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Saline has arrived!

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Saline has safely arrived and is staying with her host family in Stony Brook ahead of her upcoming surgery. Now 12 years old, Saline suffers from a cleft palate as well as bout of flesh eating bacteria, which caused even more serious damage. Dr. Alex Dagum will lead the surgical team at Stony Brook University Hospital to repair the damage, the funding for which came from friends, family and generous donors over the past two years. A special thank you must go to the wonderful families hosting Saline and her teacher, Duncan, during their month-long stay in New York. 

Please join us in welcoming Saline to our community and wishing her well in her series of upcoming surgeries!

Our fundraising efforts are ongoing, and we appreciate any support you can offer. To donate, please visit our website at www.smilerescuefund.org

 

Smile Rescue Fund for Kids Bringing Saline From Kenya To Stony Brook

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I’m happy to say that the Kenyan government has granted Saline a medical visa and passport to come to here for surgery.  The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids supplied all financial records and legal documents necessary to the Kenyan consulate.   This was our last major obstacle.  I am in the process of buying airline tickets for Saline and her adult tutor, Duncan.  We owe a lot of gratitude to Esther, our Kenyan contact, for helping our cause.

This has not been an easy road for Saline.  As you may know, last winter we raised enough money to fund a plastic surgery team in Nairobi to perform the procedure.  Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful.  This was a devastating disappointment for Saline, her family and all of her supporters back here at home.  After that, the Smile Rescue Fund did not give up on Saline but renewed its efforts to bring her here.   We anticipate a series of complex surgeries over the course of three to six months with no guarantee of success.  However, we are very optimistic and very grateful to Dr. Dagum, his colleagues and Stony Brook University Hospital for donating their services to help Saline.  This will be her best opportunity for a successful result.  See article in Times Beacon Record Newspaper.

I am also very grateful to all of our wonderful supporters and fundraisers for their efforts in making Saline’s dream of living a normal life a possibility.

Based on Dr. Dagum’s and the hospital’s schedule, arrangements are being made to bring Saline and Duncan here at the end of May.

At this time, we are looking for volunteers to house Saline and Duncan for part, or all, of their stay.

Please forward this story to your facebook friends.  Hopefully with your help we will be able to help more children like Saline.  Without us, they have no hope.

Leon

NYC Fundraiser for Saline – Huge Success

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We raised over $1200.00 at Bar 29 on 3rd Avenue and 29th Street on Sunday December 11th.  We actioned off our football signed by “Boomer”, 50-50 raffle and sold Smile Rescue Fund tee shirts (thanks Jenn).

A big thank you to all attending and a special shout out to our organizers. Melissa and Tamir Young, Lisa and Jodi Klempner, Amy and Jon Epstein and Jennifer Crean.

“Boomer” Donates a Signed Football for Saline

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Boomer Esiason (former Terp QB) has signed a football to help raise money for Saline!  Come on down to the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids fundraiser this Sunday and you may go home with it!

Details:http://www.facebook.com/events/265185553533631/

Smile Rescue Fund for Kids

 

Come Join Us-Football Sunday for Saline

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Are you going to be in the city on Sunday, December 11th?  Join us at Bar 29, 3rd Avenue and 29th Street at 12:30 – 6:00 pm.  Stop by, have a beer and watch some football.  A $10.00 donation and your beer is on us!  We will be raffling off some sports memorabilia, 50-50, etc.  Most of all you will be helping a little girl in Kenya start a new life.  Bring your friends.  More details on Facebook. While you’re there “like us” to follow our progress.

News Update: Saline is Scheduled for her 1st Surgery

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I just got an email stating that we have raised enough money to fund Saline’s first of three major surgeries!  She will be admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital on December 13th and her surgery is scheduled for December 16th.  Here is a little info about her surgeon.

Dr. Ferdinand Wanjala Nangole – Did his Plastic Surgery fellowship at the University of Cape Town (UCT), is employed by the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and practices Plastic Surgery in Nairobi. Ferdinand is a fellow of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (EBOPRAS).  He is a member of the KNH multi-disciplinary microvascular team and is an Operation Smile volunteer surgeon as well as a Smile Train Partner.

