About the Nonprofit
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SpineHope is a small 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based out of Austin, Texas, dedicated to transforming children’s lives worldwide through spine surgery, education, and research. SpineHope’s primary objectives are tocorrect spinal deformities and complex spine conditions to alleviate pain, when possible prevent paralysis and save lives, and improve the quality of life for children in underserved areas of the world. We offer direct services topatients as well as education and support to surgeons and medical teams abroad. Our mission has required us towork closely with volunteer orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons throughout the United States; host hospitals andmedical staff abroad; international communities; and medical equipment, supplies and technology companies. The collaboration thus far has resulted in spine surgery for hundreds of children who neither have the access to qualitycare nor the resources to afford expensive spine surgery. They are now able to walk taller and live better lives.
OUR PROGRAMS
Global Outreach Programs – We work collaboratively with organizations and hospitals to build sustainable pediatric spine programs in under-resourced/underserved countries. We coordinate weeklong surgical trips to hospitals in need and bring with us volunteer spine surgeons, doctors and other medical professionals from the United States aswell as donated spinal implants, equipment and supplies. During these trips, we work alongside local medical teams to perform spine surgeries and examine dozens of children in clinic. We build our programs based on a sustainable model of complex spine care. Simply put, we are not a “fly-in-do-surgery-leave” model. We focus instead on building sustainable partnerships, coordinating recurring trips and working hard to ensure there arepositive ripple effects throughout the local systems. We have had success in Colombia and Costa Rica and are now actively working to build programs in Ecuador.
Education Program – We provide training and education on spine safety protocols and advanced surgical techniques to local surgeons, hospital staff and medical students during surgical trips abroad. We also are working ona spinal deformity resource library to provide educational content and mental/emotional wellness tips to assistchildren coping with their conditions.
US Hub Program - In 2014, we launched a program focused on bringing children from under-resourced countries to the United States for evaluation, tests/imaging, charity spine surgery and other spine treatment. This is made possible due to the collaboration with and generosity of 30+ local partners in Austin, Texas. Typically, a child and one parent or legal guardian will come to Austin for a 6-8 week stay. This stay consists of a week of tests and surgical clearance examinations, surgery with a 3-5 day stay in the hospital and 4+ weeks of recovery before returning home.
