Operation of Hope

this charity is super close and each volunteer (whether you are a doctor, nurse, etc) is hand-picked. each person cares deeply about every patient and their teammates. I never knew what teamwork truly meant until I worked with these guys...I've fallen in love with each and every volunteer who I've met on my trips with the charity.

I have been working with Operation of Hope since 2009, as both a volunteer and a board member. During this time, Operation of Hope has put smiles on the faces of poor children and their families around the world. I have personally witnessed the team of volunteers in Zimbabwe and New Guinea give their time to provide free facial surgeries and other personal donations to improve the lives of so many children. The most impressive fact about Operation of Hope is that all of the money raised goes toward the surgeries… the volunteers pay their own airfare and donate their time. This is truly a remarkable organization and one that I am proud to support!

I truly want everyone to know how amazing Operation of Hope has been for many years changing lives for the better with the sincere loving care, concern and happiness they have forwarded to the patients in their care. I had my own life changing experience by meeting one of Operation of Hope's recipients by the name of "Blessing". One can view his wonderful life change through Operation of Hope website. Also in the 3 years our Middle School has raised enough funds to afford 20 surgeries for not only children but for adults also. Please view Operation of Hope website, it will change your HEART forever......it did mine! :)
Sincerely,
Dee Monson

I'm a plastic surgeon, and was honored to work with Operation of Hope in Malawi in 2012 and 2013. Jennifer is a great leader and resource, and kept the entire process of cleft lip and cleft palate surgery rolling along. The entire surgical team was awesome, and it was a joy to meet new life-long friends. I personally shed tears of joy with the patients and their families, and I look forward to meeting my new extended family member again on our next trip.

Operation of Hope is a class act organization. I was invited to join the team in 2013 for their Zimbabwe mission. This group was amazing!! Very organized, professional and a lot of fun to boot. Many lives were touched by Dr. Dave and Dr. Travis' cleft lip and palate expertise. Our lives were touched as well.

I first heard of "Operation of Hope" while watching a report on CNN. I consider that what they do is very practical, since it is clear that many people benefit from their work, compared to other nonprofit organizations that just collect money and the money may never reach the intended recipients. "Operation of Hope" does not try to take on too much, meaning that they are actually able to accomplish more than others who attempt to help everyone all at the same time.

I was invited to be a member of the Board of Directors in order to bring perspective as I had no previous knowledge of the work of OOH.
What a dedicated, determined and professional organization Jen Trubenbach manages and leads! She is the consummate professional with the tenacity of a saint!
My trip with them to Zimbabwe was an extraordinary experience as I watched hope and healing come to so many. The doctors, nurses and other volunteers are skilled and sensitive to the realities their patients have and will face.
Operation of Hope.org is a model of excellence in utilizing their funding in the most pragmatic ways in order to do their work for as many as possible!

I am a Facial Plastic Surgeon who has been on 3 trips with Operation of Hope to Zimbabwe. The work that Operation of Hope does is the best part of my year and why I went to medical school. The entire organization is arranged by a Jennifer Trubenbach, who does an incredible job!

My young sister ingested caustic soda when she was 4yrs old and got her deformed after healing , three years later when Operation of hope came to Zimbabwe through the help of Jennifer who was so patient and responded to every email that I wrote to her . my sister underwent two surgeries in two consecutive years by the operation of hope doctors , they helped her go through an operation that my family would have never have been able to afford. Today she has the prettiest smile and you would never know what tragedy she has been through. A big smile to Operation of Hope . So much love and gratitude goes to all who are part of this organisation.

I've been a nurse for 24 years, but have never experienced such gratitude and joy from families as when I went on a mission trip with Op of Hope. This work truly transformed the lives of people who lack the resources to pay for a surgery themselves. I left Africa knowing I'd made an immediate and lasting difference in people's lives, and returned to America with a new appreciation for all the riches and conveniences we take for granted every day here.

Operation of Hope is a wonderful organization that changes children's lives by correcting physical problems. The children are able to eat and speak better and feel better about themselves. For five years my sister and I have knitted infant hats that are sold in six boutiques throughout the USA.. We give the money we earn to Operation of Hope. There is love in every stitch

I hae been with Operation of Hope for 2 years now and look forward to many more! Interestingly, Operation of Hope found me, via mutual friends , but I like to think of it as finding each other.
I am a veteran volunteer on Medical Missions and I must say, that Operation of Hope brings a very personal, family style feel to their missions. Many of the volunteers return each year and it lends a continuity to the missions that adds so much!!!
As wonderful as it is to see all the successful surgeries, there is always the reality that so much is still left to do when we prepare to leave. This is why so many of us return each year to the same mission site to continue what was in progress and will continue to be in progress year after year.
Why do we do this???
Because we can!!!

Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to work with Operation of Hope and it has been an amazing experience. The compassion & care provided by OOH is so inspiring. The teams I've worked with are professional, loving & selfless. I've been so lucky to go on 2 missions & look foward to many more in the future. It's absolutely life changing I think for most everyone involved. Can't wait to go on the next mission! Love everything about OOH!

