tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-342141162024-03-13T08:42:31.059-04:00TabasamuTabasamu (“smile” in Swahili) is a dental outreach project that was founded by Dr. Edward W. Wilson in 2004. Its mission is to provide free dental care and
education to underserved communities in the Anglican Diocese of Kitale in western Kenya. Tabasamu also provides an international outreach opportunity for volunteers from the wider New York/Philadelphia metropolitan communities as well as for members and
friends of Trinity Episcopal Church of Solebury, PA.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-43676020222517102432012-07-05T08:09:00.001-04:002012-07-05T08:09:35.268-04:00<div dir='ltr'> <font style="font-size: 10pt;" size="2" face="Tahoma "><a href="http://intersonex.pl/rldka.html?cpic=xwkyjc"> http://intersonex.pl/rldka.html?cpic=xwkyjc</a></font> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-6164121122925492242010-10-06T17:31:00.003-04:002010-10-06T17:33:48.068-04:00Haiti 2010Team Tabasamu is going to Haiti! Rebecca Baum, Kyle Evans, Otho Kerr, Dr. Gary Rabinowitz and Dr. Trey Wilson will be leaving on October 7th for a five-day trip. The team will be working with Partners in Health to bring free dental education and treatment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-27420951705883792442008-01-29T18:18:00.000-05:002008-01-29T18:23:46.735-05:00How You Can Help Our Kenyan FriendsMany of our friends in Kenya have been writing to us, sharing their stories about the how the post-election violence in Kenya is shaking their world. They have been uprooted from homes and normal supply channels have been cut. Please consider making a donation to one of several charities that are coming to the assistance of our Kenyan brothers and sisters:<br /><br />The International Red Cross -- <a href="http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/kenya">http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/kenya</a><br />Episcopal Relief and Development -- <a href="http://www.er-d.org/">http://www.er-d.org/</a><br />AMPATH's Kenyan Recovery Fund -- <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.iukenya.org/" target="_blank" _fcksavedurl="http://www.iukenya.org/">www.iukenya.org</a><br /><br />Amani,<br />OthoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-10679371312154631112008-01-29T18:02:00.000-05:002008-01-29T18:57:22.259-05:00Post-Election Perspective from A Kenyan FriendOne of our Kenyan friends wrote the following about the post-election violence:<br /><br />Hi, happy new year, I hope this mail finds you and your families well. You have all been witness to the headline making activities here in Kenya. I and my family are safe and thank God for life and the good health that so many others have been denied. I am sure by now CNN has managed to make us look like bloodthirsty savages who don't know what it means to use dialogue as a means to resolve conflict. Politics and democracy in Africa works in a strange way-after all they are relatively new concepts in the continent. However,despite the portrayal of "calm" being beamed all around the world we are literally on the brink of a catastrophe that would put Rwanda to shame. The press both local and foreign are not giving you the half of it. The local media are currently banned from carrying out live broadcasts and stations that try to give some relatively accurate information such as Al Jazeera and the BBC have their signals regularly<br />interfered with. Phones are being tapped and there is heavy screening of text messages. Kenyans know much less than you do right now on how serious the situation is. This country is at a watershed. Trey is right on the mark when he says these problems have been forty years in the making. There are many,many, unresolved issues that have been swept under the carpet and this election was the last straw. The wounds that have been re-opened will take many years to heal. I am not a historian,but this reminds me of the French revolution.A disenfranchised people have nothing to lose, and consequently think nothing of destroying the ruling class.At the onset the violence was a lashing out at people perceived as being part of or benefiting from the ruling class.That was how the president's community and those of his supporters came to be<br />targeted. It was "rich versus poor". The irony is the victims were struggling with life just as much as their murderers. However,there are now groups from these communities striking back at members of the aggressors communities resident in their home turf. In short,it's now cutting both ways which is much worse because a self-perpetuating cycle of violence is now in existence.