History of HTC Program

HTC began surgical programs in China in 1997 with “seed money” received from the Gillette Company. During the last seven years several medical teams have traveled to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenyang, Kunming and Donguan City. These have been cardiac, plastic surgery and orthopedic teams.

In 1998 with funding from the Gillette Company, Healing the Children began programs to provide cardiac, orthopedic and plastic surgery services to children in the Shanghai area of China. In addition a rehabilitation program was initiated and instituted at one of the largest hospitals in Shanghai, the Xin Hua Hospital. HTC with the collaboration of the Gillette Company and Sisters of Providence Care Centers in West Springfield, Massachusetts, made arrangement for a donation of rehabilitative equipment for the Xin Hua Hospital. 

Cardiac to Shenyang - 36 patients were evaluated, 15 were given catheterizations and 11 received surgery for congenital heart defects. We did not return due to lack of funding. 

Orthopedic to Shanghai - 50 patients were evaluated, 9 patients were selected, ten (10) procedures were performed. We did not do more due to lack of time and lack of supplies. Our supplies got held up en route from the USA via boat somewhere in the Pacific due to a storm.

Plastics to Shanghai - Primarily a teaching trip - four volunteers provided a tremendous amount of teaching and lecturing. We returned to Shanghai in 1999, 2000 and 2001. A yearly trip since 2002 has provided plastic surgery treatment to several children in Shanghai, Kunming and Dong Guan Provinces.