United Hearts for Health

A health partnership linking Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Rosita, Nicaragua

WINTER 2011 GIFTS FROM THE HEART

The public face of United Hearts for Health (UHH) is reflected in pictures of the hundreds of patients around Rosita, Nicaragua, who are treated during the annual visits by teams of volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, and other medical professionals from East Central Wisconsin. Besides the annual medical trips, UHH has an agricultural component to foster increased yields in crops and milk production along with veterinary assistance. There is also a clean water initiative. Put together, all of these programs help raise the health standards of those in Rosita. But no trip can take place and be successful without the unique behind-the-scenes efforts of scores of volunteers from the Fond du Lac area. It truly "takes a village," as Hillary Rodham Clinton has written, to make the medical mission trips possible. Dr. Barbara Zink meets with a tiny patient and mother. CASE IN POINT: Ella La Crosse has never been to Rosita, yet she is part of the long-time UHH support team. What Ella--now in her late 80's--does is sew lingerie--specifically underwear--for the women and girls who call Rosita home. Every spring and fall, hundreds of colorful panties, professionally made by Ella in her Fond du Lac basement workshop, are shipped to Rosita. She sews about 600 pairs a year of tricot or cotton knit. Why does she do it? "It's an addiction," says Ella. And her retired f a rm e r commercial fisherman-Coast Guardsman husband, Clifford, agrees. Area Ella La Crosse sews as her husband Clifford looks on. shoppers may remember seeing him at the Fond du Lac Farmer's Market where, for nearly 50 years, he sold his beautiful hand-woven rag rugs. Jean Killinger stands next to some of the dresses she sewed for the girls of Rosita. Ella and Clifford La Crosse grew up in Door County, married in 1944, and have two grown children. Ella worked in the sewing machine department at Sears when it was located on Main Street in Fond du Lac.

United Hearts for Health

Winter 2011

Sharing Ella La Crosse's view that sewing for Rosita is an addiction is retired registered nurse and Fond du Lac native Jean Leftover Killinger. When she quit smoking a year ago, Jean wanted something else to keep her busy. So she began sewing...and sewing...and sewing. What resulted were 86 beautiful cotton dresses (and not one alike!) for the girls in the rural areas and barrios around Rosita. She learned about UHH from doctors and nurses she worked with when she was the case manager for the Intensive Care Unit at St. Agnes Hospital. Jean's husband, Jerry, now retired from Mercury Marine, thinks her sewing, which can absorb six to eight hours a day, is wonderful. Helping others is in their blood. The two, who live in St. Peter, took part in a mission trip to Honduras in 2001. Jerry helped build houses for hurricane victims, and Jean worked with another nurse at a medical clinic. Although Jean has not traveled to Nicaragua, she continues to support UHH with her special dresses for the girls of Rosita. She buys her own supplies for the sewing project and is always looking for good buys on more. Generous friends also have donated bolts of fabric. From her sewing area in the family laundry room, Jean is already preparing for her next blitz of dress making. It's the medicine she dispenses in her own way to help the labor of love that so many simply call "Rosita." ~ Anne Kaestner

Alternative Delivery Method for Newsletter

If you are interested in receiving future UHH Newsletters electronically, please let us know by e-mailing your preference to jcappellari@charter.net. Future issues will then be sent to you in PDF format as an attachment to your e-mail.

United Hearts for Health Mission Statement We propose to join the faith journey of Holy Family Parish in its twinning relationship with Santa Rosa Parish by facilitating a Fond du Lac community effort to assist in raising the standard of healthcare and promoting a more healthy environment in Rosita, Nicaragua, and the surrounding rural areas. This long-term relationship will seek to work in partnership with the people of Rosita, its healthcare and church community and Nicaraguan government, while recognizing the dignity and the many talents of the people we hope to serve.

United Hearts for Health c/o Holy Family Parish 271 Fourth Street Way Fond du Lac, WI 54937 Contact Numbers: (920)923-2446 - M. Janz (920)948-3124 - S. Malin (920)923-0155 - M. Cappellari E-mail: unitedheartsforhealth@gmail.com Website: fdlunitedheartsforhealth.org At this site you can find the web edition of this Newsletter and other information about UHH programs.

United Hearts for Health

Winter 2011

Super Spin Saturday is the prime fundraiser that United Hearts for Health sponsors each year to help upgrade the health care of the people of Rosita, Nicaragua. It will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012, at the Fond du Lac Y, on the corner of Military Road and Second Street. Registration for the event will begin at 8:00 am, and spinning will go from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Admission for the day is $15 for individuals and $25 for families. Schools and other teams are challenged to gain points for prizes. Super Spin 2011 attracted 200 participants who were able to raise $11,000 for the town of Rosita where some households live on less than $1 a day. In February 2012, the UHH group of 12 medical and dental professionals will again travel at their own expense to deliver health care and medications paid for with funds the spinners helped raise. Money raised will also be used for UHHs agricultural and clean water initiatives. This interest in helping the people of Rosita continues a century-old tradition of community generosity toward Nicaragua. Youngsters enjoy a ride at Super Spin Last year the medical and dental team filled Rosita's Saturday 2011. community of 35,000 with 24 barrels of supplies, equipment, and medicines; educated area midwives; and conducted free medical and dental clinics in three isolated areas where many had never before seen a doctor or dentist. Your efforts to help raise funds on Super Spin Saturday, aside from giving you a vigorous exercise, will do a world of good for the people of Rosita. Thank you for your efforts in previous years to allow our missions to continue. To receive participation information: E-mail Connie at c_millard@att.net Call Barbara at (920)921-6021 Visit www.fdlunitedheartsforhealth.org for Super Spin information and updates. ~ Connie Millard

High School students from St. Marys Springs volunteered to give a hand for Super Spin 2011.

Join us for SUPER SPIN 2012. You make the difference!

United Hearts for Health

Winter 2011

MEDICAL MISSION 2012

Medications and medical supplies have been collected, packed in barrels, and are presently on their way to Nicaragua by sea container. The United Hearts for Health mission team is organized, and detailed plans are now in process for the mission clinic coming up the week of February 13, 2012. The UHH mission team for 2012 includes Translator Flavio Araa, Dentist Dr. Suzanne Roever, Physicians Drs. Annie Lent, John Lent, Tom Reis, and Barbara Zink, Nurse Practitioner Marcie Janz, and Registered Nurses Janet Coon, Ruth Cunzenheim, Joan Dobyns, Barbara Lent, and Chris Rach.

A rural clinic held by United Hearts for Health in February 2011.

During the clinic week, the teams goal is to provide basic medical and dental services daily in two rural communities chosen by the Rosita Hospital medical staff. These are communities without medical or dental services throughout the year. Medications and supplies used by the team are those that have been shipped from Fond du Lac. No medical mission occurs without community support. United Hearts for Health is grateful to all of our generous donors, both in Fond du Lac and around the country who have aided us in any way. We humbly request your prayers for the safety and success of the 2012 medical mission trip. ~ Marcie Janz

Patients line up for the United Hearts for Health rural clinic in February 2011.

Please help United Hearts for Health continue to improve the health care and agricultural situation for the people of Rosita and surrounding areas. Your generosity will be appreciated by our group and most especially by the people of Rosita. Thank you.
Please make your check payable to UHH/Holy Family. Send to: United Hearts for Health, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac, WI 54937

Name_____________________________________ Address___________________________________ ___________________________________