Above: Drolma, a young Tibetan girl brought to the U.S. for spinal surgery.
Click thumbnails for full photos.
Dr. John Odom and Jigme Yong-Song in
the surgical waiting
room at The Medical Center of Aurora, prior to Jigme having his
final operation on 1/15/02 to have the metal rods removed
from his spine. Dr. Odom and the hospital donated all services
With the arrival of Drolma Lhamo, a 10-year old Tibetan orphan
girl, ATNI has brought five children from the Himalayan region to the
United States for surgical and rehabilitation procedures to treat their
life-threatening spinal diseases and resulting deformities. Each child
has received approximately $200,000 in donated medical services form doctors,
hospital staff, laboratory technicians, therapists, and support staff.
In addition to the daily care and support provided by their host families
here in the US, these children benefit from the time and energy offered
by more than 50 volunteers, who help them endure and recover from these
highly invasive and painful procedures.
These children's cases involve disease processes so advanced
that the kinds of spinal surgery and treatment required to save their
lives are best performed here in the US. Nevertheless, the long-term goal
is to support the development of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre
for Disabled Children, in Nepal, so that it can perform all the necessary
procedures and services for affected children.
back to top
|
