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Our mission is to provide a high standard of medical support to orphaned children with life-threatening medical conditions and provide a loving, compassionate environment within which these children can begin their recovery through a network of volunteers. |
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We have finally managed to publish our first Newsletter. With proper help, we hope we can keep you updated through this vehicle every few months.
As soon as the Lang Lang concert was wrapped up in September last year, our committee busied ourselves meeting with various parties interested in COO. We met with several HK-based China relief organizations as well as interested corporations, including some major hospitals in HK. Strong collaborative relationships have begun.
Our medical efforts continued during the period. 18 children entered our programme for assessment. These included 4 spina bifida, 2 exstrophies (bladder-bowel turned inside out) and a retinoblastoma (cancer in both eyes). Twenty-four doctors were involved and 14 surgeries were completed.
We expect a busy time before the summer as we are currently scheduling 5 major surgeries. There will be 2 spina bifida, 2 imperforate anus (no anus) and 1 exstrophy. In the meantime, preparations for our 2008 concert has begun.
John Ngan
Chairman of MedArt's COO program |
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A COO Kids Story - Qiao
Qiao, now 17 months old, was identified in Henan around late October last year. She had a bulging left eye and she had a CT demonstrating a left eye tumor. Apparently, a decision was made that either she was not medically salvageable or the parents found it financially impossible to take care of her. She was spending her final days when she was picked up. |
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COO reviewed her CT sent by email and noted her grave prognosis. COO was fortunate to find doctors at HK Eye Hospital had good experience with the condition and were willing to accept Qiao. What was unknown to COO was that the CT was taken 6 months ago. We received Qiao in mid-December. She looked sad and worried, not how a toddler should look. We then noted the date on her CT and could not help begin wondering the worth of bringing her to HK.
Her CT in HK showed that her left eye tumor was stable although it showed similar involvement of her other eye. At surgery 2 days later, the 2 eye doctors were pleased to see that the tumor did not spread beyond the capsule of the eyeball and the nerve to the eye though involved by tumor could be removed with a clean margin. What that means was that if she later responded to chemotherapy, a simple laser removal of her other eye tumor would be possible without removing her other eye, rendering her completely blind.
Qiao has now gone through 4 cycles of chemotherapy. She is tolerating the strong medicines well. She keeps her hair and she is looking better day by day. She manages to charm everyone she meets. She is now staying with the Ngan family, learning to read, walk and talk. She is surprisingly keen in classical music, particularly of the classical period written by German composers. She dances and nods with great sense of rhythm with music like the overture to the Marriage of Figaro, looking like a concertmaster or a conductor.
She will stay until June this year. We remain hopeful that she will maintain vision in her right eye. |
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From a COO Doctor - Dr. Peter Yip
I met Sabrina about one month after she had been abandoned. She was suffering from abdominal distension and repeated vomiting. She was estimated to be 3 months old, but her poorly nourished body weighed like a newborn.
With the help of the Pediatric and Surgical Department in the Family Union Hospital, Beijing, I operated on her, identified the problem and carried out a repair in surgery lasting 4 hours.
Sabrina's recovery was encouraging. She quickly resumed feeding, gained weight and I expect her to make a full recovery.
This is only one example of the miracle of surgery which provides me with the inspiration and will to help others less fortunate in society.
However, I cannot begin to imagine what desperation and pain her parents experienced while they were waiting for a miracle .........
We saved her life, but not her family. To rebuild her family, there is still a long way to go. |
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Lang Lang Piano Recital
The concert took place at the Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 13th August 2007.
After many months of preparation Lang Lang finally arrived in Hong Kong for our concert. Hours before he arrived, we were told that his schedule would be limited for health reasons. A COO member traveled with him from the airport directly to his hotel and his afternoon rehearsal had to be postponed until shortly before the concert. On route from the airport he listened to a detailed presentation of our outreach programme. He expressed great sympathy towards our work and decided to alter his program to reflect his feelings at the time.
The concert was well attended by an enthusiastic audience. The concert began with a slideshow of COO children and a poem, "Song of an Orphan", written by a teenage volunteer with first hand experience of our work in Beijing. The sequence was accompanied by violinist and MedArt member, Le Ho Nam. Lang Lang then began with a tranquil Schumann piece.
The event raised approximately $2,300,000 and cost under $70,000 to organize and stage. This was in large part due to the willingness of those involved to provide services without charge enabling us to ensure that 97% of the funds raised are spent directly on providing medical care. The immediate available of funds helps COO to increases the scope of work, shortens response times and deals more effectively with emergency cases.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the sponsors that helped make this event a success. We would also like to thank our volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event happen. |
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The Royal Over-Seas League
The Royal Over-Seas League hosted a Middle Eastern themed fund raising dinner on 5th January 2008. By kind permission of H.E. Ambassador Alaudeen A. Alaskary, Consul General of Saudi Arabia, and his wife Mrs. Kaye Alasakary (ROSL Charity Fundraising Commmittee member), this entertaining and enjoyable dinner was held at their official consular residence and as a result all of the proceeds were donated to our China Orphan Outreach programme. |
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2008 Concert
Our next major gathering will be a fund-raising concert on November 2nd at the HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Acclaimed violinist Chen Xi, winner of the prestigious 2002, 12th Tchaikovsky Violin Competition will perform free for the children of COO. For further information please contact billcondon@medart.org.hk |
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COO Thank Our Recent Partners
Bizworks.com
Chan & Hou Laboratories
DragonAir
Fluid Design
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
Hong Kong Urology Centre
Island Shangri-La Hotel
Matilda Children's Foundation
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COO Welcome New Volunteers
Dr. Derek Chan (anesthesiology)
Dr. Mark Chan (pediatrics)
Dr. TK Chan (hematology)
Dr. Caroline Chau (anesthesiology)
Dr. Amy Cheung (ENT)
Dr. Cheung Pik To (pediatrics)
Dr. Dorothy Fan (ophthalmology)
Dr. Fan Yiu Wah (neurosurgery)
Dr. Peggy Pang (anesthesiology)
Dr. Christopher Yu (ophthalmology) |
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COO – How You Can Help! |
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Tell a friend by forwarding this Newsletter to your friend. |
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Become a volunteer. COO relies on volunteers, both medical and non-medical, to be successful. Contact info@medart.org.hk for more information. |
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Make a donation. You may donate via cheque to "Med-Art Limited" or visit our website medart.org.hk for more information. |
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On behalf of the children you are helping – thank you!
MedArt - China Orphan Outreach
Suite 510, Central Building, Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong
O: + 852 3104 0840
F: + 852 2877 5085
W: www.medart.org.hk |
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Copyright. Med-Art Limited, China Orphan Outreach Program, Suite 510, Central Building, Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong. Tel : + 852 3104 0840 Fax: + 852 2777 0840
This message (including any attachments) is intended for the person(s) or organisation(s) named above. It is confidential and may be legally privileged or protected by law. Unauthorised use, copying or disclosure of any part is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and delete it from your system. Med-Art Limited accepts no responsibility for any opinions, statements and other information contained in this e-mail that do not relate to the charitable activities of Med-Art Limited.
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No message or attachment is to be legally binding upon Med-Art Limited unless evidenced by the written authority of two duly authorised representatives. |
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