The Old English word for coad is coadjutor meaning "helper,"
someone who helps bring people and resources together for the
good of others. We bring together children from all over the world
who are in need of corrective
plastic surgery and we also bring in experienced surgeons who volunteer their time
and services. That isn't all; we also ship medical supplies,
clothing, and other necessities to countries worldwide.
We also support 2 feeding clinics.
CCSS was born in 1972 when John Martin, on one of many visits to Mexico, noticed the number of children with disfiguring birth defects that were left uncorrected well into adulthood. Poverty and the lack of a qualified surgeon in their local area prevented these children from living a normal life.
In most countries, facial disfigurements like cleft lip or cleft palates mean a life of being shunned by "normal" people. These children are made fun of, tormented and sometimes
abandoned by one or both of their parents. Those "lucky" enough
to make it into adulthood live lonely lives of shame and seclusion.
John knew that there must be a way to change this. Somehow, someone
had to save these children.
At the time, John couldn't find any organizations doing this type of field work. There were people building or repairing homes, groups building churches, others who pass out food and some setting up schools to teach the kids a trade or help them get a job. No one was addressing the thousands of children born with deformities that are virtually unheard of here in the United States.
Like most of us, John felt he had to help somehow. One at a time, he started to bring children to San Diego for corrective surgery. In the beginning, these children stayed with John and his wife Jean at their home in San Diego. Sometimes they were there for many months while the doctors, all volunteers, performed the series of operations necessary to correct each child's face.
When, CCSS was born, John and Jean didn't slow down. Over the years CCSS has helped more than 14,000 children and adults through the generous donations of money, time and gifts in kind from people of all walks of life. We have sent medical teams abroad for over twenty years, operating on 15 to 35 patients each day during their stay. Teams usually spend several days in one area.
We also help children here in the United States who are referred to us by school nurses, church groups or other non-profit organizations that do not have corrective surgery programs of their own. We are happy to take care of those who do not have access to medical care programs.
Each Wednesday is Surgery Day at hospitals here in
San Diego. These hospitals donate their operating rooms and facilities
to us just as the doctors and nurses donate their skills and their time.
Our costs include transportation, food, lodging and medicines for each
patient during their stay. This averages about $200 per patient.
Barring complications, patients arrive the day before surgery and go home
two to five days later. Some of these patients will need future
visits for revisions or added surgery that cannot be accomplished during
one visit.
If you would like to see the results of some of these surgeries you are more than welcome to visit us at our office at 338 West 3rd Ave. Escondido, California. See some of the thousands of before and after pictures we have on file or come in to meet John and Jean and some of the hard working volunteers.
CCSS has a very low overhead of less than 5% of our income. Because of our wonderful supportive group of volunteers, most of the donation dollar goes toward the children. Even our board members take time from their own professions to volunteer their time and money for this cause.
We thank our many supporters and welcome any of you who would like to be involved with our endeavors. No gift is too small and all gifts are appreciated.
Thank you, from all of us here at CCSS.
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