14-year-old Natalia Skrinnik will travel from Transcarpathia, Ukraine to Pennsylvania for surgery in November at Shriners' Hospital to correct severe scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Arrangements for the surgery and funding are being made through the auspices of SARA - Sharing America's Resources Abroad - the Ohio Conference medical mission program.  Donations are being sought to help defray the costs of the trip.

Natalia Skrinnik, a 14-year-old Ukranian girl with a severely curved spine, will travel to the United States for the surgery – unavailable in her home country – that will straighten her back. Natalia and her mother will arrive in the U.S. late in October; her surgery is scheduled for November 16 at the Shriners’ Hospital for Crippled Children in Erie, Pennsylvania. Arrangements and funding for the trip have been made with the help of SARA – Sharing America’s Resources Abroad. 

SARA supporters who traveled to Transcarpathia in the Ukraine during the last two years may remember Natalia. She captured our hearts when Dr. Laci Vaszko introduced her. Kathy Walters of Bellevue gave her mother money to cover the cost of their passports. Shriners’ Hospital was contacted, and after Dr. James Sanders, Shriners’ chief of staff, reviewed Natalia’s x-rays, she was accepted for surgery.  

Natalia will stay in Conneaut before and after her surgery. At the same time, Dr. Yuri Demjan, a physician who treats the children at the Good Samaritan Orphanage in Nagydobrony, Transcarpathia without charge, will come to Shriners’ Hospital. He has been invited to observe corrective surgery for chest anomalies. Yuri has traveled to the United States three other times as a guest of SARA.

Natalia and her mother still need to obtain visas and airplane tickets. Any donations to defray the costs would be appreciated. Please designate your gift for “Natalia” and send to SARA, Ohio Conference, 6161 Busch Blvd., Ste. 95, Columbus OH 43229.

More SARA News

In others news, lots and lots of computers, donated by health care facilities in the Dayton area, are flying in and out of the garage of Larry Kuhn in New Bremen. He and John Gilberg, SARA board members, have a trail paved to Dayton and are accepting requests for these computers. SARA is very grateful for these donations. Also, Ed Rowlance of Sugarcreek has refurbished at least 30 laptops to go to Transcarpathia and to board members for SARA’s use.

Rev. Attila Szemesi, pastor of Congregational UCC in Amherst, led a group of SARA friends to Transcarpathia, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria in June. Watch for the details and pictures in SARA’s September newsletter.

We are also accepting donations to fund health and economic education in El Salvador. The poverty in this area is overwhelming, and we have pledged $1,000 for each of these needs:  medicines at the Cancer Hospital for palliative care, a four wheel drive truck to transport patients, and the “Children of Mangrove.”

For further information or donations please call Rev. Stephen Szilagyi, 440-593-2021 or email szilsara@suite224.net.