As we usually do, our last night was spent hosting a farewell party that included the Mayor of Linyi City, Director of Linyi City People’s Hospital, Chair of Surgery, Linyi Hospital physicians, nursing and OR staff and of course our own team members. Much toasting and of course the obligatory Karaoke rounded out a very festive evening complete with Walter’s polished version of “My Way” (wherein he substituted in “…we did it OUR way” !!), Heather’s striking rendition of Tammy Wynette “Stand by Your Man”, and the Australian team well rehearsed Australian anthem (complete with iPOD accompaniment). A nice addition to the evening was the recognition of three team members September birthdays – complete with gigantic birthday cakes and a resounding sing-a-long of “Happy Birthday”.

After the party, many of us returned to our rooms to repack, while others continued the celebration. The next morning we sadly boarded the bus for the three-hour return trip to Qingdao to make the connecting flight to Hong Kong. That morning we were honored to have members of the hospital staff, our new friends with whom we worked so closely over the past week, see us off from the hotel.

Operation Sunrise was able to successfully complete over 80 procedures on the children of Linyi City, Shandong Province, providing cleft lip and palate repair.

I look forward to the possibility of working again with the staff of Linyi Hospital and others like them in the future, who know no bounds of what an international team can do to improve the lives of those so disadvantaged.

Howard S. Kotler, MD, FACS
Director of Surgical Services
Operation Sunrise