K2 Medical

When a gift is given from one human being to another a special feeling is created within both the receiver and the giver. Dr. Ray Woo and his team have now just completed their 5^th trip to CURE DR. This miraculous feeling from transactions driven by love is one that was felt by all of us including our patients. Because of Dr. Woo and his nurse Ana’s long term commitment to our hospital we have been able to greatly improved our spinal deformity program. Both in terms of equipment and patient safety we have advanced dramatically. Repeat visits by short term teams as well as a local organized infrastructure is the key to success for performing such sophisticated operations in the developing world.

We owe special thanks to K2 Medical for the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of implants that were used this week. Each member of the team is vitally important to the success of the work. Paul Caron and Autumn Sutterlin of K2 Medical, Larry Daly (anesthesia), and Carrie Bower (neuromonitoring) as well as our Dominican doctors and nurses all worked hard for the success of this trip.

Both in the United States and the Dominican Republic the work for these trips starts many months before the trip takes place, gathering equipment and planning for cases. This past week we had the privilege of using the Nuvasive thoracotomy retractor system, Aquamantys coagulator, FloSeal, Grafton and the other products only available in the most advanced centers in the modern world. On the behalf or our patients and also myself I would like to thank all those who gave and spent their time preparing these products.

Arne 16 came to the CURE clinic with her sister in Cap Haitian, Haiti. Both of their parents are dead. With the help of Cross International they were able to travel to CURE Santo Domingo to have surgery for her 85 degree scoliosis.

Katherin 13 with her mother on post op day 5 is ready to go home after having surgery for her 95 degree R thoracic curve.

Click here for more pictures of CURE Hospital DR and the spinal deformity program

Depuy Spine USA

Alam 17, Maryfel 16, Damaris 10, Mario 20, William 17, Roselbia 17, Ana 12, Emelyn 16, Franklin 17, Massiel 15, Dariana 16, Pamela 21, Yanil 15, Juleisy 15, Mideline 18, Wilson 19, Phillip 15, Ana 16, Eunice 17, Lusahidily 12, Mercedes 37, Flor 20, Cynthia 16, Yesica 17, Jose 16, Sheryll 14, Yerolanny 17, Youseline 12, Miguel 17, Esteanny 14, Winifer 12, Andritson 16, Alberto 42, Felix 18, Victor 20, Jose 18, Ruth 13, Miranda 16, Daysi 37, Gernelys 14, Santa 17, Perla 11.

42 patients

4 trips

18 months

On behalf of CURE and the patients we serve I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Depuy Spine on the behalf of the 42 patients that have had life changing surgery because of their generous support. Only 18 months after their first visit they have sponsored a total of 4 trips, inspiring many, educating, forming relationships and changing lives. At CURE we are all about giving our patients loving state of the art care and providing long term follow up for those that we treat making it possible to safely do such complex operations in the developing world.

Todd Spiegel of Depuy Spine and Dr. Howard Place and team from St. Louis University have repeatedly devoted their personal time and expertise to make these last 4 trips possible. Their sincerity and commitment to these children and to our hospital has enabled unparalleled care. Since this October 6-10 trip - Omar 16, Abigail 11, Orlando 18, and Katherin 15 have already been added to our waiting list for scoliosis surgery. We will hopefully be setting dates soon for a return trip.

Esteanny 14 and Andritson 16 @ 2 week post op visit

Click on any of the photos above to take you more photos of spinal deformity surgery at CURE Santo Domingo

Orthofix

The generous donation of Orthofix to CURE International is revolutionizing deformity correction, limb lengthening and trauma care at our Dominican Republic and Haiti sites. Some of the common uses for these devices are bowlegs, other angular deformities of the lower extremities, lengthening for congenital short femur, osteomyelitis, fractures, nonunions, and bone transport for bone deficiency after trauma.

Pictured is a 12 year old boy named Laudy who lives in a destitute part of the Dominican Republic about 4 hours from the capital. When he came to CURE he was diagnosed with pseudoachondroplasia a type of dwarfism with this typical “windswept” deformity of the lower extremities. The angular deformities were analyzed and 6 osteotomies were performed along with the application of 4 Orthofix Paediatric LRS rails. Prior to this 4 hour operation Laudy was hardly able to walk. Today he is elated to be running for the first time in his life. Now he has brought the first of several cousins who are also affected by this rare type of dwarfism. Click here to see pictures of his cousin Yini along with some other patients treated at our center.

Because of the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Orthofix equipment that has been donated to CURE International we are able to provide our patients care that is equal to the best centers in the United States and Europe. Because of this type of generosity, our personal sacrifices, and economization we perform these many complex operations at a fraction of the cost that they would cost in the developed world. Also, relatively unique to CURE is our permanent or long term presence in the countries in which we serve making possible these operations that involve a process of close follow-up for procedures such as limb lengthening, bone transport, and deformity correction.

Thank you and congratulations to Orthofix and those of you who work for this generous company which is making a positive difference in this world.

CURE Haiti

Orthopaedic surgery is being performed at the Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti for post traumatic, congenital and developmental orthopaedic disorders.  Children and Adults of all ages are treated.


Clinics run MWF 8 am-3pm.

Contact info:
Francel Alexis MD
Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti
Diquini 63 Carrefour
Port au Prince
francelito001@yahoo.fr


For further questions email scottnelsonmd@gmail.com

Purpose

Keeping in mind Christ's words in Matthew 6:1-4

"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them...when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.

it was with careful deliberation and intentions to avoid self-glorification that I decided to create this blogspot for the following purposes:

• To express gratitude to the donors who so generously have supported CURE and our work in the Dominican Republic and Haiti
  
• To repay the encouragement and support given to us by our CURE home office family who deserve to see the images and read the stories of the lives being changed by their efforts in a nondescript Pennsylvania warehouse
• To inspire others to understand the benefits of sacrifice and engage themselves in caring for those less fortunate
• To give information for visitors planning long or short term work with CURE International in the Dominican Republic and Haiti
• To provide contact information for patients and organizations seeking high quality orthopaedic treatment in the Dominican Republic and Haiti
  

As the Medical Director of CURE International Dominican Republic and Haiti this site is authored by myself and other authorized persons but is not an official publication of CURE International and although it is written with discretion it does not strictly adhere to HIPAA regulations.

Contact Information

CURE International
Centro de Ortopedia y Especialidades
Francia esq Leopoldo Navarro 129
Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
809-682-5022

We are located "en frente el Palacio de la Policia" in Gazcue. For those arriving from outside the capital this is just across Av. 27 Febrero from the Caribe Tours bus terminal.

Orthopedic clinics are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-3.
Neurosurgery clinic is on Wednesday afternoons.
General Surgery clinic is on Tuesday.
Pediatrician is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Initial consultation is $150 RD for children and $500 RD for adults. X-rays and lab are extra. No appointment is necessary and patients are seen in the order of arrival time.

If a private appointment is desired with Dr. Nelson the charge is $1500 RD (plus x-ray and lab if needed). Please call to schedule.

For further questions please call 809-682-5022 or email scottnelson@mail.com.