Hi, all - I am writing to ask for a big favor (for some of you, ANOTHER big
favor) for someone with EB.  Her name is Eugenia, and she has RDEB.  If you are
on yahoogroup's EBZone, Ning's EBFriends, or a non-English forum, please post
this as I am not a member of those.
 
I've attached a photo of Eugenia sent to me by a social worker.  Eugenia is an
orphan who was raised in a hospital.  She is 26 years old.  This young woman has
been in/out of a hospice in the country of Moldova, built by a NC-based charity
that builds hospices around the world.  Moldova was part of the USSR for many
years and is currently regarded as Europe's poorest country, with the lowest GDP
per capita in Europe in 2008.  (I had to look it up on a world map, of course! 
Geography was never my strong suit!).  Eugenia is not "dying" but the hospice is
the only choice, because there is no functioning hospital in this region.
 
Eugenia discharged herself and is now staying with friends in a flat (with no
indoor plumbing).  The situation is difficult because she has almost no
dressings.  If she's out of the hospice, she's without dressings. 
 
When the social worker wrote to me, I managed to locate the int'l hospice
charity in North Carolina and sent them an email.  Today, I got an amazing phone
call from a retired nurse, Pat Ashworth.  From 2000-2007, she worked in Moldova,
and was in charge of building this hospice.  She knew Eugenia well.  
 
Pat is VERY happy to serve as a go-between from the U.S. to Moldova and ship
over a "care package" to this young woman.  She said that Eugenia was often
quite depressed - understandable, considering her dire straits.  She told me
Eugenia "loved poetry" and I immediately thought of the wonderful poets and
artists in our EB community! 
 
I thought it would be really nice to send some beautiful things in this care
package, along wih dressings - pictures made by your children, poetry, a nice
card or encouraging note, that sort of thing!  Something small or flat and easy
to ship.  We have a very kind, generous-hearted bunch, and I am sure that you
will do what you can.
 
If you have extra bandages (that you can spare) still in the package (the
basics, you'll know what's right - nothing requiring refrigeration, nothing
overly-fancy - Mepitel and Mepilex would probably be a delight, and tube gauze
might be a real benefit!), please send them to Pat at this address:
Pat Ashworth
160 Bass Run
Salisbury, NC 28146
 
In the summer, another shipment will go to Moldova if there is an adequate
amount of supplies - so, if you want to send something but can't do it until
later, Pat will collect things until the end of May for a second shipment.
 
God bless you, for helping this young lady!  Feel free to email me if you have
any questions, and thank you!
 
With love,
Gena Brumitt Gruschovnik

Vice Treasurer, Executive Committee, DEBRA International -
www.debra-international.org





Director of Awareness & Education, DEBRA Canada - www.debracanada.org
Founder, Walk a Mile in My Shoes campaign for National EB Awareness Week -
www.ebrelay.org
Acting President, Nokee Kwe Occupational Skill Development Inc. -
www.nokeekwe.ca

Co-Chair, Democrats Abroad Canada, London Chapter -
www.democratsabroad.org/group/canada
We must be the change we wish to see in the world.  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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