Damien House

Happy New Year!

2012-01-26T12:19:00.000-05:00

As we look forward to a new year, we are reminded of all the blessings and joys that have touched us here at Damien House this year. We remember a wonderful year spent celebrating the lives of our patients; we remember those who have gone to God in 2011; and we remember a year full of miracles including all the hard work and love brought to Ecuador by visiting medical groups, retreatants, and visitors. In a year full of joy and progress, we look forward to what 2012 has in store for us. We plan for major and exciting developments here at the foundation and for the lives and well being of our patients. As we eagerly start in on all these new projects, know that we send you and your our best wishes and happiness in the new year!

Christmas Time at Damien!

2011-12-22T11:08:00.002-05:00

In the past month, we here at the Foundation have had the pleasure to receive so many loving and generous groups of visitors that have shared their joy, songs and cheer with the patients and staff at Damien House. Damien House has hosted church groups, young students, musical groups, and even dance troupes all willing to share part of their day and a lot of their life and laughter with the patients. Thank you to all of our wonderful visitors!

Clothing Give Away

2011-11-15T11:32:00.000-05:00

Just in time to kick off the holiday season, Damien House held a clothing give away for our patients where they could individually pick their favorite pieces from an assortment of generously donated clothing. Patients came in empty handed and left joyous and with a new wardrobe. Ranging from polos to T-shirts, dress jackets to comfy sweaters, special occasion dresses to night gowns, we at Damien are so grateful for the donations that truly brighten the lives of our patients and staff. Thank you for your continued love and support!

Cece helps Fortunato find the perfect pair of pants!

Gilberto finds a new polo in his favorite color!

Alcides and Marlene have a laugh while looking for pants!

Abel and Jose work together to find just the right shirt!

Halloween 2011!!!!!

2011-11-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

Big group picture...smiles all around!!

Halloween this year at Damien was crazy!!!!!! Every patient wore a hat or a mask of some kind and we danced around all over the patio. We shared sugary and salty snacks together- chips and chocolate!!

Sr. Annie, Anita, Lindsay and the EEUS volunteers with Trinidad

Liz and Linsday dancin´all around!

Dr. Thomas Sichi Visits Ecuador

2011-11-15T10:28:00.003-05:00

In early October, Damien House received Dr. Tom Sichi, DO. During his two weeks in Ecuador, he shared his skills and abilities in many different forms including: spending time with patients at Damien, making rounds at the Infectious Disease Hospital, worked at a clinic in Duran and visited Hansen´s patients in the campo with us. Upon his return to the US, Dr. Tom shared with us this article he wrote about his experience. Dr. Tom traveled through the program, Physicians for Humanity (http://www.physiciansforhumanity.org). Below is Dr. Tom´s article, which he proudly gave us permission to share.

A few issues ago we reported on Physicians for Humanity(PFH), a non-profit group working in Ecuador co-founded by Dr. Nicholas Bower and Patrick Cain, DO one of our second year residents. I decided it would be a great experience to do an international rotation and see first hand what PFH was doing in Ecuador. The month was split between three main separate clinical settings.

I worked in an emergency department which specialized in infectious disease on a number of occasions. Like many of our EDs here in the states the facility was run down and overburdened but impressively efficient despite these structural obstacles. The infectious pathology had some similarities to the states with a much higher rate of HIV, a large number of cases of disseminated and extrapulmonary TB as well as Histoplasmosis, Dengue fever and Malaria. I was able to speak with some of the regional authorities in infectious disease/public health about the vector-host control programs. They are currently studying a previously unexplained decrease in Dengue which may possibly be due to a recent Yellow Fever vaccination program inadvertently conferring a significant amount of Dengue prophylaxis. This research may have the potential to lead to a vaccine for Dengue! The ED physicians working in this hospital have a full year of residency dedicated to ID and are able to see large volumes of patients with very little burden of documentation.

The second part of the clinical experience was a home stay and working in a local clinic named Dispensario San Franciso in Duran run by support from PFH. Duran is an outlying region of Guayaquil which houses many families who have moved from the more rural areas of Ecuador as part of the greater global rush towards urbanization. Like the Favelas of Brazil, much of the housing is thrown together on land with no official ownership, there are no addresses and no sewage or running water exists. Water is delivered by tanker truck that simply siphon from the nearest polluted bayou into open barrels for domestic use and unfortunately breeding mosquitoes. Living in the same neighborhood as the clinic allowed me to get to know many of the residents, diagnose disease and create treatment regimens which were realistic given the local conditions. Had I stayed in a sterile hotel I might not have had the same knowledge, empathy or rapport. In this population nearly all belly pain and diarrhea was empirically treated with anti-parasitic agents before any other work up was initiated.

