Hometown Mission 2013

Hometown Mission
Jo-Ann Geffen, JAG PR
jgeffen@jagpr.com
Press Release
MENDING KIDS PROVIDES FREE LIFE-CHANGING SURGERIES TO 18 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN SATURDAY, JULY 20TH
Mending Kids International (MKI) is excited to host its first Hometown Mission Saturday, July 20. 18 children, from six months to 18 years, will
receive free, life-altering surgeries for hand and ear deformities, cysts, lumps and other outpatient procedures from a team of eight volunteer
surgeons led by Andrew Freedman, M.D. The patients include eight Americans from the Los Angeles area, and children from Ethiopia, Kenya,
Nicaragua, Christmas Island, Ghana, El Salvador and Guatemala. These children’s lives will be changed forever thanks to private donations
that have funded this mission, from travel costs to hospital expenses. MKI Host Families make certain that the living arrangements and
emotional needs are provided for the kids, who are largely from small villages.
Access to medical care is difficult for families around the world and here in the United States. Oftentimes, financial restrictions, lack of
knowledge about public programs, or denials from government agencies prevent children from receiving needed surgery from reconstructive
to more serious, all of which are transformational. “Thirty minutes in the operating room is the whole difference between a childhood of teasing
and a childhood of confidence,” says MKI Executive Director, Marchelle L. Sellers.
Pierre, from Los Angeles, has a large lump growing on his left ear. With tears, his mom says she has begged agencies to fund the removal. The
single mother of four who works nights just to get by, says, “No one would pay because they say the lump is cosmetic. I’ve wanted this surgery
for years and MKI was the only agency to say yes. They understand how removing this will make his childhood easier. He starts kindergarten this
fall and no one will ever know he had this. It will not define him.”
MKI (www.mendingkids.org.) has provided over 1,300 transformational surgeries in over 53 countries since its 2006 founding through surgical
missions, surgeries and this new Hometown Mission program. Funds are raised via donations and events including MKI’s November 9 Gala
honoring Gene Simmons and the December 7 Four Kings & an Ace Celebrity Poker Tournament hosted by Mel Gibson and friends like Robert
Downey, Jr. and Sean Penn, Kings at last year’s tournament.
Univision Covers Marcela’s Story - Mending Kids
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Press Release
Media Contact: Duke Helfand
Telephone: 310-248-6608
E-mail: duke.helfand@chshs.org
Twitter: @CedarsSinaiDuke
“Hometown Mission” to provide free surgical care to children from Los Angeles and beyond
Cedars-Sinai and Mending Kids International team up to treat young patients with cysts, burns, split hands and other conditions
LOS ANGELES – The “little purple lump” appeared in front of Angela Huerta’s left ear about six months ago, surprising the 9-year-old girl and worrying her mother. The frecklesized cyst ached and interfered with her school work. “It hurt,” said Angela, who discovered the growth while scratching her head one day at her East Los Angeles
elementary school. “It distracted me.”
On Saturday, Angela will have the cyst removed free of charge thanks to a partnership between Cedars-Sinai and Mending Kids International, a Burbank organization that
sends medical teams around the world to perform surgeries for children whose families can’t afford such medical care or do not have access to it. During the “Hometown
Mission,” Cedars-Sinai surgical teams will remove cysts and other growths, while doing reconstructive surgeries in some cases involving ears, eyelids, hands or other body
parts. The youngest patient will be a 6-month-old girl with a lump on her leg.
Children from El Salvador, Guatemala, Kenya, Ethiopia and other countries also will join the Los Angeles mission, undergoing surgeries to treat deformed feet, burns and
other medical problems. All travel and medical costs are being covered by the two organizations for the 17 young patients undergoing surgeries. “We hope this medical
mission will be a transformative experience, not only for the children but for the physicians and staff as well,” said Andrew L. Freedman, MD, vice chair of Pediatric Surgical
Services and director of Pediatric Urology, who is leading the effort for Cedars-Sinai. “This mission has the potential to enlighten and inspire everyone involved.”
Mending Kids International said the Los Angeles mission, its first official surgical outreach in the United States, is particularly gratifying because it provides an opportunity to
help local children. Since the organization was founded in 2006, it has teamed with doctors and volunteers around the globe to provide more than 1,000 surgeries in 48
countries, treating congenital heart defects, orthopedic abnormalities, severe scoliosis, and significant cranial facial deformities, among other conditions.
Several of the young patients in the Los Angeles mission were referred by their pediatricians. That was the case for Angela, whose surgery comes at a special moment – one
day before her 10th birthday. She plans to celebrate on Sunday with her family and closest friends during a birthday party at home that will feature her mother’s beloved
posole soup, tostados, carrot cupcakes and soda.
The surgery is an unexpected gift for mother and daughter alike. “I told Angela, ‘Happy birthday. It’s an early present,’” Yolanda Hermosillo said of the procedure.
