Photographs in The Gift Of Healing document the work of ReSurge International (formerly Interplast) a non-profit launched in 1969 to address the needs of millions of children in low-income countries who suffer from congenital deformities and disabling burns without hope of treatment. Resurge initially focused on sending small teams of reconstructive surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and nurses from the U.S. to low-income countries to provide free reconstructive surgery operations to individuals suffering from burns and congenital disfigurements. Several decades into their work, they shifted their model to focus on training and funding medical professionals in their partner countries through their Surgical Outreach Programs in order to reach thousands more patients in need. They now work in 19 low-income countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and collectively, with their Surgical Outreach partners, have provided life-changing surgeries to over 138,000 individuals.
The images in The Gift of Healing document the organizations work during seven different trips to Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Laos and Peru, and capture moments from many hours spent with Alberto (Ecuador), Bounevane (Laos), Caesar (Peru), Delmira (Ecuador), Fernando (Brazil), Juan (Honduras), Maria Cristina (Brazil), Milagros (Peru), and Rosa (Peru), all children and families who graciously shared their stories and offered me a glimpse of their struggles, lives, and future hopes.
