Silent Auction 2015 - Community Cares for Kids

The Evening’s Program
7 pm – 12 midnight
7:00 pm
Arrival and check-in
7:00 – 8:00 pmCocktail hour featuring the Westmoreland Club’s superb
amuse-bouches and hors d’oeuvres
7:30 – 10:30 pm
Silent Auction open for browsing and bidding
7:30 – 11:00 pm
F or your entertainment: Palm readings by Louise Fontaine,
Photographs by Andy, Faces painted by Marie of “Just Plain
Crazy Face Art”
8:00 pm
Welcome by State Representative Karen Bobeck, PhD
8:10 pm
Performance by the Turi Dancers
8:30 pmDinner Buffet: A delicious variety of salads and openers;
pasta, fish, and meat entrées; seasonal vegetables and sides;
exquisite desserts and coffee
9:00 pm
CKK 2015 Update and Thank You by Susan and Frank Collini
9:20 pm – MidnightDancing to live music by the Uptown Band featuring Erich
Cawalla and Jennifer Kinder Cawalla
10:30 pm
Silent auction ends; 50/50 Raffle winner drawn
Premium open bar all evening long.
Don’t miss the moving video documentary of the Medical Mission to Ecuador by
CCK co-founder Francis J. Collini. It will be playing in the media suite on continuous loop. Dr. Collini, Dr. Levens, Dr. Morhaim and other medical staff are available
throughout the evening to describe their experiences and answer questions.
Hold the date for the 11th Annual Carnivale for Community Cares for Kids at
the Westmoreland Club, Saturday, January 23, 2016.
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CCK Founders & Executive Board
2006:
President
Francis Collini, MD
2007:
President
Susan Collini
2008:
President
Susan Collini
2009/2010:
President
Susan Collini
Vice President
Susan Collini
Vice President
Flossy Finn
Vice President
Flossy Finn
Vice President
Flossy Finn
Secretary
Katrina Laubach
Secretary
Jeri Baranowski
Secretary
Julie von Schmeling
Secretary
Julie von Schmeling
Treasurer
Flossy Finn
Treasurer
Karla Narkiewicz
Treasurer
Marcia Lammondo
Treasurer
Nancy Kline
2011/2012:
President
Susan Collini
2013:
President
Susan Collini
2014:
President
Susan Collini
2015:
President
Susan Collini
Vice President
Flossy Finn
Vice President
Julie von Schmeling
Vice President
Denise Overman
Vice President
Denise Overman
Secretary
Julie von Schmeling
Secretary
Flossy Finn
Secretary
Flossy Finn
Secretary
Flossy Finn
Treasurer
Cathy Craig
Treasurer
Jean Shaffer
Treasurer
Jean Shaffer
Treasurer
Jean Shaffer
CCK Carnivale Committee 2015
Carnivale Chairperson: Susan Collini
Program Book Ads Chairperson: Carol Sweeney
Silent Auction Co-Chairs: Jane Nakkache/Charlee Ganny
50/50 Raffle Chairperson: Kim Stesney
Program Book Layout & Printing: Misericordia University Printing Services
Website Design & Hosting: Live Mercury and Zane Taney
Carnivale Set-Up Chairperson: Yvonne Mould
Carnivale Check-in Coordinator: Roger Samuels
Committee Members: Pat Conroy; Beth Ann Delaney; Flora Franconi;
Susan Collini; Flossy Finn; Charlee Ganny; David Green; Yvonne Mould;
Jane Nakkache; Denise Overman; Roger Samuels; Jean Shaffer; Kim Stesney;
Carol Sweeney; Karen Turi; Elva Valentine; Derek Peters; Lauren Collini
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Edwardsville -West Side Mall
(In front of Lowes)
570-287-2722
Scranton - Courthouse Square
North Washington Ave
570-343-7722
Locally Owned By David & Nancy Paden of DRP Food Services, LLC
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As aTeam
AS A TEAM, WE COME TO GIVE
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE….
A LIFE FREE…
OF DISEASE AND DEFORMITY
FROM NORTH DAKOTA, PENNSYLVANIA
AND FLA......
WE GIVE OF OURSELVES THE AMERICAN WAY
TO SEE A LITTLE BABY FOR THE FIRST TIME SMILE
TO SEE A CHILD NOW ABLE TO WALK A MILE
THE FACES ON THE PARENTS OF JOY
THE FACES OF THE CHILDREN WE ENJOY
WHAT AN INTENSE FEELING OF PRIDE
WHAT AN INTENSE WARM FEELING INSIDE
WORDS ON A PAGE CAN NEVER EXPRESS
THE GRATITUDE I HAVE
FOR THIS TEAM IS THE BEST
Francis J. Collini M.D., F.A.C.S., P.C.
6.10.11
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Community Cares for Kids & Carnivale 2015
Sponsors
Angels $5,000+
Francis J. Collini, MD and
The Renaissance Center
DLP Attorneys
Valentine’s Jewelry and
Dave Green, Sculptor
Snyder & Clemente Accountants
Platinum $3000+
Age Of Innocence Salon & Day Spa
Gold $1000+
Pride Mobility
RTR Financial – Robert & Mary Reilly
Floral Designs
RK Furs
Colleen Shea Foundation and PRO Rehab
Epicurean Delight
Bernard Walter, Esq.
