CAMTA Mission 2012: Celebrating 10 years of Partnership

2012-10-09T10:30:00.000-06:00

CAMTA has revised our website and within it is our new blog!

Enjoy the stories and pictures during the mission which will happen between February 15th and March 3, 2013.

After you've looked around the new website and enjoyed the stories of impact, please consider an online donation to promote our cause!

It's all about helping children and adults achieve healthy limbs. Adults need to get back to work to provide for their families! Kids can be active and healthy!

Click here to go straight to the new blog!

An email from the President and Founder of SIGN Fracture Care International

2012-04-10T13:51:00.007-06:00

Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 5:44 PM
To: Marc Moreau
Subject: SIGN in Ecuador

Dear Marc,

We are very pleased to partner with you in Ecuador. I am very happy that you are spreading SIGN throughout Ecuador and also happy that you are talking with the government to sponsor many programs in Ecuador.

It is a pleasure to work with you.

Best regards,

Lewis Zirkle, M.D.
President and Founder

Creating Orthopaedic Equality Since 1999
451 Hills St, Suite B Richland WA 99354
http://signfracturecare.org
(p) 509.371.1107
(f) 509.371.1316

Check out this great article in the St. Albert Gazette

2012-04-10T11:26:00.001-06:00

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20120331/SAG0801/303319985/mission-of-mercy

Thanks, Lynne, for sharing your experience with CAMTA.

Some pretty impressive statistics!

2012-04-09T10:07:00.003-06:00

This is what happened during the CAMTA 2012 Mission:

Adult patients treated = 34 single hip surgeries, 4 bilateral hip surgeries plus 1 revision (Flavio)
Pediatric patients treated = 24 children including 4 with bilateral procedures: 10 clubfeet, 5 femoral osteotomies, 5 pelvic osteotomies, 2 open reductions of hip, 7 tendon releases as sole procedure for residual foot deformity or CP, 1 removal of plate at knee with hemi-epiphyseolysis, 1 removal of hardware as sole procedure
Physio, nursing and orthopedic MD teaching sessions were presented
CAMTA donated a Glidescope and certified anesthesiologist on its use
CAMTA loaned a SIGN Nail system to the hospital in Babahoyo, Los Rios, Ecuador. There are now 3 CAMTA supported SIGN Nail systems in place in Ecuador.
Medical personnel shared clinical consultations during rounds at hospitals in Loja and Babahoyo, Ecuador.
CAMTA placed surgical and anesthesia equipment (instruments and Bair Huggers and shelving) into service at Cuenca, Loja, Babahoyo and Quito hospitals
Team member gave a presentation to the office of the Vice President of Ecuador on early treatment of hip and foot deformities and the SIGN Nail system
a presentation was given to Grade 9 to 12 students at Academia Cotopaxi High School on the Power of Volunteerism as a component of Global Citizenship.
CAMTA improved connections with Life Pharma and members and friends of the Board of the Foundation Tierra Nueva
Group members met with the President of the Ecuadorean Canadian Chamber of Commerce

It's amazing what 100 people can do in a two week mission!

Wrapping up the Mission with Personal Takeaways

2012-03-06T18:04:00.002-07:00

As the 2012 CAMTA mission wraps up the remaining patients in recovery receive their discharge instructions and the hand-off to the local medical team is completed. Team Two finalizes the inventory, packing and storing of medical supplies. Team One is back in Canada re-adjusting to life back home, catching up with work, family and friends and has some time to share stories and reflect on what they took away from their volunteer experience.

As volunteers we get so much out of our experience with CAMTA. Having participated twice on a CAMTA mission I am awestruck at how quickly a group of strangers can come from across Canada and get down to quality team work to achieve a goal. Organizations spend hours of time training their staff on teamwork and collaboration and somehow, whether it is the clear task at hand, or our great sense of purpose – we get down to the mission work quickly and bond as if we have worked together for years, in a matter of days. Volunteering with CAMTA is a reminder to me of the quality of the human spirit and our ability to work together. I asked other volunteers to share their takeaways.

(Some of the Week One team in front of the Radisson Hotel.)

Here’s what a new CAMTA volunteer had to say;

“My CAMTA experience renewed my dedication to being a nurse and helping my patients. Everyone respected each other in their respective roles and we all worked together to provide the best care possible. To me that is what healthcare should be. I am very thankful for the relationships that I have in my life. Family and relationships was a very strong theme that I observed from the people of Quito. It made me resolve to work on the relationships that I have at home even more.”

