Research taking off

This week has been much about getting ready for our major step; interviewing and data collection. Sarah, Hala and I had a good time doing mock interviews, making the long questionare fun and more importantly understandable when asked to the mothers of patients we have already started interviewing.

Making a ton of phone calls, reading literature reviews and getting paper work ready will pay off next week when we start our quest to meet the kind mothers and interview them. I personally am looking forward to traveling to Jenin and Hebron to do the research. We also will be holding interviews at the PCS center in Ramallah, and I will be holding a few in Nablus as well. Next week is not only it going to -hopefully- be a productive week, but the amount of learning and great experiences we are going to have is rather exciting. I am looking forward to learning from these wonderful mothers who try to do anything and everything to help their children, and also to be of help for others by willing to participate in our research. 

Onwards we go.

The next step of the internship is now in progress. Aside from what Sarah has talked about regarding the research, we will be organizing different events in the PCS center in Ramallah. We are almost ready for the research part of interviewing mothers of patients with cleft. The research will be held in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Hebron. This is very exciting because aside from interviewing and conducting research, visiting home cities and getting to see more of this beautiful country is very thrilling.

I am looking forward to organizing and holding events which I am currently planning. I am focusing on holding workshops for the mothers to learn about different ways of reaching out and using the available resources they have but might not be aware of.  I also hope to be able to have events for the children to come in and have a few activities. Face paint, prizes, games and playing with each other would be what an event would look like.

I aim to provide a support network for the mothers through the workshops, enabling them to express themselves and reach out for recourses. As for the kids, we aim to provide them with a space where they meet other kids their age with similar experience, allowing a support network to be built. 

Internship Part II: Research

Now that the surgeries in Ramallah (and the mission itself) have ended, the focus is research. I have learned that it is very important because it keeps the PCS thriving. Muna (the other intern) and I will be conducting research with Dr. Hala Borno. My responsibility as a researcher will be conducting interviews, collect data, and creatively incorporate my ideas about how the PCS can be involved with families, besides screenings and surgeries, who have children with cleft palate and/or cleft lip. I look forward to meeting families from all over Palestine and still continue doing the remarkable work that the surgeons have done, but in a different way.

More than an Internship

As the mission in Ramallah comes to close, I have been extremely humbled by the work all of the teams have done. To see the care that has been given to every single patient (surgery or not) makes me undeniably proud to work with the PCS. As I am stationed in Ramallah, I've talked and screened with families from all over Palestine. It is amazing to see how far the society reaches out to. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the Ramallah team. Though it was quite stressful at times in the hospital and center, I cannot have asked for anything more than the people I met, worked with, and helped.

The time I spent in the Kuwaiti Hospital in Ramallah is an experience I will never forget. Physically being in the O.R. and watching the doctors and local nurses perform complex surgeries with such ease is remarkable! The O.R. was a new experience for me and it has definitely confirmed my aspirations of becoming a doctor. Though there were only two days of surgery in Ramallah, the surgical team and I became good friends and worked well with each other. Relationships like this is what makes the PCS do the extraordinary work that it does. Everybody, whether in Hebron, Nablus, or Ramallah, worked very hard and well together and formed a mini-family. Family is always there for you and the PCS family is always there for Palestine.

Left to Right: Dr. Wael AlHalaby, Dr. John van Aalst, Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

At the closure of the Hebron and Nablus missions, all teams were invited to have dinner with the Minister of Health for Palestine. It was a night filled with great food, good company, and a chance for everyone involved with the PCS to bid their farewells to each other. Speeches were given by doctors, officials, Dr. John van Aalst, and the Minister himself. All speeches were heart-felt and appreciated by all. It was a joy to see all the teams together discussing their experiences at their respective team sights. 

Minister of Health giving his speech

Seeing all of this makes me realize how much a small group of people can make the largest impact on children's lives. I am so happy that I was given a chance to help the Palestinian children. I look forward to completing the second part of the internship and that is research with Dr. Hala Borno and Muna Aghaalnemer (the other intern). I will never forget these experiences and the priceless things I've learned from patients, families, and the Palestinian Cleft Society. I hope to continue working with the Palestinian people and the PCS in the future.

View from the Palestinian Cleft Society Center (Al-Bierah)

Experience beyond words.

The mission in Nablus, as well as the one in Hebron have come to an end. I have had a great honor of working with the Nablus team. Getting to know the team and working closely with everyone was very fun, rewarding, and allowed me to learn a lot more than I thought I would. I truly enjoyed being able to successfully coordinate the little things that needed coordination during the Nablus mission. It was a great time getting to also work with the local team. I was able to talk with nurses, and other medical staff who work on daily basis in Rafidia hospital which inspired me and allowed me to appreciate all the work they do everyday.

The director of Rafidia Surgical Hospital invited the PCS team along with other visitor medical teams that were holding their own missions during the week for a ceremony of recognition. The ceremony was rather thoughtful and very much appreciated by us all. The relationships built between the local hospital team and the visiting teams are promising of a bright future. It was very delightful to see the bridge of communication, cooperation and hard work being connected between the two teams. I had the honor of translating the many thanks, respectful words and appreciations between the two teams, allowing such valuable communications to take place.

(R:L) Dr.Nasr and a local nurse

Although the week was tiring and overwhelming at times, it was the smiles on the parents' faces after the surgery is over that put all the physical exhaustion away. The value of all the work done is inexplicable. I know how proud and grateful I am to be a part of this team that is helping so many children to have a better life. Being able to contribute to helping my people is the least I could do.

In such a short time, the team became a family, a group of friends that supports one another and works very well together. These are the little things that added to the great outcomes we have had. Building relationships, cooperating and working towards one great goal is very rewarding, I can very much get used to this!

