Odessa Mission
KRCC Visits the Children's Cancer Ward
To fulfill a promise made back in mid-June, the seven
individuals (all but one go to KRCC) visited the Cancer Ward at a local
Odessa hospital. During Al Kunkel's visit in mid-June, John and he visited and
John promised to come back and have a party. The first three pictures are from
Al's visit and show what you see before you get to be with the kids. As you can
see, cancer does not care whether you are young or old and many of the kids are
undergoing chemotherapy and therefore have lost most of their hair.
Entrance to cancer hospital - This hospital has many buildings spread out over
a rather large area. The children's cancer ward is on the third floor of
this particular building.
Cancer floor door - Many of the kids being treated for
various forms of cancer are very young and this steel door keeps the
them from wandering away from their floor.
Booties - Because their immune systems are so stressed by fighting cancer and
the chemo treatments reduce their ability to fight off infections,
certain precautions are taken to help reduce the chances of outside
bacteria being brought in on foot ware of visitors. Since many of
the streets and walkways around this hospital are dirt/gravel, visitors
are required to wear a bag/bootie over their shoes. Individuals
living on the ward and parents that have brought along another pair of
foot ware are not required to wear a plastic foot covering.
Kids in cancer ward 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - Pictures of
the kids at the Cancer Ward.
Group shot 1 and KRCC folks with cancer kids - Two
pictures were taken so everyone would be in at least one of the
pictures. John took the first one so Viktor could be in it and
Viktor took the second one so John could be in it. Participants
from KRCC were: John, Viktor, Ira, Oxonna, Andre, Nastya, and Tatyana.
Parents of kids in cancer ward, Another shot of parents and A family member
watches - These are some of the concerned family members that visit every day
or some may even stay with younger children.
Tatyana talks with kids and Tatyana working with kids -
Tatyana talked with the kids and then did a craft time with them.
Notice Andre leaning against the hall wall is wearing booties.
Ira and Oxonna - Here you see these two waiting to entertain the kids.
Molvina and Faraday - Molvina is a gypsy woman whose
daughter Faraday has cancer [see Newsletter for May and June 2006 for
more info]. The doctors aren't hopeful but we certainly are.
Please continue to pray for this very courageous lady and her family.
Nastya with Viktor and Andre - Nastya and Andre are
regulars at KRCC, however, Viktor is a member at a local Presbyterian
church. He comes to the English lessons we teach on Sunday
afternoons at KRCC. He has been showing an interest in KRCC and we
were glad he volunteered to come on the visit to the kids at the cancer
ward.
Presents always brighten a party and Kids enjoying toys -
Here are shots of the kids opening or holding their presents from KRCC.