SURGICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CHILDREN”S HOSPITAL

January 23, 2012 | 4:31 pm

COLUMBUS–Please respond to Steve or Jeannie Szilagyi if you can provide any of the below orthopedic tools that are needed for a surgical suite SARA is equipping in the Childrens Hospital in Mukachevo, Transcarpathia, Ukraine.  SARA has received a donation to cover the cost of transporting the equipment.  The Szilagyi’s are leaving for Ukraine in late April.  The following list was provided by the surgeon at the Hospital, Dr. Yuri Demyan.  You may reach Steve and Jeannie at szilsara@suite224.net.

Lane’s bone holding forceps 12½” (31.6cm)

Lane’s bone holding forceps 15½” (39.3cm)

50-0662 – Luer’s bone rongeur, screw joint 6″ (15cm)

50-0663 – Hartmann’s bone rongeur, screw joint 6¾” (17cm)

50-0664 – Luer’s bone rongeur, box joint, straight/curved 7″ (18cm

52-0692 – Littauer liston forceps, box joint 6″ (15cm)

52-0693 – Liston bone cutting forceps, multiple action, straight 10½” (27cm)

52-0694 – Liston bone cutting forceps, multiple action, angled 10½” (27cm)

52-0695 – Liston-Key bone cutting forceps, multiple action, double curved 10½” (27cm)

17-0239 – Mayo Hegar needle holder, box joint 5″ (13cm)

17-0240 – Mayo Hegar needle holder, box joint 6″ (15cm)

17-0241 – Mayo Hegar needle holder, box joint 7″ (18cm)

17-0242 – Mayo Hegar needle holder, box joint 8″ (20cm)

18-0250 – Mathieu needle holder for delicate sutures screw joint 5½” (14cm)

18-0251 – Mathieu needle holder, jaws with groove/without groove, screw joint 5½” (14cm)

18-0267 – Olsen-Hegar needle holder & scissors combined, screw joint 5½” (14cm)

56-0734 – Finsen retractor 2×3 blunt prongs

56-0735 – Weitlaner retractor 3×4 prongs sharp or blunt 5″ (13cm)

56-0736 – Weitlaner retractor 3×4 prongs sharp or blunt 6½” (16.5cm)

56-0737 – Weitlaner retractor 3×4 prongs sharp or blunt 5″ (13cm)

56-0738 – Weitlaner retractor 3×4 prongs sharp or blunt 6½” (16.5cm)

56-0739 – Collin retractor with 2 lateral siwvel blades only

54-0715 – Dissecting tenaculum 1 prong sharp with metal handle

54-0716 – Dissecting tenaculum 2 prong sharp with metal handle

6-0044 – Operating scissors, straight, sharp.blunt, blunt/blunt, sharp/sharp, pattern A.B.C. 4½” (11½cm)

6-0050 – Operating scissors, curved, sharp/blunt, blunt/blunt, sharp/sharp, pattern A.B.C. 4½” (11½cm)

21-0347 – Splinter forceps, very fine points, straight/curved with guide pin 3½” (9cm)

2-0166 – Haemostatic Kelly forceps, box joint, straight/curved 5½” (14cm)

12-0167 – Haemostatic Crile forceps, box joint, straight/curved 5½” (14cm)

2-0175 – Haemostatic Rochester Ochsner forceps, box joint, straight/curved 6¼” (16cm)

55-0729 – Deaver retractor

Orthopedic drill

Sutures

Cobb elevators

Kerrison ronguers

Bone curettes

Gouges

Osteotomes

Lane’s bone holding forceps 12½” (31.6cm)

Lane’s bone holding forceps 15½” (39.3cm)

By admin | Posted in SARA, The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Comments (0)

S.A.R.A. Trip to Ukraine June 1 – 19, 2012

January 9, 2012 | 9:11 pm

COLUMBUS — S.A.R.A. Co-President Lana C. Sakash will be leading a group trip to Ukraine from June 1-19, 2012.  The group will be flying from Columbus to New York and then on to Budapest, Hungary from where they will travel overland to Transcarpathia, Ukraine.  They will spend time in Mukachevo, Ra’t and can possibly tailor the trip to fit different needs.  In the past some of the group has stayed in Dobron at the Good Samaritan Children’s Home to work with the children there. Others have stayed in town to teach English, American culture and games or at St. Michael’s Children’s Home to teach English and play games with the children.  The group will also spend some time visiting places of interest in Transcarpathia.  If you are interested in going, please contact Lana Sakash at sakash@bright.net for more details.