<br />All the anger should have been directed at the electoral commission which failed miserably in<br />maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. They were the ones deserving of such treatment for making a mockery of an inalienable right. The people in the government have and continue to rubbish the right of the citizens to self determination. The controversy surrounding the manner in which Kibaki finds himself in state house has not been resolved. To hear a head of state speak of a free and fair election in which the head of the EU observer mission himself has called for re-tallying of results in light of verified discrepancies offends the sensibilities.The chairman of the electoral commission has himself stated that he does not know who won that<br />election.The very severity of the backlash should have clued in anyone with a conscience, but what do you expect from those whose loved ones live in fortified compounds and can be evacuated at a moments notice? It was also not in the interest of diplomacy when the President announced part of his cabinet(taking all the most influencial portfolios) on the very day the President of the African Union came to try and bridge the impasse.So now that those talks failed, the opposition has restarted a programme of rallies in all major towns starting one day after parliament opens. I come across as being pro-opposition but if the legitimacy of the electoral process cannot be spoken for what is then to be said for an individual claiming to be in office legally based a proclamation by that very body? I am pissed off that we can't even have our right to vote respected. If Mr. Kibaki was confident in his victory he would have had no qualms about retallying-the attorney general clarified that constitutionally the exercise could be done without the need for a order from the electoral court.It's a very dodgy attitude for the victor of a 'closely contested free and fair election' to have. Whatever religious leaders, diplomats and foreign governments say,there will be no peace in this country without institutions and systems that have legitimacy in the eyes of the whole population.There is no fence sitting or procrastination, this time there must be definitive solutions.Ignoring the issues raised is simply playing Russian roulette with all chambers loaded. The only variable would not be if but when the final terrible descent into anarchy occurs. Some of the goings on in the country would put a chill in your very bones and do not bear speaking of. The leadership in this country have to make the most important decisions of their lives. The pity is that there are 36 million of us who must bear witness to the consequences.<br />Take care<br />JUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-79668882444989328402007-11-08T11:40:00.000-05:002007-11-08T11:45:44.097-05:00A Dental Hygienist's Experience with TabasamuWhen Dr. Trey Wilson approached me in May to go on a dental outreach with his team to Kenya, I apprehensively replied with an “Okay….” Little did I know that my feeble response would four months later turn into one of the most memorable experiences of my life.<br /><br />Tabasamu, which means “smile” in Swahili, is a dental outreach project comprised of volunteer dentists, hygienists, and others. Each year, the team gears up for a trek out to a remote town in Kenya called Kitale, which is a ten-hour bus ride from Kenya’s largest city Nairobi.<br /><br />When I told my friends I was traveling to Kenya for a dental outreach, many of them looked at me quizzically and asked, “What is a hygienist going to do at a dental outreach” To be honest, I wondered the same thing. A myriad of thoughts and scenarios ran through my brain, ranging from being chased by hungry lions, or being stranded somewhere far from civilization in the harsh savannah of Africa’s wilderness. Needless to say I managed to pack every possible thing I could need in two very large and very heavy suitcases, with enough food to feed an army.<br /><br />After meeting the team at Newark airport, my apprehensions regarding the trip were quickly allayed by Tabasamu veterans—their friendliness and excitement about the upcoming adventure put to rest any fears I may have had. I knew I had little to worry about, so I hunkered down for the long flight to Kenya.<br /><br />Upon arrival in Kenya the first thought that crossed my mind was “Wow! We’re in Africa!” Apparently I wasn’t the only one thinking that, because my thoughts were quickly echoed by two of my traveling companions Kaylyn and Erin. I was overjoyed that we were finally off the airplane, with only a brief 10-hour bus ride remaining.<br /><br />I was immediately struck by the beauty of the landscape, and the native trees and grasslands that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles in every direction. It wasn’t uncommon to see baboons scattered around the side of the road. I certainly wasn’t in Manhattan anymore!