|
| Maureen Eddison |
 |
Co ordinator |
|
|
Maureen Eddison RN is our coordinator for the Cebu missions She has
been going since 1998, and rates the experience there as truly
humbling. The changes in the patient's lives from what is classed as minor surgery
in the first world is what keeps her going back, and the fun times there
as well Maureen has over twenty five years experience in plastic
surgical nursing, and has held management positions in a number of
hospitals in Victoria and NSW. She became involved whilst working as DON
at Dr Hodgkinson's day surgery, and hasn't looked back.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Rachel Balite |
 |
Registered Nurse |
|
|
Rachel is a beloved and valued member of the ORH team, having been involved since 2005. Supervising the preparation and smooth running of the operating rooms, Rachel does all that she can to make our international staff feel as comfortable as they can in a foreign operating environment. “It is an honour to be an ORH team member, because it gives me a chance to help people, especially children. More power!"
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Regina Bernard |
|
Registered Nurse |
|
|
| Regina is from Sydney. To see and be part of a team that can amazingly transform the lives of children who are born with a deformity that they have now control over keeps her in awe - even after 9 years with ORH. "Knowing that these children are often ostracised from their communities and are picked on at school that often results in the kids been taken out of school, thus not being educated. This life changing operation helps these children fit back in to their communities & schoosl. To see the parent’s smiles from ear to ear, not knowing how to thank us enough, getting the occasional cards that these families who cannot afford this, expressing their thanks and love, seeing the children knowing you can make a difference in their lives - all this is why I continue to go.
I get my own selfish rewards by seeing them smile. To give is to receive." |
 |
| |
|
|
| Cheryl Bingemann |
|
Registered Nurse |
|
|
Cheryl Bingemann is an RN who works part-time in Prince of Wales Private Hospital recovery room. She has been registered since 1983, and worked mainly in recovery in both public and private hospitals in Western Australia and in Sydney. Her first trip to Cebu was with the 2007 team in February, again as a recovery room nurse. She found it an amazing experience that is life changing for both patients and staff. “It is the most rewarding work, and the ORH team are like a special family I am very proud to be part of”
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Hector Gonzales |
 |
Registered Nurse |
|
|
| Originally from San Miguel, Bulacan in the Philippines, Hector joined Operation Restore Hope in 2002. He studied nursing at the Centro Escolar University in Manila and went on to practice nursing all around the world, before settling in New Zealand. He lives in Auckland and works as an Interventional Cardiology Trial Co-ordinator for the Auckland District Health Board. Hector loves returning to the Philippines each year to see the children of Operation Restore Hope, to catch up with family (and also to indulge his love of delicious Filipino food!) |
 |
| |
|
|
| Andre Peralta |
|
Anaesthetic Head Nurse |
|
|
Andre was born in the Philippines and lives in Sydney, Australia. He joined ORH in 2005 as an Anaesthetic Nurse. When he’s not managing the Day Surgery and Day of Surgery Centre at Sydney’s St George Private Hospital he co-ordinates supplies for each annual mission. He also plays a vital role translating Tagalog into English and vice versa. Andre loves being a part of the ORH ‘family’ and the special bonds of friendship and experience that each team member gains from a mission. He also gains immense satisfaction from the opportunity to aid his fellow countrymen and future generations of Filipinos. “The knowledge that I have in some way assisted to better a child’s life from disfigurement, pain and suffering and contributed to their physical and mental wellbeing going forward keeps me coming back”.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Anne Peralta |
|
Registered Nurse – Recovery |
|
|
| Anne joined ORH in 2005 along with her brother Andre. She works at Westmead Hospital in Sydney as a Recovery Nurse. Anne is proud to be a part of the ‘ORH family’ that is caring, compassionate and devoted to helping the Filipino community. The best part of the mission for Anne is seeing the change pre-operatively to post-operatively. She also loves being witness to the reaction and joy of the mothers and fathers of our patients upon seeing their children after surgery. As a speaker of Tagalog Anne is a key member of the team being able to translate from Tagalog into English and vice versa. |
 |
| |
|
|
| Cathy Quinlan |
|
Registered Nurse |
|
|
Cathy Quinlan is a late starter to the nursing profession, graduating in her early thirties. She currently works at Prince of Wales Private hospital in the operating theatre. She divides her time in a job share situation, whereby she works as an anesthetic nurse 2 days per week, and as team leader for the remainder, a job she greatly enjoys. This is her third trip to Cebu, and it has been the most exciting, rewarding daunting, and satisfying as any of the others. Her time and nursing skills is what she can give to these children and she gives it with great pleasure and happiness
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Lisa Spira |
|
Registered Nurse |
|
|
Lisa Spira is a registered nurse from Sydney. She works part time at Prince of Wales Private hospital PACU, as well as being a student nurse facilitator at UTS.
Lisa also has experience working for the not for profit sector. She currently sits on the board of a charitable organization that manages the care of over 800 elderly nursing home residents
2007 was Lisa’s first trip to Cebu. It was an extraordinary experience for her and she hopes to contribute her skill and time to them in the future. “Seeing the incredible results from the work that ORH does in correcting facial deformities, and making a difference to the lives of these wonderful children has made this a most satisfying experience
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Desiree Sy |
|
Registered Nurse – Anaesthetics |
|
|
Desiree joined the ORH team in 2007. She has always wanted to be involved in a mission and as a Filipino she is thrilled to be able to get involved with ORH in the Philippines. In Sydney, Australia Desiree works as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/Consultant within the Anaesthetic Department at Westmead Hospital. Although Desiree was born in Sydney, most of her relatives originate from the Philippines. “This experience has given me the privilege of working with a great team of people, all with the same goal of helping the local community of Caloocan”. |
 |
| |
|
|
| Eleonor Tapon |
|
Registered Nurse |
|
|
Eleonor Tapon is a Filipino nurse currently living in Sydney, and working at Prince of Wales Private hospital recovery room for the past 3 years. Prior to this, she has worked in Saudi Arabia and Ireland. She finds coming back to the Philippines with Operation Restore Hope each year very rewarding, and a way she can help her fellow countrymen. Of course, she also loves all the gorgeous children!!
|
 |
| |
|
|
| Pearl Ventura |
|
Registered Nurse – Recovery and Ward |
|
|
| Since 2001 Pearl has been coming back to the Philippines as part of ORH. As a Registered Nurse who speaks Tagalog she plays an important part both pre and post operation, translating instructions and details to patients, parents & relatives, surgeons and anaesthetists. She feels privileged to be able to help her countrymen in such a meaningful way and to see the reaction of parents after their children have had a cleft operation. For Pearl ORH is also a chance to meet different people from all over the world who come together to work on the mission. “The Philippines is blessed to have all these surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses from overseas coming each year to help us”. |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Return to Team Member Summary |
|
| |
|