Hermosillo said she worries about the cyst’s effect of her daughter, a top student whose ear aches when she wakes in the morning and when she combs her hair. Hermosillo
said she’s thankful for the opportunity to have the cyst removed before it grows larger. Then Angela can get back to the things she loves – writing stories about princesses
and vampires, and drawing pictures of pandas, roses and Sponge Bob. “I feel honored to be helped by these doctors,” Hermosillo said. “You never imagine seeing one of
your children going through this. I’m very thankful.”
CEDARS-SINAI
SUTURES NEWSLETTER
NEWS – MEDICAL NET
Press Release
MENDING KIDS CELEBRATES THE SUCCESS OF SURGERIES THAT CHANGED THE LIVES OF 18 LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN
Mel Gibson, Louis Gossett, Jr., Nick Simmons and Dorothy Lucey, supporters of Mending Kids, were on hand
Mending Kids International (MKI) has completed its first Hometown Mission whereby the non-profit funded surgeries for 18 children, from six months to 18
years. The kids received free, life-altering surgeries for hand and ear deformities, cysts, lumps, serious burn injuries, and other outpatient procedures from a
team of eight volunteer surgeons led by Andrew Freedman, M.D. The patients include eight Americans from the Los Angeles area, and children from
Ethiopia, Kenya, Nicaragua, Christmas Island, Ghana, El Salvador and Guatemala. Mel Gibson, Louis Gossett, Jr., Nick Simmons and Dorothy Lucey,
supporters of Mending Kids, were on hand while the kids were enjoying an entertaining day with Alice’s Traveling Tea Party at a private residence in
Malibu.
These children’s lives are changed forever thanks to the private donations that have funded this mission, from travel costs to hospital expenses. MKI Host
Families make certain that the living arrangements and emotional needs are provided for the kids who have traveled long distances alone, who are
largely from small villages where there is no access to or funds for adequate medical care.
Access to medical care is difficult for families around the world and here in the United States. Oftentimes, financial restrictions, lack of knowledge about
public programs, or denials from government agencies prevent children from receiving needed surgery from reconstructive to more serious, all of which
are transformational. “Thirty minutes in the operating room is the whole difference between a childhood of teasing and a childhood of confidence,” says
MKI Executive Director, Marchelle L. Sellers.
Pierre, from Los Angeles, had a large lump growing on his left ear. With tears, his mom said she begged agencies to fund the removal. The single mother of
four, who works nights just to get by, says, “No one would pay because they say the lump is cosmetic. I’ve wanted this surgery for years and MKI was the
only agency to say yes. They understand how removing this will make his childhood easier. He starts kindergarten this fall and no one will ever know he
had this. It will not define him.”
MKI (www.mendingkids.org.) has provided over 1,300 transformational surgeries in over 53 countries since its 2006 founding through surgical missions,
surgeries and this new Hometown Mission program. Funds are raised via donations and events including MKI’s November 9 Gala honoring Gene Simmons,
Shannon, Nick and Sophie for all of their support, and the December 7 Four Kings & an Ace Celebrity Poker Tournament hosted by Mel Gibson and friends
like Robert Downey, Jr. and Sean Penn, Kings at last year’s tournament.
Media Alert
MEDIA ALERT
SATURDAY, July 27
STARS HELP TO CELEBRATE WITH MENDING KIDS INTERNATIONAL
Surgeries Provided by MKI Give New Hope to 19 Children
WHO:
Mel Gibson, Emily Van Camp, Josh Bowman, Louis Gossett, Jr., Ricky Schroder, Nia Peeples,
Dr. Bill Dorfman (“The Doctors”), and other celebrity supporters of Mending Kids International, as well as
19 children from Los Angeles and around the world given a better life by Mending Kids International,
their doctors, parents or Host Families and MKI executives and board members.
WHAT:
This is a Transformation Celebration of the success of the surgeries that MKI provided on 19
children on July 20, during the first Hometown Mission. MKI has provided over 1,300 transformational
surgeries in over 53 countries since its 2006 founding through surgical missions, surgeries and this new
Hometown Mission program. Funds are raised via donations and events including MKI’s November 9,
2013 Gala honoring Gene Simmons and his family – Shannon, Nick and Sophie, and the December 7,
2013 Four Kings & an Ace Celebrity Poker Tournament hosted by Mel Gibson and friends like Robert
Downey, Jr. and Sean Penn, Kings at last year’s tournament. For more information:
www.mendingkids.org.
WHEN:
Saturday, July 27
12:30-2:30 PM
WHERE:
20279 Inland Lane, Malibu 90265
This is a private residence, valet parking is provided
INTERVIEWS, PHOTO AND VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE
Pre-surgery as well as airport arrival photos and video of children are also available
Alice’s Traveling Tea Party
Transformation Celebration
Dorothy Lucey + Lou Gossett
Dr. Isabelle Fox + Will Gibson + Lou
Gossett w/ Kids
Mel Gibson Mends Kids
MALIBU TIMES –
FRONT PAGE NEWS
THE TOLUCAN TIMES - PRINT
MALIBU PATCH - ONLINE