SAN ANTONIO - – There are so many kids in the world who need surgeries but can’t afford them.
That’s where the innovative Fresh Start Surgical Gifts program comes in. The nonprofit partners with several hospitals in the US, including University Hospital in San Antonio.
This will be University Hospital’s third time participating in the program in just the last year. Starting Saturday, five kids will be getting surgeries for free.
“For me, mission trips are very exciting. And this is a mission trip at home. So we get to stay in our own environment with our own teams,” said Dr. Joshua Stone, a pediatric craniofacial surgeon for University Health and UT Health San Antonio.
Fresh Start funds the families’ transportation and lodging while the hospitals provide the space, staff and time.
“We keep them in the hospital for as long as they need to. We are able to keep track of them through the entire post-operative course, and we can actually bring them back for long-term follow ups if those are required ‚” Stone said.
The surgeries are different every time, bringing in any type of surgeon needed.
“We’ve done cleft lip, cleft palate surgery. We do craniofacial surgeries, and we also will reconstruct skull defects,” Stone said.
On Saturday, Stone will be doing a a specific surgery.
“We have one full-day surgery that we’re doing with me and my neurosurgery partner, helping a kid that has fused skull bones. And so it causes a misshapen skull, but more so, it can cause problems with intracranial pressure and create problems with development,” Stone said.
“I’ve done a couple of cleft palate, cochlear implants, reconstruction of the ears and stuff like that,” said University Hospital Surgical Services Supervisor Sandra Diaz-Reyes.
Diaz-Reyes coordinates everything that goes into surgeries, including equipment, supplies, specialty items, personnel, and clean up.
She has a special, very personal reason for doing this work.
“My second niece, she was involved in a drive-by between gangs. And so she ended up at BAMC. She didn’t end up making it, but I saw how hard the team was trying everything,” Diaz-Reyes said.
For 18 years, Diaz-Reyes has dedicated her life to helping save and serve other people through surgery, and there’s no one who loves volunteering more.
“When I found out about Fresh Start, I’m like, ‘This is amazing. Right away, sign me up. I’m there. I’m doing it,’” she said.
She is one of many staff members who pitch in for the surgeries and post-operative care.
“We have our anesthesia colleagues, our ICU doctors, our pediatricians, all our surgeons, all our nurses, all the support staff,” Stone said.
They all pitch in to help kids in San Antonio and South Texas and from other countries.
“We have a patient that’s coming from Mexico. We have a patient this fall that’s coming from Honduras. We have patients coming from Costa Rica, all over,” Stone said.
Regardless of where those families are from, the whole process is covered and they’ll walk away healed without paying a dime.
“It’s what we all love to do, and so to be able to take care of people is just a phenomenal opportunity,” Stone said.
They have lots of spaces open and urge families to apply for the program.
“If your children have something that you’ve been wanting to take care of but don’t think you can afford it, sign up. It is completely 100% free. We donate our time, you know, with lots of pleasure, and we enjoy doing this,” Diaz-Reyes said.
To see if you qualify, or to apply, head to the Fresh Start Surgical Gifts website.