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Show —THE DAILY HERALD, Prove, Utah, Sunday, May 5, 1996 — : Hospital helps children fight catastrophic diseases Editor's note: It’s a hospital namedfor the patron saint of hopeless causes, but it offers hope for thousandsof families rick or poor, with or without medical insurance. St. Jude Children’s rarch Hospital depends largeiy on gifts te other treatments for cancer, Its sci- fight entists ure searching, too, for diseases By WOODYBAIRD Associated Press Writer MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Gabriela Salinas, a 7-year-old Bolivian girl with a tumor on herspine, recently was turned away from « New York hospital because her parents have no insurance, Now, a few weeks later, her fate is in the hands of the doctors, scientists and nurses at St, Jude Children’s Research Hospital “The pillow that Gabriela has her head on right now was donated by somebody,” says Richard Hackett, a fund-raiser for St. Jude Until a few months ago, Crystal Turner's life revolved around school, sports and her teen-age friends in Stockton, Mo. But that’s all changed. Her focus now is on lifeitself. “I doubt Pil ever run up and down a basketball court again, she says. “That was the most important thing in my life. Now, . 15, has leukemia. nake it possible for St Jude to care for patients such as Gabriela and Crystal The hospital, named for St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, was founded in Memphis in 1962 bythelate entertainer Danny Thomas. In the 1950s, Thomas, who was of Lebanese ancestry, organized a group of business leaders and others to formthe American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, which raised the money to build the hospital St. Jude’s takes on the most cat astrophic diseases of childhood, from cancer to AIDS, and patients are welcome whether they're rich or poor, whether they have med: insurance or not And 80 percentof the hospital's money comes fromprivate donors, most of themsending in a few dollars of their ownor a few hundred raised from small-town bake sales or other such events. One anonymous gift last December was for $1 million, and it causeda bit of a splash. It came in a winning game piece for a Monopoly promotion at McDonald’s restaurants The donations, large and small, geneticlinks to cancer and AIDS and ‘or ways to attack those dis-> eases at the most basie levels. The hospital has a research staff of 276 employees anda total staff of 1,560. With companion institutions around the world, the hospital has: helped dramatically reduce the death rate from leukemia and other childhood cancers When the Memphis hospital opened its doors, the overall sutvival rate for children with cancer wasless than 20percent. Now,it is more than 60 percent. For the most common form of leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the survival rate is now better than 70 percent. Nationwide, about 2,000 children a year are diagnosed with ALL. But while hospitals like St. Jude continually struggle to improve their care, the young patients, from infants to 18-year-olds, must endure months oftreatment that often leaves them sick and isolated from their friends and schoolmates. Some, ofcourse, donot survive. “Anypatient whostays here for any length oftimeis going to make friends, some of whomwill die,” says Sean Phipps, a St. Jude psychologist. “Youcan’t protect them from that,” The hospital also employs psychologists and social workers to help the children and their families cope with the pain and uncertainty h S "eo o cctastrophic ranging rom cancerto AIDS. helpedfinancethe hospital's recent $140million expansion as well as its $118 million annual operating budget The hospital's main focus is research, lockingfor the best combination of drugs, radiation and Pe Photos Above, nt Bi Marks, 5, from La tte,a Ga. ce mats in the play wee St. Jude Children’ 's Research Hosp- tial in Memphis, Tenn. Below, mia patient Crystal Turner from Stockton, Mo., talks with her mother, Georgiana, in her room at the Finding a job with a future of dealing with potentially fatal diseases. Just being in a hospital where everyone is in the same life and death struggle can help calm surging emotions “Tf | walk out intothat hall and From Knight-Ridder Want to go into a field start crying.” said Georgia Turner, zine, Fields To Get Into — And 10 Crystal’ er, “there will be twoor three parents whofeel the same way I do andwill come support me.” Crystal suffers froma rarer, particularly dangerous form of leukemia, and a bone-marrow transplant was her only hope. “I have no choice if T want to live.” she said por to the March 14 transplant. “I'm not going to give upand say. ‘I'll just roll over and die.” That's not myway Career Fields To Dump”in its Mayissue. The other careers to get into include online content producing, mutual fund managing, industrial environmental work,intellectual property law, the clergy, interactive advertising and physical therapy. Jobs to avoid include accountant, bank teller, government bureaucrat, telephone operator. Annsticks by belief in closed adoption records details because a government caseworker violated her wishes — and the law — by helpinga sister track her down. What's worse, she said, How right youare. Pleasehold fast to your position. It is moraily sound. The following Associated Press item appeared in the Lorain, Ohio, Morning Journal, Jan. 8 1996. “Sandusky, 26, learned the lently withheld information that would have led her adoptive par- stands among the few irying to earlier. lies. She rejects the arguments of those, including her biological sister, who believe she’s not dealing birth parents with the consent of a court and