Help For Returning Iraqi Vets
Plastic Surgeons Step Up to Help G.I.s
While the Iraq war winds down and things step up in Afghanistan, 155 U.S. board-certified plastic surgeons in 42 U.S. states have stepped up to donate help to veterans returning from those conflicts with scars and other injuries.
Organized by the Iraq Star Foundation in Palm Desert, California, the volunteer plastic surgeons take over where the armed services and the Veteran’s Administration leave off.
While the military replaces missing arms and legs and takes care of other major, life-threatening wounds, terrible scarring from shrapnel, burns and bullets still remain on many young faces.
So far, donated procedures to wounded vets include, among others:
- Scar revision
- Tongue reconstruction
- Nerve reconstruction
- Bridge and crown work on mouth wounds.
- Explosion “tattooing”
When a bomb goes off, the force of the explosion blasts tiny bits of dirt, sand, metal and other sand grain size debris into the face, lips, ears and eyelids. Even in the most capable hands, it is a very difficult and tedious procedure.
Iraq Star was formed because its founder, Maggie Lockridge is a registered nurse, former Air Force nurse and former wife of a fighter pilot.
After that, she became the owner and administrator of Shanteque, a Beverly Hills recovery center for patients who had just completed cosmetic plastic surgery.
She cares for somewhere around 40,000 recuperating guests. Moreover, she collected her memories and experiences in a book, FaceLift Hotel.
When she started Iraq Star, Maggie’s many plastic surgeons acquaintances lent a helping hand and told their colleagues nationwide about it.
Iraq Star now helps to locate the right surgeons, pays for the vets’ transportation, lodging, meals and whatever costs that are not donated– like costs for anesthesia, operating room and other medical supplies and medicines.
They also send along a friend for the hand-holding part!
Iraq Star
P.O. Box 1931
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-588-4039
IraqStarinfor@aol.com
www.IraqStar.org
admin @ March 23, 2009