Local surgical team offering help in Ghana

BOARDMAN

They call themselves the “Dream Team.

Dr. Michael K. Obeng, chief of St. Elizabeth Plastic and Reconstructive Services, and five area surgical nurses went to Ghana this weekend to begin a weeklong medical humanitarian mission.

Dr. Obeng and his team of volunteers, all from St. Elizabeth Health Center — Glenda R. Bell-Golec, who started the “Dream Team” moniker; Roberta J. Hamilton, Angela Lee, Kathleen A. Fimognari and Juanita “Nita” Combs — represent more than a combined 100 years of medical experience and expertise. They will be joined en route by Tatiana Blanchard, a medical student from Florida.

They call it the “Dream Team” because it has been a dream of Dr. Obeng’s to lead a medical mission of his own to his homeland, where he has participated in missions in the past.

Also, all of the nurses said it always had been a dream of theirs to participate in a mission.

“I want to help people who might not otherwise have reconstructive surgery offered to them,” said Bell-Golec, team leader.

“I’ve always wanted to do a mission trip. I think God told me I had to go,” said Hamilton.

The mission is under the auspices of a private, nonprofit medical-services organization — R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Worldwide Inc., created by Dr. Obeng. to provide free reconstructive surgery and related medical services to abused children and battered individuals with accidental deformities.

For the full story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.