Franciscan Mission Outreach Emissary Update - Dec 2014
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EMISSARY FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY REPORT + DECEMBER 2014 FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 [email protected] + www.facebook.com/franciscanmissionoutreach LIVE GREATER F rom October 15 to 24 Fr. Herald accompanied US cardiac anesthesiologist Dr. Ellen Dailor (top right) to the Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Shisong Cameroon, run by Franciscan Sis- ters. Dr. Dailor has served several mes at this state- of-the-art medical facility - the only one of its kind in Central Africa - and shared her experiences with Fr. Herald. He went to see how Franciscan Mission Out- reach might help provide life-saving heart surgery to Cameroonians in need. By God’s providence, Dr. Claudia von Luero and Andrea Maria Zeller (below leſt, with Fr. Herald) of the European nonprofit Mido - which raises funds for the same purpose - were also vising at the same me. Cameroon is a developing country of 22 million, a vast number of whom live in rural areas, survive on what they grow and lack adequate medical care. The average yearly income is under $2000 and life expec- tancy reaches only into the mid-50s. Cameroon has an extremely high incidence of rheumac heart dis- ease: 100-200 mes higher than in wealthier coun- tries. Rheumac heart disease (caused by the strep virus) damages heart valves, affects mostly children and young adults and is the most common cause of cardiovascular death in the region. It’s esmated that 40,000 people in Cameroon suffer from this disease. The Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth Hospital has the advanced capacity to do open-heart valve replace- ment surgery to treat this disease and save lives. The Centre has a full me, European trained Came- roonian cardiac surgeon, Dr. Charles Mve Mvondo (right), and the staff and technology to provide inten- sive pre- and post-operave care. When Dr. Dailor is there the surgical team is complete. Though the cost of this surgery in Cameroon ($7000) is only a small fracon of that in the US, it far exceeds the means of almost everyone there who needs it. Nearly 100 pa- ents unable to pay are on a waing list for surgery. That’s where Franciscan Mission Outreach comes in. We are working with the Live Greater Foundaon to match donaons from Mido and cosponsor paents for heart surgery at which Dr. Dailor will aend as anesthesiologist. We are endeavoring to make sure this amazing Cardiac Centre funcons at full capacity for the benefit of the poor. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to give seven Cameroonians in need the Christmas giſt of free heart surgery. Please help us in this effort to save a life! Visit: www.youcaring.com/fmo-h4c
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Sharing the work of Franciscan Mission Outreach at the Cardiac Centre, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Shisong, Cameroon and in Honduras during the latter part of 2014.
Transcript of Franciscan Mission Outreach Emissary Update - Dec 2014
EM I SSA R Y FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY REPORT + DECEMBER 2014
FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 [email protected] + www.facebook.com/franciscanmissionoutreach
LIVE GREATER
F rom October 15 to 24 Fr. Herald accompanied US cardiac anesthesiologist Dr. Ellen Dailor (top right) to the Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth
Hospital, Shisong Cameroon, run by Franciscan Sis-ters. Dr. Dailor has served several times at this state-of-the-art medical facility - the only one of its kind in Central Africa - and shared her experiences with Fr. Herald. He went to see how Franciscan Mission Out-reach might help provide life-saving heart surgery to Cameroonians in need. By God’s providence, Dr. Claudia von Lutterotti and Andrea Maria Zeller (below
left, with Fr. Herald) of the European nonprofit Mido - which raises funds for the same purpose - were also visiting at the same time.
Cameroon is a developing country of 22 million, a vast number of whom live in rural areas, survive on what they grow and lack adequate medical care. The average yearly income is under $2000 and life expec-tancy reaches only into the mid-50s. Cameroon has an extremely high incidence of rheumatic heart dis-ease: 100-200 times higher than in wealthier coun-tries. Rheumatic heart disease (caused by the strep virus) damages heart valves, affects mostly children and young adults and is the most common cause of cardiovascular death in the region. It’s estimated that 40,000 people in Cameroon suffer from this disease.
The Cardiac Centre at St. Elizabeth Hospital has the advanced capacity to do open-heart valve replace-ment surgery to treat this disease and save lives. The Centre has a full time, European trained Came-roonian cardiac surgeon, Dr. Charles Mve Mvondo (right), and the staff and technology to provide inten-sive pre- and post-operative care. When Dr. Dailor is there the surgical team is complete. Though the cost of this surgery in Cameroon ($7000) is only a small fraction of that in the US, it far exceeds the means of almost everyone there who needs it. Nearly 100 pa-tients unable to pay are on a waiting list for surgery.
That’s where Franciscan Mission Outreach comes in. We are working with the Live Greater Foundation to match donations from Mido and cosponsor patients for heart surgery at which Dr. Dailor will attend as anesthesiologist. We are endeavoring to make sure this amazing Cardiac Centre functions at full capacity for the benefit of the poor. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to give seven Cameroonians in need the Christmas gift of free heart surgery.
Please help us in this effort to save a life! Visit: www.youcaring.com/fmo-h4c
Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us and know you are remembered in our prayers. Tax-deductible donations to support the life, ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out
to “Franciscan Mission Outreach” and sent to: Franciscan Mission Outreach PO Box 1086 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086
Baby Francesco of La Ceiba, Honduras, at four months of age (left). He was saved from abortion with the help of Franciscan Mission Outreach.
Please indicate “Cameroon”
in the memo space on your check
if you would like your donation
to help provide free heart surgery
to those in need.
OUR MINISTRY IN HONDURAS CONTINUES! Fr. Herald and Franciscan Mission Outreach, with the frequent collaboration of Missioners of Christ (based in Comayagua), have been active in the past few months: giving talks, retreats and spiritual formation to school children, youth, university students and young adults; in different forms of outreach to couples and families; in providing spiritual support to communities of religious sisters; with Sacramental assistance at local parishes; making mission visits to Catholic communities on outlying islands; participating in Catholic radio programs; visiting orphanages, prison and a home for the elderly.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 6 - 10: Parish Mission, Mother Seton Germantown, MD
January 3 - 10, 2015: Haiti
January 27 - March 2: Honduras
March 7 - 11: Parish Mission, St. Michael Church
Gainesville, GA
March 19 - April 5: Jesús en la Playa / Holy Week La Ceiba, Utila and Guanaja, Honduras
May: Honduras
June: Ghana and Cameroon, Africa (tentative):
Eucharistic Youth Retreats
Merry Christmas!
