Fundamigos

April 6, 2000 3:15 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Support of a mission the size and scope of the Operation Rainbow mission here in Venezuela can't be done without the help of local volunteers. In Barcelona, the local group "Fundamigos H.L.P." has a small army of people making the trip easier logistically and operationally. Fundamigos provided 184 volunteers to assist with everything from translating, cooking, and entertaining children bored and frightened by the wait for surgery.

The volunteers are a cross cultural and multinational group. When they gather, there are Scottish, British, Australian, and Irish accents, along with Venezuelan and other nationals. Fundamigos is the creation of the host physician Dr. Ana Velasquez de Manyon. The day to day operations are run by a Errol Benn, Executive Vice President of Fundamigos, whose homeland of Guyana shows through his thick accent as he greets the Operation Rainbow team.

Fundamigos volunteers entertain children while they wait for surgery.

Benn coordinators the volunteers, dispatching them to entertain children, assist in the recovery rooms, or provide driving services for member of the team who need to be in different places.

"The purpose of (Fundamigos) is health and the plastic surgery service in this hospital for the cleft lip and cleft palate children. We support all the activity of the service", says Velasquez de Manyon.

Singing songs to help ease concerns of patients is one role played by Fundamigos volunteers

Fundamigos was started in 1989 at the Razetti Hospital. The two organizations found each other via e-mail. Sue Ellen Ruggles said that following a brief e-mail exchange, she and Dr. Rick Bosshardt made an exploratory journey to Venezuela and that is where she first encountered Fundamigos.

"This is the only location that Operation Rainbow has traveled that there is as much local support of the indigent care hospitals as we found with Fundamigos. This organization has facilitated every aspect of the mission except for patient care," Ruggles said.

Dr. Maggie de Casanova, a dentist, and Vice President of Fundamigos, prepares food for Operation Rainbow volunteers, patients, and their families.

The group is here not only to facilitate Operation Rainbow but they are here to help the families and the children during the week they are here.

"In most countries, the parents have to bring their food with them. Here Fundamigos provided them with food, a place to sleep and a toothbrush," Ruggles observed.

Making a team
April 5, 2000 5:36 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Video: make rounds with Dr. Rick Coughlin. (Requires QuickTime 4.0)

109 hours into the mission
April 5, 2000 9:45 AM Barcelona, Venezuela

In medical school, they teach residents to sleep "when you can" because of the long exhausting hours. Tuesday's schedule included 18 patients. [. . . read more . . . ]

Video: Cesar Euribe
April 4, 2000 1:30 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Anesthesiologist Cesar Euribe talks about getting patients ready for surgery Posted April 4, 2000 (requires QuickTime 4.0)

Mamacita
April 3, 2000 5:55 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

There are misunderstandings. The language barrier causes problems and cultural differences come into play. Elva Williamson knows that left unchecked, these conflicts can undermine a mission and that's where she can help. [. . . read more . . . ]

The sounds of the OR -- Medical and Cultural Exchange
April 3, 2000 1:14 AM Barcelona, Venezuela

Walking down the hall of the operating suite at Razetti Hospital, the sounds of each operating room are a unique blend of instruments of many kinds. Mixed with the expected sounds of patient monitors and the hiss of oxygen and anesthesia machines are the sounds of music. [. . . read more . . . ]

Bobby Satcher and D'Juanna White Satcher
April 2, 2000 6:14 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Many mission volunteers give up a week of vacation with their families to travel with Operation Rainbow. Two doctors however, have been able to make a commitment to the Venezuela mission while still spending time with their spouse. [. . . read more . . . ]

First Cases - Healing in Venezuela
April 1, 2000 6:03 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

In many of the surgical cases, Operation Rainbow doctors are working side by side with Venezuelan medical residents and doctors, helping them lean new skills and improve techniques learned during their education. [. . . read more . . . ]

First Looks - Assessing the need
April 1, 2000 9:20 AM Barcelona, Venezuela

The hallway in the basement of Dr. Luz Razetti hospital erupted into applause as the team of 20 volunteers from Operation Rainbow made their way to a small room which doubled as reception hall and assessment room. Waiting for the team were potential surgical patients and their families. The expectant looks from each expressed the hope that the visiting doctors, nurses, and lay volunteers would provide change in their lives by repairing the deformities and birth defects.
[. . . read more . . . ]

Delivering the instruments of change
March 31, 2000 6:44 PM Barcelona, Venezuela

Operation Rainbow's mission to Venezuela hit the ground at 8:54 PM Thursday local time, arriving at Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas. The team then transferred to a military C130 for a short flight to Barcelona, on the northern coast of Venezuela. [. . . read more . . . ]

The Universal Language of Caring
F.R. "Fritz" Nordengren - Project Producer

Welcome and thank you for taking time in your life to share the stories contained in this site. What you are reading is the result of work begun in August, 1999 in Armenia. During the mission there, the idea for this site was born.

Now, though the cooperation of the project sponsors, and my fellow producer Tom Burton, we are able to bring our work and the work of Operation Rainbow to you via the web.

This web site gives you, the reader, a chance to participate in a mission to heal children in Venezuela. While you may not be able to attend in person, what you will read here are the thoughts, reactions, and observations of the events, as they unfold. Once or twice each day, the project participants will publish new stories, photographs, and interviews with the team members, patients, and families making this project possible.

The people who you will meet and get to know come from a variety of backgrounds, nations, and families, yet all share a common language . . . the language of caring. We look forward to having you with us March 31, - April 8, 2000.