🏥 An update from Megan Murphy Sparks, our Executive Director, in Ethiopia with the team:
"Today was truly incredible. Despite facing numerous obstacles and unexpected challenges, our extraordinary team handled everything with grace, patience, skill, and remarkable communication. Each hurdle was overcome, and seven children and their families received life-changing care today.
A special shout-out to our amazing anesthesia team—Dr. Rohan, Jamie, and Cathy—who worked tirelessly with older, less familiar equipment while waiting for our own delayed supplies. They ensured every child received safe, high-quality care, all while training local colleagues to do the same.
Thanks to today’s efforts, we expect even more success tomorrow!"
Today, 2-year-old Amen received cleft lip revision surgery thanks to the amazing CSI team and our in-country medical partners! 🌟 This surgery will enhance her ability to speak, eat, and breathe, while also refining the appearance of her scar as she grows. We're so excited for Amen’s bright future!
✨ Patient screening day complete! ✨ Here's a quick look at the numbers: 👨‍⚕️ Urology: 18 surgeries scheduled (with more pending) for our single urology table. CSI volunteer Dr. Dangle worked closely with College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. (BDU) pediatric surgeons Drs. Nebaiyu and Estub to screen patients identified by their team. 👂 ENT: 27 surgeries scheduled (between the CSI and BDU tables), with several more pending. CSI volunteers Drs. Chinnnadurai and Jakobowski teamed up with BDU experts Drs. Melesse and Kassaw, along with their colleagues and trainees. A huge shoutout to Dr. Melchert, our nursing team, and the medical records volunteers for their incredible work taking vitals, histories, and clearing patients for surgery. 🙌 And behind the scenes, our anesthesia and OR teams were hustling to unpack, set up, and adjust to a new OR space with different equipment than expected. Talk about teamwork!
Sunday is a well-deserved rest day, as the team finishes up charts and drafts next week's surgery schedules!
30 hours of travel later, the team has made it to Bahir Dar. They'll rest today and acclimate to the time change, as they prepare for a busy patient screening day tomorrow. We can't wait to provide updates — stay tuned!
Just 5 days left to order your winter greens and poinsettias and help provide life-changing pediatric surgical care.
✨ Shop now at www.gertensfundraising.com using store ID 878. Hurry, sales end October 21! ✨ Join us for our Holiday Open House on November 20, from 3-6 PM, to pick up your order (99 5th Ave NW, Suite 100, New Brighton) or contact CSI to arrange an alternate pick up or delivery time.
Help maximize our impact! Please like and share this post.
Our volunteer team is headed to Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, to provide free pediatric ENT and urology surgeries, along with vital medical education and training.
CSI's ultimate goal is to equip communities to care for their own children, paving the way for lasting, sustainable change.
Pre-screening take place on Saturday and surgeries begin Monday!
Meet OR nurse Susan Turnquist, another CSI volunteer headed to Ethiopia this week. After retiring from Children's Minnesota in 2019, Susan became involved with CSI to remain engaged in nursing and fulfill her love of travel. In 2022, Susan traveled with CSI to Tanzania.
“My experience in Tanzania was way beyond expectations. The relationships with locals and other team members were deeply satisfying and memorable. I am truly excited to visit Ethiopia, continue to contribute to the well-being of children in need, as well as engage in the training of their own medical professionals.”
We can't wait to share in-country updates from our volunteers when they arrive in Ethiopia to #changelives.
Back in 2017, pediatric nurse Haley Bye was part of a CSI surgical trip to Ethiopia, where she and the rest of the CSI team met local tour guides Desie and Zenaw. On the first day of surgery, when interpreter plans fell through, Desie and Zenaw quickly stepped in to help bridge the communication gap between patients, families, and the our medical team. For the next five days, they arrived early, stayed late, and made an incredible impact. Seven years later, Desie, Zenaw, and a dedicated team of local interpreters remain essential to CSI's life-changing work in Ethiopia.
We are so grateful for Haley and the entire CSI volunteer team heading to Ethiopia on Thursday of this week. We can’t wait to follow along as they transform lives! ... See MoreSee Less
1 week ago
CSI volunteers accomplished so much last week in Hermosillo, Mexico. 45 children received life-changing surgeries, with 64 total procedures performed, including several complex cases that required extraordinary skill and teamwork. Volunteers even navigated a power outage at the hospital without missing a beat! Outstanding work all around — thank you to our volunteers and our partners St. Andrew's Children's Clinic, Voluntariado CIMA and Hospital CIMA Hermosillo.
🏥 An update from Megan Murphy Sparks, our Executive Director, in Ethiopia with the team:
"Today was truly incredible. Despite facing numerous obstacles and unexpected challenges, our extraordinary team handled everything with grace, patience, skill, and remarkable communication. Each hurdle was overcome, and seven children and their families received life-changing care today.
A special shout-out to our amazing anesthesia team—Dr. Rohan, Jamie, and Cathy—who worked tirelessly with older, less familiar equipment while waiting for our own delayed supplies. They ensured every child received safe, high-quality care, all while training local colleagues to do the same.