From a long-serving volunteer;

“My biggest take away is always the people - both the patients, families and volunteers. It never ceases to amaze me how much people give of themselves without asking for anything in return. I ask myself how we can change the culture in Canada to reflect what we see here. After every year I have a bit of culture shock returning back to Canada and it takes me about a week to recover and deal again with a culture of selfishness and greed, that's the bad part - the good thing is that the Mission always makes me want to do more, not just in Quito, but also at home.”

From a young student volunteer;

“I think this volunteer experience has opened my eyes to how hard people work and how dedicated people are about a cause they are passionate about. The amount of work that is required to organize and put on an operation like CAMTA is phenomenal; and to think that the sole motivation is for charity, without the incentive of making money, is extraordinary.”

There is so much to give, and so much to get in return. One of Ecuador’s most noted artists Oswaldo Guayasamin said; “if we do not have the strength to grasp our hands with everyone’s hands, if we do not have the tenderness to hold in our arms the children of the world, if we do not have the will to clean the earth of all its armies; this small planet will be a dry and black body in a dark space”.

Ecuador teaches us every year that the human spirit is strong and that the power of giving can sow the seeds of change.

We welcome you to experience this for yourself by volunteering with CAMTA. For more information go to our website: www.camta.ca. Recruitment for 2013 starts in June.

What was your takeaway from your volunteer experience with CAMTA? Please post a comment on this blog.

Janet Emmett, CAMTA Week One Volunteer

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

2012 Mission Accomplished!

2012-03-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

It´s time for us to say goodbye to Quito, Ecuador for another year. By all accounts, CAMTA´s 2012 mission was a highly successful one. Today, a few members of the team went back to the hospital to check on the last two patients who were to be released today. Some members took in a morning soccer game, while others went sightseeing in the Old Town, hiking or visiting the nearby hot springs. Still others went on a field trip to the equator. Regardless of their plans, everyone enjoyed their day off and was thankful for the fabulous weather.

The team gets together for one last meal at the hotel tonight. Several members of the team will be staying on in Ecuador, or taking some time to travel around South America. The rest of the team leaves Quito early tomorrow morning, flying to Houston. From there the group splits up with the majority heading back to home base, Edmonton.

Our 2012 mission may be over, but check the blog frequently for stories and information about CAMTA throughout the year!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Canadian Ambassador Andrew Shisko and CAMTA

2012-03-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening (Feb. 28) CAMTA was honoured to receive an invitation from the Canadian Ambassador to Ecuador, Andrew Shisko. He and his wife Margaret welcomed the entire Week Two CAMTA team to their residence for an informal meet and greet. Other guests included representatives from the Academia Cotopaxi (the high school which provides CAMTA’s student translators – see blog post from Feb. 25), TRAP – The Rhythmic Arts Project (founded by former Beach Boy Eddie Tuduri), El Triangulo, and the Tierra Nueva Foundation.

Ambassador Shisko has been a huge supporter of CAMTA from the beginning of his posting in Ecuador in 2009. He recognizes the invaluable help that CAMTA has provided to the country, not only from the medical perspective, but also as an inspirational force for training, volunteerism, and mentorship for medical professionals, students and the young people of Ecuador.

Here he poses for a picture with CAMTA translator Sammy Ruiz and Patricia Jarrin, Medical Director of Un Canto a la Vida hospital .

Members of the embassy staff followed up that event with a visit on Friday morning to Un Canto a la Vida, touring the ward and speaking to patients and CAMTA volunteers about their experiences.

We thank Andrew and Margaret Shisko and the rest of the Canadian Embassy staff very much for their generosity and support, and for giving us the opportunity to meet so many people who represent organizations that do such good work here and around the world.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Packing Day

2012-03-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday is packing day, and, that means all hands on deck! Including...

...OR Nurses Donna Brown...

...and Karen Aguana...

...along with OR Nurse Dorothy Sy and Layperson Brent Dysart. They all pack bags in one corner of our common room.

Surgeons Lance Bredo and Paul Moreau...

OR Nurses Shannon Begg (l), Cori Kalven (r), and Eileen Guilfoyle (below) count supplies.

Meanwhile, translator Maddy MacKechnie helps out by entering patient information into the CAMTA database.

Dan Ducholke looks over inventory lists with Recovery Room nurses Pauline Worsfold and Bev Runka...

