Glenys Parton - ROMAC
Sheryl introduced Glenys, whilst most of us know Glenys (Rotarian since 2009, and with ROMAC since 2016) our newer members don't. Not only is she now the Chair of the Board of Directors for ROMAC, she also works full-time and is a Celebrant and a JP!
Glenys wanted to remind/inform of just what ROMAC does. Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children started in 1988 when an Australian Rotarian and a group of surgeons visited Fiji and found that infant mortality rate was as high as 25% in some areas, their mission became to facilitate medical aid for children in Oceania in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery, not accessible to them in their home countries, and so began the journey, NZ formally joined in 2004. Glenys proceeded to share some success stories.
In 2016, baby Linda, from Vanuatu, had an encephalocoele (protruding brain tissue) which covered most of her face and restricted her sight. Over 8 hours surgery was perfomed to remove it and then reconstruction. Her mother no longer has to hide her baby from the world and Linda can now live normally. Another success story from Vanuatu is Vinna. She came to ROMAC in 2016 and endured a 2-year journey to repair a multiple fracture and infection of her right leg. The final stages of treatment required the insertion of a plate to stabilise the bone graft and Vinna was due to have this plate removed in April 2020. The initial delay in the repair was due to Vanuatu not approving of having metal inside the body but when finally everything else had failed they finally conceded... on the promise that Healthcare professionals had to remove it and provide proof. Covid delayed the removal of the plate, however, in November 2022 the plate was removed successfully. There were other issues caused by the delay, her good leg continued to grow normally whereas the damaged one didn't. She now has one longer leg and must wear a platform shoe on the other, but regardless, she is now fit, healthy, active and has competed in paralympic sports in Vanuatu.
Steve kindly thanked Glenys for her time and all she does for ROMAC.
So much is done by volunteers, doctors, nurses, surgeons as well as all the Rotarians and families, and whilst they freely donate their time there are still high costs to be met. Most years our Club donates, let's make this year's donation a memorable one and aim for high attendance/participation at the upcoming fundraiser in May.