Marquis Art & Frame
Silver $500+
Joseph and Jeanne Collini and Family
John and Josie Collini and Family
Frank and Jen Palaia
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Rupp
Jane Leslie & Co.
Bronze $200+
Cynthia Collini
William and Lore Jeremiah
Traver’s Auction
Prudential Foundation
Photography by Andy
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Simms
Mr. & Mrs. Zane Taney
Tina & Carl Lisman
Benefactors
Westmoreland Club
Schiff ’s Food
Turi Dancers
Louise Fontaine, Palm Reader
Jane Nakkache, Artist
Benefactors con’t.
Lauren Collini, Artist
Dorothy Ricci, Artist
Finn’s Haircuts
Friedman Electric
Sonny Boys Subs
Back Mountain Sporting Goods
Mama B’s Apothecary
Wild Birds Unlimited
Jean Shaffer
Fire & Ice
Pazzos
Big Red Barn Antiques and Charlee Trantino
Just Plain Crazy Face Art
Jenny White
Friedman Electric
Dallas Sporting Goods
Patrons
Mr. & Mrs. Ray Distasio
Carol & Tom Raskiewicz
Barbara Stesney
Jeris Baranowski
Gail Aideuis
Creative Business Interiors
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Norton
James Kozemchak
Medical Sponsors/Medical Suppliers
for the Mission
Synthes North America
Medical Supplies from General Hospital
Medical Supplies from Geisinger Hospital
Valley Open MRI and Dr. Juan Gaia
Ethicon
MAP International
Cook’s Pharmacy
Harold’s Pharmacy
Glidescope
MegaDyne
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Good Luck
2015 CCK Mission!
Love,
Lucky
Acknowledgment
s
We would like to THANK ALL of our Benefactors, Volunteers, Advertisers,
and Supporters for Every ounce of time, effort and/or resources!
Each year we continue to grow — working with new volunteers and
generating more and more aid to those in need!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and thank you for sharing and
participating in our vision to change the world, one child at a time!
Susan & Frank Collini
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Ment
oringProgram
The CCK
revisited
To promote
excellence through
Jaime R. Morhaim, M.D.
medical education,
Community Cares for Kids is proud to
announce Summer Session in Costa Rica
2015. This is a mentoring program for
High School and College students 16 years
and older. In addition to learning about craniofacial,
hand, and foot deformities, students
will observe cultural differences in the
human response to illness and begin to
evaluate the psychosocial impact these
devastating deformities can have
on patients and family members.
In this way, CCK hopes to expand
ideas about what education is and who
educators are. In traditional teaching for
example, there is usually one expert who
serves as the purveyor of knowledge. In
medical education, however, there are
multiple experts and the relationship
between student and teacher is more
complex. Indeed, learning becomes
an activity in the real world and not
simply in school. We hope that by
utilizing this teaching method, students
will make more informed and
educated decisions when planning on
a career in any field of Medicine.
The highly qualified students selected
for the program have demonstrated
outstanding academic achievement in
the life sciences, were actively involved in
community services, and have expressed
a genuine interest in pursuing a medically
related career. Now they will have the
opportunity to accompany a team of
physicians, surgeons, nurses, and medical
personnel on the annual CCK surgical
mission to Costa Rica in June 2015.
As the surgical team helps needy children
with birth defects and post-traumatic
defects, these outstanding students will
have the opportunity to follow patients
as they progress from the triage to the
postoperative periods. They will interact
with patients and their families and
assist in supervised medical care.
Finally, CCK would like to congratulate
Elisa Giusto, Scranton University the first
recipient of the Francis Collini, Sr. MD,
Memorial Award. This award of $ 500.00,
will be presented annually to the student
who exemplifies Dr. Collini, Sr.’s passion
for learning and pursuit of excellence
in Science and Medicine. By observing clinical decision making and
physician patient interactions, students
will develop an appreciation of the
complexities of medical and surgical
Jaime R. Morhaim, M.D.
patient management. This exposure
Educational Program Director
will also offer them invaluable insight into the Community Cares For Kids
many responsibilities and rigorous demands
often placed on medical professionals.