The third part of the clinical experience was working with the local Hansen’s disease providers in various clinical settings. As with many parts of the world, most local physicians are not skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of Hansen’s. Echoes of Molokai still ring as stigma surrounding the disease lurks as a significant barrier to care. I had worked with Hansen’s in Tanzania in 2006 and the care in Ecuador greatly surpassed the care provided in rural Africa. The care was separated into a three tiered system mostly managed by Catholic Nuns. The first tier afforded perhaps my favorite clinical experience of the trip as I spent the day driving to remote cane homes of Hansen’s patients to aid Sister Lus handing out medication, giving dosing advice and preventing and tending to wound/skin care issues. It was heart wrenching to see a young woman who had stopped taking the Rifampin due to side effects because the dosing had not been adjusted by weight. My pediatric Tarascon’s never felt so valuable. The second tier of care located in Guayaquil at the Damien House was an outpatient dispensary for medications and again basic wound care. The third tier was a long term care facility run by Sister Annie Credidio named The Damien House after the esteemed Father Damien who tended to the quarantined Hansen’s community on the island of Molokai before succumbing to the disease himself. The facility cared for many patients who had been cured but suffered various sequelae or could not return to their home communities due being ostracized. One patient recently celebrated a happy centennial birthday after having been cured in the 1960s. The Damien House has recently had great success with reintegration of some of the long term patients into their home communities, this program both shines a visible light of hope on the patients and makes room for some of new patients identified by Sister Lus’s outreach programs. The care in this facility was multi-faceted and far exceeded many so called skilled nursing facilities here in the states while running on a very limited budget. I would greatly encourage anyone with the means to donate to this facility.

Kingman Regional Medical Center has a great policy allowing residents to do international rotations which simultaneously adds great diversity to the possible learning experiences and allows residents to help more than just the people of Arizona. I looked at many residency programs that tout international emergency medicine curricula but require residents to use limited vacation time to actually travel. The ability to simultaneously obtain academic credit and draw a salary while being involved in philanthropy is a rare opportunity and real asset to the KRMC residency. The trip provided profound inspiration and clinical experiences invaluable to any developing physician. I would especially like to thank the program director Dr.Micheal Sheehy, director of medical education Dr. Kelli Ward, Doreen Williams and Sheri Glass for their tremendously tenacious administrative support in making this trip a reality.

The hands of a hard working Hansen´s patient in the campo.

The kitchen of a cane house in the campo.

The telling "mancha" or stain commonly associated with Hansen´s.

The feet of a laboring campesino in the fields.

A recently diagnosed Hansen´s patient shows us his drug regimen.

New Informational Video

2011-04-11T12:42:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the volunteers at the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES), Damien House has a new informational video. Click on the video above to watch.

Thursdays, Banana Days!

2011-02-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Hard Yakka!

Hij doing some work, for once..

Every month, a truckload of donated bananas are delivered to the Foundation. It´s then our job to unload, move and store them. It usually takes about 3hours and by the end we are all exhausted. The first day we finished up, Hij, Simon and I thought that there´d be enough bananas for about a month, when we returned the following Monday about half of them had been used in meals! It´s just a small example of how the foundation runs and relies on donations and how important they are to it´s existence. The other great thing about banana day is that sometimes Brendon makes his famous Banana loaf!!
Shamus (aka Chamu chamu)

Feliz Compleaños Trinidad!

2011-02-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

We are in the middle of the raining season here in Guayaquil and it rains almost every single day.

It was Trinidad's 85 years old birthday on the 27th on January.
So we had a small celebration for her and had a great time together!

Happy Birthday Trinidad and let's wish all the best to her!

Cheers,

My 1st post

2011-02-17T10:10:00.000-05:00

I am Hijiri from Japan and I am currently studying at UEES as an exchange student from Australia.

Firstly, a big thank-you to Damien House for welcoming us and providing us with such a great opportunity to work here.

To be honest , before working here, I was not really aware of the situation of Hansen's Disease here in Ecuador, as in my country only one or two people are infected by the disease annually, therefore it's almost a forgotten disease in Japan. So I was actually very surprised by the fact that there are still a number of people suffering from the disease in Ecuador.

At the beginning, I had some difficulties to have conversations with the patients due to my poor Spanish skills, however, now I believe that our conversations are slightly getting smoother than before, each time we talk. Also, I started getting to know about the circumstances of the disease and the patients.