...and then he checks all the boxes and bags and makes sure they are properly labeled and sealed.

In fact, the packing begins as early as Thursday afternoon. By Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, approximately 50 hockey bags filled with materials and supplies that will be making their way back to Edmonton are ready to go. Thirty-seven bags and crates are left behind and stored at the hospital for next year’s mission.

With everyting packed and ready to go, Sunday is a free day for the team before a long travel day on Monday. Another very successful mission to Quito has ended!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Johana Hidalgo, Part Two

2012-03-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

You might remember Johana Hidalgo from a previous post (Feb. 29). Johana came to CAMTA with rheumatoid arthritis which had severely affected her left hip.

She made it through surgery with flying colours and took her first steps yesterday with help from physiotherapist Judy Black.

The arthritis has affected so much of Johana's body, using crutches is harder for her than most people. Her triceps are weak and she doesn't have full use of her hands so she can't grip very well. Regardless, she never lost her smile and positive attitude, and won the hearts of the entire team.

Halfway back to her room, Johana rested and posed for a picture with 17-year old wardmate Elvis Imbaquingo who had received an operation on his left Achilles tendon.

Earlier today, Johana recevied a cortizon shot to her knee from GP Dr. Denis Vincent to help with her arthritis pain.

The folks from Radio Canada joined her today on her return home. We'll let you know where and when their report airs so we can follow her progress.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Maria Viracocha

2012-03-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

Every patient who has had a hip replacement operation must be able to successfully climb up and down CAMTA's "stairs to recovery" before they can be released. So many people have stairs that they will need to negotiate once they get home, that they need to know exactly how to climb them without risking injury.

Amazingly, most of the patients who have had their hips replaced recover extremely quickly and are discharged within two days after surgery.

Maria Viracocha is a bit of a special case. Maria lives on a mountainside, and has at least 50 steps to climb before she even reaches her house. Given that, the physiotherapists have decided to keep her an extra day in the hospital to give her a little more time to practice to ensure that she is strong enough before she goes home.

Having made it up, Maria makes her way down the CAMTA stairs with Physiotherapist Brenda Corie offering encouragement and support.

Maria was thrilled that she has made it all the way down!

Maria proudly poses for a photo with translator Miriam van Diest and Brenda Corie. She was released on Saturday!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Sheila Ortega

2012-03-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Remember four-year old Sheila Ortega? Her mother Patricia brought her in on Clinic Day for a consultation. (see blog post Clinic Day, Week Two, February 27)

Shelia went into the OR on Tuesday morning for two procedures, one to shorten her left femur and one on her hip (otherwise known as a Pemberton Osteotomy), which meant that she was in the OR for about six hours that day.

Needless to say, the day after surgery, Sheila was in no mood for visitors (aside from her mother), but a day later she was all smiles, and consented to a photograph. Her only stipulation? That she be photographed “con libro” (with her book).

Here she is with her mother and Pediatric Ward Nurse Sarah Southon on Thursday. Sheila went home the next day.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Hospital work is a BIG job!

2012-03-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

There is so much work that goes on beyond the operating rooms or the wards, it’s hard to keep up with it all. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the tasks that have to happen every day.

The instrument room is constantly busy sorting, cleaning, sterilizing and rewrapping the surgical instruments. Aline Young has been volunteering with CAMTA for six years as an administrator and runs a tight (and very clean!) ship.

Layperson Amanda Pelletier and student Victoria Micek join her to spend part of their day cleaning instruments.

Each day CAMTA does several industrial size loads of laundry, cleaning scrubs, towels, sheets and surgical instrument wrappers. (l-r) Laypersons Amanda Pelletier and Brent Dysart, and CAMTA Logistics guru Matt Moreau sort scrubs by size before sending them to the laundry room. Radio Canada’s Brent Roy chips in.

Four-year CAMTA veteran, Dan Ducholke is nominally in charge of the IA system, but he’s kept busy all day with a myriad of other tasks. He maintains the mission’s inventory, finds patients and medical charts for team members, prints off pictures for patients, can track down anyone anywhere, and, most importantly, helps organize the annual Rock, Paper, Scissors contest. Here he discusses the current status of the tournament with Matt Moreau.

These photos just illustrate the tip of the iceberg that is a CAMTA mission!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Behind the Scenes at CAMTA, Video Part Two

2012-03-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Translator Steve van Diest has been volunteering with CAMTA for four years. In previous years, he has contributed by taking video footage before and during the mission.

