First Edition

Welcome to the first edition of Senyum Update. In Indonesian 'senyum' means smile and that's certainly what we want our patients to do. Through your donations, we are able to assist craniofacial patients to have the operations they desperately need.

The foundation raises funds to enable patients with complicated craniofacial problems to go to the Adelaide Cranio-Facial Unit. We also apply for funds from the American charity, The Smile Train, for cleft lip and palate operations performed here.

We hope our efforts and your donations will enable many people to have these life-changing operations.

Welcome home Nurminah!

We were very happy to welcome home our first patient from Adelaide, on 4th July.

Nurminah and her mother were greeted by (l to r) volunteers Iluh Giri Sadhu and Pamela Bathgate, shown here with Nurminah, her mother and Bpk Sugiarto of the Yayasan Kita Peduli in Lombok, who first brought Nurminah to see Dr David at a clinic he held at Sanglah Hospital in March 2006.

Our Patients: Meet Rusmini

Smiling Again!
It is hard to imagine how one can live with a serious facial deformity, and not just from an aesthetic point of view. When Rusmini was very young, an infection resulted in tissue breakdown to the left side of her face, which over time caused her jaw to stick. Simple things such as eating and talking were very hard to do. She coped with this until the age of 34, when Bapak Sugiarto of the Yayasan Kita Peduli in Lombok, found her and brought her to our attention.

Rusmini attended a clinic with Prof David David at Sanglah Hospital and he invited her to come to Adelaide under the South Australian government's assistance scheme whereby up to 6 patients per year receive free treatment in Adelaide.

Rusmini left for Adelaide on 29th May, with her brother Masnun as escort. Her expected return with Nurminah was delayed due to a minor infection, and finally she arrived back on 18th July. I met them at Bali airport and took them to Denpasar where Bpk Sugiarto was waiting to take them home to Lombok. The transformation was amazing! During the journey Rusmini chattered non-stop, smiling and laughing as she recited various experiences while in Adelaide, including being recognized by total strangers who had seen her and her story on TV! She talked of the food she had eaten, her eyes were shining and her smile was a truly happy one - wonderful to see!

Rusmini's expenses here in Bali, tickets and the Aus$ 1,000 contribution we made under this scheme were all covered by a very generous donation from Rotary Club of Nusa Dua to whom we extend a heartfelt "Thank you".

...Mary Northmore

Donors...
 

Donation of Computer
Many thanks to Mark at Tropical Homes, Bali
The computer is essential to our work in entering cleft lip and palate patient's details on The Smile Train database forms. On submission to The Smile Train, through the office of Prof David David in Adelaide, our foundation receives $180 US towards the cost of each cleft operation.

Where Your Donation Money Goes
While the South Australian government provides free operations for patients each year, associated costs are considerable.
Typically, these would include:

Thanks to our donors

Prof David David's Bali clinic on 5 August has identified two more patients, Biaq and Mohummad for treatment in Adelaide. We hope to be able to send them in November.

How You Can Help - Donating or Volunteering - contact
Mary Northmore
Ketua Yayasan Senyum, Ubud, Bali
0361 975568 or hp 0811 395 963
Email: Click here

In Bali:
dedicated Rupiah bank account:
BCA Ubud, A/C No 1350249555 a/n Mary Northmore
dedicated US Dollars bank account:
Bank Permata, Menara Ubud branch, A/C No 5804194233 a/n Mary P. Northmore

Medical News

Introducing our Surgeons:
 

Professor David David AC, one of Australia's leading craniofacial surgeons. His work led to the establishment of The Australian Craniofacial Institute, developing patient services, research and education. He founded The Australian Cranio-Maxillo Facial Foundation which raises funds for this work. Prof David has had a long-term commitment to training of staff at Sanglah Hospital.

Prof Dr A A Asmarajaya heads up the Bali cranio-facial team and works closely with Prof David David. He performs cleft operations both in Bali and elsewhere in eastern Indonesia.

Prof Asmarajaya and Prof David with Rusmini at Sanglah Hospital on a recent visit.

Volunteers

Meet the Board

I would like to introduce our Board, who are legally responsible for our activities:

Badan Pembinaan (Advisory Board)
Prof Dr A A Asmarajaya, Head of Surgery, Sanglah Public Hospital, Denpasar, Bali
Denise Finney, Manager, Indonesian Australian Language Foundation, Denpasar, Bali

Badan Pengawas (Supervisory Board)
Eko Prabowo, Manager, DesainEko, Bali
Sarita Newson, Founder and Director, Saritaksu Publishing House, Bali

And I am the Chairperson, with Seniwati Gallery staff Wayan and Lastri as my assistants.

Mary Northmore
Founder