Quotes from the medical team
“What impressed me on the ‘recce’ trip was the openness of the team – they were going with no preconceived ideas about what they were/were not going to do and really did seem to have the interest of the children as their priority. There was also a wllingness to listen to everyone’s viewpoint and adapt things accordingly. It meant that the Romanians could have an input and I think that helped establish good relationships.”
Debbie Jackson (UK Physiotherapist, Bucharest mission Oct. 07)
“I think it was an experience which both sides profited. Professor Eastwood could make an impression about my country, our doctors and kind of treatments that our children received. We met new persons which want to help children, we saw a new manner of operating (even more than techniques we do in the same way).”
Dr Ioan Fodor (Romanian surgeon, Bucharest mission Oct. 07)
“I was given the opportunity to help Vasile and was only too glad to be able to do so. His condition was readily amenable to a treatment that could dramatically change the way he functioned and which, when combined with his obvious love of life would allow him to experience normal every day things that were not possible before.”
Deborah Eastwood (UK Surgeon, operating on Vasile in July 06)
“I greatly enjoyed the trip and I do feel that I should make a second trip back to Romania. I would like to get involved an exchange program with the Romanian pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in which they could come here for 4-6 weeks and we could visit Romania on a yearly basis. I do believe this would provide the best long-term solution to the problem of disabled orphans in Romania.”
Dr Jeffrey Thompson (US Surgeon, Alba Mission March 08)
“I met wonderful children and families as well as other professionals. It was very encouraging to be working in a country that is obviously developing very quickly. My role was not only to treat the children, but also to be a facilitator of physiotherapy for the many wonderful resources Alba already has.”
Anne Lapin (US Physiotherapist, Alba Mission March 08)
“There are a few things we could have brought that would have maybe made us more efficient. A lot of their equipment is out of date and or does not work well. We had to do a lot of improvising, but it worked out, just maybe took a little longer. …. They may not be aware of how an open window in the OR, and not disinfecting the rooms in between each patient is only going to raise the risk of infection and can be very dangerous for their patients.”
Danielle Theroux (US Operating Theatre Nurse, Alba Mission 08)
“Deborah Eastwood is a very strong women and I admire her. In my country a good doctor is a man doctor, the patients ask me in the clinic where is the doctor? My professor stimulated me to go to the gym every day to demonstrate him I am strong enough. Professor Eastood show me that orthopedics need brain muscles, she thinks the problems fiziopathologically. Our doctors attack the bones first, she try with the soft parts which could correct the
deformity. “
Anca-Teodora Gheorge (Romanian Surgical Resident, Bucharest 07)
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