Light of the World Charities in PALM CITY LIFE

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PALM CITY LIFE Article

A NEW LOCATION IN NICARAGUA

On Saturday, 30 November 2013, a team from LOTWC made its initial visit to Hospital Jose Nieborowski in Boaco, Nicaragua.  As a new location we were not sure what we would find as facilities and hosts when we arrived.

Our team included:  Penny Abramawicz, Ron Ashley, Sheila Boyle, Mark Brown, Carolyn Cardinale, Brian Donn, Joanne Fisher, Chloe Harshman, Rene Loyola, Valerie McAllister,  Donato and Kim Viggiano.

We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived in Boaco.  It is in a beautiful location in the mountains outside of Managua.  On Sunday when we were driven to the hospital we were welcomed by a new facility and an operating room staff that was warm and welcoming.

We completed our week providing 47 surgical procedures.  

Every member of our team as well as the local operating room staff and hospital administration happily anticipate our next visit.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL, MOSHI, KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA

When Light of the World Charities first visited St. Joseph’ Hospital in 2007 there were two rooms designed as operating rooms.  Unfortunately they had no surgical or anesthesia equipment to be a functioning surgical suite.

With assistance from Light of the World Charities, our donors, supporters and volunteers LOTWC has been able to provide the necessary equipment to become a fully functional operating room suite.

Sister Doctor Urbani and her Sisters of our Lady of Kilimanjaro have morphed a small health care facility into a more diverse and comprehensive hospital.

Since my last visit there in 2009 I was amazed to see the changes made.  Sister Doctor Urbani has built a new women and children unit and is currently constructing a new building that will house a laundry facility, a laboratory and training facility for laboratory technicians as well as temporary housing for patient families.

Sister Doctor Urbani is open to asking for help and gratefully accepting it.  She and the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro have proven themselves worthy of praise and prayers.  Their main focus is on providing health care and surgical services to those in need.  They understand that is honorable to accept help from outside sources in order to improve their own.  

They accept God’s will and have faith that He will continue to help His people.

Laurie Schwab, Luz Elera & Joe Risi

AROUND THE WORLD FUNDRAISER

 

Light of the World Charities hosted a fun, fundraising event on Saturday, 28 September 2013 in our new location.

 Some of our dedicated volunteers spent hours cooking tasty morsels originating from the localities we visit.  To list a few of the items available: empanadas from Honduras, curried beef from Haiti and Samosas from Tanzania.  We also provided beer from the locations, alas, the wines were more commonplace.

 Our visitors had the opportunity to tour our new office and warehouse space, enjoy phenomenal photos taken by our own Ron Ashley and speak with many volunteers who have made numerous mission trips with Light of the World. Our visitors enjoyed speaking with many of us and hearing first-hand accounts of what we really do on our missions.

One lucky visitor. Luz Elera, won a cruise for two in our raffle, she was truly excited.  Those who didn’t win the cruise still enjoyed the experience shared by all of us.   Joe Risi, owner,  St Lucie West Cruises, Tours & More, donated the cruise.

 We anticipate repeating our fundraising event again in the future with new and exciting tastes, stories and experiences.

Ok, firstly, I'm not crazy about posting pictures of myself.  Long story!  Interested in why?   Call me, I'll explain. These photos were taken of me with the kids because of my iPad and iPhone and how these wonderful tools kept them entertained while they were awaiting surgery. The third photo was just too cute, with the little one shaking hands.

I offer my iPhone and iPad to the kids in the pre-op area to offer them some distraction while they are awaiting surgery.  They love playing the guitar, piano and drums on the iPad as well as the funny photos one can take with Photo Booth.  

I've sent a request to Apple to see if they will donate some iPads, but I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting for then to donate.

I'm not a game player, so I don't have games downloaded on my iPad but I need to do it just to give the young ones something else to do.

I also have an app on my iPad called VISIBLE BODY that shows anatomy and is a great teaching tool to explain what is happening in surgery.  Such a wonderful tool to let patients and volunteers know what we are doing.

Education is a large part of our mission.  Our patient population is generally less educated than we are, so any education we can offer is welcome.

                                 September 8-14, 2013

Centro Medico San Benito Jose

Comayagua, Honduras

 

A LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES team just completed another successful surgical mission to Honduras. 

Once again, LIGHT OF THE WORLD CHARITIES, our donors and benefactors, our dedicated volunteers and our medical professionals who continue to offer their skills and services to those who truly need our help, have proven that WE CAN change lives, one life at a time.

This brigade included: 

Dr. Kyle Loy, ENT Surgeon, from Indiana and his support team of Jodell Sams, RN from  Colorado, Beth Compitello, Surg Tech from Florida and Meg Hanna, CRNA from Indiana. 

Dr. David Barbara General Surgeon,  Donna Batta, RN,  Chloe Harshman, Surg Tech and Dr. Mark Tasch, Anesthesiologist, all from Indiana and Ann Long, RNFA from Florida.

Dr. Michael Lustgarten, Urologist, Mary “Mia” Mitchell, RN,, Louie Terranova, Surg Tech, all from Florida and Maria de Jesus, Nurse Anesthesia from Comayagua, Honduras.

Dr. Antonio Beltran, Urologist,, Mark Brown, RN, Cathy Collins, Surg Tech, all from Florida and Dr. Patrick O’Neil, Anesthesiologist, from Indiana.

Our Pre-op and Recovery Room RNs were Mary Lettieri, Jeanne Teter, Patty Greer and Amy Nagy.

Dr. John Karpinski, Oral Surgeon from Florida and Marina McCusker, Dental Assistant, from Florida provided our dental care.

Dr.David Girlinghouse, DDS and Theresa Banks, RN, CNOR, RNFA joined us as team leaders and Dr. Mary Torchia, Anesthesiologist, from Ohio acted as our lead Anesthesiologist.

Dr. Loy and his team provided tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, and sinus surgeries for 33 patients.

Dr. David Barbara and his team provided much needed gallbladder removals and hernia repairs for 17 patients.

Dr. Michael Lustgarten and his team performed 20 prostate procedures as well as procedures for other urinary issues.

Dr. Antonio Beltran and his team performed 24 prostate procedures and other urinary issues.

Our surgeons provided  surgeries for 49 children who would otherwise not have had surgical corrections available.

Dr. John Karpinski and Marina McCusker  completed  209 dental procedures and 268 examinations and consultations.

In total we provided  379 patients with 330 surgical and dental procedures and 379 surgical and dental consultations.

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG!

Hopefully you’re received our latest newsletter.  It has a new look and filled with new and exciting information about our accomplishments.  None of which would happen without your help and support.

We are having a raffle to win a FIVE NIGHT CRUISE FOR TWO in a balcony stateroom on ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES.  The value of the cruise is $2,200 and can be used for trips to the Caribbean, Bermuda or Europe and can be used anytime except Christmas and New Year.

The drawing will be held at our AROUND THE WORLD FUNDRAISER on 28 September 2013 at the Light of the World office in Palm City, FL.  You do not need to be  present for the drawing.

Any donation of $10 or more via the website or in person, will be entered into the drawing.  If you donate via the website and want to be entered more than once, a $10 or more donation will have to be entered separately on the website.

Please make sure that your donations are entered before 12 noon on 28 September 2013.

When you enter on our website, please be sure to include your email address.