Rotary Helps Provide Free Surgeries for Children Patch
go to original August 15, 2012

Dozens of children afflicted with cleft facial deformities received almost $50,000 worth of donated medical and dental procedures.

The Rotary Club of Carlsbad and the Rotary Club of Tecate Mexico teamed up last month with Smiles International Foundation to host a free surgical clinic.

Dr. Jeff Moses is the founder of Smiles International Foundation and also a member of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. He has conducted many clinics around the world. Moses, his wife Maribel, and Ed Scarpelli of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad travelled to Mexico to be part of this latest clinic. Scarpelli handed out dental supplies courtesy of Wal-Mart to the children and their families.

More than 21 patients received dental treatments at this clinic and treatment-planned surgery, including nine children put under general anesthesia at the Cerro Azul Rotary Hospital.  There were five patients, who received complete lip-nose reconstructions, one nasal rhinoplasty, a throat flap, and two patients who had their oral bone ridge reconstructed and the hole leading from their mouth up into their nose reconstructed and sealed.

Additionally, Rotaract students from Mira Costa and Mira Mesa Colleges raised $225 dollars for their "participation fees" which was donated to the cause, and also brought with them a box of binders, paper, pens, pencils and school supplies which were donated to the Rotary Club of Tecate's "Far-Best School enhancement project."

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