsletter of the Ecuadorian Consulate in Canada! This first picture is the front page of this publication.
This next one is the second page, and features an article about our Foundation. Following the picture is a short translation
"The Foundation 'Children's Solidarity Foundation' works to acquire medical equipment and pacemakers to help indigent people in Ecuador. It was created in September of 2003 in Montreal, by the initiative of its Executive Director, Dr. Julieta Zevallos Petroni, Ecuadorian cardiologist based in Montreal. In an initial phase, the Foundation managed to secure the donation of 67 500$ worth of medical equipment to furnish its clinic in Portoviejo, Manabi, in order to provide free reconstructive surgery to severely burned or congenitally malformed children. In a second phase, it also managed to secure the donation of 20 pacemakers and electrodes for two health care centers: one in Manabi and another in the Hospital Eugenio Espejo in Quito. The pacemakers were donated in Montreal by Dr. Rafael Castan. The implantation of these was initiated in August of this year. In Quito, Dr. Cesar Irigoyen, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery of the Eugenio Espejo Hospital already has done six such procedures. This Consulate finds itself extremely grateful for these accomplishments and supports the Foundation in all its endeavors." As can be understood, we are extremely proud of such endorsement. August, 2004 The month of August 2004 has seen a lot of excitement! It has been the most productive period for our Foundation so far. A recent trip by our Canadian administrator, Dr. Julieta Z. Petroni has accomplished much. The electrodes that were mentioned on June 18th have finally been delivered. Since our clinic is not equipped to do these types of procedures, this equipment was donated to two hospitals: one in Manta, Manabi and the other in Quito, the capital. The first set of electrodes and pace-makers was delivered on the 5th of August to "Hospital Eugenio Espejo", in Quito. The picture below shows Dr. Petroni in the company of the Director of Cardiology, Dr. Fernando Hidalgo, receiving the shipment. The person in charge of the Ecuadorian end of the program, and the one who will be performing all the procedures is Dr.Cesar Irigoyen Davila.
We were lucky enough to be allowed to witness the first such implantation, and so we took some pictures in the OR.
Dr. Hidalgo and Dr. Petroni in the OR (above).
Dr.Cesar Irigoyen Davila performing the surgery (above). Two days later, on the 7th, another delivery was made, this time to "Hospital Cruz Roja", in Manta, Manabi. The man in charge of the program there is Dr. Stalin Moran.
The first pace-maker and electrode is about to be used in the OR, in Manta (above).
During the procedure (above). The staff at "Hospital Eugenio Espejo" and "Hospital Cruz Roja's" respective Cardiology Departments, as well as the many patients who did and will benefit from this effort, wish to extend their gratitude to everyone who made all this possible. Although we are getting involved in fields that don't exactly fall within the bounds of our Foundation's main objectives, our international composition gives us a particular ability to extend a helping hand to these external endeavors. That's not to say we have no news to report about things directly concerning our clinic. As mentioned on April 2nd, a container full of equipment destined to furnish our clinic had been released after sitting for months, waiting to clear customs. Here are some pictures of the actual delivery at the clinic.
Also, Dr. Parraga has been involved with some new patients. One with cleft lip, who succesfully underwent a corrective procedure, and another, more recent, who is badly in need of help, as you can see in the picture gallery. His name is Patricio. He was burned with Kerex, a type of household gas that was accidentally poured on him. You can see in the pictures that some work has already been done, but there is much to do yet. His burns are extensive, severe, and incredibly painful. He is in need of creams, ointments and medication, but his family is poor and cannot afford this. Your help could reduce his suffering tremendously.
So as you can see, our work at the clinic is ongoing. We are getting some help, and for this we are tremendously grateful. Yet there is a lot to be done. Not only in terms of actual equipment to perform the surgeries (which we've received plenty of), but also in terms of pharmaceutical treatments to help ease the physical suffering that is inherent in these cases. We have received 18 electrodes for the remaining pace-makers! The donation was made by another organization. This will enable us to help 20 patients in Ecuador who desperately need these pace-makers to stay alive. Below is a picture of the electrodes being prepared for shipment to Ecuador.
June 1st, 2004 We are pleased to announce the donation, once again (see below) by Dr. Raphael Castan, of two pace-maker electrodes. Each one is valued at 1800$ and is used with the 20 pace-makers donated earlier. Now, two needy patients in Ecuador will be able to resume a normal life. Here is our Canadian executive director receiving the 2 electrodes from Dr.Castan. Please keep in mind that there are still 18 pace-makers in Ecuador awaiting funding for the necessary electrodes.
We are happy to announce that after several months waiting in a container for clearance from customs, our cargo container full of supplies has been released. It's contents are on their way to furnish our clinic. This will give us the ability to perform operations without having to rent hospital time. It will make it possible to reach many more children in need of our services. Once again for this wonderful donation, we thank the team at C.S.I (see below). Also, the wheelchairs pledged to the "Dame's Foundation" was in this shipment and is now with them. They wish to express their gratitude to the people at C.S.I. as well. The latest development with our Foundation is that we've formed some ties with the Dame's Foundation for the Support of the Elderly in Manabi. Here in the picture is show Dr. Julieta Z. Petroni, our Canadian executive director during her tour of Ecuador with Mrs.Hilda Morrillo de Velasquez, the president of this Foundation. We have pledged to them a total of 4 wheelchairs, which will come from the donation of the C.S.I, (see Sponsorships). Although not directly linked with the Foundation's objectives, we support any effort to help the poor and underprivileged in Ecuador and are proud to be associated with any such act.
Our Canadian executive director, Dr. Julieta Z. Petroni delivered 20 pace-makers to the "Centro de Salud-Hospital Rocafuerte" in Manabi, Ecuador. These pace-makers were donated by Dr.Raphael Castan from the Jean-Talon hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (see Sponsorships) Our foundation held a brokering position in this deal. Again, although not directly linked with the Foundation's objectives, we support any effort to help the poor and underprivileged in Ecuador and are proud to be associated with any such act.
Our equipment is finally being shipped to Ecuador! Here is a picture of the C.S.I (see "Current Sponsorships" page) that gave us a helping hand. They graciously gave us much of our needed equipment, as well as helped us ship it.
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