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SPIKEGARY

Take the Second Step-Look Past the Obvious.
Articles Posted: 168  Links Seeded: 664
Member Since: 2/2008  Last Seen: 5/16/2012

Six area doctors back from Vietnam medical mission

Seeded on Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:30 AM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: The Buffalo News
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Seeded by Spikegary
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They went for the ones who had fallen through the cracks.

For the children with cleft palates. The ones with fingers fused together. And the girl who wore her sandal backward because her foot was turned the wrong way.

Six Buffalo-area doctors went to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, because no one else planned on helping.

"The saddest thing was to see these children going with these things for so long," said Robert Smolinski, one of the six doctors.

The doctors — Smolinski, Marc Anders, Craig Blum, Hratch Karamanoukian, Jack Kotlarz and Jeffrey Meilman — left May 28 and got back June 5. Meilman and his foundation footed most of the bill.

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Spikegary

Nice to see these peple giving their time freely to those in need.

  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:31 AM EDT
rottlady

Stories like this bring tears to my eyes, the fact that they take time out to help folks like this is just so heartwarming. Thanks for the seed Gary!

  • 4 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:45 AM EDT
Spikegary

Same here-in a hardened world, even writ small like Newsvine, there is so much self-Centered-ism. Folks like these make me realize there are still good people with warm, open hearts out there.

  • 3 votes
#2.1 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:52 AM EDT
Reply
New Haven

New York Times: "one of the most productive charities - dollar for deed - in the world."

The Smile Train

PO Box 96231

Washington, DC 20090-6231

1 800-932-9541 (to donate by phone)

The pictures you will receive of the children (before and after) that your donation has subsidized their cleft lip and palate surgeries - thus giving them a normal life - will truly bring tears to your eyes. I know, I''m a regular.

  • 3 votes
Reply#3 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:57 AM EDT
Spikegary

Thanks, New Haven! Great info. BTW, I got a letter form that other place. I'm humbled. Thank you.

Gary

  • 2 votes
#3.1 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 1:07 PM EDT
Reply
pinkcap

What a beautiful story. We take for granted the medical care we get in this country. How incredibly generous of these doctors to make this trip. Thanks for the story.

  • 2 votes
Reply#4 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:39 PM EDT
Spikegary

I was impressed by them too. Thanks for stopping by!

  • 2 votes
#4.1 - Wed Jun 16, 2010 9:50 PM EDT
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