The mission of Foundation for Children, Inc. is to provide healing resources and medical surgery for children with congenital defects especially orphans.
Two Medical Delegations celebrate 15th anniversary of Rotary project
In December 2011 Dr Svitlana Serduik, a beloved Ukrainian orthopedic surgeon, came to Florida to attend POSNA, an intense conference on her speciality. Her scholarship and her costs were sponsored by Dr. Kevin Neal, a member of our surgical team from Jacksonville Nemours/Wolfson Children's Cinic.
Dr. Alexander Astakhov, head of all children's medical services in Crimea, Ukraine, came to Florida in October and worked with hospitals in Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola.
He also met with Florida Secretary of State Browning to deliver greetings from the head of the Crimean government.
Former Commissioner of Agriculture and signer of the original 1996 Florida / Crimea agreement Charles Bronson also met with the delegation.
The elements of a future co-operation with Florida State University Medical School and Crimean doctors were discussed in a visit with Dean Fogarty and Assistant Dean Daniel Van Durme.
Eight former patients of Dr Astakov were visited.
2011 FIFTEEN SURGERIES PERFORMED -- FIFTEEN LIVES CHANGED FOREVER
Dr. Charles Moore led a team from Florida to Ukraine in April 2011 to operate on children suffering from congenital defects which included Dr. Michael Erhard of Jacksonville and Dr. Don Dewey of Pensacola. Dr Erhard is a pediatric urologist. Dr Dewey is an orthopedic surgeon.
Dr. Dewey was making his first trip to Crimea and completed a challenging surgical schedule. Though bilateral club feet occur only once in 500,000 births two such surgeries were completed. In addition a rare congenital bilateral arm defect was repaired for a young boy who had pled his case to the pediatricians.
In post surgery visits the children were all smiles despite their recent procedures. Children age one to twelve were on the schedule. All of the children are orphans or under state guardianship.
See our surgical team page for more photos of our work.
We have had financial assistance from Rotary International, through the Florida District 6940 clubs and Ukrainian Rotary clubs. Clubs in Bourne, Massachusetts, New Jersey and England have also made major contributions. If your Rotary club is interested, please contact us.
If you believe that children are our future,we hope you will invest in that future by assisting us.