Here at Damien House, although, the patients receive an excellent support from the workers and the center, they still need more support financially and in removing the stigma from the disease.

Actually, we only have a few more weeks to work here, so we are going to do our best supporting the place.

Thanks,

Hijiri

New Australian and Japanese Volenteers at Damien House

2011-02-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

2011 has rolled around and Damien House has welcomed 3 volunteers, Simon, Shamus and Hijiri all on student exchange from Australian universities have been introduced to the patients of Damien House and are working alongside staff to ensure the smooth running of the center.

Farewell to Volunteers Hillary, Elizabeth, and Mel

2011-01-31T12:12:00.001-05:00

Damien House recently said farewell to three extraordinary volunteers who returned to the USA after spending a semester studying at the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES) and volunteering at Damien House. Hillary Krombel (Manhattan College), Elizabeth Navarro (Washinton State), and Meláni Glassman (Boston University) brought a tremendous amount of energy, care, and dedication to their work. Hillary will be remembered for her outstanding work in the wound care room, Elizabeth for her painting, decorating, and ability to energize the patients with her bright personality, and Meláni for her work on the newsletter and for the connections she built with the patients. All at Damien House are incredibly thankful for their hard work and dedication and pray that God may bless them in all their future endeavors.

Thanks to Cabrini College for their visit to Damien House

2010-12-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

Damien House was recently blessed with a visit from eight students and two staff members from Cabrini College in Pennsylvania. The staff and patients of Damien House enjoyed spending time with these special visitors just before Christmas. The Cabrini group showed their Christmas spirit by singing classic Christmas carols such as Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman to the patients. The patients and staff at Damien House thank Cabrini College for their visit and wish them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas Clothes Giveaway

2010-12-13T11:52:00.001-05:00

Last week, Damien House held its annual Christmas clothes giveaway. All resident patients had the opportunity to select a number of new outfits and shoes from a wide range of both new and donated clothes. The patients are pleased to spend the Christmas season well-dressed. Thanks to everyone for your donations that make this clothes giveaway possible, and Damien House wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Damien House Thanks DePaul University For Their Visit

2010-12-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Damien House would like to thank DePaul University from Chicago, Illinois for their wonderful visit. Eleven students and a staff member graced the patients and staff at Damien with their energy, willingness to learn, and singing abilities. The girls spent two days at Damien House accompanying the patients and attentively listening to their stories. All at Damien House are thankful for their visit and remind them that our doors are always open.

Pope John Paul II High School Visits Damien

2010-11-30T10:47:00.003-05:00

Damien House was recently blessed with a visit by five students and a teacher from Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Rachael, Greg, Leandra, Hannah, and Tyler and their teacher Alan Lynch spent a week in Durán and Guayaquil with Rostro de Cristo. The students spent two days visiting Damien House and learning about Hansen´s disease, conversing with the patients, and providing entertainment. All at Damien House are very grateful to John Paul II High School for bringing joy, energy, open minds, and caring hearts.

Justino Leon Recovering

2010-10-21T12:48:00.004-04:00

Justino Leon has returned to Damien House as he recovers after having his right leg amputated. Leon is in good spirits as he patiently waits for the pain to fade away. Damien House is hoping to raise the thousands of dollars needed to buy a prosthetic so Leon can walk again. We humbly ask for your prayers that Leon recovers quickly, and if possible, any financial contributions that could help Leon to realize his dream of walking again.

Volunteers Brighten Up the Walls of Damien

2010-10-06T12:47:00.006-04:00

Volunteers Elizabeth Navarro and Francesca Anzola, American exchange students from the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES), are in the process of painting the maps of Ecuador and the United States on the walls of Damien House. While getting to know the patients, the girls tried to get an idea where they were from, but had no way of visualizing the different regions within Ecuador. They imagined that the patients felt the same way upon hearing that they were from Washington or New York. In addition to decorating the walls, the volunteers hope that the maps can provide a better understanding of the geographies of both countries. Everyone at Damien House is grateful for the creativity and hard work that the volunteers bring to Damien House.

Everything Back to Normal After Demonstrations

2010-10-04T11:29:00.002-04:00

We would like to let everyone know that things have returned to normal here at Damien House after the police demonstrations and ensuing chaos of last Thursday. Everyone here at Damien House is safe and nothing was damaged. Thanks for your concerns.