His first video, posted yesterday, took viewers along for the on our first hours in Ecuador.

Video Two takes you through our first day on the job, Clinic Day. Click on the link below to view it!

http://youtu.be/B_BWjbPvCh8

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Grandfathers at a distance

2012-03-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Pediatric Anesthetist Dr. David Cubitt (left) and Adult Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Lance Bredo (right) both became grandfathers this week!

Hazel Bonnie Bredo was born in Canmore on Monday evening, and Madeleine Chloe Cubitt was born in Edmonton on Tuesday morning. Welcome to the world!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Behind the Scenes with CAMTA, Video Part One

2012-03-02T07:29:00.001-07:00

Translator Steve van Diest has been volunteering with CAMTA for four years. In previous years, he has contributed by taking video footage before and during the mission. This year is no exception! His latest video is now posted online on YouTube, and gives you a behind-the-scenes look of the first day of this year’s Week Two mission, including our trip to Otovalo. Watch for his next video which takes you into Weeks Two's Clinic Day. Click on the link below to view the first video.

http://youtu.be/uEisD89uqP8

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Thank You Radisson Hotel Quito!

2012-03-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

CAMTA members have been guests at the Radisson Hotel Quito for nine years. The hotel staff has been extraordinarily helpful and generous with their time and resources and make our stay as comfortable as possible. Returning members feel like they’re coming home.

On Thursday, we were honoured to receive a visit from two representatives of the Radisson Hotel, Gerard Jumbo, sales manager, and Luisa Silva, head of housekeeping.

Gerald and Luisa visited the ward with translator Adela Sandigo, seeing what we do first-hand and speaking to the patients.

Ever thoughtful, they also brought platters of delicious cupcakes and sandwiches that administrator Barb Moreau was pleased to accept on behalf of the whole team.

Thank you Radisson Hotel Quito staff!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

You Don't Have to Come to Quito to Volunteer

2012-03-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

CAMTA’s work is year-round, and just because we’re here in Quito doesn’t mean that we forget about fundraising opportunities back home.

Wendy Read is here in Ecuador as a Layperson, but in her other volunteer capacity, she is in charge of the logistics around this year’s edition of CAMTA’s Casino fundraiser. This year’s event takes place at the West Edmonton Mall Palace Casino on May 6 & 7, 2012.

She and administrator Barb Moreau work on the details whenever they have a couple of free minutes.

Wendy’s most pressing concern is staffing the event with volunteers. CAMTA is responsible for contributing 40 volunteers, and at this point we are seriously short. Without a full quota, we will lose the event. CAMTA’s last Casino netted the group $75,000 all of which went to fund medical and surgical supplies and equipment, so volunteers are imperative and we welcome anyone who has a few hours to spare. Contact Wendy at wendy.read@albertahealthservices.ca to volunteer your time at a really fun event.

Even if you can’t volunteer, come to the West Edmonton Mall Palace Casino on May 6 or 7, and “lose” some money for a good cause! J

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Physio is Vital

2012-02-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Before and after surgery, patients are given instructions and exercises by the team physiotherapists; How to move after surgery – and, maybe most importantly, how not to move! New this year, they’ve brought an iPad with them to show patients short videos on how to transfer in and out of a car and how to put on a pair of socks.

Beyond surgery, CAMTA's work extends to teaching and training sessions as well. On Monday, physiotherapists Brenda Corie and Stacy Rivalin (hidden) along with translator Steve van Diest shared pre- and post-op care with local physiotherapists. Along with answering questions and discussing treatment techniques, the team shared patient handouts with examples of exercises, instructions on how to use walkers and crutches for use with their own patients, and even the car and sock videos (above).

Brenda and Stacy were grateful to their union, HSAA - Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which made generous donations towards their trips to Quito. Here they are with Juan Manuel who had his hip surgery yesterday.

Today Juan is walking and practicing on CAMTA’s “stairway to recovery” with the help of physiotherapist Judy Black.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Live interview Number 2!

2012-02-29T12:21:00.001-07:00

Head Ward Nurse and CAMTA Executive Board member, Deb Chalupa will be interviewed live on CBC Radio, Edmonton AM (93.9FM) sometime between 7:30am and 8am tomorrow (Thursday). Tune in if you have a chance!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Johana Hidalgo, Part One

2012-02-29T12:00:00.001-07:00

Johana Hidalgo came to CAMTA with severe rheumatoid arthritis which has virtually atrophied her left hip. At 21 she hopes one day to go to university, get a job and have a family. But, her pain is so great that she is unable to leave home where she lives with her parents and two brothers. She has her whole life ahead of her, and a hip replacement will make a real difference in her future.