<br /><br />Early next morning, the outreach portion of my journey officially commenced. As a hygienist, my activities at Tabasamu can basically be simplified into two categories, Tooth Tour and Clinic.<br /><br /><strong>The Tooth Tour</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Dentists in Kitale are few and far between. There are only three dentists for the 300,000 people living in the area. However, even if more dentists were available the cost of dentistry is prohibitive for the majority of native Kenyans. As a result, preventive dental knowledge is generally inadequate among many Kenyans, who end up seeking dental treatment only for emergencies such as extractions and infections.<br /><br />Therefore, the Tooth Tour provides a service to the young children of Kitale by bringing puppet shows and hands-on oral hygiene demonstrations directly to the local churches in the area. I certainly was not prepared for the overwhelmingly warm reception we received at each Tooth Tour stop. Even as we approached, each time we could hear the excited roar and cheers of the crowd of children gathered there. We felt like celebrities, with the children clamoring to get a closer look at us, or begging to have their pictures taken. They all sat in rapt silence as we gave our puppet show presentation about dental hygiene, and the dental dangers of eating too much sugars in one’s diet. I cannot begin to describe how amazing it was to see 1100 or so children sitting there in complete silence as we spoke—they treated us with the utmost respect, and genuinely wished to hear what we had to say! If only my patients paid so much attention!<br /><br />Following the presentations we handed each child a toothbrush—perhaps only one or two kids out of entire groups of 1100 kids even owned a toothbrush. Needless to say the children were ecstatic. The tooth tours were by far the most touching and emotionally rewarding aspects of the trip.<br /><br /><strong>Clinic</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />With all of the dentists in the team constantly busy tending to the massive lines of patients waiting outside the clinic, it was essential for a hygienist (such as myself) to try to provide a basic cleaning and exam to those patients who did not need emergent care. Granted, the conditions were sub-optimal for a great scaling or cleaning (note exhibit A beach/soccer chair below), but I realized that their exposure to dentistry for that entire year consisted of, well, me.<br />It was somewhat disheartening to see dietary trends affecting the dental health of these Kenyans. With an influx of sugary sodas (Coca Cola is cheaper here than bottled water!), it seems inevitable that the children and younger adults face a growing risk of dental decay. I noticed that older adults appeared to show less decay than the newer generation. Many of the children who drink sugary sodas on a daily basis have no idea the harm it can cause their teeth. This just solidifies the need for earlier dental and nutritional education. With each patient, I felt like I was doing something genuinely good, because I knew that they didn’t have immediate access to dental care. It was not only rewarding to bring each patient to better dental health, but it was also touching to see the pure gratitude every patient exhibited after their procedure. The sense of accomplishment alone here was addictive.<br /><br /><strong>Oscar</strong><br /><br />Of course, no grand adventure would be complete without a love story. From the first time I laid eyes on her (yes, it’s a she—but Oscar was the first name that came to mind), I knew I was in love. Each morning I would visit Oscar, and she would suckle on my fingers (an indescribable feeling!). I managed to train it to come to me when I called out her name. On the last day, as we were packed up and ready to leave, I sobbed while Oscar moo’ed as we said our goodbyes.<br /><br />As I sit here at my computer, nearly a month after my trip to Kenya, I can’t help but think about what all those children were doing… whether they were brushing, whether they had cut down on soda… and if the adult patients were doing the same. What were once feelings of trepidation are now feelings of fondness and reminiscence. Feelings of uncertainty have given way to feelings of love for the country, its people, and Oscar.<br /><br />Would I do it all again?<em> Absolutely!</em><br /><br />Jessica PaoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-72136531318666784072007-10-08T16:46:00.000-04:002007-10-08T16:57:19.865-04:00Vote for Your Favorite CNN Hero<strong><span style="color:#000000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Medical Marvel</span></strong><br />Which CNN Hero profiled onair and online is your favorite?