A Letter from BREDA M GINNIS
IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, 2005, MY HUSBAND, PATRICK, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF A TRIP TO ROMANIA. THERE WE MET UP WITH TWO BOYS, VIRGIL AND NICUSOR. THESE BROTHERS HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM ORPHANAGE CONDITIONS BY THE LAWSIDE PROJECT AND GIVEN AN APARTMENT FOR THEMSELVES IN BUCHAREST. PATRICK MET THEM THERE WHEN HE VISITED ROMANIA NINE YEARS PREVIOUSLY AND HAD BEFRIENDED THEM TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HAD COME TO VISIT US IN IRELAND AND BECAME SPECIAL FRIENDS OF OURS. NOW, BOTH ARE DOING WELL VIRGIL AS A WAITER ON A LINER AND NICUSOR WORKS WITH KERRY FOODS IN IRELAND.
THEY MET US IN BUCHAREST AND TOOK US TO VISIT THEIR FRIEND, SISTER ALOYSIUS, IN BUDIMEX HOSPITAL WHERE A BIG AND WARM WELCOME AWAITED US. WE WERE INTRODUCED TO DOCTORS IONUT AND MARIAN SECHELI WHO TOOK US ON A TOUR OF THE HOSPITAL'S SURGICAL THEATRES WHICH HAD BEEN UPGRADED AND REFURBISHED BY THE LAWSIDE PROJECT AND THE “HELPING HAND” PROJECT IN “MY WEEKLY” MAGAZINE. THE STAFF WAS WORKING TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY AND SOME MODERNISATION HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT. THE NEW BABY UNIT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE JUST AWAITING EQUIPMENT. “A SPECIAL MACHINE SHOULD HOPEFULLY ARRIVE FROM BELFAST” SAID DR. CATALIN CRISTOVEANU.
THE SURGEONS HIGHLIGHTED THE LACK OF HYGIENE EQUIPMENT AND PREMISES, ESPECIALLY SPECIALISED UNITS LIKE ONE FOR BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANT. WE COULD SEE VERY PLAINLY, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE HOSPITAL, INCLUDING
SOME OPERATING THEATRES AND AUTOCLAVING UNIT NEEDED
OVERHAULING, STERILIZING AND BEING BROUGHT INTO THE 21 CENTURY.
ST
THE INTRODUCTION OF PLAYROOMS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY UNIT ARE HIGHLY COMMENDABLE AND SHOULD BE NURTURED AND EXPANDED WHERE POSSIBLE.
THE HOME FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN “NAZARETH”, FOUNDED
BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WAS A JOY TO VISIT. THE HOUSE “PARENTS”, MR. AND MRS. BUCURA, ARE SUPERB CARERS AND THE FIVE LITTLE BOYS WHO HAVE FOUND A HOME THERE ARE THE LIVELIEST AND HAPPIEST OF CHILDREN AND ALL DOING WELL AT SCHOOL. MAY YOUR GOOD WORK CONTINUE TO FLOURISH IN THIS FAMILY SETTING.
ANOTHER HAPPY AND AMAZING ASPECT WAS THE CARE FOR LONELY, ELDERLY PEOPLE. FOR THESE, “MEALS ON WHEELS” WAS SET UP AND, TO CROWN ALL, THE PARISH YOUTH VISIT THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
THE PROJECT HAS ANOTHER CONTRACT WITH A RESTAURANT TO SUPPLY A DAILY MEAL TO CHILDREN OF THE STREET.
FINALLY, AS A TRAINED NURSE FROM IRELAND AND ON THE EVE OF ROMANIA ENTERING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, I FELT THAT THE STAFF IN BUDIMEX HOSPITAL COULD PERHAPS BENEFIT FROM EXCHANGE VISITS WITH OTHER E.U. COUNTRIES.
WISHING YOU GOD'S BLESSING IN YOUR MUCH-NEEDED WORK.
THINKING OF YOU ALWAYS,
C BREDA M GINNIS
BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, WAS A JOY TO VISIT. THE HOUSE “PARENTS”, MR. AND MRS. BUCURA, ARE SUPERB CARERS AND THE FIVE LITTLE BOYS WHO HAVE FOUND A HOME THERE ARE THE LIVELIEST AND HAPPIEST OF CHILDREN AND ALL DOING WELL AT SCHOOL. MAY YOUR GOOD WORK CONTINUE TO FLOURISH IN THIS FAMILY SETTING.
ANOTHER HAPPY AND AMAZING ASPECT WAS THE CARE FOR LONELY, ELDERLY PEOPLE. FOR THESE, “MEALS ON WHEELS” WAS SET UP AND, TO CROWN ALL, THE PARISH YOUTH VISIT THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
THE PROJECT HAS ANOTHER CONTRACT WITH A RESTAURANT TO SUPPLY A DAILY MEAL TO CHILDREN OF THE STREET.
FINALLY, AS A TRAINED NURSE FROM IRELAND AND ON THE EVE OF ROMANIA ENTERING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, I FELT THAT THE STAFF IN BUDIMEX HOSPITAL COULD PERHAPS BENEFIT FROM EXCHANGE VISITS WITH OTHER E.U. COUNTRIES.
WISHING YOU GOD'S BLESSING IN YOUR MUCH-NEEDED WORK.
THINKING OF YOU ALWAYS,
C BREDA M GINNIS