Centre de Réhabilitation Laetitia Hatem [LHRC] at Hotel Dieu de France officially opened its doors thanks to the Philippe Hatem Foundation for a Happy Childhood [PHF]. The NGO has worked hard and long to bring the center to realization and on Tuesday evening it was able to show the fruits of its labor with the opening of LHRC amidst media guests, Hotel Dieu management and teams, RIC representatives, and prominent members of society.
The center was born out of the request made by young Laetitia Hatem. Hatem had suffered a tragic accident that left her with a spinal cord injury that doctors predicted would leave her paralyzed for life. Dismayed by the fact that the required level of sophisticated rehabilitation care was not available in the country, her family headed to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago [RIC]; the number one rehabilitation hospital in the U.S for 22 consecutive years. There, Hatem surprised everyone when she made a miraculous recovery testifying to her own strength and the center's reputation as a "house of miracles".
As she was recovering in Chicago, Hatem approached the board of the Philippe Hatem Foundation for a Happy Childhood and raised some poignant questions and concerns about the lack of suitable rehabilitation centers in Lebanon that condemned less fortunate children to a life of severe handicap. The board took her concerns to heart and decided to put a plan in action that would provide support to children in Lebanon in need of sophisticated physical, occupational, speech, and pool therapies. In order to ensure that the level of rehabilitation care provided in Lebanon becomes up to par with what is offered in the best rehabilitation centers worldwide, PHF looked for two partners. PHF selected Hotel-Dieu de France hospital [HDF] recognizing its potential as a local partner that would provide the best medical environment for patients in rehabilitation. For the best in class rehabilitation institution worldwide, PHF selected RIC following its stellar reputation.
Working hand-in-hand with the teams of HDF in Beirut and RIC in Chicago, PHF redesigned and renovated the first 400 square meter space made available by HDF for the center, equipped it with state of the art rehabilitation equipment, and sent Lebanese therapists from HDF to RIC Chicago to receive state of the art training. PHF went even further with participating in the recruitment of a veteran medical doctor specialized in physical medicine and with multi-year experience in one of the best rehabilitation centers in the US for the management of the LHRC. The joint effort of the three parties-PHF, HDF, and RIC-has ensured that LHRC is fully integrated within the HDF organization for joint medical/rehabilitation assessment and follow-up, emergency care, psychological support, and other medical support to all patients of LHRC.
After a welcome word by Father Joseph Nassar, President of HDF, and a moving message by Laetitia Hatem, Georges Hatem, founder of PHF, expressed his satisfaction with the opening of the rehabilitation center saying "It gives me great pride to see the doors of Centre de Réhabilitation Laetitia Hatem open a mere 18 months after the board was approached with this request. This feat could not have been accomplished if not for the loyal support and generosity of numerous Lebanese and foreign donors, whether individuals or institutions, the proceeds of last year's November 30th's gala, and a great number of people, at HDF and RIC, who selflessly invested their time and effort in making this happen. Hand in hand with HDF and RIC, we are looking forward to expanding LHRC and making it symbol of rehabilitation excellence not only in Lebanon but throughout the Middle East region as well."
The Board of Directors of PHF shared its intention to continue investing in LHRC at all levels - space design, equipment, and training -, in 2013 and beyond. Dr Joanne Smith, President & CEO of RIC, sent her message through a video that was played during the ceremony. Thanks to its long-term partnership with PHF, she voiced RIC's full support to PHF's vision, proudly announcing its intention to continue its technical support to LHRC by providing more guidance, introducing innovative rehabilitation programs, and providing more training to the center's team.
The next priority for PHF is to set-up a fund to finance the rehabilitation care of children in Lebanon who cannot afford it. In parallel, PHF will be joining forces with other complementary partners that will allow collaboration with the various schools of "Université Saint Joseph in Lebanon", an introduction of joint research programs between Lebanon and RIC, and provision of graduate education to Lebanese therapists in the United States of America.
PHF has established itself in other countries as well, and in the coming few years these PHF foundations will finance the establishment of other LHRC, sending a message of hope and humanity from Lebanon to the rest of the world.
The LHRC is just one of PHF's myriad accomplishments in Lebanon. The active organization has supported and financed a variety of programs that tackle children's needs in education, basic needs, protection, and recreation, fulfilling their mission of spreading one smile at a time. To help finance these, as well as its other commitments, PHF will hold its second fund raising gala dinner at BIEL on November 30th, 2012. Driven by passion for their cause, ambition to realize their goals, and loyalty to their vision, PHF is on a roll to change the world to a better place.
