Trip to Honduras

URMC to provide help in Honduras

by Justina Wang. Democrat & Chronicle Staff writer

Next month, about a dozen University of Rochester Medical Center doctors, nurses and students will travel to Honduras to repair water filters, build cook stoves, hand out school supplies and talk with impoverished families. It's not pure medical work, but they believe their helping hands could do more for the health of people in developing countries than any stethoscope or needle.

"It's so easy to see there that if you don't have clean water and your child gets diarrhea three times a year, then the intervention is clean water, not medicines," said Dr. Douglas Stockman, director of the university's global and refugee health program. "Prevention is probably more important than curative care." Since 2003, Stockman and residency program director Dr. Steven Schultz have taken a medical brigade down to the village of San Jose, where there's no running water, electricity, hospitals or clinics.

The project is part of the national Shoulder to Shoulder effort to help the poor in Honduras, and URMC has committed to helping the village for at least 10 years. In the last two years, the First Unitarian Church of Rochester has also joined the project, raising more than $70,000 for the San Jose area and sending one or two parishioners with the URMC team.

During the twice-yearly, two-week trips, the group has installed 140 ventilated stoves, built 4,500 gallon water tanks, supplied 578 pieces of PVC pipe to bring water to 30 homes, put water filters in 20 homes, helped construct latrines, trained midwives, and handed out fluoride rinse for schoolchildren. In between the community work, half the doctors and residents also see patients and write prescriptions in a makeshift warehouse clinic, where students learn that medical issues aren't isolated from daily problems.

Children who drink infected water come in with worm and parasite infections. Poverty takes the form of malnutrition and stunted growth. Open fires in homes without stoves lead to serious burns, bronchitis and asthma. Adults who have had no medical attention in their lives come in with advanced cancers, untreated diabetes and high blood pressure, schizophrenia and psychoses that have never been diagnosed.

"It's sometimes very difficult to see the causalities and linkages," said Schultz. "Violence is a huge concern in Rochester, but is it a medical problem? Maybe violence is having an issue on the health of many members of the community, and maybe as a physician I should be looking at that, and not just concentrating on what I'm doing in the exam room."

First-year resident Donald McLaren, a 26-year-old from New York City and a son of Haitian immigrants, said this is exactly why he went to medical school. He wants to work with diverse populations and is preparing for his first trip to Honduras on Oct.18 — brushing up on his Spanish and picking out a tent and sleeping bag to keep out mosquitoes and scorpions when he sleeps on the floor of an open cinderblock school. "This is going to be a very interesting experience," he said. "I expect to be shocked, and I expect to do a lot for the community in Honduras."

A Garden Bouquet

Susan Morehouse Releases New CD

At an Open House for family and supporters today, Susan will be introducing her new harp CD Harpsongs II - A Bouquet from My Mother's Garden.

The album is a 65-minute "bouquet" of 22 classical, Celtic, and spiritual pieces, several of which feature Nicole Ferguson on the flute.

If you would be interested in obtaining a copy, please visit Susan's website or contact her directly.

News from the Seamans

I imagine all of you are aware of the double tragedies unfolding in Asia – the Myanmar typhoon and the Western China earthquake. We had considered going to Myanmar – but the way seems blocked at the moment for Americans (and most everyone else, for that matter). Pray for a breakthrough in the spiritual strongholds that keep help from arriving. Then there was the earthquake in China almost 1 week ago. We received a call from friends in China who live and work in that area. They have been contacted by many national believers who want to help but have no training or experience. They have asked for our help. After praying, we knew that we should respond to this request.

This is a strategic opportunity to help the Christians in China reach out and demonstrate the love of Christ in a very practical way. Therefore we will be leaving this Friday, May 23rd, for Chengdu, China which is about 60 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. Karen and I will be accompanied by our good friends and frequent companions in these efforts, Gerard and Maureen Haberstro and their son, Matthew. Our Singaporean “daughter”, Jolene, will also be joining us. We will be training local believers in disaster response and perhaps helping them get started with deployment, doing assessments, etc. As you might expect, we really have no idea what we may be getting into. We will be stopping in Singapore on the way over and back to make contact with our friends there who also want to be involved.

I know that many of you may want to be involved in this in some way. First we need prayer support. I’ll be updating you with items as often as possible. The first things we need you to pray for:

1. Visas. China is being very restrictive about granting visas right now, due to the Olympics. hey are also being very restrictive about people helping in the disaster response effort. Our visa applications and passports will be taken to the Chinese embassy tomorrow morning (Monday) for processing. Please pray for FAVOR with embassy officials.
2. Contacts. We need to meet and connect with the right people here, in Singapore and in China.
3. Wisdom to know what to teach and how to teach it as we prepare our materials. Wisdom for our hosts as they prepare for our arrival.
4. Flexibility as plans, schedules and circumstances change.
5. Grace and strength. We are already quite tired from the preparation of the last few days (with a wedding thrown in the mix). We have much to accomplish in the last few days before departure. The weather in Chengdu is hot and humid – quite oppressive – we will need extra grace to adjust to the climate.
6. Health and safety. With the stress and climate change, we need your prayer that we would stay healthy. Also that we would know when to rest and when to press on.

Our second need is for finances. Travel costs alone will be about $15,000 for the 6 of us. Not sure yet what we’ll need for supplies, etc. We’re thankful that a number of you have already started to offer support. We appreciate your help. If you would like to participate with us financially, you can send donations to Hope Extended, 1355 Paul Road, Churchville, NY 14428.

