You Can Make a Difference, But Together We Can Make a Change
Greetings...
We have so much to be grateful for this holiday season. Whatever our personal challenges are, reaching out to help another is the source of great happiness.
The life-saving operation on Nima Dongzhou reported elsewhere in this newsletter was an chance for so many people from all walks of life -- all together -- to feel the spirit of giving and receiving that is what I hope this season means to you.
Perhaps most touching was the check we received for $10 from a retiree living on social security. "I hope this can help with the kids," she wrote, "I'll send more when I can."
We appreciate the help given by each of you.
Jennifer Cleary
President
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Our Mission:
We support and create charitable programs designed to not only address material needs, but to foster self-sufficiency, cooperation and community.
We support programs that:
- enhance the health, education and welfare of children
- provide education, health care and economic support for impoverished women in underdeveloped countries
- provide health care to those who do not have access to such services.
Our current focus is on Nepal and Tibet.
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Boy from Tibet has Life-Saving Spinal Surgery
Volunteer Medical Team Gives Boy Hope with Complex Operation
Just a few months ago, Nima Dongzhou was living in Tibet with an increasingly painful and life threatening spinal condition, a spine so severely twisted that it would literally crush his heart and lungs if left untreated. In Tibet there was no hope for treatment, and so there was no hope for Nima.
Now, through the efforts of so many, Nima has been brought to the USA and has undergone a series of successful medical procedures that have saved his life.
After extensive testing and imaging by some of the most sophisticated medical technologies and multiple operations by teams of highly trained surgeons, doctors, nurses and other practitioners, Nima is recovering and preparing for the rest of his life.
What will he do when he returns to Tibet? He wants to finish his schooling and work to provide medical care to his home village. This is Nima's way of expressing his gratitude.
But, Nima has a long way to go before returning home. The operation, which straightened and fused most of his spine, leaves him with metal rods inserted in his back to strengthen his spine and an external brace which he will have to wear for six months. He will undergo extensive physical therapy and in a year he will have the rods removed. Then, there will be the recovery from that operation. He has a long way to go, but the most difficult -- and dangerous part -- is over.
Here's how you can help:
All of us at ATNI join Nima in thanking:
Medical:
- Dr. John Odom, Orthopedic Surgeon
- Dr Eric Jamrich, Orthopedic Surgeon
- Dr. Cory Cundal, Surgical Fellow
- Dr. Edward Ehrichs, General Surgeon
- Dr. Joseph Strausberg, Anesthesiologist
- Dr Michael Canham, Pulminologist
- Rocky Mountain Spine Clinic
- Medical Center of Aurora
- Spalding Rehabilitation Center
- Aurora Radiology
- Critical Care and Pulmonary Consultants
- Brian Wiens, Sofamor Danek
- Denver Brace Company
- Dr. Elizabeth Shurnas, Dermatology
- Dr Steve Koral and Staff,Dental
- Dr Jill Kamon, Pediatrician
- Dr Rich Nuzzi, Chiropractor
- Dr Jack Roffis, Optometrist
- Wendy Raven, Massage
- Therapist Penny Johnson, Physical Trainer
Volunteers:
- Jamie Martin
- Mike and Joan Martin
- Marjorie Alexander
- Amy Alexander
- Andrea Alexander
- Doug and Ben Szycher
- Collete Marie
- Mary Jo Noonan
- Judy Demarest and Family
- Kevin Gearry and Choezom Tsering
- Debbie Colradino
- Lisa Vernon
- Hue Vi
- Clarissa Leeman
Financial Donors:
- Roland Chinatti and Rina Monarca
- Dr. John Odom, Michael Friedenberg
- Lynda Simmons, Rosemarie Harrison
- Jim and Lynn Dow, Robert Clothier
- Daniel Coppinger, Nancy Conner
- Robert Frem, Paul McGillicuddy
- Gregg Campbell, Elisa Love Stowell
- David Williams, Joseph and Louise Kangisser
- Lillian Strode, Laura McAlley Gary and Hope Dwyer
- Betty Dennison Phil &Pat Fay, Helen Sullivan
- MaryAnn Fay, Peg Whittemore
- Topla Lama and Ola Ukyak Julia Gibbs,Joseph and Norma Sheehan
- Mike and Vicki Leach, Alfred and Louise Gilbert
- Eliza Lewis, Franklin Smith, Ed Duhaime Jerry and Glenna Guarina,
- Stanley Dmohowski the Dobbins Family,MikeMickleson,BobbieBrown,
- Arleen Courtney, Doris and Charles Waugh,Reed Maidenberg.
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Leprosy Project in Nepal:
Leprosy is one of the worst of diseases because it often makes the sufferer an outcast from his or her own family and village. Shanti Sewa Griha is an ATNI sponsored leprosy program in Nepal that seeks to treat the disease, but also to provide vocational training and a sense of community to those who live there. We currently have 110 adults in the treatment/rehabilitation program. Here is the story of just one of these people:
The Story of a Leprosy Patient:
Ram Singh Gurung, who is now 53 years old, was found close to the Nepali border with Tibet, by a Nepali social worker.
When the villagers in Ram's area found that he was suffering from leprosy, he was put into a cage and the cage in a cave. For thirteen years he was kept like an animal. The stigma of leprosy applies to all cultures, but for the people of his area, it was believed that Ram was being punished for the sins of his past lives.
Ram was taken by the social worker to the Shanti Sewa Griha leprosy project. His state of health was terrible. He had maggots in his deep sores and he was emaciated. His mental condition was uncertain, but there was speculation that he would never recover from his ordeal.
Now, some years later, Ram's leprosy has been treated, although he is disfigured and without fingers and toes. Yet, he has turned out to be a cheerful, lovable man. He has been trained to work in paper-making and hand- printing. And, although he has no family of his own, he is a much beloved grandfather to the many children at Shanti Sewa Griha. Ram now has the respect and care that every human being deserves.
How you can help with the Leprosy Project:
- leprosy patients often have families--you can help support a child in school for $650 a year.
- donate to the general operations
- help to sell the handicrafts produced by our workshops
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Children's Home for the Orphaned, Destitute:
We are supporting two children's homes for orphaned, abandoned and destitute. Together the homes house sixty one kids.
Due to the extreme poverty in Nepal, often children who have become displaced from their family structures have little hope for the future.
You have the chance to change a life. For a small amount of money each year, you can sponsor a child. You will receive a photograph and an annual progress report.The child will receive a home, clothing, food and a quality education.
You can help by sponsoring a child. $650 a year will take a boy or girl off the street and house, feed, cloth and educate the child for a year.
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How You Can Help All Together Now International
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New Website Up at www.alltogether.org
One of our hardest working volunteer has been working in cyberspace. Jim Mauchly of Mountain Graphics has created a beautiful new website.... (303-938-1540 or email him at jmauchly@mountaingraphics.com)
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Wilderness Experience
Teams Up With
All Together Now International
Thinking of trekking in Nepal--contact the experts at Wilderness Experience by email: trekking@wildex.mos.com.np or by phone: 011-977-417832. They will donate part of their fee to ATNI.
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Special Thanks to:
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Thank you... for your support of these worthy projects.
Please send your tax deductible donations to:
All
Together Now International
P. O. Box 7111
Boulder, CO 80306
Email: mail@alltogether.org
website: www.alltogether.org