Roma children in Transcarpathia, Ukraine --Andrew Tonn photo

By admin | Posted in Hungary, SARA, The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Some Ideas for a Holiday Gift to S.A.R.A.!

December 19, 2011 | 2:29 pm

Rev. Stephen Szilagyi speaks on the importance of Christ's birth and the spirit of Christmas. :Shane Brown photo

Dear Friends and Family of SARA,

Christmas and the holidays are fast approaching. While times may be difficult here in the United States we need to remember how much more serious conditions can be in the developing world where SARA’s missions are concentrated.

This is the rainy season in the tropics and El Salvador recently suffered a devastating series of floods that have wiped out houses, cut entire communities off from supplies and made the health care situation even more serious.

Winter is coming to Ukraine, Romania and Serbia. While we think of snowy nights, snug with our families, there the cold and blizzards can bring isolation and even starvation. In the recent past, SARA support has saved isolated orphanages and hospitals in the Carpathian Mountains from such a grim fate.

And there are all the everyday projects and programs, bringing hope and life to people in the forgotten corners of the world through medicine and food, life-saving and life-altering surgeries, education and other opportunities they never would have had otherwise.

In these difficult time the poor and sick, oppressed and disadvantaged need your help more than ever.  Remember these brothers and sisters in Christ as we approach the season of His birth.

Every donation helps and the following are few ideas:

• A special collection to support SARA.

• Including a monthly contribution to SARA in your church budget.

• A “jingling change” collection.

• A special Christmas collection.

• A recyclable can drive.

Most importantly, please encourage your church to remember SARA and those we to serve in their prayers. With God’s help all things are possible.

Remember, a speaker’s bureau is available to present programs at your church on work of SARA’s work. To schedule a presentation, please call or contact SARA.

Sharing America’s Resources Abroad

Ohio Conference UCC

6161 Busch Blvd.

Suite 100

Columbus, Ohio 43229

(800) 282-0740

(614) 885-0722

www.saragroup.org

By admin | Posted in Central America, El Salvador, Hungary, SARA, Serbia, The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Crisis Flooding in El Salvador

October 24, 2011 | 3:11 pm

By Carmen Santacruz

Director of CRD

Displaced Salvadorans trek through floodwaters in search of dry land

SAN SALVADOR–Thank you for your concern, we know that our people are in your prayers. We have been busy with this emergency.  Let me give some news about our communities:

Ahuachapán: Is the region that has been affected the most at the beginning of the rains and flooding. We had 250 families evacuated from nearby the El Espino lagoon.  We brought  them 180 packages with clothes, shoes and toys.

Jucuarán: The whole municipality is very much affected with 200 families evacuated, but particularly in the El Espino are.  We brought 250 packages with clothes, shoes and toys as well.

Apopa: It has been necessary to evacuate 100 families, and our contribution was to provide the CEFOR installation as an emergency shelter.

These numbers change quickly.  I will send you updated information and some pictures tomorrow. There are so many needs, but especially needed are funds for reconstruction and to buy primary needs equipment (mattresses, blankets, sweaters and, of course, food).

We will be so glad to meet the delegation in January. We are very much interested in showing our CEFOR facility. We are so proud that by now we have graduated more than 300 young people with educations in carpentry, sewing, computer programming and cloth printing. We had soccer and softball groups, and many, many more activities that I will write of soon.

A CRD truck drives through the flood zone in El Salvador delivering supplies and emergency aid workers. The CRD is a Salvadoran NGO and a partner of SARA in Central America.

Photos of the flooding sent by Carmen and the CRD can be seen by clicking here: 2011 El SALVADOR FLOOD CRISIS PHOTOS

By admin | Posted in Central America, El Salvador | Comments (0)

SARA to Serbia

October 23, 2011 | 7:17 pm

By Randy and Grace Gehres

ORRVILLE–Nothing is quite like starting the summer with a nine-day SARA trek to Serbia and back.  So Grace and I, on behalf of our Orrville congregation, joined company with six others:  Drs. Matt and Cristal Schaeffer (who were also exploring opportunities for Medical Mission International), Amy Jo West and her son Steven, intrigued with the lure of their Hungarian heritage, Rev. Attila Szemesi, group organizer and leader, and his son, Alexei, visiting his grandmother (Attila’s mother) in the region of our travels.

