SIGN Benefit

Last Friday night we went to the SIGN Benefit in Portland. SIGN (Surgical Implant Company), founded by my uncle Dr. Lew Zirkle, is a non-profit organization with a truly amazing humanitarian vision. As stated on their website, "SIGN supports the trauma surgeons in developing nations who have committed their lives to serving the injured poor. Despite many obstacles, these surgeons often work with limited hospital resources, overcrowded wards, and at times a lack of pay and support from health administrations. Equipping these surgeons with orthopaedic training and instrumentation means that they provide quality fracture care for those who desperately need it but cannot afford it."

We already knew that SIGN had programs in multiple countries, but we were unaware that the focus of the evening's benefit was to raise money towards their program in Ethiopia, to the Black Lion hospital. We were shocked to learn that just a couple of years ago there was only ONE orthopedic surgeon in all of Addis Ababa, which had a population of over 3.5 million people in 2008. Since SIGN started their program in Addis Ababa they have helped to train two surgeons, each with ten assistants/interns. It is not uncommon for patients to wait more than twelve hours to be seen.

This evening was just another affirmation to us of the importance of continuing to give back to the country of Ethiopia even after we bring our daughter home. We recognize not only the significance of keeping her birth heritage alive in our house and hearts, but also doing what we can to contribute to lives of the people of Ethiopia. There are so many ways for people to help make a difference, from donating to SIGN to sponsoring a child so they can go to school.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.  ~Anne Frank