It has been six months since we joined together for An Evening To Bring Back Hope filled with purpose, passion, and partnership. Today, we are thrilled to share how your generosity is already making a tangible difference in the lives of our patients and the future of spine care in Ethiopia.
Since that memorable BBH III event on October 22nd, 2024, we have made substantial advancements in expanding access to spine care in Ethiopia. The Spine Program Summary Report linked below, provided by our partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), highlights the key milestones from the past six months.
The Spine Centre is set to open by early 2026, turning Dr. Rick's legacy and vision into a sustainable treatment centre that will save and change lives for generations to come. See here for a link to a 3D tour of the design.
We are deeply grateful for your belief in the Bring Back Hope initiative. Your support is not just helping to build a facility, it's changing lives. We look forward to keeping you updated as we continue to grow, and we cannot wait until the doors of the Spine Centre officially open.
With gratitude,
Gary Segal
BBH Founder & Chair
Dr. Rick Hodes' Patient Spotlight Story
Tulu, a 17 year old Oromo orphan, presented to us on 31 October, 2024 with 1 month of paralysis.
He had a progressive deformity of his upper thoracic spine, and his x-ray looked directly into the spinal canal, a view never seen in the west. We hospitalized him at AABET Hospital, and diagnosed tuberculosis of the spine and we started 4-drug TB therapy.
After about 2 months in hospital, he showed no improvement. His aunt gained legal guardianship, so that she could sign permission for surgery abroad.
We sent him and an attendant to Ganga Hospital in India for traction, to be followed by complex spine surgery to remove his abnormal vertebrae. This is called a VCR (vertebral column resection) and is intricate and somewhat dangerous. But our surgeons are among the world's best for VCR. And this was Tulu's only hope.
Tulu's deformity is called a "buckling collapse." His doctor in India is the world's expert, and wrote the attached scientific paper. Tulu is now slowly walking on his own steam, with a huge smile on his face!
We are amazed at his progress, with only traction up till now. He will undergo more traction, then surgery to remove the abnormal vertebrae and straighten and reinforce his spine.
There is no doubt that Tulu would have become paralyzed and died a gruesome, early death.
We have changed that course, and given him back his life.
– Dr. Rick Hodes, JDC
Dr. Abraham Taddele from the JDC team successfully performing Ethiopia's first-ever halo traction procedure in March 2025.
Dr. Rick with a spine patient in Hawassa Hospital during spine screenings.
Donations, large or small, can be made below and will help change lives forever.