The first surgery will focus on her cleft palate, lip and part of her nose.  This will make a big quality of life difference for Saline.  She will be able to eat without food coming out of her nose.  Her speech will improve and most of all, she will begin looking like other kids!

With your help we have raised enough for her first surgery, but we need more money for the next two.

Next fundraising event: Sunday December 11- NYC Bar 29 – Football Sunday

Click here for details on Facebook

Bad Day or Good Day

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Technology can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Today was a busy day in our chartless, paperless all digital orthodontic office. Electronic check in, chairside charting and imaging, digital radiography all enhance our ability to serve our patients well. However, this afternoon our servers went down and our internet phones shut down. I was immediately in contact with our IT guys, who told me it was related to the recent electrical storm. I fell behind schedule and patients and parents were kept waiting. In the middle of the chaos, one of the moms comes over and gives me a check for the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids and later another mom stuffed a one hundred dollar bill into my hands to be donated to the fund. Wow. How about that. Bottom line: today was a good day.

Barton Elementary Donates $560.00

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Under the guidance of Mrs. Robin Siegel, a dedicated group of 2nd and 3rd graders at Barton Elementary School got together after school to raise money to help Saline get her surgery.

The children had the fantastic idea to sell bracelets throughout the school at $1 each. Engraved on each bracelet were the words “Kids Working for Kids.” I visited the school to talk about Saline and the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids. The children were very curious about the details of my missions and asked many questions. I asked them how they felt about participating in the project. The consensus was that it “felt good inside to help someone else.”
I couldn’t agree more.

We congratulate Mrs. Siegel and the students at Barton Elementary School and hope that this will be a model for other schools.

Are you a teacher or parent interested in developing a fundraising program? Contact me and I’ll be happy to help: leon@smilerescuefund.org

Smile Rescue Fund Press Release

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Long Island Orthodontist Launches Charity to Fund Surgeries for Children with Facial Deformities The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids Helps Children Too Severe for Treatment by Established Charitable Organizations

The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids is currently raising money for the surgery of Saline, a young girl who lives in the Nyanza Province of Kenya.

Setauket, NY (May 25, 2011) – Long Island orthodontist Leon Klempner today announces the launch of The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids, an organization he founded to provide funding to children born with severe facial and craniofacial deformities. These children have such significant challenges that they cannot be helped by their families, governmental agencies and currently established charitable organizations. Facial deformities result in many challenging medical issues, including feeding problems, hearing loss, unintelligible speech and recurrent ear infections. But the social and psychological consequences that result are just as devastating. The stigma of looking and sounding different leads to a very difficult and lonely life. Often, peers, communities and even relatives shun lovable and loving children, ashamed of their appearance and speech and powerless to affect positive change. Some are hidden away in locked rooms, deprived of education, medical care and any socialization with the outside world.

Due to the high costs of treatment – around 15,000 USD – children with the most severe deformities do not fall into the realm of support that many non-profits and charities provide. Currently, the Smile Rescue Fund for Kids is fundraising to pay for the surgery of Saline, a young girl who lives in the Nyanza Province of Kenya. The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids will raise money in two ways: by enlisting fundraising committee members, who provide ideas and support for ways to raise funds, and by direct contribution through a secure PayPal link on the website. All donations go directly to the medical fund. The organization’s board of directors includes Klempner, along with Alexander Dagum, MD, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Melissa Young, Esq., Attorney at Addabbo & Greenberg, and Amy Epstein, Managing Director at ABI marketing public relations. # # # The Smile Rescue Fund for Kids was founded by Dr. Leon Klempner, a New York orthodontist who has a strong professional interest in helping children born with dentofacial deformities such as cleft lip and palate. To become a member of the fundraising committee or donate directly, visit www.smilerescuefund.org, send an email to info@smilerescuefund.org, or visit the organization’s Facebook page.