EIGHT years since its inception in 2014, the Tebow CURE Children’s Hospital (TCCH) continues to touch the lives of children, reporting a total of 8,062 procedures, all with zero billing.
TCCH celebrated its successful mission of bringing hope and “helping kids heal” during their Thanksgiving banquet at Park Inn by Radisson Davao, on Oct. 5.
For CURE’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) which ran from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the foundation recorded 1,871 procedures. Out of the total surgeries, 59% are reconstructive/plastics, 27% orthopedics, and 14% general. They also reported 14,611 patient visits, 1,589 admissions, and 185 clinical trainees.
TCCH executive director Peter Cowles said that while every surgery has a cost, he recognized the contribution of the partners and donors who formed part of their cause during the banquet.
“Along with our dedicated and talented surgeons, nurses, and other co-workers, our partners and donors make these changes possible. Providing world-class surgical care requires many people to work together,” Cowles said.
“I believe our number one focus is not surgeries but providing hope to many families who do not have the resources to help their children,” he added.
Out of the P130.7 million total operating expense, 33% were from international donors, 31% from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), 14% from SMILE Train, 13% from government funds, 5% from local donors, and 4% was carried over from FY22.
Apart from removing financial burden to families, the hospital’s treatment goes beyond the physical as they also aid in reducing the discrimination that these children experienced in their post-surgery counseling. “When we talk to patients at their follow-up visits, there are a lot of tears. Tears of joy about the bullying and isolation that stopped when their feet were straightened and their cleft lips were repaired,” Cowles said.
TCCH operates a global network of children’s hospitals employing world-class surgical care for children with treatable disabilities including bowed legs, brittle bone diseases, burn contractures, cleft lip, cleft palate, clubfoot, knock, and windswept knees.
The hospital is the only CURE medical facility in the country and in Asia, serving patients with 30 patient beds, three operating rooms, and 130 staff members.
The Thanksgiving banquet was graced by the Tebow CURE senior management team and board of directors, inspirational speaker Joyce Burton-Titular, the VI Group (Visually Impaired), 94 donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