Some of you may want to actually participate directly in the relief effort. We’ll know a lot more after this trip about ongoing needs and opportunities. I will be keeping you informed about this after we have had a chance to be there and assess the situation. There certainly will be need for a prolonged time. It remains to be seen what the role of outsiders will be. So, stay tuned and be prepared. If there are opportunities for you to participate, we’ll let you know and probably design some training to help you get ready.

Blessings to you all,
Dr. John Seaman

A loss to our community

Our dear colleague and friend Dr. Eric Cederstrom died on May 3 after a difficult battle with cancer.

After completing his Family Practice residency and serving in the Army Medical Corps for several years, Eric started working at Hilton Health Care in 1990 and proved himself as a kind and compassionate physician and a trustworthy and loyal friend. Although he was diagnosed with cancer over a year ago, he continued to see patients until the beginning of March. He was an inspiration to all with his compassion and concern for his patients, colleagues, and family. The medical community has suffered the loss of a physician of the highest caliber. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Eric is survived by his wife, Lin, and his two children Nathan and Lauren.

In lieu of flowers, Eric has asked that donations be made in his name to: Hope Lutheran Church in Greece ; St. Jerome ’s Church in East Rochester; Crisis Pregnancy Centers , CompassCare; Foodlink; Creation Research Society; or Medical Ministry International, POB 1339, Allen , Texas 75013

Click here for more information about Eric's clinical career.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas
from the Morehouses!

As time goes by we are more and more grateful for our family and friends, our health, the Life we have in Christ, and our spiritual family at Joy Community Church. We’d love to hear from you and spend more time together! In the meantime, click here to read our annual letter to friends and family and check out some of our candid pictures.

Nesses in Roca Blanca

We've just received a holiday newsletter from Dave and Mary Kay Ness about their mission work in Mexico:

We are quickly moving toward early January 2008 when we plan to return to the mission base Roca Blanca in Oaxaca, Mexico. Many of you have been faithful supporters and prayer partners in this mission activity over the past 5 years. Earlier this year we went for 2 months and this year we actually intend to go for 3 and a half months... Please do let us know if you will stand with us in your prayers day by day.

Click here to read their entire newsletter and here to visit their ministry on the Web.

Waseem Ghazoly 1962-2007

In Memorium
Waseem N. Ghazoly, MD

August 4, 1962 (Cairo, Egypt) - October 25, 2007 Survived by his loving wife Sonia Ghazoly; children Mariah and Damian Ghazoly; sisters Nagua (Edward) Ibrahim and Nashua (Nashaat) ; father-in-law and mother-in-law Selim and Samia Serry; sister-in-law Sylvia Serry; brother-in-law Steve Serry; many friends and colleagues.

Visitation was held on October 28 from 2 pm until 6 pm. A celebration of Waseem’s life was held at 11 am on October 29 at Greece Assembly of God Church, 750 Long Pond Road. Interment Riverside Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to the Mary Cariola Center, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Rochester NY 14620.

Polly Lowry 1930-2007

In Memorium
Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Lowry

October 18, 2007 at the age of 77. Predeceased by her sister, Sarah Zimmermann and brother, Will Robison. Mrs. Lowry is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Harold; children, Hal Jr. (Carol), Susan (Bill) Morehouse, Tom (JoAnn); grandchildren, Malcolm, Melissa, Dillon, Delaney, Sarah, Nathan (Kari), Johanna, Joel, Meghan and Julia; great-granddaughter, Zoya; brother, Charles D. (Betty) Robison; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Polly was an excellent tennis player and at the age of 17 she won the Nebraska State Title for Womens Tennis. She loved to swim and more importantly teach children to swim. Polly taught at the YMCA Backyard program for over 16 years. Polly had a love of gardening and was a strong supporter of the RPO. She was a member of the Rochester Yacht Club for 27 years, where she ran the duplicate bridge game. She enthusiastically shared her interests with family and friends.

Family received friends on October 26 from 7-9 pm at the Paul W. Harris Funeral Home in Irondequoit, where her memorial service was held on October 27 at 1:00 pm. In accordance to Polly's wishes her body will be donated to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Memorials may be directed to Lipson Cancer Center, 1425 Portland Ave., Rochester, NY 14621.

Dr. Holmes Honored

Buffalo physician, David M. Holmes, MD, has been named New York State Family Physician of the Year by the State Academy of Family Physicians. He received the award during the Academy's annual awards luncheon on June 9 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany during the Academy's Congress of Delegates.

Dr. Holmes was selected by the Education Commission of the Academy from among several family physicians nominated by patients and colleagues. Dr. Holmes' biographical sketch included his personal mission statement: "The purpose of my life is to love and honor God and my family and make a positive and significant difference in the lives of others."

"The Family Physician of the Year award is the highest honor bestowed by the New York State Academy of Family Physicians," explained Vito Grasso, executive vice president of the Academy. "It is presented to a physician who, in the judgment of the Academy, has exemplified the highest standards of patient care and advocacy. We are very pleased to recognize Dr. Holmes and are honored to have a physician of his obvious commitment to medicine and outstanding patient care among our membership."

Links:
Full Press Release from the NY State Academy of Family Physicians.
Press Release from SUNY at Buffalo.
Recent article in The Buffalo News about Dr. Holmes and his work and witness.

Dr. Brooks Wins Contest

Yesterday's Democrat & Chronicle ran a story about our very own Dr. Walter Brooks that began:

Walter S. Brooks has photographed the pyramids at Giza. He has captured tufts of low-hanging clouds sweeping across a snowcapped Mount McKinley and images from dozens, if not hundreds, of other exotic locations. But it was a picture of Rochester's skyline that earned the dermatologist, with residence in Penfield and practice in Greece, first place in the hometown photo contest of Shutterfly, an online photo service...

Click here to read the entire article.