Radio Canada’s Sylvain Bascaron and Brent Roy (with translator Steve van Diest’s help) spoke with Johana after her consultation with the orthopaedic surgeons on Clinic Day. They plan on featuring her in a television piece.

Sylvain and Brent visited Johana in her home about 30 minutes from Quito yesterday. This morning they spent a few minutes with her in her hospital room as she waited for her surgery. This time Toby Cubitt (left) translated.

Although Johana confessed to a certain amount of nervousness, she has no fear that the operation will make her better. A fist pump with Toby seals the deal.

We’ll keep you posted on Johana's progress!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Radio Canada's CAMTA story is now up!

2012-02-28T14:53:00.001-07:00

The TV story on CAMTA has now been posted on the Radio Canada website! It's a fabulous piece and gives a great overview of what we do here in Ecuador, and how we help to change lives.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/alberta/2012/02/28/001-equateur-humanitaire-camta.shtml

For those non-francophones out there, don't worry, it's easy to follow; Smiles and tears of joy are universal.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Radio Canada's CAMTA story airs tonight

2012-02-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Radio Canada reporter Sylvain Bascaron and cameraman Brent Roy have joined CAMTA this week to follow the mission and to file several TV and radio interviews.

Their TV first story airs tonight (Tuesday) at 6pm on Radio Canada TV in Alberta (channel 12 in Edmonton, CAMTA’s home town) and a few other affiliates across Canada!

For those of you across the country, there will be a link to the story on Radio Canada's website. We'll let you know once it's up.

This morning Sylvain came into the CAMTA common room doing a live radio interview for Radio Canada’s (Edmonton) morning show while Brent was still shooting in an operating room.

Here they are shooting their intro for tonight’s piece, along with a few curious young fans.

Three more stories will air in the upcoming months. We’ll keep you posted!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Gift Bags, Week Two

2012-02-28T12:04:00.002-07:00

Every CAMTA patient not only leaves the hospital with a new lease on life, but they also get gift bags courtesy of the generosity of many donors in Canada. Each week CAMTA lay people fill the bags and ensure everyone gets one.

Amanda Pelletier and Wendy Read stuffed bags this morning, all of which contain: a blanket, soap, toothpaste and a tooth brush, a hand towel, and a pencil.

In the kids’ bags we add crayons and a coloring book, a stuffed toy, playing cards, and modeling clay.

Here's Cathy Moreau with a stuffed animal.

In addition, each bag gets a handmade Get Well Soon card. These cards have been given to us by two separate elementary school Spanish classes, one in Edmonton, and one in Toronto. Thank you for thinking of the people of Ecuador!

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Week Two Clinic Day is Full of Kids!

2012-02-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Clinic day takes the full concentration of the entire team. Over the course of one day, the Week Two team saw about 125 patients, about 75% of which were children.

Respiratory therapist Glenn Day helps to calm nerves by creating balloon animals for the kids.

This little guy came out of his follow-up exam in tears which rapidly disappeared when he was given his orange "giraffe". He even managed a firm thumbs up!

Little Ronald Galves is very pleased with his green “perro” (dog) and Canadian flag!

As the long day winds down, a spontaneous game of “paperball” soccer starts up in the hallway.

Would you like to support our work in Ecuador? Please click here to donate to CAMTA.

Clinic Day, Week Two!

2012-02-27T15:08:00.001-07:00

Sundays are Clinic Days in Quito, and they are always busy days for CAMTA. That’s the day the all prospective patients come into the hospital hoping to be selected for surgery. As well, CAMTA sees patients that were treated in in previous years who come back to the clinic for follow-up. The waiting room is full of prospective and previous patients.

Pediatric Orthopedic surgeons Tim Carey and Marc Moreau take a look at 14-year old Jefferson Paredes’s x-rays to determine if he’s a good candidate for surgery.

On Clinic day, when space is at a premium, pediatric anesthetists Drs. Natalie Buu (seated) and Dave Cubitt (right) commandeer stairwell to discuss pre- and post-operative care with the mother of four year old Sheila Ortega. Tuesday morning, Sheila will be operated on to shorten her right femur.