Team Leaders: Dr. Chad Perlyn, M.D. and Shannon Del Prado
Team Type: Plastic Surgery and Pediatric General Surgery
Campaign Summary:
Number of Patients Triaged: 151
Number of Surgical Procedures Performed: 71 with 41 surgeries and 30 minor procedures
Types of Procedures Performed: Cleft palates, burn contractures, nerve transposition, lipoma removal, and others.
Supporters: Friends of Project Peru
Team Members:
Anonymous
Caleb Bercu, Surgical Assistant
Dr. Aaron Berger, M.D., Plastic Surgeon
Ting Berger, R.N., Registered Nurse
Dr. Cathy Burnweit, M.D., Pediatric General Surgeon
Charlie Cooper, Assistant
Shannon Del Prado, Administrator
Dr. Rafael Gonzalez, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Noah Heredia, Surgical Technician
Yanela Mendez, R.N., Registered Nurse, Floor
Carol Montiel, R.N., Registered Nurse
Jose Perdomo, R.N., Registered Nurse, Circulator
Nancy Perdomo, R.N., Registered Nurse, Minor Procedures
Brooke Perlyn, Assistant
Dr. Chad Perlyn, M.D., Plastic Surgeon
Cassandra Perlyn, Assistant
Jade Pita, Assistant
Howard Pita, Assistant
Lucian Pita, Assistant
Lucas Alonso, Assistant
Dr. Andrea Rabassa, M.D., Anesthesiologist
Judy Rizo, Pharmacist
Michael Rizo, Pharmacist
Amie Roberts, R.N., Registered Nurse
Noraisy Rodriguez, R.N., Registered Nurse, Circulator
Danielle Shima, R.N., Registered Nurse
Camila Suarez, Assistant
Gabriel Cobas, Assistant
Amie Roberts Interacting with Child Between Surgeries
Carol Montiel Monitoring an Infant
Danielle Shima Brings in Patient’s Brother After Surgery
Dr. Gonzales and Danielle Shima Monitoring a Patient After Surgery
Guido Del Prado, Clinic Director and Apo Samanez Taco, Clinic Chief Technology Officer Promoting Team on the Clinic’s Radio
Judy and Michael Rizo Made Up the Group’s Pharmacy Team
Lucas Alonso, a Clinic Volunteer, Drawing with a Patient
Tina Berger Monitoring A Patient
Narrative:
Dr. Chad Perlyn has led 25 humanitarian medical missions to Haiti. Many of the members of this Team also volunteered on those missions. Unfortunately, Haiti has become too unstable and dangerous to work at safely. In early 2022, a mutual friend put Dr. Perlyn in contact with Shannon del Prado and Skip Pita. From that meeting, this Team was born.
Our newly formed Team traveled to Peru for the first time in 2022. Many members had never been to Peru, but they had deep experience serving the underprivileged in Haiti. The Team was seamless and cohesive from start to finish – all were wedded to the cause and determined to return again in 2023.
Indeed, our team did return in July of 2023. Our Team of plastic surgeons, one general surgeon, and the anesthesiology arm come from a pediatric hospital or university settings (Nicklaus Miami Children’s Hospital and the University of Miami). The Team was top notch and very well qualified.
Children with cleft palates who were beyond toddler age, struggled with defective speech because of the hole in their palates. Following surgery, for the first time in their lives, they could speak normally. They could look forward to not being teased or bullied because of how they talk. They could eat without food getting stuck in the roofs of their mouths. The surgeries were life-changing for the children and their parents.
Dr. Aaron Burger, from Miami Children’s Hospital and who is fellowship trained in hand surgery, performed all of the hand cases. Some children struggled with holding a pencil. They can now go to school and perform normally. Life changing!
Dr. Rafael Gonzalez, also from Miami Children’s Hospital, led the anesthesia volunteers. But Dr. Gonzalez did not confine himself to anesthesia. He made it a point to get to know the patients and their families. His compassion and bedside manners were remarkable to watch.
Stay tuned for our efforts in 2024 – can’t wait to get back!
Speaking about staying tuned, A word about the Kausay Wasi Radio Station: The Clinic has their own radio station and promotes all of the daily activities of the Clinic and announces all the International Campaigns sponsored by the Clinic. The radio station reaches approximately 150,000 people who live mostly in rural areas. Although we do not have a precise number, attendance reports indicate that the radio station is responsible for the majority of patients knowing and participating in the continuous campaigns hosted by the Clinic.