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Our Fabulous
Silent Auction 2015
From Valentine’s…
•Sterling Silver and Rose Gold Vermeil
Flexible Bangle with Light Chalcedony Slice
Surrounded by Prong Set Cubic Zircons
Valued at $207
•18 Karat White Gold Cable Chain Set
with Sideways Martini Glass Pendant
set with 24 Round Brilliant Colorless
Diamonds at .21 Carat Total Weight and
3 Pink Sapphires .09 Carat Total Weight
and 1 Tsavorite Garnet .05 Carat by
Bergio Designs
Valued at $1950
•Sterling Silver and Diamond Hoops
with White and Black Diamond Top and
White Pearl Tassles set with .11 carat
total weight in Round Brilliant Diamonds
Valued at $600
•20” Sterling Silver Fancy Coil Link Chain
Valued at $225
•Sterling Silver Handcrafted Double
Circles Earrings Set with White Pearls
Value at $229
•Stainless Steel Triangle Shaped Tension
Set Cubic Zircon Pendant on a
Neoprene Cord and Stainless Steel Post
Drop Triangular Shaped Tension Set
Cubic Zircon Earrings by B Tiff
Valued at $303
•Sterling Silver and Diamond Leaf Pendant
(Cable Chain Included)
Valued at $65
•8” Sterling Silver Bangle with 11-12 mm
Dyed Golden Brown Fresh Water Pearl
Valued at $69.50
•Sterling Silver 3mm Beaded Bracelet by
Offico Bernardi
Valued at: $155
•8” Sterling Silver Bangle with 11-12 mm
Dyed Plum Lavender and Gray Fresh
Water Pearls
Valued at $69.50
Sculpture by
David Green
•Abstract Alabaster
on Black Granite
11” x 10” x 8”
Valued at: $1400
•Sterling Silver Post Hoop Earrings with
Zebra Pattern
Valued at $275
Friedman Electric
•Tiffany Style Table Lamp
Valued at $299
Pride Mobility
Sterling Silver Post Hoop
Earrings with Zebra Pattern
Sideways Martini Glass Pendant
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•Go Go Elite Scooter
Valued at $800
PLUS THESE TERRIFIC ITEMS…
•Signed Print by Dorothy Ricci: Stegmaier
Brewery plus $30 gift certificate
towards framing
•Jane Leslie Gift Basket
•Finn’s Haircuts Gift Certificates
•Dine-Around Restaurant Gift
Certificates Basket
•Wine Basket
•Pizza-Around Gift Certificates Basket
•Vintage Oneida Silverplate Flatware, place
settings for 16, in exceptional condition
Valued at $350; highly collectible Valued
at $250 from the Big Red Barn Antiques
•“Healing Hands” Original Painting
by Lauren Collini Valued at $1000
Fabulous Golden
Rex Knitted Cape
RK Furs
Vintage Oneida
Silverplate
Flatware &
10” Roseville
Bayberry Bowl
•Fabulous Golden Rex Knitted Cape
Valued at $1800
Marquis Art & Frame
•Will Rafuse,” Limited Ed. Serigraph by
Pierino 21” X 24”
Valued at $110
Age of Innocence and The
Renaissance Center
•Verjú Package Cold Laser Fat and
Cellulite Reduction (6 sessions)
Valued at $1500
•3 Parisian Peels (Microdermabrasion)
Gift Certificates
Valued at $375
•Gift Basket from Age of Innocence
Valued at $350
•Susan’s Secret Facial
Valued at $350
Will Rafuse,”
Limited Ed. Serigraph by Pierino
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•Beautiful Antique Serpentine Front
Mahogany Secretary Desk
Valued at $350
•Antique Framed Oil on Canvas
Landscape Painting 18” X 22”
Valued at $100
•19th Century Large Landscape Painting
Oil on Canvas with Gilt Frame 35” X 40”
Valued at $500
•“Summers End” Oil on Canvas by
Ryerson, 24” X 32” it is exceptionally
beautiful, in pristine shape.
Valued at $300
Serpentine Front Mahogany
Secretary Desk
•Signed Limited Edition Print by Listed
Russian Artist Vyacheslav Shevchenko
•Wine Basket
•VIVE Health and Fitness Club, Kingston,
3 Month Gym Membership
•Mama B’s Apothocary
•Gift Certificate from Epicurian Delight
•Dry Cleaning Certificates worth $100
from Stevens Cleaners, Dallas and
ADS, Luzerne
•19th Century Child’s Rocker with
Caned Seat
•A pair of Vintage Van Briggle Art Pottery
Cranberry 6 1/2” Double Tulip Candle
Holders, donated by Travers Auctions
Valued at $60
•Highly Collectible 1890s Blue and White
Transferware Plates: Atlantic City and
Horseshoe Curve
•Pair of Antique Gaudy Welsh Ironstone
Dessert Plates circa 1873 to 1891
•Four small creamer/pitchers of vintage
Majolica pottery, donated by Travers
Auctions Valued at $80 for all
•Victorian Matching Side Chairs
•Early American Redware Brown Glaze
Utensil Holder, Small Jug, and Classic Little
Brown Jug (for booze!)
•Package of 4 Pedicures by Jean Shaffer
Valued at $180
•$100 Gift Certificate toward “any hair
service” by Hair Designer and Artist
Jenny White
•Pie Table with Claw Feet Painted by Jane
Alperin Valued at $1000
•Two comprehensive and personalized
wills, done in one or two sessions, by
Bernard Walter, Esq.
Valued at $300 to $600
Auction ends at 10:00 pm;
Cashier opens 10:30 pm
“Healing Hands”
Original Painting by
Lauren Collini
Payment by Cash, Credit Card,
or Check made out to CCK
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A Personal Note
from Dr. Collini…
This year will be a groundbreaking one for CCK, as the medical
mission relocates from Ecuador to Costa Rica. All of us on
the CCK volunteer staff had lots of questions about the new
country and the new location. We asked Dr. Francis Collini
what we wanted to know, and what he told us increased our enthusiasm immeasurably.
We are so excited about Mission 2015—and now we would like to share his answers
with all of you!
