Announcing Release of Tolerances 3rd Ed.

This 100 page orthopaedic pocket book that offers invaluable information for orthopaedic residents and practicing orthopaedic surgeons. It is a comprehensive collection of acceptable ‘tolerances’ for fracture alignment as well as other essential numeric data that should be at the fingertips of orthopaedic surgeons. As Einstein said “don’t memorize anything that you can look up”. It is concisely referenced to major orthopaedic textbooks and landmark articles. Click the cover images to order your copy on amazon.com. This publication is not affiliated with CURE International and all proceeds benefit the Loma Linda University orthopaedic residency program.

Haiti Trip June 1-5 2009

Trip 17. We return every 3 months to Justinien University Hospital in Cap Haitien. As the major referral center for all of northern Haiti there is never a lack of work. The only orthopaedist in the region is planning to retire in the near future and many languishing patients are accumulating without resources or hope for urgent operations. Because of our commitment to quarterly visits we are able to provide adequate follow up for much of the work that we do. In spite of seeing many suffering patients we were encouraged to see some of our patients whose lives have been changed one by one due to our efforts, our supporters, and most of all God's healing touch.


Elena a 4 year old girl before and after surgery for severe clubfoot performed Dec 2008



Loudwige (R) with her sister after having an 85 degree scoliosis curve operated at CURE Santo Dominogo

Mirana a 12 year old girl with cerebral palsy walking for the first time after having severe knee flexion contractures corrected during our last trip.



A 5 year old Haitian boy after having bilateral "ulnarization" procedures performed for radial clubhand.




A mother with her baby cured of his clubfoot after serial Ponseti cast treatment and a minor operation



Dr. Ed O'Laughlin (Baltimore, MD) teaches Haitian resident anesthesia techniques as he puts another patient to sleep.

41 patients were operated during this trip. In spite of operating day and night, unfortunately many patients still had to be turned away.

Subsequent 2009 trips are scheduled for Sept 21 and Dec 7.

Haiti Trip Feb 15-21, 2009

For more images see http://www.pbase.com/scottnelson/haiti_recent

In spite of 16 trips to Haiti the needs are not declining… This trip we were privileged to have the expertise of Dr. Jim Matiko one of my previous professors from residency at Loma Linda University as well as Geordy a senior orthopaedic resident from New York City. Even more noteworthy than us 3 “gringos” are the 3 Dominicanas – two nurses and anesthesiologist that can worked tirelessly into the morning hours on multiple occasions this past week. Their unwavering devotion, loving attitude and efficiency are an inspiration to all.

Working with other surgeons is a rare privilege in the states, but in the DR and during these trips to Haiti it has been a great opportunity for me to join with colleagues continue my quest for learning. It is especially a privilege to work with a former professor. He always taught all of us residents to be “lazy surgeons”. In reality “lazy surgeons” are perfectionists. The principle is that you must do it right the first time so you don’t have a complication that will create extra work. In Haiti this is especially important as many of our patients get very little follow up. Thus, each case is started with a prayer and with God’s helping hand we consider each operation a sacred event and don’t compromise on anything.

There are few experiences in life that are more gratifying, however, that is not why we do it. The gratification I simply pass on to the donors, our CURE support staff, and my family for the great privilege of helping these people. More importantly, the exchange of love in this environment of raw suffering is a call to action. The old man in bed 17 who called out to us to fix his femur every time we walked by, the little boy with the elbow fracture who smiled and thanked us as he awoke from anesthesia are just a couple of the reasons that we continue into working into the late hours of the night on these trips. Hopefully this call to action will continue remind all of us of the importance of serving those less fortunate, no matter where we are in our walk of life.

A New Required Rotation? Matt Hiersche LLUSM4

I’m currently a 4^th year medical student at Loma Linda University with a rich history of overseas medical missionary work and an extensive international network of hospitals that accept visiting students. Why then, did I choose CURE International for my first away rotation in my senior year? I think that a statement one of my friends made in a recent email summarizes my motivation well. She said, ‘I’d love to work internationally, but as an anesthesiologist, I wouldn’t want to spend five years abroad using halothane and ketamine, watching my skills deteriorate in an international setting. How can I come back to the States later and feel comfortable working at our level again?’ Unfortunately, these doubts seem to permeate certain segments of the medical community. But might there be a cure?

Upon my return to the States and my regular studies, I continually found myself explaining my experience in the DR in one emphatic command. “If you’re interested in medical mission work, particularly surgical,” I kept exclaiming, “Then my month in the DR with the Nelsons should be a required rotation!” I, along with many of my friends, had long suffered under the false impression that following God’s command to serve His children abroad would simultaneously mandate that we regress in our level of medical care. What kind of vision of God is that, though? In finding CURE, I found an institution that believed in the God given directive of “providing the best care in the world for the least of the world.” In keeping with this vision, the CURE for my friends and me suddenly became clear. No longer would a first rate education generate a second rate level of care. No longer is it necessary to languish with only halothane and ketamine, while our skills deteriorate in “God’s service.” It is not our expectations or our level of care that needs to change when considering medical mission work as a future. It is our vision of God that needs to change. When we feel the call to serve, we must believe that God will provide a means by which we might serve at the level of His desire – that is at our best.

Haiti Trip December 8-12, 2008

Once again we return from another Haiti trip with feelings that words cannot exactly describe. The problems are often overwhelming. In spite of the fact that we are not even making a dent in the overall situation, the lives we do touch are often changed forever. I am always reminded of Thoreau's words "One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something". Our team is in a very unique situation to provide a service that no one else is able to do. Because of our proximity and ability to transport large amounts of equipment we are always prepared operate on a huge variety of problems. Our Dominican anesthesiologist Dra. Adrian and our nurse Lucia work tirelessly, efficiently and adapt themselves to any situation without complaint. In addition to providing the best in patient care, their work ethic, attitude, and energy always provide a positive experience and inspiration for the rest of us. When one of our children needed a blood transfusion Dra. Adrian donated her A+ blood while giving anesthesia to another patient and then paid for the post transfusion lab test out of her personal money.

This trip we were also privileged to have the expertise of Dr. Wade Faerber Chief of Orthopaedics at Riverside County Regional Medical Center, Dr. Cris Sherman ortho resident and Ralph Burney OR nurse also from Riverside County. It was great to work once again with my old colleagues. Even though we go with the intent of giving we always receive a much larger blessing. Seeing the love of the Haitian people, their raw suffering, and their tolerance of discomfort is a life changing experience for us soft Americans.

For more images see http://www.pbase.com/scottnelson/haiti_recent