We were met with extravagant hospitality by the Christian Reformed Church (Hungarian), (SARA’s primary mission partner in the Vojvodina province of northern Serbia).  Pastors dined us in their homes and told us about their congregations.   Doctors and administrators gave us the grand tour of their medical facilities.  The very impressive Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO), also an important SARA partner, showed us their many projects benefitting seniors, flood victims, Roma, the disadvantaged living in the city of Novi Sad, and people dealing with disabilities, cancer, and so forth.

We dispatched our responsibility of delivering supplies and funds to churches and projects, some $21,000 along with laptop computers and suitcases full of mostly medical supplies.  We were impressed by the spirit of stewardship with which the local leaders received these gifts, and by their careful accounting of how last year’s SARA funds were used.  More than that, we were impressed by the persevering determination of those we encountered.  After a half-century of communism followed by a decade of civil strife and warfare, they were now faced with extraordinary unemployment, a large number of internal refugees and new challenges to church life.  Nevertheless were met by people focused on the future, on improving the health and welfare of their communities, serving the least of those among them, building up the church, and offering the Gospel to the many who needed some good news.

Daily travels brought us to three day care centers.  The Bethesda Day Care in the city of Backa Topola is a lovely facility. Their impressive program for children with disabilities is the only such provider in that area. More information on their programs may be found on the website:  bethesda.org.yu.   It also has the only handicap ramp and parking in the entire city!  The Feketic Day Care for children and young adults with disabilities provides therapy, meals, and crafts in the former German Reformed Church school building.  The Church Day Care Center for young children, located in Pacsir, is the only church-run day care in Serbia.  Children of working families are prepared here for school and learn to live in community together.  The pastor’s Bible lesson on Monday provides the basis for the week’s program and introduces them to Christian life.

We visited three clinics as well as a mental hospital.  In Magyar Itabej we left money for an EKG.  At Mali Idjos, we funded a pilot project of preventative mammogram screenings for 100 church women.  The orphanage in Subotica, where 134 of the 160 children have special needs, received support and, one hopes, encouragement for its overworked staff.

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization in Novi Sad, under the leadership of Beres Karoly, is a dynamic place.  We gave particular support to their Cancer Center – the only one of its kind in the region – and for social service ministry for the Roma, including a cottage industry.   The EHO Center For The Disabled is one-of-a-kind organization in Serbia that equips folks with every sort of disability with the skills to use a computer.  A promising new day care center for seniors and the disabled is now being built as well.

Church life and the situation of pastors were of particular interest.  I was privileged to preach at the church in Feketic.  Despite the differences, the task of the church is much the same as here:  to provide worship and instruction in the faith, involve the young in the worship and life of the church, communicate the gospel to the many who neither know nor are committed to Christ, and to represent the compassion of Jesus to the great needs around them.

We also enjoyed beauty and many unexpected delights.  Cherry trees were everywhere, laden with ripe fruit.  Storks, pheasants, and huge rabbits could be seen in the fields as we drove by.  The Danube is stately, the ice cream wonderful.  The church center where we lodged was a pleasant treat.  There we were surprised to meet another guest, Dr. Oroszi Pal, visiting from the Christian Doctors Association in Ukraine where we had met him on a SARA trip five years ago.

We thank God for a safe and successful trip, for Attila’s good-humored leadership, and for our Christian brothers and sisters who live and serve so faithfully in that part of God’s world.

By admin | Posted in Serbia | Comments (0)

A Path and Some Tomatoes

September 26, 2011 | 6:54 pm

By Jeannie Szilagyi

SARA Secretary

We met the administrator of the nursing home in Szerencs, formerly a town that prided itself on wonderful chocolate.  Her brother is the minister of the Reformed Church in Miskolc.  We went to the 10th anniversary of his ministry with Dr. Akos Kiss and his wife Erika.

When we went to the nursing home, we were given a grand tour.  My research and Ph.D. dissertation is about training the staff of the Special Care Units (SCU) for Alzheimer’s residents.  The newly opened and locked (protected) dementia unit has great potential.  One of the elements of this type of unit is providing a safe environment, while reducing combative behavior.  Alzheimer’s residents are often depressed, frustrated and repetitive in their behavior and thought processes.  They will walk and eat continuously and they may strike out when they cannot express themselves.  The role of the staff in the SCUs must be adapted to these behaviors.  One of the most significant contributions to their care should be an open area, with repetitive paths, in a familiar, non-threatening environment.  They had a good staff, but the area outside needed a walking path.  When Mike and Laura McCoy and Lilly Monday, from our church, came over to work, the area was mapped out and the supplies were purchased.