<br />You've seen them... been inspired by them... now it's your turn to vote for them by October 15th!<br /><br />To vote for Dr. Trey Wilson and Tabasamu, go to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/index.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-67698685521736804702007-09-29T08:53:00.000-04:002007-09-29T09:17:06.937-04:00Tabasamu Night : Day 7 AddendumLast night, we celebrated one of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kitale's</span> annual highlights, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">extravaganza</span> known as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tabasamu</span> Night, hosted by Team <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tabasamu</span> USA. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tabasamu</span> Night is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tabasamu's</span> "thank you" to our Kenya based volunteers and supporters. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BMCC</span> Conference Hall was decorated in blue and green balloons, crepe paper, streamers and Chinese lanterns. It was an wildly festive sight for the otherwise reserved city of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kitale</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tabasamu's</span> founder, Dr. Trey Wilson, opened the evening with a moving welcome and tribute to our volunteers and acknowledged <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Kitale</span> as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tabasamu's</span> second home -- "home is where the heart is." Rev. Emmanuel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Chemengich</span> was our incredibly capable and entertaining master of ceremonies for the second year in a row. Erin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Prediger</span>, Chris Hermann, Lynn Preminger and Jessica <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Pao</span> presented a shortened version of the Tooth Tour presentation, including the puppet show, that we took to schools and churches. The crowd LOVED it. And our Kenyan volunteers offered up a seemingly humorous skit, which I am still trying to figure out! <br /><br />An extreme amount of love and care was put into our dinner of goat, lamb, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ugali</span>, rice, spinach and carrots -- and we owe tremendous thanks to our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">BMCC</span> hosts. They were THRILLED to be able to cater this event, with no stove, oven or refrigerator. We have only one more day in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kitale</span>, and then we begin our long journey back to the States.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Amani</span>,<br />OthoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-9620233006172531452007-09-29T06:10:00.001-04:002007-09-29T06:10:30.784-04:00Days 6 and 7: September 27 and 28, 2007<!-- Converted from text/plain format --> <P><FONT SIZE=2>The Internet Cafe is still not in service. Kevin Jennings has written today's blog entry via Blackberry:<BR> <BR> As a twelve-year old in 1975, I was transfixed by the images of the final American pull out from Vietnam, with people clawing their way on to the helicopters as they took off from the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. That panic, that sense of desperation, terrified me. <BR> <BR> Here in Kenya, I have tasted a bit of that desperation this week. After working in the Kapenguria clinic for three days, I was assigned Thursday to go on the "Tooth Tour." We needed to stop by our other clinic -- Mt. Elgon in Kitale -- on the way, and Debbie Croll and I got out of the van to stretch our legs. Debbie was soon accosted by a Kenyan man who was frustrated by our inability to serve all who needed our services.<BR> <BR> "Why can't you serve all of us?"<BR> <BR> Nonplussed, Debbie began to explain that there are a limited number of us, that we are only here for a week, but got cut off. <BR> <BR> "Why can't you stay longer?"<BR> <BR> Debbie began to explain that we all have other jobs, that we are volunteering our time, and that we have to get back to our regular lives. The Kenyan cut her off once more, asking what older folks like me like to call the $64,000 Question.<BR> <BR> "People in your country have so much. Why don't more of you come to help us?"<BR> <BR> Why indeed.