Q. Where is Costa Rica and what is it like?
A. Costa Rica, a small nation in Central America, is bordered by Nicaragua to the north
and Panama to the south. It is sandwiched between two seas, the Caribbean to the
east, and the Pacific to the west. It is an incredibly green country with lush beautiful
countryside everywhere. The main language is Spanish, and the indigenous people have
Mestizo roots similar to the people we treated in Ecuador. Oddly enough, many of the
medical problems that we saw in Ecuador are quite prevalent in Costa Rica as well.
There are 4 1/2 million people living in Costa Rica and approximately 1/4 of them live in
their largest urban city, the capital, San Jose. In comparison to Ecuador, the infrastructure
of Costa Rica is far advanced. During a fact-finding trip in 2014, conducted by Dr. David
Levens and myself, we found a fantastic medical clinic in San Jose that run by Dr. Victor
Urzol. It has three operating rooms. There is a CAT scan available, electronic medical
records, a laboratory, and other advanced medical amenities that we are accustomed to in
the United States.. All in all, I am extraordinarily excited that we have found a country that
welcomes us with open arms.
I will take many photographs of which I will share on Facebook upon my return. This will
be my 17th surgical volunteer mission in my career but the first to Costa Rica.
Q. You mentioned that you and David Levens went on a fact-finding mission and met
with Dr. Victor Urzola this past summer in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. Can you describe
your experience?
A. Costa Rica has a socialized system of medicine. There is no concept of medical
insurance. The government provides medical services to the people. Unfortunately,
however, the government system cannot handle the medical needs of their 4.5 million
people. As a result, many people either wait months to years to obtain surgical services
or simply go without. Although our group will put a small dent into this wait list, it is our
intent that we can pave the way for future teams to provide surgical services as well.
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Dr. Victor Urzola, a plastic surgeon who runs the clinic where we will operate, has been
especially kind and welcoming to us and the team. He is an extraordinary man with many
accomplishments for his young age. He is a successful plastic surgeon, a painter and a
businessman. He cares deeply for his people and he too was looking forward to working
with us during the upcoming mission.
Q. What convinced you that Cosa Rica is the right place for CCK’s medical mission?
A. The most important aspect of Costa Rica is that there is a great need for our services.
Furthermore, the disease processes, functional impairments,
and anatomic abnormalities that we saw in the people
in Costa Rica are ones that we were familiar with and
treated successfully while we were in Ecuador.
Furthermore, the clinic that we found is spectacular. The
operating rooms are satisfactory, sanitary, and spacious.
The recovery rooms will provide satisfactory post-acute
care for our patients, and there is to advanced medical and
surgical facilities if they become necessary. It is for these
reasons that I became convinced that Costa Rica was the
right place for CCK’s medical mission.
Q. For how long and under what conditions will you, the three other doctors, and the
medical team be operating?
A. We will be in Costa Rica for one week and operate nearly around the clock during
that time. The surgical clinic of Dr. Urzola is going to literally shut down and allow us to
take over the whole facility. We will provide volunteer surgical services for the Costa
Rican people during that entire time. This was an extraordinary and wonderfully generous
thing for Dr. Urzola to do.
Q. Where will the CCK medical team live and eat?
A. The medical team will be living in a local hotel that is clean and has an excellent
restaurant. The hotel is located approximately 15 minutes from the hospital so the travel
time is satisfactory.
Q. What kinds of operations will the CCK medical team do?
A. We will do many of the same operations that we performed in Ecuador. These will
include cleft lip and palate surgeries, burn surgery, hand surgery, club foot correction,
microtia (ear deformities) surgeries, and maxillofacial, craniofacial, and orthopedic
deformities, as well as a variety of other conditions that we are specialized to care for.
Q. Ear deformities! That’s unusual. Did you do anything special to prepare for the
microtia operations?
A. Yes, Dr. Levens and I took time off from our busy practices in 2014 to travel to
Toronto, so that we could learn the specialized ear reconstruction techniques of the world
renowned microtia surgeon, Dr. Fisher. Dr. Fisher was kind enough to open his operating
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room to us and provide us with the training that we need to use autologous rib to
fashion the framework necessary to reconstruct a congenitally deformed ear. This trip was
fascinating and informative and hopefully we can share this information in Costa Rica and
provide care to those in need.
Q. What does the team take with them and what routinely has to be done in advance to
prepare the supplies for the mission?
A. The team typically takes eighty bags of medical equipment that each weigh fifty
pounds. That’s 4000 pounds! The packaging of this medical equipment is a daunting task.
Fortunately, the basement of my surgery center has enough storage room to house all
of the donated medical supplies. With a small group of volunteers I start packaging this
equipment several weeks before the trip and pray that all of the supplies we will need will
be packed. I literally take my surgical instruments, all the suture material that I will need,
all of the local anesthetic solutions, the drugs to put patients to sleep, dressings, bandages,
drains, pain medication, antibiotics, and the list goes on and on. Each of these items must
be inventoried and packaged appropriately so that they can be found easily upon our
arrival. All totaled, I probably spend 60 to 75 hours packing and preparing for each trip.
Q. What are you particularly excited about on this mission?
A. I’m particularly excited about this mission because we had to scuttle the missions
for the past two years at the last minute because of the political situation in Ecuador.