the parents, but the law forbids agencies from opening the grisly details to heal emotionally. “They thought this informa- records. “Bohrdid not retum messages left. on her home answering machine, and Shuey didn’t return calls to his office. Ruby D. Weeks, attorney for the youth agency. referred calls to county solicitor Hank Johnson, who said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not cating privacy laws. Sandusky ents to seek therapy for her years counter a movement promoting “In Pennsylvania, adoptees vigorous searches for birth fami- mayobtain information abouttheir records to siblings. Most states with her adoption and must hear have restrictions on adoption Cleveland Dear Cieveland: Thanks for sending the story. Hereit is: “Doylestown, Pa. — Carol Sandusky didn’t want to hear how her biological father supposedly stabbed her mother with an ice pick and threw her out a window while she was pregnant with Carol “She didn’t want to know she was beaten in the face with Sd pan and burned with ciga rettes as a toddler. She didnt want to hear that her biological family members accuse each other of really private.” “In telling her story and advo- Advice Columnist the same agency might have saved her from a tormented adolescence had it disclosed the abuse to Jeanne and Thomas Sandusky whenthey adopted Carol in 1973 at the ageof 3 1/2 “The state made a decision to take me out of this environment, then they decided 20yearslater to bring it back to me.” Sandusky said. ‘My file was supposed to be tion was going to help me. | wasn’t even born yet. What's this information going to do for me?” Sandusky said. “Sandusky, her parents and her husband recently filed a federal Jawsuit against the Cumberland County Children and Youth Services, administrator Gary I. Shuey and’ the person she blames for improperly revealing sealed information, former agency caseworker. Marlene Bohr. They contend the agency violated Sandusky’s privacy and fraudu- comment. “Sandusky’s ordeal started in February 1992. two months after her wedding.” Dear Readers: This is Ann. That news stery made me so angry my blood pressure must have leaped at least 100 points. How about yours? Great Gifts for Mom/7 r IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING RP Every Mother that comes in the shop until Mother's Day will receive a free gift! with purchase while supplies last) Come find that perfect handmade gift for Mom. CARPET STEAM CLEANING CToe ea: CLEANING 491-8100 _int as,Sng,#3455page “Your Year-Round Craft & . Gift Boutique” 200 East 300 South Provo * 375-2600 Home Decor ¢ Gifts ¢ Custom Orders a ? STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART Heritage Woodworks, Inc. 241 South 100 West * Springville « 489-8242 10-6 Mon.- Fri. 10-2 Sat. SESS RET EAB Aee SERS BREE HRRBERBBSERERER EBB eG Dear Ann Landers: As alongtime reader, | am aware that you are against anyone violating the confidentiality of adoption records in order to trace family members hospital while a picture of her after her first chemotherapy treatment sitz on a stand at righi. Horoscopes By JEANE DIXON For May 6 ARIES (March21-April 19): As youride the crest of popularity, your contidence grows. Do what is best for your offspring Someone may send you a cryptic message Read between the lines. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Although self-sufficiency works for you, others expect you to be a team player. Avoid forcing issues. Let any criticism slide off your back Romance puts you in an upbeat mood. Show your playful side 2i-June 20): Investigate new employment powibiites. Consult college bulletins andatiend careerclinics. Those who feeltired will soon get a second wind. Meeting new people puts you on your best behavior. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Money makingideas abound. However, you need a really practical one, A casual zpproachwill keep a new romantic admirer guessing. Let the other person make the first move LEQ uly 23-Aug. 22):. Fight off a lethargic mood" You scoreimportant. points with influentiat people if you show that you are on top of things. Become a better listener. Doing your cwn research makes excellent sense now VIRGO(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): De nov tet delays upset you; the passage of time will work to your advantage. Deal with a family problemhead-on, Acting too controfting will jeopardize romance LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22); Stay focused on work that ts useful to society. Public support is forthcoming when you share your tal PL ents and ideas. Your popularity with family andfriends soars to new heights. SCORPIO(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A good day for mental pursuits. Study hard, thea launch a pet project. Business travel is best postponed until a routine maticr has been resolved. SAGITTARIUS (Noy. 22-Dec. 21): Travel brings intense pleasure now. Be adventurous. An artwork or other public expression of your +ae may get mixed reviews. Do not wor CAPRICORN ‘Dec 22-Jan. 19); Work goes well. A struggle to launch a special pro- ject will be rewarded with new profits. Enjoy the happiness created by a loving friendship. pal hay a lot to share AQUARIUS(Jan. 20-Feb, 18): A search for something at a distance requires persis: tence. Your work holds a strange fascination. You are developing a special talent. Heed 4 partner's desire for privacy. Handle your money and other resources carefully. PESCES(Feb, 19-March 20): Approach: ing @ sensitive subject requires courage and tact. Clear communication is vital t your success, Partnerships and friendships are fulfilling. Do not neglect the needs of a young person. Givefamly life top priority. |