November 2010
"I have seen so many tumors here. I think I have seen the biggest
one ever. And then there is someone else with an even larger tumor."
— Dr. Randy Robinson
Dear Face the Challenge Friends,
We were invited to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the new National Hospital of Odontostomatology (NHOS) on December 9-10 and will travel on December 6-12 to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The original building was a Japanese-built reparations structure erected after World War II and was imploded in 2008. A new, taller building has risen on this same site.
To celebrate this special event Randy and I will bring ~20 surgery-related textbooks purchased from Face the Challenge funds. We are unable to carry books when we travel with a full surgical team due to dedicated weight for surgical supplies and weight limitations. These texts feature: oral and maxillofacial surgery, pathology and imaging, bone harvesting and grafting techniques, congenital syndromes, clinical anesthesia, guides for the operating room, and peri-operative nursing care.
We hope these references improve techniques and guide in accurate diagnoses, treatment, and better patient care. And we will provide copies of these same texts for the surgical staff at the Odonto Maxillo Facial Hospital (OMFH) in District 1, as their needs are similar.
Patients with urgent needs seek consultations at the NHOS. They have advanced tumors, some of which we have seen from scans sent by email. Uncertain what to do, the Vietnamese surgeons said they will wait for us. We are saddened to see massive, precarious tumors that dash hope and cause fear. The term "inoperable" will hit as harsh finality for some. Please pray for wisdom and us to minister to needs as God empowers.
A father holding his daughter in sweltering heat as they await her cleft lip repair. A mother cradling her son in the recovery room after his cleft lip repair. A nurse guiding 10-year old Hieu's mother after his tennis ball-sized tumor was removed from his cheek. A grandmother on the floor of the hospital's bathroom hand-washing her family's clothes.
We continue to share photos to express our gratitude for your support, draw you closer in our experiences, and remind us all to pray for the disfigured, poor, and despairing.
Our 23rd trip to Vietnam will be April 6-17, 2011. We are thankful for our great team of surgical volunteers — soon to be finalized. More news will follow in February.
We wanted to share that Randy was honored as one of two recipients of the 2010 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Humanitarian Award. It was for his service with Face the Challenge through which our surgical teams have provided ~1,082 free facial surgeries. This award was presented at the AAOMS national meeting on September 29 in Chicago. This surgical specialty has existed for 92 years. AAOMS now has a membership of about 5,000 surgeons from 75 countries.
Randy was in the presence of many distinguished award recipients. Two included Dr. Jerry L. Halpern, Presidential Achievement Award recipient, and CAPT. R. Gilbert Triplett, DMD, PhD, USN (Ret.), for the OMS Research Recognition Award. Dr. Halpern's award was for his efforts to identify the remains of victims at Ground Zero from the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Of the ~2,800 victims who perished, Dr. Halpern identified the remains of ~600 victims. CAPT. Triplett was honored for his care for war-wounded troops and authoring the only text published thus far on Head and Neck Combat Trauma. These
surgeons used their expertise to bring closure in loss and help the wounded heal.
We thank each one of you for your support that has made the FTC surgeries and care possible since 1993. The 2010 AAOMS Humanitarian Award is the result of such help by so many of our friends, all for the sake of many in need.
In Him, Our Health and Hope,
Randy and Ginger
Randolph C. Robinson, MD, DDS, Craniomaxillofacial Surgeon
Ginger H. Robinson, BSN, RN, Cardiac/Critical Care Nurse
"He is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD for He is good.
For His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds, give thanks to the LORD."
Face the Challenge remains an all-volunteer humanitarian non-profit organization. There are no paid employees. Donations are 100% tax-deductible and go toward surgical efforts. Financial gifts may be given by check or through PayPal at www.facethechallenge.org
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