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Little Faizulah Khojaev back at home with his family in Tajikistan after four months in Hilton Head
and life-changing
reconstructive surgery. |
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Prior to surgery, two-year-old Faizulah's parents had to feed him like a little bird because he was unable to chew
his own food. |
In 1974, the concept of the Rotary's Gift of Life Program was born in Manhasset, New York. The club received a request for help from the Kampala Rotary Club in Uganda.
In response to the Uganda Club's request, five-year-old Grace Agwaru embarked on a 5000 mile journey from her homeland to Roslyn, New York. During a four hour open-heart surgery, Grace's heart was repaired and her life was saved. Since that time, the Gift of Life Program has blossomed into a dynamic, world-wide Rotary service movement aimed at bringing children who require life-saving corrective heart surgery to the states to secure the miracle that assures them continued life.
In 1997, Hilton Head Island plastic surgeon Robert A. Laughlin and local businessman Brian Carmines founded Hilton Head Island Rotary Club's local Gift of Life Program. These men employed their time and talents to achieve an effective outreach for Hilton Head Island's new program.
Hilton Head Rotary's Gift of Life program brings children and young adults from third world countries to Hilton Head Island to receive life-changing plastic and reconstructive surgery not available to them at home.
Due to generous cooperation from the involved medical specialists, Rotarians, host families, interpreters, airlines and Hilton Head Regional Medical Center and facilities, each case has been handled free of charge to the patient and his/her family.
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Neto before surgery. |
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Neto after surgery. |
Edgar "Neto" Vasquez was the Hilton Head Island Rotary's first Gift of Life recipient. The four-year-old from El Salvador was born with a benign tumor underneath one eyelid. While still an infant, the tumor and the eye above it were removed, along with his eyelids.
In El Salvador, Neto did not have access to the medical services required to correct his condition.
Dr. Laughlin learned about Neto's plight from Children's Cross Connection, an Atlanta-based relief agency. Little Neto was approved as a Gift of Life candidate and arrangements were made to bring him to Hilton Head for surgery. Neto purchased his first pair of shoes to travel to the U.S.
American Airlines provided free airfare to Neto and his mother Margarita. Dr. Laughlin and Dr. Ken Gleitsmann, a local ophthalmologist, performed more than six hours of reconstructive surgery on Neto at the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center and facilities.
Following that procedure, Dr. William Cox, an oculist from Atlanta, created a prosthetic eye for the little boy. All of the involved parties donated their services.
After six weeks of recuperation, and lots of new experiences, the impish little boy and his mother returned to Central America laden with gifts for their family from local well-wishers.
All told, medical bills would have amounted to over $20,000 were services and other expenses not provided free of charge.
If you would like to receive more information on participating in, or giving to, Hilton Head Island Rotary's Gift of Life Program please contact:
Linda Nepp
Executive Director of Hilton Head Island Rotary Club
(843)686-4100
e-mail hhrotary@hargray.com
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