The LEAP (Life Enhancement Association for People) Mission has
been coming to Belize for the
past nine years. LEAP is a self funded mission that caters to patients
with cranio-facial deformities. Patients with cleft lips, cleft palates,
missing ears, etc are operated on FREE OF COST. For the past two years,
the mission has included an eye team that caters to children that are
crossed-eyed, have droopy eye-lids or have an eye defect. This year the mission
was from May 7 - 12, 2004 and held at the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange
Walk Town.
The 2004 mission has been the biggest so far, with 31 doctors,
technicians, nurses and assistants taking part. Sherry Colburn and Dr. Craig
Hobar head the cranio-facial team. Members, family and friends of the
Rotary Club of Orange Walk host the Leapers in their homes. The Rotary
Club also ensures that the team is well fed and entertained during their 5-day
mission.
The team begin arriving on a Thursday to prepare the OR.
The rest of the team arrive on Friday and immediately begin evaluating patients
and making a schedule. A few hundred people normally come for evaluations.
Surgeries are performed on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday some of the team
head back to the USA whiles those that stay head to the Cayes (islands) to relax
in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Belize is home to the 2nd largest barrier reef
in the world and makes for a wonderful vacation experience. Most of the
team then return to the USA on Tuesday.
Below are a few pictures of this year's mission. Click
on the images for a bigger view.
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Awaiting turns to get operated
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Checkup after successful procedure
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Follow-up check on patient
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Crossed-eyed patient before procedure
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Family watching over patient
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Child having undergone procedure
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Patient recovery room
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reasuring relatives
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Mennonites getting treatment
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Taking a well desrved break in the Library/Lounge
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Break time
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Monico taking a big break
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Rotarians and family
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Recovery Room
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Gloria with patient going home
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Child afer eye correction
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Child with mom after procedure
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Packing up after surgeries were finished
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Reunion after mission success
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Doctors having buffet mdinner at The Diner
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Rene and Chonita socializing
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Rotarian Manuel and family enjoying dinner
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Eye Team having Dinner
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Dr. Hobar and Gloria
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Dr. Fincher and Johnny
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Cheers
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President Ramon
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