The terrible disappointment was very painful to all the volunteers. And for me, these
missions have become near and dear to my heart. I will always remember the smiles
on the children’s faces and their parents’ faces. I watched children who had been
unable to walk take a first step, and I had the amazing experience of seeing babies
whose critical abnormalities would prevent them from ever having a normal life, get
cured in one operation.
I’m so honored to be a part of this team, and I would like to
thank each and every person who has supported us over
the years with time, money and donations. All of it without
exception goes to this worthy cause. Thank you from the
bottom of my heart, the hearts of the children that we treat
in the hearts of each and every one of our team members.
Francis J. Collini, M.D., F.A.C.S., P.C., a board
certified plastic surgeon and owner of
The Renaissance Center in Shavertown,
Pennsylvania, is the co-founder of Community
Cares For Kids and a veteran of sixteen
missions in Ecuador.
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Giving
Feels Good!
The experience is invaluable for interested
students as they are immersed in every aspect
of care from triage to treatment to aftercare
with plenty of opportunities for direct, “hands
on” experience.
Annual
summer trips
to Ecuador
had been
David J. Levens, MD
a tradition
for many years. Since 2006, I had been
participating with Dr. Francis Collini and many
others on medical mission trips to various
cities in Ecuador to help young needy patients
through reconstructive plastic surgery.
Personally, I was fortunate to work with
my son Benjamin for 4 years as a student
volunteer starting with his high school
into his undergraduate years. It was truly
a transformative experience for Ben and
a special opportunity for me to personally
mentor my son. Subsequently, he decided to
pursue a career in medicine and is currently
a second year medical student at Florida
International University in Miami, FL. While
this experience may not have been the sole
reason for his decision it was definitely a
defining moment for his young career.
We are now excited about the prospect of
new horizons in Costa Rica where there is also
a need for our services. This past summer we
travelled to San Jose, Costa Rica to meet with
a young plastic surgeon who is establishing a
program for volunteer medical care for needy
children in Costa Rica. We will be joining forces
with Dr. Victor Urzola this coming summer
to bring our surgical team to begin treating
children and thus help launch his endeavor to
create a clinic for the underserved.
We hope to continue the tradition of
mentoring eager young students to “pay it
forward” for our educators who did the
same for us.
Working directly with local plastic surgeons
is integral to the long-term success of
medical missions. Victor understands this
key element. He is eager to get involved
personally as well as to bring local plastic
surgeons, other specialists and surgeons in
training into the endeavor.
Continuing education is another key to
any medical practice and as well we have
an obligation to teach the next generation
of physicians. For this reason, we have
encouraged students interested in the health
professions to come along on our missions
through a Mentoring program.
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Some
Thought
s
about the
Upcoming CCK Mission
by Jeff Haasbeek
I am personally looking forward to participate
in CCK’s upcoming mission. Costa Rica will be
a new challenge to CCK and myself as I’ve only
been on missions in Ecuador and India for the
past 14 years. Since my last CCK mission in
Ecuador, I’ve relocated my full time orthopaedic
practice to Potsdam in northern New York. I
been collecting surgical supplies, implants, etc.
for the upcoming mission. I plan to continue
the CCK mission in a new country with the
same quality care that our missions have
provided in the past.
family-oriented. The whole family would come in
instead of just one parent coming into the doctor’s
examination room with their child. The whole
family was involved in the decision making of their
child’s medical care. I specifically remember one
family, who hadn’t been able to afford the surgery
needed for their child, burst into tears when they
were told by the doctor that their child would be
able to have the surgery done free of charge.
Although there was a language barrier, I knew
what they were feeling. I was so happy for them
but at the same time, there was also sadness
in my heart. This sadness was from knowing
how many people in the United States (myself
included) take everything for granted. Many
people in Ecuador live a much more simple life,
regardless of income. It was refreshing to see this
compared to my daily life in the United States.
I go on medical missions out of necessity for my
soul. It betters me as a person when I can help
other people less fortunate than myself. Also my
two oldest daughters, Tanya and Janessa have
been able to attend in the past. They are both
interested in healthcare and continuing medical
missions and care for others. My middle daughter
has been accepted into medical school and will
hopefully continue to show interest in similar
missions when she has finished her studies.
In summary, I can only echo what both my
daughter’s have said. We help the children with
deformities of developing countries through
Community Cares for Kids. We teach the local
healthcare givers modern medical techniques
and help treat local patients who don’t have
resources for any health care.
Missions can prepare your children to mature in
a way that cannot be accomplished at home. I
talked about my daughter Janessa in last year’s
newsletter. Below in italics and underlined are
excerpts from my daughter Tanya ‘s recent
personal essay for entrance to pharmacy school.
They illustrate what medical missions do.
But as my daughter Tanya points out, we
help ourselves. By reaching out to those less
fortunate, we make our lives worthwhile in
service to others. I also came to appreciate the culture present in
Ecuador when I went on a medical mission trip.
The mission focused on children in low-income
families with congenital deformities. Many
surgeries and procedures were performed. I
could tell that the Ecuadorian culture is very
Jeffrey Haasbeek, MD, is pediatric orthopedic and hand
and wrist surgeon who now practices in Potsdam,
New York.
