Healing the Children Northeast
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Newsletter Highlights and Updates:
- HTCNE Scholarships to New Milford High School Grads
- 2021 Golf Outing Highlights
- Our First 5K Miles for Smiles Virtual Event
- International Inbound Program: The Story of Nagalem
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
We Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
We have had quite a productive season, even with our
traveling medical teams still on hold due to Covid-19.
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Healing the Children Northeast is proud to provide scholarships to 3 individuals who graduated New Milford High School and are pursuing a career in a medical field.
Congratulations to Nathan, Amanda and Isabella!
Career choices:
Nathan Lawson – Physical Therapy
Amanda Tesoriero – Nursing
Isabella Luis – Physician’s Assistant
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Thank you to all who organized, participated in, and sponsored our first
5K Miles for Smiles. This virtual race was held from July 2 – 18, 2021!
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Thank you to all who attended and supported our
2021 Annual Golf Outing
held in Waccabuc, New York at the beautiful Waccabuc Country Club.
Although it was a rainy, chilly day, it did not prevent anyone from having fun. We were fortunate to have our Pro Golfer Longshot, Heather Manfredda, join us again this year. After a day of golf, our reception dinner was held inside the club with a silent auction and dinner hosted by our Board President, Bob Ryan. Susan Ketigian was called upon to tell a story about Nagalem, a little 5 year old girl who we recently brought in from Ethiopia
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In February 2020, HTCNE became aware of Nagalem Alafa,
a 5-year-old girl from a remote village in southwest Ethiopia
with an extensive, life-threatening cavernous venous malformation on her face.
At that time, we thought we would simply be helping to transport a little girl from Ethiopia to Kenya to undergo the extensive surgery to remove the malformation. As the pandemic began, we learned that the doctors were concerned about the growth and the potential of it blocking her airway or trauma to the malformation, either of which would be deadly. We were troubled by the urgency of this news and the need to find the right surgical team and to get her to them during a global lockdown.
Upon learning that no surgeons in Ethiopia nor Kenya could remove such a large venous growth, the search expanded. HTCNE worked with Patrick Brady, a USAID Representative to the African Union, and a HTCNE volunteer, to bring Nagalem, her father, Matios and a translator, to the U.S. so she could have surgery in New York City.
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The Vascular Birthmark Institute (VBI) donated the surgeries. Our team members who previously traveled to Ethiopia took a special interest in Nagalem's case and began an intensive fundraising campaign to cover travel and expenses while here for Nagalem and her accompanying team.
Nagalem and her family live in a very rural area. The trip to Addis Ababa required several hours of walking, a motorcycle ride, and a 13-hour bus ride. They had never been in a car before, let alone an airplane! The language they speak is Gamo Gofa and a translator was necessary to accompany them on their journey.
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Upon arrival, two of our team members met them at the airport with balloons and a stuffed animal. Despite being tired after such a long journey, it took less than five minutes for Nagalem to decide she wanted to play with the balloons. She had never seen one before.
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On the first full day of their trip, NYC showed its true generosity. At breakfast at the Comfort Diner, Dalia Soliman, offered to provide meals for them whenever they needed. Later that day, at Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant, owner Sisay Kassa, made the same generous offer. These two amazingly generous hosts provided a much-needed home away from home for the Ethiopian crew. It seemed like everyone who met Nagalem became a part of her support team.
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The surgeries took place at Lennox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, and treatment was donated by VBI. The 12 hour surgery was performed by the husband and wife team of Dr. Waner and Dr. O and their entire team. On a scale of one to 10, Dr. Waner said this surgery was a 12. It was one of the most challenging surgeries he has ever done. In that first surgery, the surgeons removed about 95% of the malformation. This exceeded expectations. After surgery, there were a few complications, but everyone remained hopeful. Nagalem had a respiratory tract infection and a fever, and an internal bleed from the site. They monitored her and were prepared to go back into the OR if needed. Fortunately, that was not necessary.Two weeks later she went back to the OR to remove the remaining malformation. Both surgeries were a huge success. Nagalem is a tough little girl. Though the surgery was
complex and the aftermath a little scary, it provided Nagalem with an incredible transformation. The surgeons even worked around and saved the nerve in her cheek. This preserved her most delightful smile!
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Between the many doctor visits, surgeries, and dental care, Nagalem and crew enjoyed sightseeing in NY and CT. Two supporters of HTCNE, Dr. Mersema Abate and Dr. Bob Gluck, hosted the group several times which included going up to the top of the Empire State Building. HTCNE Board President Bob Ryan and his wife Syma, hosted them for lunch and a boat ride near their home in NY. There was a press conference at Lennox Hill Hospital about Nagalem’s story and the lifesaving surgery she received at VBI. Her story got a lot of media attention, and she was recognized on the street after that. Not troubled by strangers, Nagalem always had a quick smile and high fives for her adoring fans.
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For as transformational and successful as the surgeries were, the process was not without a few minor setbacks.The surgical site on Nagalem’s chin reopened, and she went back into surgery to close that up again. Once that site was healing up nicely, several teeth were extracted that had infections in the gums.
Once these procedures were complete and successful, it was time for our team to bid them farewell on their journey back home to family and friends.
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Nagalem proved to be one fantastic kid. She gamely tried new foods, went with the flow as each day was different, and attended many doctor appointments with happiness, curiosity, and humor. She will be deeply missed by all that got to spend time with her. We are deeply grateful for all of our volunteers and donors who supported her care.
To everyone who helped HTCNE support the family in volunteering or monetary donations…thank you. To Patrick Brady, who brought Nagalem to our attention and accompanied her on her trip to NYC… thank you. To VBI, Lennox Hill Hospital, and the Waner Kids Foundation…thank you. To our HTCNE team including our two dedicated Mekelle, Ethiopia mission team members, Casey Saussy and Susan Ketigian…thank you. They arranged for her travel here, solicited donations, and spent six weeks traveling from their homes to NYC to be with Nagalem and her father during the treatment process.
These pictures tell the heartfelt, emotional, and triumphant story of their journey.
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ALERT:
With the holiday season 4 months away, please remember if you shop Amazon, please do so with AmazonSmile. You Shop – Amazon gives!
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When you shop with Amazon, you can help us with every purchase by logging on to AmazonSmile.com. You will be shopping on the same Amazon site that you are used to seeing, but HTCNE will earn 0.5% on each purchase.
So remember to shop Amazon Smile, and select Healing the Children Northeast (HTCNE) as the charity of your choice when making your purchase.
How to Shop AmazonSmile:
2. Set up an account and select Healing the Children Northeast as your charity of choice.
3. Shop as normal
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Thank you for supporting us and the children we help!
Please find us on Facebook and "like" our page.
Check out our website at www.HTCNE.org to see what’s new and exciting!
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