Thanks to today’s efforts, we expect even more success tomorrow!"
#nonprofit #ChangingLives #GlobalHealthcare #teamwork #pediatricsurgery #dogood ... See MoreSee Less
Today, 2-year-old Amen received cleft lip revision surgery thanks to the amazing CSI team and our in-country medical partners! 🌟
This surgery will enhance her ability to speak, eat, and breathe, while also refining the appearance of her scar as she grows. We're so excited for Amen’s bright future!
#PediatricSurgery #nonprofit #surgery #changinglives #globalhealth #MedicalEducation #ethiopia ... See MoreSee Less
✨ Patient screening day complete! ✨
Here's a quick look at the numbers:
👨‍⚕️ Urology:
18 surgeries scheduled (with more pending) for our single urology table.
CSI volunteer Dr. Dangle worked closely with College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. (BDU) pediatric surgeons Drs. Nebaiyu and Estub to screen patients identified by their team.
đź‘‚ ENT:
27 surgeries scheduled (between the CSI and BDU tables), with several more pending.
CSI volunteers Drs. Chinnnadurai and Jakobowski teamed up with BDU experts Drs. Melesse and Kassaw, along with their colleagues and trainees.
A huge shoutout to Dr. Melchert, our nursing team, and the medical records volunteers for their incredible work taking vitals, histories, and clearing patients for surgery. 🙌
And behind the scenes, our anesthesia and OR teams were hustling to unpack, set up, and adjust to a new OR space with different equipment than expected. Talk about teamwork!
Sunday is a well-deserved rest day, as the team finishes up charts and drafts next week's surgery schedules!
#SurgeryTeam #nonprofitorganization #globalhealth #pediatricsurgery #Pediatrics ... See MoreSee Less
30 hours of travel later, the team has made it to Bahir Dar. They'll rest today and acclimate to the time change, as they prepare for a busy patient screening day tomorrow.
We can't wait to provide updates — stay tuned!
#pediatricsurgery #changinglives #globalhealth #Ethiopia #cleftstrong #surgery #nonprofitorganization ... See MoreSee Less
Just 5 days left to order your winter greens and poinsettias and help provide life-changing pediatric surgical care.
✨ Shop now at www.gertensfundraising.com using store ID 878. Hurry, sales end October 21!
✨ Join us for our Holiday Open House on November 20, from 3-6 PM, to pick up your order (99 5th Ave NW, Suite 100, New Brighton) or contact CSI to arrange an alternate pick up or delivery time.
Help maximize our impact! Please like and share this post.
#twincitiesgiving #nonprofit #changinglives #cleftstrong #pediatricsurgery #globalhealth #twincities ... See MoreSee Less
Our volunteer team is headed to Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, to provide free pediatric ENT and urology surgeries, along with vital medical education and training.
CSI's ultimate goal is to equip communities to care for their own children, paving the way for lasting, sustainable change.
Pre-screening take place on Saturday and surgeries begin Monday!
#nonprofit #pediatricsurgery #changinglives #partership #Ethiopia #volunteer #dogood
Bahir Dar university Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital Information Center
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. ... See MoreSee Less
Meet OR nurse Susan Turnquist, another CSI volunteer headed to Ethiopia this week. After retiring from Children's Minnesota in 2019, Susan became involved with CSI to remain engaged in nursing and fulfill her love of travel. In 2022, Susan traveled with CSI to Tanzania.
“My experience in Tanzania was way beyond expectations. The relationships with locals and other team members were deeply satisfying and memorable. I am truly excited to visit Ethiopia, continue to contribute to the well-being of children in need, as well as engage in the training of their own medical professionals.”
We can't wait to share in-country updates from our volunteers when they arrive in Ethiopia to #changelives.
#pediatrics #changinglives #volunteer #Ethiopia #nursing #pediatricsurgery #globalhealth #nonprofit ... See MoreSee Less
Back in 2017, pediatric nurse Haley Bye was part of a CSI surgical trip to Ethiopia, where she and the rest of the CSI team met local tour guides Desie and Zenaw. On the first day of surgery, when interpreter plans fell through, Desie and Zenaw quickly stepped in to help bridge the communication gap between patients, families, and the our medical team. For the next five days, they arrived early, stayed late, and made an incredible impact. Seven years later, Desie, Zenaw, and a dedicated team of local interpreters remain essential to CSI's life-changing work in Ethiopia.
We are so grateful for Haley and the entire CSI volunteer team heading to Ethiopia on Thursday of this week. We can’t wait to follow along as they transform lives! ... See MoreSee Less
CSI volunteers accomplished so much last week in Hermosillo, Mexico. 45 children received life-changing surgeries, with 64 total procedures performed, including several complex cases that required extraordinary skill and teamwork. Volunteers even navigated a power outage at the hospital without missing a beat! Outstanding work all around — thank you to our volunteers and our partners St. Andrew's Children's Clinic, Voluntariado CIMA and Hospital CIMA Hermosillo.
#partnership #pediatricsurgery #cleftstrong #nonprofit #volunteer #hermosillo ... See MoreSee Less