Volunteers Provide Much Needed Assistance

2010-09-29T12:38:00.002-04:00

Brendon Bradford and Hillary Krombel have been assisting Damien House by working in the wound care room. Both volunteers are aspiring doctors and have been happy to take advantage of the opportunity to gain some experience treating the wounds that are a common symptom of Hansen´s disease. Hillary is studying abroad at the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES)in Guayaquil and spends her mornings working at Damien House, while Brendan is volunteering for the year with Rostro de Cristo, a Catholic foundation that invites young adults to spend a year living and working with the people of Ecuador. The patients and staff at Damien House greatly appreciate their hard-working hands and loving hearts.

Colegio Javier Visits

2010-09-22T12:05:00.003-04:00

This week Damien House has been graced with the presence of a group of boys from the Colegio Javier, a Jesuit high school here in Guayaquil. They are spending the week conversing and playing games with the patients in addition to helping to clean the hospital grounds. Damien House really appreciates the time and effort they are dedicating to our patients.

Praying for Justino Leon

2010-09-22T11:46:00.002-04:00

Damien House humbly asks for your prayers for Justino Leon, who is in danger of losing his leg due to severe ulcers caused by Hansen´s disease. Leon´s unique laugh and wide smile has energized Damien House for years and now he only asks for your prayers for a quick recovery.

The Nutrition Program Returns

2010-09-22T10:46:00.002-04:00

Damien House is pleased to announce that we have re-initiated our breakfast and lunch programs thanks to your donations. These programs had been discontinued several years ago due to lack of funding, but for the past year we have once again been able to provide well-balanced, nutritious meals to the patients. Proper nutrition is essential for minimizing the side-effects of the powerful drugs used to treat Hansen´s disease. Thanks to your generosity, our patients no longer have to fear that poor nutrition could worsen their condition and increase their suffering.

How We Got Started

2009-10-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

In 1987, through an invitation by Sr. Kathleen Conway, BVM, Sr. Annie went to teach pre-school at Nuevo Mundo Foundation. Although she found great joy in the classroom, Annie began to recognize a restlessness settling in her soul and questioned whether God was calling her to meet another need. It was during this process that Annie was introduced to the patients living in an abandoned Hansen’s wing of the Infectious disease hospital. In seeing the horrendous conditions and disheartened spirits of the patients, Annie immediately felt God’s call to be a presence and advocate for those otherwise forgotten by society.

As it was found, the wing demanded immediate changes. The nearby disposal of hospital trash caused serious rat and roach infestations. The sewage pipes were eroded and damaged, leading to flooding in the patients’ bedrooms during the rainy season. Screens and windows were missing, and the hospital was rarely cleaned. The little food offered was often contaminated. Patients lived without dental care, resulting in worn down gums and difficulty eating. Due to the lack of water and nursing care, bed ridden patients were often dealing with scabies, lice, and bed sores. Basic medical care was nearly impossible to receive. Even worse, if a patient complained, they were asked to leave

Annie did what she could with limited resources and prayed for help to meet these extensive needs. Her prayers were answered when she met Suzanne Belz while attending a Creation Breakthrough class lead by Sister Blanche Marie Gallagher, BVM at Mundelein College in Chicago. The two became close friends through the sharing of their stories. One afternoon while Annie and Suzanne shared a cup of coffee, Suzanne asked “What do you need?” After that gesture, she wrote the bylaws and handled the legal work with her husband Ed Belz, and Damien House Inc. was founded. This story is one of the amazing ways that God puts us on one another’s path!

When donations started coming in from the US, the hospital wing began to transform. The plumbing and sewage was modernized to guarantee clean water while preventing flooding and rodent infestations. A nursing team and an Internist MD were hired and finally offered patients the medical care they deserved. Broken bed frames were repaired and new mattresses purchased. Clean bedding was provided for every patient. A nutrition program was initiated to ensure the food was clean, healthy, and appetizing. Visitors came and painted vibrant murals over the grey walls. Flowering plants filled the once empty hallways. Little by little, the patients’ spirits were uplifted. A newfound joy came from knowing that others cared about them and God had not abandoned them. The positive atmosphere was contagious and evident to all. The patients were finally given a voice! Meetings were held where the patients could speak freely about what their needs were, without the fear of being asked to leave.

Through the balance of wonderful friends and partner foundations, Damien House has become the home and refuge for people affected with Hansen’s disease. The non-profit organization channels tax exempt donations to Ecuador. All donations are used for the 24 hours a day, seven days a week, holistic care of the patients. The doors never close, and no one is ever turned away!