Now to the tomatoes:  The home, because of financial cutbacks by the government, lacked the basic supplies, not only for efficient business operation but especially for the residents.  So, with the money from the church we bought shampoo, copier paper and various other supplies.  Our neighbor told us that there was a greenhouse in our town.  Stephen stopped and tried to purchase ten tomato plants but when he told the owner that he was taking them to the home, the owner donated them.  The ladies on the SCU planted them and the pictures tell the rest.

Building a Path...

By admin | Posted in Hungary, The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Comments (0)

Request for Volunteers From Amani Children’s Home in Tanzania

September 9, 2011 | 1:27 pm

Rama and Emmanuel

Dear Jean & SARA,

Hello from Amani Children’s Home in Tanzania! Thank you for your kind offer ofmedical care for the Amani children. You offer a marvelous service andhave done so much good in many areas. We are fortunate to have a full-time nurse who manages the basic healthcare needs of the Amani children. For anything more than common viruses and minor cuts and bruises, Rovina will take the children to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center for treatment. KCMC is a teaching hospital right here in Moshi and benefits from visiting medical professionals year-round.Jean, where we do often need help is recruiting Health Assistant Volunteers. Amani volunteers must commit to a minimum of six months working virtually full-time with the Amani kids. On our website are the position description, general requirements of all long-term volunteers,and a summary description of Amani. Would you be willing to post any of this information in an area where SJCME students, faculty (and others!) might see it? We invite anyone interested to visit the Amani website for more information: http://amanikids.org/volunteering-at-amani. We would be so grateful for any help in finding qualified volunteers.

Kathleen Mahoney

Teddy and Agnesi

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Visitor From Hungary

September 7, 2011 | 8:59 pm

Mrs. Agnes Kovacs, administrator of the “Old Age” Home in Szerencs, Hungary will be the guest of SARA, sometime between the first and sixteenth of October.  Any one who wants her to speak or would like her to visit, specifically Marty or Sherry, should contact us immediately.  Our church will probably have a dinner or presentation for her during that time.

–Jeannie Szilagyi

By admin | Posted in Hungary | Comments (0)

UKRAINE TRIP JUNE 2011

August 22, 2011 | 11:20 pm

COLUMBUS–This was one of the best trips to Ukraine ever! We traveled in a group of eight: seven women and my husband George. Since he grew up with sisters, he handled it quite well and was helpful to all of us at one time or another.

Marty and Sherry stayed at the Good Samaritan Children’s Home in Dobron and they will report on their trip separately. Charlotte, Charlene, Kara, Shirley, George and I spent the first week in Mukachevo. We taught English to children at School #4 and also at St. Stephen’s Lyceum. We had open classes in the afternoons and had kids of all ages who wanted to improve their English. We mainly had fun teaching them American games as they practiced their English. Bingo and Uno were the biggest hits, but we had other activities as well. If you go to Mukachevo, it would be fun to do the “OH — IO” cheer, as a lot of children there know how to respond!

In addition to working with the children, we met with Bishop Majnek to discuss the needs of the area. We also met with Marta Popovich, who heads a program that offers counseling to women considering abortion and also women who have had an abortion and are struggling.

We spent the second week in Ra’t at St. Michael’s Children’s Home (check out their website http://stmkids.hhrf.org/) It was an awesome experience. The kids there are just learning English so, luckily, we had two great translators named Veronica and Rosa. We played a lot of games with these children as well as many other activities. The girls made necklaces with some beads brought by Shirley, and then the boys wanted in on that, so luckily her friends had supplied her with some sports ball beads. Kara, our youngest group member (and a great hit with the kids) brought balloons that could be shaped into animals and supervised the Great Sack Race competition! Charlene, our speech therapist, spent time using flash cards with English words. Charlotte, always a favorite with the kids as well, brought the sacks for the race and some musical equipment for the home. George was the sports expert and played soccer, football and basketball with the kids. One of our most fun activities was teaching them to roast marshmallows. It was their first and now we will have to mail them some as well as take more of them, as it was a great success. Our hosts and the children were great at both places, welcomed us warmly, and the food was awesome as always!

