Volunteer Testimonials
Medical Volunteers
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Heidi Smith, MD heidisueelvus@hotmail.com |
Anesthesiologist Seattle, WA |
| I am in private practice in Seattle. Two years ago I went on my first mission trip with AfS to Shantou and last year I went with AfS to Shenyang. I am hooked. Helping people with such desperate need is very satisfying. Being a member of an AfS mission enables you to get to know Chinese people and culture in a way you can't as a tourist. You develop a special bond with the other members of the team who are often wonderful, fascinating people. These missions have been the most rewarding experiences of my career. | ||
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Ben Tacheron, MD tacheronb@yahoo.com |
Anesthesiologist Salisbury, MD |
| After more than 20 years of private practice, I have a lot to be thankful for. Volunteer medical work in China has been tremendously rewarding, and the gratitude of Chinese patients and their families has to be experienced to be believed. My interests include China travel, learning Chinese, hiking, mountain biking, and boating.
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David Bechtold dave.bech@sbcglobal.net |
OR Nurse Chico, California |
| I enjoy volunteering for Alliance for Smiles. I feel that the people we help benefit from our care, and that we also benefit because they allow us to help them. The recipients and their families are really grateful. I also see that Alliance for Smiles sets an example to other volunteer organizations and hospital staff in China. The good that is done through love and compassion hopefully stretches exponentially. | ||
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Lois Ruble, RN rublelj@yahoo.com |
PACU Nurse San Marcos, CA |
| I like volunteering for the emotional reward of seeing the parent's reaction when they see their child for the first time after the surgery. On my last trip, to Shenyang, one mother made several deep bows to us as we returned her child. I was all choked up. Helping families and children who would never have a chance for normality is just too gratifying. Getting to know the other volunteers and spending two weeks working toward a common goal is such a wonderful use of time. And the chance to interact with individuals from another culture helps to reinforce the connection between all of us as human beings. |
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Carol Poole, RN carol4192075@yahoo.com |
PACU Nurse Solana Beach, CA |
| All my life as an RN I have worked for pay because I needed the money to live, but I'm retired now. This has been the MOST rewarding thing I have EVER done. Helping these wonderful children. And seeing those beautiful smiles. They truly light up my life. I have been a RN for about 30 yrs.First working in a Burn ICU for 5yrs then going overseas working in a PACU in Saudi Arabia until I retired. I'm looking forward to working MANY more yrs with Alliance for Smiles | ||
Non-Medical Volunteers
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Quentin Li lulala@lulala.ca |
Mission Director Vancouver, B.C. Canada |
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The first time I encountered AfS was in Harbin, China, September 2007. An offer to help fellow Rotarian Jill Moore of Tsawwassen, Canada in Harbin brought me on a new found passion. Jill is a dental hygienist who provides conventional dental care and education including teaching cleft lip and palate kids and parents how to care for teeth after surgery. After several days with the team and seeing the life changing, I decided to do my best to help AfS either in fundraising or as a non-medical volunteer. People become great because of their dreams. Rotarians shine because of the spirit to serve. Through serving these wonderful children and seeing those beautiful smiles, we not only play our part in our symbiotic society, we also affirm ourselves and become more self-confident. The project of AfS is really a good way for service and self-growth. I feel so great after being a volunteer for AfS.
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Dave Fowler But my "real" friends just call me Fowler dfowler41@msn.com |
Medical Photographer Ogallala, Nebraska |
| I have been a professional photographer (portrait/family/wedding) for 40 years...now retired...having achieved the rank of Master of Photography. I have earned numerous international photography awards including the Kodak Gallery Elite (Top 5 Female Portrait International) and 1st Place in the Rotary International Magazine Photo Contest in 2007. Rotary member since 1985, Past President Ogallala, Ne club, District 5630 Youth Exchange Committee, Assistant Governor. I was a member of the AfS Shenyang Mission in Sept., '06 and plan to be a part of the Huangshi Mission in Oct., '07. Making before and after photographs of the children in China is one of the most satisfying and rewarding jobs I have ever done. |
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Wilber Breseman
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Sterilizer Marcellus, Michigan |
| I'm about to go on my 3rd trip with AfS, as the head sterilizer. It always amazes me how a team that works 12-14 hrs. a day, gets bone tired each night, puts up with hardships most Americans couldn't even dream about, can still look forward with excitement to the next day, to see how many children can be helped. I'll keep going as long as I can. | ||
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Stan Keeler stankeeler@comcast.net |
Dental Coordinator Oswego, Illinois |
| I am retired from General Electric Co. (Medical Systems Division) and do some business/technology consulting as my own business at present. The AfS trip for me was a wonderful and enriching experience. The best part of the entire trip was the people we helped! You noticed the changes in the children obviously, but the changes in the parents and grandparents that brought the children for the surgery was so intense and precious to me. The children we operated on were often so young that they will not have a memory of the surgery but for the parents and grandparents it was like giving them a new reborn child back into their life - a child that they can share with their community and not have to be hidden away and shunned for a lifetime. For the rural communities of China where these children came from we gave a new smile and a joyous family that will hopefully bring a new example of world sharing to these rural communities. I can't wait to go back! | ||
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Tai Wang tai.wang@waclighting.com |
Translator & Mission Coordinator Garden City, New York |
| This is a great project! I love to put my best effort to expend it as much as I can. Since this organization can not run without money and man power, this will be my main strength to push it out to the New York community as far as I can. |
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