<BR> <BR> We began Friday at Kapenguria by explaining to folks that this would be our last day, that we could not serve everyone, and that those whose names were past a certain point on the list should go home. But they didn't. They stayed, hopeful that somehow we could control the space-time continuum and serve more of them than is humanly possible given the time and resources we have. In the early afternoon, as it became apparent that we were indeed closing down the clinic and that all hope was about to be lost, a sizable group formed and began to press closer and closer to the doors of our treatment rooms. It felt a bit like that day in Saigon in 1975, with the privileged Americans taking off and leaving the less fortunate "natives" behind. It was the hardest moment of my week as my privileges were so nakedly apparent. For no other than reason than I was lucky enough to be born in North Carolina and not Nairobi, I get to go back to New York, knowing I have the money to call Dr. Trey whenever my tooth hurts and get him to fix it. I was on the proverbial helicopter. The Kenyans would be left behind.<BR> <BR> "People in your country have so much. Why don't more of you come to help us?"<BR> <BR> Why indeed.<BR> <BR> Kevin Jennings,<BR> ____________________________<BR> <BR> Otho E. Kerr III<BR> Executive Director<BR> Oppenheimer Asset Management<BR> 200 Park Avenue<BR> New York, New York 10166<BR> <BR> Tel: (212) 667-4322<BR> Fax: (212) 667-4970<BR> otho.kerr@opco.com<BR> ____________________________<BR> </FONT> </P> For more information about Oppenheimer's products and services, visit our website at <http://www.opco.com> http://www.opco.com This communication is for informational purposes only and nothing herein should be construed as a solicitation, recommendation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or product. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but we do not guarantee accuracy or completeness. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc and its affiliated companies, their officers, directors and employees may have a position in or, make a market in any securities mentioned above and, may act as an investment banker or advisor to such companies. Client account information or transaction details do not supersede mailed confirmations or account statements which are the only official records containing this information. As a matter of policy, orders are not accepted via e-mail or voice mail and no responsibility shall accrue relating to any orders placed in this manner. If this communication has been received in error, please delete or destroy immediately. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-23273035613257906832007-09-27T17:35:00.001-04:002007-09-29T08:41:34.674-04:00Day 5: September 26, 2007<p><span style="font-size:85%;">Again, no power at the Cafe, so we are sending a Blackberry entry. While a blog entry from one of the clinic teams was expected by now, it has been difficult since they do not have access to the Internet. We hope to give you a clinic update tomorrow rather than another Tooth Tour update.<br /><br />As I start the writing of this entry it is 5:05 PM and we (Lynn Preminger, Chris Hermann, Gary Rabinowitz and I) are sitting in a van in the middle of a dirt road waiting for a truck to come to our aid. We have just left a local church where we sat inside a half-constructed facility -- a brick church that will cost $4,500 all-in to build -- and taught a group of adults and children. My team's day of the Tooth Tour consisted of talking to one school of 1,000 children and visiting the aforementioned church of 50 people.<br /><br />But we are trapped! All of the roads back to the Bishop Muge Conference Center have now become impassable due to heavy, heavy afternoon rains. (Each day we have been here has been warm and sunny, without exception, but the afternoons have ended with rain, only to be followed by clear evenings. The moon is waxing to full.)<br /><br />It is now 6:00 PM. This is becoming an interesting afternoon! We have called for a truck to meet us a few miles up the road, but we still have to reach the spot where we are to meet the truck even though the roads are muddy, slick and treacherous to navigate, but the locals seem willing to help! The Kenyans seem to have an exceptional sense of supporting one another And they are keen to have any reason to stare at the foreigners, especially my white (muzungu) team mates. Whenever we have become stuck in the road, many people have come to our aid. As I write this, the local Kenyans are assisting us, running alongside our van for about 3 kms to make sure that we do not get stuck! But we do get stuck. And somehow we now have 50 Kenyans helping us. We have gotten out of the van and are now following it, as the locals push it for another 2 kms, the van sliding every which way as it is pushed. We are amazed no legs are lost! It is incredible!! I'm not certain what the source of generosity is, but we are told by a local vicar that the Kenyans have a strong cooperative social ethic. They really put themselves in harm's way to help us as the van slips and slides.