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Do you know...
Finn Article on volunteers
About CCK’s Work Abroad and Here at Home?
• As of 2015 CCK has performed over 500 operations and counting.
• CCK has sponsored and facilitated five operations in our region.
• CCK discovered Lily from the Philippines through a local patient of Dr. Collini’s, and it
took 18 months to facilitate and organize Lily’s surgery.
• The Plastic Surgery Education Foundation and Smile Train have sponsored the CCK
mission numerous times.
• CCK was chosen as one of the top four Medical Mission groups in the world by The
American Society of Plastic Surgery in 2008.
• CCK mentors local and national students as volunteers during our annual mission.
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• There is a $500 Francis J. Collini, Sr. scholarship award given each year to a student
Finn Article
on volunteers
volunteer
to facilitate
his or her travel expenses to our annual mission.
• CCK helped purchase a van to transport local veterans for their medical treatments.
• CCK has donated to the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association (WVCA).
• CCK has donated to Volunteers in Medicine.
• CCK volunteers physically helped flood victims of Irene and Sandy and contributed
to the local and New Jersey relief efforts.
• CCK donated to the victims of the Connecticut elementary school shooting.
• CCK helps feed the homeless during the Christmas and Easter seasons at Camp
Orchard Hill in The Back Mountain.
• CCK offers community service project volunteer hours for local students.
• CCK donated 10% of its 2014 revenue to the underprivileged students at
Dallas H.S.
And your support has helped make it all happen!
Traver’s
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& Diane
Traver
Steve
& Diane
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Dallas
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Dorchester
Drive
PA
570-674-2631
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Furniture
and
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23
Lily’s St
ory
From Cebu to Wilkes-Barre
By Francis J. Collini, M.D., F.A.C.S., P.C.
Next, I needed to examine her MRI’s. I had them
FedEx’ed half way around the world. Three weeks
later I reviewed them with Dr. Gaia, the chief
radiologist at Valley Open MRI, who also worked free
of charge. But the MRIs were of poor quality and we
needed a better set. That was not a simple matter.
The only MRI machine was in Manila, a full day’s boat
ride from Cebu. And Lily had no means of paying for
the trip or for the MRI. I wired her the money.
On September 24, 2008, an extraordinary event
took place, one that brought a young woman named
Lily from Cebu, a small Philippine village, to WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania. At Geisinger Wyoming Valley
Medical Center, a neurosurgeon, Dr. John Cantando,
and myself, a plastic surgeon, performed a delicate,
difficult operation which gave Lily the chance for a
normal life, something she had never experienced.
But Lily’s surgery was not just a new beginning
for Lily, it was the culmination of a journey that
began well over a year earlier. This is the story of
that journey.
Once I had the new MRI’s and reviewed them, I
became excited. I could help this girl! But I didn’t
know how much patience, persistence, and luck
would be needed. Over the next one and one-half
years, the following challenges had to be met:
Back in the blustery cold of February, 2007, I
performed a minor, routine surgery on a patient, and
during the procedure, his wife, Elvira, asked me about
Community Cares for Kids. Although most of our
work involves voluntary medical missions to Ecuador,
occasionally, if the need is there, patients are brought
to the United States for surgery.
• Getting Lily a visa to travel to the U.S.
• Finding a neurosurgeon to work with me free of
charge
•F inding a hospital willing to allow us to perform the
surgery free of charge
Elvira told me that she was from a small town in
Cebu, Philippines, and in that town was a 26 year
old friend of hers named Lily who had a large nasal
tumor which extended into her brain. The result was
a badly deformed face, with a huge bulge where the
bridge of the nose would normally be and pushing
apart and distortion of the eyes and facial bones.
• Finding a sponsor to pay for Lily’s air travel
• Finding an anesthesiologist willing to help free of
charge
• Finding transportation, meals, and lodging for Lily
while she was in the U.S.
• Obtaining advice from a world-renowned
craniofacial surgeon regarding my surgical plan
Technically, what Elvira was describing was a nasal
encephalolcele, a birth defect in which brain tissue
protrudes through a defect in the skull. The brain
tissue, fortunately, is from a relatively silent or nonfunctional part of the frontal lobe so that its sacrifice
is not accompanied by any significant neurological
deficit. Its presence however, maybe be complicated
by meningitis, hydrocephalus, or elevated intracranial
pressure so that surgical removal is needed or this
condition may prove fatal. Furthermore, the cosmetic
problem is immense and the deformity can cause an
individual to be shunned or become an object
of ridicule.
Knowing this, I asked Elvira to have Lily email me
photographs of herself. Within a week the photos
confirmed that Lily did have a nasal encephalolcele.
• Obtaining the needed implants and other materials
for the surgery from companies willing to donate
them free of charge
Along with the obstacles, there was the first bit of
luck. Lily spoke fluent English and she was an adult
able to travel alone—two solid pluses.
24
Turning to the first big hurdle, I needed to find a
neurosurgeon. After two doctors told me no, a
nurse suggested I ask Dr. John Cantando, a new
neurosurgeon at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley
Medical Center. I had never met him, and I called him
out of the blue. After we talked and he reviewed the
MRI, he too became excited about the challenging
case. He agreed—if the surgery was at Geisinger.
