An Update…

American Doctors Aid Children With Their Donations

Pictured above is one of the children living at Seklycia in Chicago after a successful operation at Shriners’ Hospital funded by Lithuanian Children’s Hope.

American orthopedic doctors, who arrived in Vilnius for consulting and operating on Lithuanian children during the last week of February, donated surgery instruments, bone bolts, plates, and costly distracters needed for spine correction. This $200,000 dollar worth donation was given to Vilnius University Children's Hospital.

Chicago's Shriners' Hospital chief surgeon, Dr. John Lubicki headed the surgery team. While, in Lithuania, the team performed 30 operations; mainly those on curvature of the spine, inborn dislocation of hip joints, hand anomalies, and others. Vilnius doctors, led by Dr. Kestutis Saniukas, assisted in operations.

The U.S. doctors stayed in Lithuania until February 27th at their own expense. They had the opportunity to dine with Lithuania’s President Valdas Adamkus, who thanked them for their time and expertise. The Chicago-based "Lithuanian Children's Hope" financed the surgeons' trip with accommodation costs covered by the Vilnius hospital.

"Lithuanian Children's Hope" also organizes consultation tours for American doctors to Lithuania, and training visits for Lithuanian doctors to the U.S. It also facilitated the installation of two modern operating rooms in Vilnius University children's hospital.

Source for information from Lithuania: ELTA News Service.