<br /><br />As we walk behind the van, the sun sets, it becomes dark, but we are serenaded by joyful, local young school girls who have joined the festivities. We are actually enjoying ourselves. How did we say "thanks" to our suitors? We gave them toothbrushes, of course.<br /><br />By the time we get home, it is 9:30 PM. It took four and a half hours to travel about 30 miles! What is amazing is the spirit that was experienced by the whole team!<br /><br />We are ready to go to bed!<br /><br />Amani,<br />Otho<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-75381911446966145972007-09-26T11:27:00.000-04:002007-09-29T08:43:23.736-04:00Day 4: September 25, 2007<p><span style="font-size:85%;">Due to electrical problems in Kitale, Kenya, updates have been difficult. The Internet Cafe has not had access to the Internet for a few days. This is being sent from Otho's Blackberry. Full updates are difficult to type on a Blackberry. We had assumed that the Cafe would have recovered access to the Internet by now. We apologize for the inconvenience. But here is a general update.<br /><br />For those of you following us on this blog, please know that the clinics in Kitale and Kapenguria have been extraordinarily busy, relying on generators for electricity -- of course! The two Tooth Tours have fought through hail -- the hail was pea-sized -- and mud and have already taught over 3,000 primary students and 1,000 secondary students. (And we have passed out as many toothbrushes, thanks to the Eavensons and Johnson & Johnson.) The primary students have screamed with laughter watching our puppet show, and the secondary students have been exceptionally attentive and inquisitive, surprised that processed foods and sugars can cause tooth decay.<br /><br />Wherever we make a Tooth Tour presentation, be it a school or a church, we seem to be greeted with a song. And we have ended most of our visits by assessing people in pain. If a person is in need of an extraction, we present them with a voucher that pays for a free extraction at one of two hospitals.<br /><br />After three years of serving the area, Tabasamu is becoming more of a household name. Folks want our dental services.<br /><br />We have spent considerable time asking ourselves about the mission of Tabasamu, and we are beginning to think that the greater value is in the education that we provide. While the clinics are important, we seem to have a greater impact helping our Kenyan friends understand the importance of proper oral hygiene and diet. We are struck but the outstanding quality of teeth of the senior citizens versus the poor quality of the teeth of young adults and children who seem to have taken a strong liking to sugary diets. It's our mission to change this way of thinking.<br /><br />The presumed upcoming election has been the talk of the people. There seems to be great interest in the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who recently met with Pres. Bush. The people we have met seem to be interested in eliminating corruption and creating more economic for the masses, and the opposition leader promises such a change in government. He is apparently very charismatic. We witnessed a rally at Kenyatta Int'l Airport in Nairobi in support of the opposition.<br /><br />Our stay at the Bishop Muge Conference Center has been filled with love and hospitality. Our food is cooked over open flames and our clothes are washed by hand and hung to dry. Carbohydrates, including rice, potatoes and ugali, are big on our menu. You can rest assured as well that hard boiled eggs will be served at breakfast and included in our bag lunches. Chai tea is a daily offering before dinner.<br /><br />Th moon should be full tonight in a sky that is spectacular. After dinner, many of us just sit and stare at the open sky and stars. The country is beautiful. The sight of a monkey, melon stork or mongoose is commonplace.<br /><br />We are filled with a sense of gratitude for what we have and what we are able to share with others. But we are grateful for the generosity and hospitality that we have received in return.<br /><br />Amani,<br />Otho and Chris<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-31255895459904457692007-09-24T10:45:00.001-04:002007-09-24T10:55:55.570-04:00Days 2 and 3: September 23 and September 24, 2007We've had a full two days in Kitale and although the stress may be high at times, the atmosphere is always light, which tends to be the case when surrounded by so many extraordinary people who have nothing but the best of intentions and the largest of hearts.