Carolyn working hard :) 

Being in the OR is one of the many things I will always remember from this experience.  Although it was my first time, it felt very natural and came easy to me. I had fun getting to see how the magic is done! I loved how close to the end of the mission I could estimate how much longer an operation will need, how the process of finishing up is, and many other small things that I have learned.

I now know that I will always work to help Palestinian children in one way or another, wether by becoming a surgeon or doing volunteering every now and then, or becoming a coordinator, or whatever I may end up, I know I will carry this experience with me.

I can't wait for the rest of the internship where I get to work on the ongoing research by Hala Borno along side Sarah Zamamiri (the other intern this summer) as well as many other tasks I will partake.

Dr. Libby and I during a quick break.

Mission in Ramallah

The screening day in Ramallah was held on Saturday May 19th. We screened a total of about 73 patients and it was wonderful to see so many families relieved that their child was being evaluated by doctors across Palestine and America. Seeing this makes me grateful that I am a part of the PCS and excited for another screening day on May 25th.



Reham Zetawi giving children balloons and toys on the Screening Day.


Surgery days in Ramallah were long and tiring, but definitely worth it. Monday and Tuesday (May 21st &22nd) were those days. Working with the surgical team was thrilling. Seeing the work they do is remarkable and I have learned so much from them. As an intern, my duties consisted of completing files, talking with patients' families, and taking pictures of the patients and families. In between the surgeries, I met with the families. Meeting and talking with them made me realize how much this society does not only for the children, but also for their families. It is amazing to be a part of a life-changing process.

Ramallah surgical team

Left to Right: Dr. Wa'el Halaby, Dr. Ayman Bukaie, Dr. John van Aalst, and Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani 

Hospital Kuwaiti in Ramallah

Mission in Nablus

My name is Muna Aghaalnemer, one of the interns with PCS for this summer. I am working in Nablus as part of the mission group. The mission consist of Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus. The mission in Nablus has finished its second day today, May 20th. Despite the short time, I have already learned of the numerous ways this great organization helps Palestinian children. The screening day was Saturday, and it was such a productive day, filled with patients of all ages along with family members. It was very rewarding to see the gratefulness of their faces. A total of 74 patients were screened, checked and given care.

Today was the first day for surgeries, in Rafedia Hospital. The surgical team completed a total of 6 surgeries and another 6 will be done tomorrow.  As an intern, I have been doing numerous tasks including completing paper work, taking pictures of patients, helping with families as well as many others small tasks.

I have gained so much respect for this organization, and I am beyond honored to be part of it. I have learned so much about this amazing field and I cannot wait to learn more to be able to give and help as much as I possibly can. Making a change in someone's life is the thing I always aim to achieve, and I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team.

First Day

My name is Sarah Zamamiri, one of the PCS interns, and I have always dreamed of the day I would go to Palestine and help my people somehow. I guess dreams really do come true.Yesterday (May 15th, 2012) was my first day as an intern and though the mission has not started yet, I felt like I have already made a difference. Just helping set up the new center, filing paper work,  and preparing the registry for the new incoming patients, has made me appreciate what the Palestinian Cleft Society does and the impact it makes on children's lives and their families. I look forward to starting the mission and being a part of the extraordinary work that the PCS does.

PCS updates and developments

Patient Care

23/4/2012 at PCS center. Screening day for 14 cleft patients from different cities in the Palestinian territories.

العناية بالمرضى

23/4/2012 تم تقييم 14 مريض في مركز الجمعية من اماكن مختلفة  من فلسطين لتحديد موعد للحالات التي بحاجة الى عمليات جراحية وتدخل من قبل الفريق.

Clinic

Opening of the new dental clinic: The PCS clinic will take care of the dental needs for many cleft patients for free. Dr. Wa’el Halaby is seen examining a patient.

افتتاح عيادة الاسنان في مبنى الجمعية لرعاية مرضى الشفة الارنبية وسقف الحلق المفتوح. تمنح العيادة رعاية اضافية ومتابعة اكبر من قبل فريق الجمعية المتخصص .

Education

 

14/4/2012-Basic Life Support (BLS) Training was provided in Hebron University with the cooperation of the Palestine Friends Society in Jerusalem and Al-Ahli Hospital. A total of 18 people were trained..

توعية صحية

14/4/2012 ، برعاية اوبيريشين سمايل وجامعة القلب المفتوح وبالتعاون مع جمعية اصدقاء المريض –القدس، جامعة الخليل ومستشفى الأهلي تم تدريب 18 شخص مجانا في جامعة الخليل عقدت دورة تدريبية حول الانعاش الاساسي.

 

 Preparation of the Center

PCS is preparing the Center to be more comfortable for patients and guests.

تجهيزات المركز                                            

 تقوم الجمعية بتحضير المركز ليكون اكثر ملائمة وراحة للمرضى والزوار.

PCS preparing for may mission in  Hebron, Nablus and Ramallah.

تحضرالجمعية لإستقبال الفريق الطبي المتخصص  في شهر أيار الحالي، حيث سيتواجد الفريق في ثلاث مدن الخليل، نابلس ورام الله لتقييم الكثير من الحالات واجراء العمليات الجراحية والتجميلية اللازمة لمرضى الشفة الارنبية وسقف الحلق المفتوح.

Upcoming Events

Ramallah, Palestine, Palestine Red Crescent Society Building at 7 PM: May 18, 2012 - Dinner Event – Palestinian providers come together to celebrate all the efforts of the Palestinian Cleft Society.

أنشطة وفعاليات

فلسطين، رام الله، مبنى جمعية الهلال الأحمر الفلسطيني، الساعة السابعة مساء.

18/5/2012-حفل خيري للجمعية ( لقاء للمتخصصين والمهتمين /عشاء،  ومحاضرة علمية)