Lessons of Springtime
Spring is the time of waking from winter – from death. The robin has returned, trees and flowers are budding. It’s a reminder to us that we must be ever waking. A man said to me once after discovering the power of silent prayer, “I feel that I’m beginning to awaken.” Seeing is painful – painful because as we choose to see, little by little we realize that it is at our own hands that the world suffers. Only by a decision of the will to confront every painful awareness in my world can I be free. To live in awareness is to live responsibly – responsible to God and to my neighbor.
You may remember that Qerim Gjocaj underwent surgery in December. His brother, Blerim, arrived in March. Blerim’s treatment will consist of a nerve and tendon transfer in his left arm followed by physical therapy. Rajmonda Krasniqi also arrived in March with her mother. Rajmonda has profound hearing loss and will be evaluated and treated by Dr. Bob Peters. Another young man from Kosova will arrive soon. He will be fitted by Hanger Prosthetics for a prosthetic below the knee.
The treatment of every patient that we bring to the USA is made possible by the gift of many people. Doctors give their time and service; hospitals cover the cost of hospitalization; airfare, housing and food are paid by donors; prosthetics are donated; and many give in other ways. Hours of work go into the arrangement of every case. The result is that we are all changed – those who give and those who receive
Our Annual Meeting was a time of honoring those who give so much. The enclosed poem by Albert Schweitzer was presented to five people for their contribution to the care of patients. Each gift was framed with a picture of the person they had helped. Dr. Keith Routh treated Dugagin Kusari (two angioplasties), Dr. Omar and Farooq Selod treated Qerim Gjocaj, Patrick McGahey arranged for and fitted Qerim’s prosthetic, and Carl Hunt worked tirelessly for months to secure hospitalization for Qerim’s surgery. Mr. Kusari has returned to his family in Kosova. Qerim charmed us with his heartfelt thanks for the gift of his new hand. “It is very exciting,” he told us, “ to have two hands for the first time in four years.”
“The Bob Striler Servant’s Award” went to Dr. Bakir Ajanovic. Dr. Ajanovic (Bakir to most of us) has used his influence in the medical community to secure hospital care and the service of many doctors and departments within the hospital. In short, most of what has been accomplished with these medical cases would not have been possible without Bakir.
The annual meeting is planned each year, from invitations to awards, by Grace Vanderpool. Carol Clinton, John Jurisich, and many who helped them gave of their time and creativity to make this day a special one. Thank you.
Containers
Four containers have been shipped this year to Nairobi, Kosova, Anahuac (Mexico), and Matamoras. Medical and dental equipment were sent to Nairobi, dental equipment to Matamoras, and new shoes to Anahuac and Kosova. Over 12,000 pairs of shoes, donated by Buckner International, were sent to Mexico and Kosova.
In Anahuac we work with an orphanage director who distributes aid to other orphanages and to the larger community through social services. In Pristine, the capital of Kosova, we shipped to the Trauma Center whose director is a pediatrician and humanitarian concerned with the needs of all people in Kosova.
Thanks to Bill Waugh, our warehouse space has grown to 3,000 square feet. It is located directly behind our office.
Conclusion
Our reason for gratitude never changes - only our circumstances change. Understanding that is the key to living without stress in a stressful world. The answer lies in the heart of every man. Thank you for your generosity to us and, therefore, to others.
In Gratitude,