Medcenter One - receiving donations in support of Smith Gate Clinic

Medcenter One is seeking donations in support of Smith Gate Clinic, Iraq's only children's specialty burn clinic. The clinic relies in large part on supplies donated from agencies and humanitarian aid, but supplies are scarce.

  Dr. Craig Lambrecht, Medcenter One medical director, was instrumental in providing care at Smith Gate Clinic during his tour of duty in Iraq. His commitment and assistance to children needing the burn care the clinic provides continues even though he has returned safely home. Thanks to Dr. Lambrecht, the Minnesota National Guard and donors like you, one child has already been to the United States for a successful lifesaving operation and has returned home. Another awaits safe travel out of the country to come to the United States for multiple surgeries.

  The clinic, located in a one-room trailer on an American operations base, treats children from all over Iraq suffering from burns. Children in Iraq are constantly exposed to flammable substances in their home and work environments and there is a lack of physicians with specialty burn training in the area.

  “Children are having better outcomes and fewer deaths because of this clinic,” Dr. Lambrecht said. “When we run out of supplies, we have no choice but to turn them and their families away. Supplies can mean the difference between life and death.”

  Five to 50 patients are seen at the clinic every day. If supplies are low, pediatric burn patients must be turned away.