Zouk Surgical

  Nisha Being Evaluated For Surgery 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff:  The mother considered bringing Nisha to a government-run charity hospital. But the government has rules in place to stem the killing of women, and would suspect the family of intentionally harming Nisha. This would lead to investigations that might result in punishments or necessitate an expensive bribe.

So Nisha came to Interplast. We will release her neck contracture so she can have head and neck mobility. She will come back next year for more surgeries, and will begin the process of regaining her functionality.

  Nisha 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff:  This is Nisha, a twelve year old girl who got burned when her dupatta (an Indian scarf that is draped around the shoulders) caught fire as she was bending down to help cook. She has five sisters. In many places, such a family would be considered a blessing. Here in India, it can be a curse.

During clinic day, Nisha’s mother pleaded with us to help Nisha, because she has five sisters. Nisha is the second oldest, and traditionally, the daughters are married off from oldest to youngest. Even though her burn is an accident, no one will want to marry her because of her disfigurement, inability to perform basic tasks due to her burns and the perception that her luck will befall children.

Since no one will marry her, her four younger sisters will have a much harder time finding a husband, and in rural Indian society, being an unmarried woman is a mark of shame and sadness.

Her mother sells pillows and sheets door-to-door, and heard about Interplast when she came to Seema and Puneet’s house to ply her trade. Over time Seema heard about Nisha and told her mother to bring her in to see the Interplast team.

  Burn Patient After 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff  As you can see from the photo, the surgery was successful. In the ward he had his arm propped up on pillows in between his exercises, which consisted of him holding his arm up as far as he could for ten seconds at a time. Even though he needs more surgery, his ability to use both arms normally will make his life a lot better.

  Burn Patient Before 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff  This man was burned in a car accident. His left arm is stuck in a bent position. Like many burn victims, he needs many surgeries to give him normal functionality. Unfortunately, Interplast could only do one operation for him, and his top priority was to have free use of his left arm.

  Dawn Teaching Nursing Techniques 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff:  Dawn is shown here teaching some of the local nurses proper patient care in the recovery room. The students really appreciated her hands-on teaching style.

  Suraj And Family 
  Originally uploaded by interplast.

Jalandhar, India - Seth Mazow, Interplast staff:  Their family is incredibly poor. They come from Bihar, the poorest state in India, and are strangers in Punjab. When he can find work picking potatoes, the father makes less than $2 a day. When there isn’t any work in the fields, he scrapes by doing odd jobs.

Without Interplast, there is no way Suraj would have had a chance at a normal foot. Since he will probably be pulled out of school at a young age to help provide for the family, the jobs available to him will be manual and will require him to have working limbs. Thanks to Interplast, he will be able to provide for his family.