I became aware of Operation of Hope when they posted a need for a web designer to help. After meeting the team I was blown away with the passion they carry for their mission and organization, and was eager to volunteer my time to help promote this cause. I've never met a group of more dedicated individuals, who truly live to serve. All missions are donation funded, with medical personal paying their own travel and I'm blown away by the results of the missions, the lives changed and the love the Clawson family runs this organization with.

I first met Operation of Hope personnel, employees and volunteers, through a friend. A client was in the San Diego area for surgery. Due to the complexity of the facial reconstruction, the necessary procedures could not be performed in Zimbabwe. These amazing people, dedicated and committed to providing their time and talents to improve the lives of people unable to obtain and/or afford this type of specific and specialized medical procedure, inspire me beyond compare. With selflessness and devotion to their cause, they not only improve the physical side of their clients lives, but the equally important emotional part as well, giving these individuals hope for a better life, where hope had previously been distant and foreign. I cannot conceive of a worthier gift. The client and recipient of the services I speak of, has become a close friend.

Randy Ormson

I am a retired anesthesiologist and I participate in ten or more international missions per year. I have served on three Operation of Hope missions to Africa. Operation of Hope is my favorite foundation. I pay my own air fare and donate my time, but this outlay more than repaid by the satisfaction of serving the children of sub-Saharan Africa. Jennifer Trubenbach is the most supportive team leader i have encountered.

I first met the principals of Operation of Hope on a special "Face-to-Face" business trip through British Airways. As I learned more about the OOH organization and the tremendously great cause they support in many countries, how they changes the lives of so many children and their respective friends and families, I wanted to know more...and to be of help so that they may spread the word to even more people around the world.

I invited Jennifer Trubenbach to be one of my featured guests on my radio show. She is a delightful and intelligent lady and doing so much to further the cause that her father started so many years ago. That show was one of the highest ranking featured interviews. The responses came in from so many around the world who wanted to learn more, and to learn what they could do to be of help, too!

If you take pride and pleasure helping those who are need and those who are in service to help others, this is a great way to give back and to "add another log to the woodpile." I urge you to consider if just this once, to support this organization by becoming a supporter, a donor, a friend, and an advocate to help Jennifer, her family, and the entire OOH organization to continue to expand and serve so many in so many countries of great need.

Few organizations can do so much for so little...the impact they make with just one child expands outward and reaches into the lives of so many others. They need your support to sustain the progress and momentum - into the under developed and developing nations- where so many children are in dire need of medical, life enhancing assistance.

Please consider getting involved and making a difference. You may make all the difference in the life of one child...and wouldn't that be a great legacy to create and leave for the next generation...

Thank you.
Dr. David Blender
Hypnotic Therapeutics
www.hypnotictherapeutics.com

I have volunteered with Operation of Hope for eight years and was blessed enough to be able to be a part of one of the many medical missions to Zimbabwe! While in Zimbabwe I got to put heart warming stories and adorable smiles to the reasons why I started volunteering with Operation of Hope in the first place. Meeting families that had walked or taken a bus for upwards of four days just to be seen by medical professionals was such a humbling experience, and something I will never forget. While on this mission the ages of patient's ranged from infancy to young adulthood and the impact that the surgeries had on these patients was incredible! From the twenty-seven straight-A student who had never been able to get a job because of her cleft lip, to the infant whose parents sobbed seeing her after surgery because they realized just how many obstacles their child wouldn't have to face because of receiving this surgery. These are the lives and the stories that make me proud to be a volunteer for Operation of Hope and why I will continue to volunteer with them for years to come!

I am a teacher/academic researcher. In 2007 I visited an isolated rural primary school in eastern Zimbabwe, a 12 hour drive from Harare. A teacher introduced me to a 7 year old girl who was in the first year of school. Her face was deformed by a cleft palate. I was shocked to see a child of that age who had not received surgery. I explained to her teachers that the repair and reconstruction was a common operation but they told me that her family could not even afford a hospital visit. I promised to see what could be done. Back home in the UK, I wrote to Smile Train who put me in touch with Operation of Hope. I e mailed them and explained the girl's problems. They invited her to the clinic in Harare in April 2009. Teachers and family accompanied her. The operation was carried out successfully, The staff were so kind and gentle, she was given medication and sent home after a couple of days. She recovered and a year later Operation of Hope recalled her for further surgical treatment. This girl is now in the final term of primary school. She is making excellent progress and enjoys a full life, free from the trauma of a cleft palate. She writes thank you letters to me but truly her thanks are for Operation of Hope. In a few years time I think they will invite her back for further checks and adjustments. All the work they did was voluntary. Her health, well-being and academic progress are thanks to Operation of Hope. Dr M Lynn

Have worked with Operation of Hope approximately 6 years, I find them to give caring and compassionate care to their patients. We are informed of patients and their needs, the leaders go out of their way to make every patient feel like they are the only patient. They are never rushed, a patient never leaves without understanding post op care and when they will be returning. They reach out to (the countries) their doctors for care needed that Operation of Hope cannot do. They network to make sure all patients are cared for. We are all volunteers and funds that are donated ALL go to patient care and their needs. I have learned so much from this organization and its president. I will continue to work as long as I am able.