The most marvelous thing that happened was that we raised $14, 465 toward the purchase of a used minivan which they were able to buy while we were there! They put some money together with ours and got a great van for $18, 500. George also met with a Rotary Club from Lviv and the Upper Sandusky Rotary Club is going to work with them on a grant to get a van for the second house. We are all going to start working on getting one for the third house! These are greatly needed so that they have reliable transportation for the children’s medical appointments, music, Scout events, lessons and other activities as well as the ability to take family trips.

If anyone has any good fundraising ideas, wishes to make a donation toward the van or is interested in going on a trip to Ukraine, please contact me, Lana Sakash at (419) 927-2836 for more information. We are planning a trip for June 2012.

By admin | Posted in The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Comments (0)

Three Memories From Ukraine

August 5, 2011 | 1:50 pm

When I think about my experiences in Ukraine, I think of the last thing Maria from St. Michael’s said when we left… “Thank you for accepting us as we are.” What a wonderful way to sum up exactly they way I was feeling as well.

Before I visited Ukraine in June of 2011, I really was not at all sure what to expect. Most of my questions began with “what”. What will the weather be like? What will the schedule be each day? What will I eat? What kind of money do they use? What lessons should I be ready to teach? While these questions seemed to be the most important before the trip, the most important question was, “Who will we meet?”

Our Ukrainian hosts were extremely gracious, welcoming, and friendly.  Even though I had never met them before, I was always greeted with a kiss on each cheek and a hug. They fed us like royalty, which is to say they fed us fresh, homemade, wonderfully delicious meals three times a day. I met some amazing people, including children and adults. It’s difficult to try to describe in words, but in one short week at St. Michael’s I felt like I had gained three new families. I learned that families don’t have to be the same nationality or even speak the same language. Family members care about each other, spend time together, and most importantly accept each other the way they are.

–Kara Lee

My trip to Ukraine with Lana Sakash and the ecumenical SARA group in June 2011 was a unique experience. I really enjoyed staying one week in Mukachevo in the home of a host couple.  We walked each day to a local school in Mukachevo for simple English lessons with the students, mostly playing games like UNO and Bingo. The children were so energetic and appreciative of our visit.  Even some of the parents who wanted to learn English came too. Lana made sure that we always had an interpreter wherever we went.  While in Mukachevo we visited the Art Institute, the Palanok Castle, a Children’s Home with 10 foster children, the Cathedral and several other churches.  We had plenty of time for relaxing, shopping, and walking the streets of this lovely city.  We also took a ride in the countryside to visit a small village of a friend in our group.  What an eye opener to the simple life! Villagers grow their own vegetables, fruits, and raise their own pigs for meat. They have their own chickens and cows,  and make their own cheese.  The small houses are set very close beside each other, but, with all the fencing, grape arbors, gardens and pens, one cannot see each other’s neighbor.

For one week, we stayed in the village of Ratavici at the St. Michael’s Children’s Home. The foster children, age 2-17-years-old, lived in group homes of 10 with house parents. We played with them each morning.  We had two young women to interpret for us who stayed at the Home as well. They were able to help us explain the games and the activities.   We stayed in dorm rooms in the administration building, which were very nice. The home-cooked meals were excellent and we ate in a different home each night.  Each day, the directors of the Home had a special activity for us to see.  We visited the capital of the region, attended a music recital, and  visited a gypsy camp. We had time to relax, play with the children and take walks in this small village of 1,200.

The house parents and Directors of the children’s home made us feel so welcome and were so very appreciative of the nine passenger van that SARA purchased for them. They are now able to go places and make plans as a family.  Being good ambassadors for the efforts of SARA has made me feel a part of this project.  I am so thankful for this experience that I want to continue to work for the SARA program.

–Charlene Beeler

Here are some brief thoughts about our trip.  I tried to keep my thoughts short as I know better than to get going!

My fourth trip to the Ukraine was the best yet!  I have had the privilege of watching St. Michael’s grow from one building with no occupants to three homes with happy caring families.  The house parents in each house see and treat the children as their own.  The children accept each other as siblings sharing the same parents.  It has been so rewarding to be a small part of this place half way around the world.  I look forward to trip number five and to seeing all the children I have come to know and love.

–Charlotte Leeth

By admin | Posted in The Ukraine, Transcarpathia, Ukraine | Comments (0)