Ma Jia Le Memorial Project China Surgery Trip: December 2005

On December 12, 2005, Dr. Jorge Lazareff arrived in Shanghai, China, to perform neurosurgery operations on eleven children. (We had originally thought there would be as many as fourteen candidates for surgery, but eleven was the number that actually made it to Shanghai for assessment and consideration.) The surgeries are to correct neurological conditions, primarily consisting of shunt placements for hydrocephalus and repairs of lesions due to spina bifida. The Shepherd's Crook, in cooperation with International Assistance and Adoption Project (IAAP), is sponsoring four children for these surgeries. Through the generosity of our friends and supporters, we have raised the funds necessary to cover the costs of these surgeries, including the costs of travel to Shanghai, food and lodging for the children and their caregivers ("nannies") during the trip, Operating Room expenses, and medications and supplies the children will need while in Shanghai. Dr. Lazareff and Dr. Van de Wiele, the anesthesiologist traveling with him, are donating their time for this trip. All of the incidental costs for doctors Lazareff and Van de Wiele, including air fare, lodging, food, and miscellaneous expenses, are being covered by Dr. Lazareff's beneficent organization, Global Neuro Rescue. We are, as always, grateful beyond words to Dr. Lazareff and Dr. Van de Wiele for their generosity.

Click here to view pictures of the trip.

Dr. Lazareff is the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Associate Professor in Residence (Division of Neurosurgery) at UCLA Medical Center.

Dr. Van de Wiele is the Director of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology, Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs, and Clinical Professor at UCLA Medical Center.

For information on the four children TSC and IAAP are sponsoring on this trip, click here.