Transforming the lives of children...one surgery at a time
Chicago Newsletter
September 2014

Mission

The mission of Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation is to transform the lives of disadvantaged infants, children, and teens suffering from physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse, or disease through the gift of reconstructive surgery and related healthcare services.

 

 

In This Issue
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation's Second Surgery Weekend Promises to be a Great Success
Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Russell R. Reid
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation Gives Giovanni a Fresh Start
Come Out and Party with a Purpose to benefit Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation!

Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation's Second Surgery Weekend Promises to be a Great Success

Celebrity Spokesperson, Jermaine Dye, will make a special appearance

 

October 25-26, 2014 will mark the 2nd Surgery Weekend for Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.  Several children will receive surgeries during those two days, and a magical team of volunteers will make it all happen. The surgeries will include children who suffer from physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse, or disease.  Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation will offer a positive outcomes and bright futures for all children who receive surgeries in October. 

 

In addition, Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation is honored to announce that celebrity spokesperson, Jermaine Dye (Chicago White Sox, 2005 World Series MVP), will be present at the Surgery Weekend.  Mr. Dye is a great supporter of Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation and will be hosting a Celebrity Golf Classic in Chicago next summer to benefit the Foundation. 

 

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our many dedicated volunteers and to our sponsors, Corner Bakery Cafe and A10, who will be sponsoring breakfast and lunch (respectively) for the volunteers.  We appreciate their contributions towards bringing this October Surgery Weekend to fruition.  

 

 


Volunteer Spotlight: Dr. Russell R. Reid


Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation is excited to welcome volunteer surgeon Dr. Russell Reid to their Windy City team.  Dr. Reid is the Inaugural Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation Medical Director and a highly-skilled plastic surgeon specializing in the area of pediatric plastic/craniofacial surgery.  Since attending Harvard Medical School, Dr. Reid completed his residency at Northwestern, accepted a fellowship at the University of Philadelphia, and has been improving the lives of his patients at Comer Children's Hospital since 2006.

 

Not only is Dr. Reid an exceptional Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, he also deeply cares about his patients and their well-being and treats his patients like family.  Dr. Reid finds it "very rewarding to see [his patients] successful and thriving" and shares in their excitement when they reach milestones, whether it be walking, playing little league, or graduating from high school.  Naturally, Dr. Reid was thrilled when the Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. David Song, presented him with this serendipitous opportunity to donate his time and skills to transform the lives of disadvantaged infants, children, and teens through the Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation. 

 

June 7th and 8th, 2014 marked a very successful first Surgery Weekend in Chicago.  Dr. Reid performed cleft palate and cleft lip surgeries on two amazingly brave patients, and he shared that he was moved by the combined efforts of the many volunteers who so eagerly donated their support to make the first Surgery Weekend a great victory.  Dr. Reid believes that "Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation will have a major, life-changing impact on Chicago-area children who are in need of reconstructive surgery but do not have access to such services, whether the service is not covered by insurance or they simply do not have adequate insurance." 

 

According to Dr. Reid, this group endeavor is proof that  "people still care about people.  Fresh Start is a great avenue for that.  The main thing to take away from all this is that kids with deformities should have a significant voice and a role in society, and Fresh Start is a way to empower kids with a good outcome to face the world."


 

Dr. Reid is looking forward to the 2nd Surgery Weekend in Chicago this October 24-25, 2014.  He will also be in attendance at the fundraising event for Fresh Start Caring for Kids in conjunction with the America Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) on October 13, 2014 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers (301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611).

 

Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation Gives Giovanni a Fresh Start

 

Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation would like to introduce 15-month-old Giovanni.  Giovanni is the third child of Linda, a single mother.  Giovanni is a vibrant, handsome little guy who was born with a cleft lip.  Under the skilled hand of Dr. Russell R. Reid, Giovanni underwent the first of two necessary surgeries on February 19, 2014.  Linda has only positive thoughts to share in regards to her experiences with Dr. Reid explaining, "[H]e's a very nice guy.  Giovanni likes him, too!"  Knowing that Linda has a lot on her plate raising her four beautiful children, Dr. Reid encouraged Giovanni's family to apply for assistance from Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation to help cover the cost of his second surgery. 

 

Linda feels truly blessed that her son was chosen to be a patient for the 1st Surgery Weekend in Chicago on June 7, 2014, where Dr. Reid performed the second stage of Giovanni's cleft lip repair.   It is never easy for a parent to watch a child undergo surgery, but Linda shared that she was encouraged by the get-well gifts and follow-up phone calls that she and Giovanni received from the folks at Fresh Start. 

 

Giovanni has recovered quickly from this surgery and is doing remarkably well.  Twice a week he receives speech and developmental therapy.  When he is not in therapy, Giovanni is busy being a curious and adventurous little toddler.  For now, he does not require any additional surgeries.  His mom is very happy to know that "it's something he can move on with.  [A cleft lip] is not something that's going to affect him the rest of his life," thanks to Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation and Dr. Reid and his team.  Look out, world!  Here comes Giovanni:  a special, vivacious boy with a bright future ahead of him.    

 

Fresh Start Surgical Gifts (based in San Diego, California) has teamed up with The Plastic Surgery Foundation to create Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation in Chicago. The addition of the Chicago site is enabling the organization grow its patient base and outreach. Surgeries are performed three times per year at The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital.

 

 

Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation

c/o The Plastic Surgery Foundation

444 E. Algonquin Road

Arlington Heights, IL 60005

(844) 374-5437

freshstart@freshstart.org

www.freshstart.org

 

Come Out and Party with a Purpose to benefit

Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation!

 

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons/The Plastic Surgery Foundation invite you to come out and "Party with a Purpose" on Monday, October 13, 2014 to raise awareness and also benefit Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation in Chicago.  The event will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers (301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611) from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.  The ticket price of $175 includes cocktail buffet options with bar and live music from the amazing cover band, Fifty Amp Fuse. While you are sipping on your cocktail and grooving to the music, you can bump into one of several confirmed celebrity guests:  former Chicago White Sox players, Dan Pasqua and Ron Kittle, and former Chicago Blackhawks player, Tony Esposito.  

 

It's going to be a great event! Donations will support Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation's Medical Program.

 

 Click here to purchase event tickets.

 

Click here to make an event donation.

 

Thank you to our event sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

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