That presented a new hurdle. I didn’t have privileges
at that hospital, so I had to obtain them—and that
could take up to six months. Meanwhile I went about
getting Lily a medical visa through the American
Consulate in the Philippines. They granted the visa
and my privileges at Geisinger were approved in
September 2007.
Now I faced the huge challenge of convincing Dr.
Beiber, Geisinger’s Chief Medical Officer, as well as
the Board of Trustees, and the Medical Executive
Committee to permit me to perform a surgery that
cost from $50,000 to $75,000 there…for free! Dr.
Beiber said he would “get back to me” by the end of
the year. When I didn’t hear anything, Dr. Cantando
stepped in to help…and by early January Dr. Beiber
agreed the operation was a go!
Lily Today: An Update
I am working as a Pharmacy Specialist at PHI
Pharmacy in the paradise island of Saipan in
the Northern Mariana Islands (Territory of the
USA). I have been living on the island and
working in the same company since November
2009 (a year after my surgery).
Back in November, 2007, my mentor at the Mayo
Clinic, Dr. Ian T. Jackson, a world-renowned expert in
craniofacial surgery, helped with my surgical plan. He
provided some critical technical details and remained
available for conversations until two weeks before
Lily’s surgery.
2014 was a fabulous year, I got married
August 2! Adam, my new husband and I were
married at sea! My new name is Lily Baker!
So now, early in 2008, all looked in place, when
a monkey wrench was thrown in the works. Dr.
Beiber left Geisinger…and all I had with him was a
handshake deal. Dr. Casale was now in charge and he
wasn’t ready to say yes. I had to start over. Months
passed, but finally in May 2008 I could set a date for
the surgery.
She met with Dr. Cantando, myself, and Dr. Moss,
the anesthesiologist. And by chance, or divine
intervention (whatever your persuasion), brand new
operating rooms were opened at Geisinger just in
time for Lily’s difficult and delicate surgery.
Then came the operation itself. Dr. Cantando and
Dr. Brett Schlifka, his partner, teamed up to deal with
the tumor mass and I performed the reconstruction
of Lily’s face. The surgery was complex and arduous,
taking over ten hours. Lily came through with flying
colors. After five days in the hospital, she was her old
bubbly self…with a brand new life ahead of her.
Then another hero for Lily appeared to sponsor
Lily’s flight. Jim Harkins, owner of Penn State Seed
Company, had told me for many years that if he
could do anything for one of our CCK cases, I simply
had to ask. I called him and presented Lily’s case. His
response was: “When do you need her there?”
This remarkable journey is a testament to the
perseverance of medical personnel and to
Geisinger’s generosity. To me, it is also a testament
to a stronger force out there, which guides good
people to do the right thing.
Surgery was set for September 24, 2008. Elvira, Lily’s
friend who lives in Scranton, took on transportation,
meals, and lodging. Everything was ready.
Lily arrived as planned. Petite, smiling, and with an
effervescent personality, she charmed us all with her
humor, outgoing nature, and courage.
25
2015
Volunteers to Costa Rica
June 6-13 2015
David Levens, MD
Jaime Morhaim, MD
Jeffrey Haasbeek, MD
Susan Elczyna, CRNA
Caitlin Hanson
Kelly Yale, RN
Christa Laquinta, RN
Erin Miller, PA-C
LeAnn Tinna, RN
Tina Lisman, PA-C
Chris Conyngham, RN
Francis Collini, MD
Daniel Morhaim, Student Volunteer
Elisa Giusto, Student Volunteer
There are nursing and anesthesia positions still available for Costa Rica.
Please call Susan at 570-674-6525
if you are interested in volunteering on our next mission!
“The Art Shop”
26
What Makes CCK
Special!
• All donations go directly to the medical mission and actual expenses. THERE ARE
NO “ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.”
• It is a 100% volunteer organization.
• All administrative, legal, accounting, and fund-raising tasks are done by individuals
donating their time and expertise and by small businesses working pro bono.
• Use of state-of-the-art medical facilities is donated by Dr. Francis Collini, Susan Collini,
and the Renaissance Center and area hospitals.
• All doctors, nurses, anesthetists and ancillary medical personnel work on a 100%
volunteer basis, collecting no salaries or fees.
Our Best Wishes to Dr. & Mrs. Francis Collini
and everyone at Community Cares for Kids!
Hats off the Dance Committee
and continued success to CCK!
“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”
—Walter Bagehot
Robert and Mary Reilly, R.T.R. Financial Services
843 Fr. Capodanno Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10305
(718) 668-2881
27
Fun Fact
s
About CCK
About The Organization
About The Mission
• Community Cares For Kids (CCK)
began when Hands Healing Hearts
disbanded in 2006.
• The original CCK volunteer physicians,
Drs. Collini, Morhaim, and Levens, were
all best friends at Columbia University.
• Attorney Brian Price helped get CCK
started.
• Approximately 30 volunteers head to
Ecuador annually to operate on children
in need.
• Snyder & Clemente, accountants; DLP
law firm; and the Renaissance Center
for Plastic surgery donate all
administrative costs.
• Zane Taney designed and donated the
CCK original logo.
• Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and
Geisinger have donated materials, staff
and hospital facilities to the CCK cause.
• CCK volunteers are secretaries,
housewives, bankers, lawyers, teachers,
social workers, artists, business owners,
authors/writers, train conductors,
seamstresses, administrators, doctors,
nurses, anesthetists, landscapers,
housekeepers and tax collectors .
• The CCK committee has increased to
over 20 volunteer members,
• State Congresswoman Karen Boback
and State Senator Lisa Baker are friends
and personal supporters of CCK.
• Volunteers for the CCK mission have
come from New York, Pennsylvania,
Florida , California , Missouri , North
Dakota , Puerto Rico , United Kingdom,
Canada, North Carolina , and Georgia.
• Dr Collini’s mother, Cynthia, and his
father, Dr. Francis Collini, Sr., packed and
inventoried all the medical supplies for
Hands Healing Hearts and CCK for
over twelve years.
• Cynthia Collini worked as a nurse on
eight medical missions to Ecuador.
• “Surgical intervention” of cleft lip and
palate repair in Third World countries is
socially just as important as the physical
repair since children are ostracized
because of their appearance.
• Lily, a patient from the Philippines on
whom Dr Collini operated along with
Dr. Contando and Dr. Shlifka from
Geisinger WV, has become an
international spokesperson for CCK
and attended Carnivale 2014 as a
guest speaker.
• CCK discovered Lily from the Philippines
through a local patient of Dr. Collini’s.
28
• It took eighteen months to facilitate
and organize Lily’s surgery.
• It is nearly impossible to find local
children requiring our surgical
services, as they are usually “taken
Funcare
Facts
of “ by the American medical
system.
• CCK volunteers have inquired at
churches and schools to find
children that may have fallen
through the cracks.
Fine Dining
10 Elegant Rooms
Large Outdoor Patio
Bar Lounge
About The Fundraisers
• The very first fundraiser was a
calendar comprised of artwork by
Dallas Middle School students
attempting to “capture” the essence
of CCK.
• The first Carnivale fundraiser barely
broke even.
2.5 x 4
• In New Jersey, New York, and
Florida, Arthur and Bonnie Ponte
have created, chaired, and facilitated
fundraising efforts on behalf of CCK
by cooking and catering their
personal “best recipes” in a banquet
type venue raising over $20,000.
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• CCK fundraisers have had the
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& More!
We deliver a complete menu!
• Rear Admiral Scott Giberson,
Assistant Surgeon General. Grew up
in the Back Mountain and is the
nephew of CCK volunteer Yvonne
Mould.
www.grottopizzapa.com
Grotto Pizza Harveys Lake
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• Mary Ann and Tony Rubin
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Grotto Pizza Gateway Center, Edwardsville
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31
A Volunteer’
Notes from
Finn Article on volunteers
by Jane Nakkache
Community Cares for Kids? Where do I start? Back to the beginning…
Frank and Susan Collini came to the Wyoming Valley in 1989. As President of the Ladies Medical
Auxiliary, I invited Susan to lunch. With Joey (now 24) in a baby carrier and Lauren (now 28)
jumping around with my daughter Ally, it certainly made for a “fun” afternoon.
As I watched Frank grow his practice with Susan by his side, it was only
a natural fit for me to be part of CCK. What are friends for? My real
involvement came with the idea to have a “Mardi Gras-themed ball.”
As a former chair of several “Make-A-Wish” Crystal Balls, I knew what
had to be done, and away we went…
Jane Nakkache
Today, all these years later, CCK is not just limited to the medical
mission abroad, but we help here at home too. Most recently a gift of
$2800 to Dallas High School gave a happier holiday to local families
lacking one of the basics…food! One Sunday afternoon during the Yule
Season was spent feeding the homeless at Camp Orchard Hill. We
have so much, yet there is poverty in our own backyard.
32
Thank you all for supporting CCK this evening, and to all our sponsors, Silent Auction donors,
Finn
onads.
volunteers
and
thoseArticle
who placed
Every dollar goes towards giving a brighter future for the children in
Latin America, our “Lilly” from the Philippines, and kids and their families in the Wilkes Barre Area.
It’s never an easy task to put a small group of committed volunteers together to make an idea
happen. Those of us in CCK are truly “worker bees” and our Queen is Susan Collini, who
somehow can keep us all humming along. Year by year we have continued to build on our
success, but we need new members, like Lauren Collini and Derek Peters, who have worked so
hard this year. One meeting per month (pizza and wine included), committee work, and a group
effort is what it takes to help children. Young, retired, male or female, it doesn’t matter who you
are—all you need to have is enthusiasm, a little time, and a big heart--to be part of our “hive”
and make a difference in so many young lives in Costa Rica…and here at home.
Sincerely
Jane Nakkache
Jane Nakkache of Shavertown, PA, and long time friend of Susan and Frank Collini has worked tirelessly on the
2015 Carnivale event.
33
34
35
36
An amazing thing happens
when you give to the community.
It gives back.
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Monday-Friday 10-6
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Best wishes for a successful 2014 for CCK!!!
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38 Hildebrant Rd.
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Phone: 570-675-2080
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Standing L-R Maureen Sprau, Lauren Collini, Derek Peters,
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