<br />Sunday morning and the majority of the afternoon was spent at the largest, but most beautiful church service at St. Luke's Anglican Church. What stood out the most to me was the singing, first by the Sunday School children followed by the adult choir. The Tabasamu men also took part in the choir. After the service, we met with members of the church and enjoyed sandwiches and Chai tea along with a lovingly packed lunch by Maggie, who manages the Bishop Muge Conference Center.<br /><br />Following lunch, Team Tabasamu met for the first time in its entirety, including both the American and Kenyan volunteers. The remainder of the afternoon and evening was spent getting both clinics in order and making sure the Tooth Tour people were prepared. Dinner back at the BBMC followed, where we spent most of the time laughing and expressing our excitement for the upcoming week.<br /><br />For Richard, Otho, and myself, Monday was spent on a Tooth Tour with a stop at a secondary school and one at a parish. The Tooth Tour is a program to educate local Kenyans about the importance of dental health and how to care for their teeth.<br /><br />We spoke in front of approximately 200 students at the Kwanza Friends Secondary School, where Otho received the most laughs from his imitation of how hard he brushed his teeth as a boy.<br /><br />Our second stop was at St. John's ACK Church, where we spoke in front of a mixed audience of men, women, and children, with a special guest appearance by the town's chief. It was interesting to observe such an intimidating man dressed in a military uniform standing there with a black crop in one hand and a bright green toothbrush, given by the team, in the other.<br /><br />The best part of today was the reception we received from both places we visited. The people were so warm, welcoming, and genuinely appreciative of our presence and the knowledge we had to share. I'm looking forward to sharing our stories tonight over dinner with the rest of the team and hearing how their day was spent at the clinics. I'm left with a feeling of anticipation and excitement about the remaining days; the places yet to visit and people still to meet.<br /><p>Amani,<br />Erin Prediger</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-2209274705245665202007-09-20T12:41:00.000-04:002007-09-20T12:57:22.581-04:00The Adventure Starts TonightAt 9:25 tonight, Team Tabasamu boards Virgin Atlantic Flight #002 and wings its way from Newark Airport to London, England. The Team will arrive in London Friday morning, spend the day in London and then catch another red-eye to Nairobi, Kenya, arriving Saturday at 6:05 AM -- 11:05 PM EST. After a bumpy eight hour drive that will take the Team through the extraordinary Great Rift Valley and across the Equator, the Team will arrive in Kitale, Kenya.<br /><br />If the technology is working, daily updates will be posted on this blog beginning Sunday, September 23rd!! Wish us luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-19934069947814403332007-08-28T17:08:00.000-04:002008-12-09T14:18:47.509-05:00Robin Roberts Makes Us Smile<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4SfEfnuIdHo/RtSSbgt6SgI/AAAAAAAAAAU/UVW_FHv4Zws/s1600-h/abc_robin_roberts_070731_ms.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103865279054236162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4SfEfnuIdHo/RtSSbgt6SgI/AAAAAAAAAAU/UVW_FHv4Zws/s200/abc_robin_roberts_070731_ms.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>One person who gives us a big smile every morning is Robin Roberts, anchor of ABC's Good Morning America. She's beautiful, smart, elegant, funny, gracious and compassionate. And she has a GREAT smile!! Robin recently underwent surgery for breast cancer and is undergoing additional treatment, according to ABC. But she continues to smile. We dedicate our upcoming mission to Robin and other women who have faced the challenges of breast cancer. Like Robin, our friends Chris and Donna have recently struggled with breast cancer but they have done so with courage and dignity, keeping us always smiling along the way.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-22687493985900269972007-08-25T13:36:00.001-04:002007-08-28T11:55:39.942-04:00One Month to Go!<p><span style="font-size:85%;">The countdown begins!<br /><br />Today, Dr. Paul Leventhal hosted the first of two training sessions for eight members of Team Tabasamu.<br /><br />Through the generosity of our friends and family and corporate supporters such as Henry Schein and Johnson and Johnson, we have received at least $20,000 in cash and in-kind donations.<br /><br />One month to go!<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-63686540130107357042007-08-21T14:04:00.000-04:002007-08-28T11:56:45.970-04:00Support Tabasamu Today!Tabasamu is proud to announce that 14 individuals have registered to travel to Kenya on September 20th for a 10-day mission to work with our friends in western Kenya. If you can't join us in person, please feel free to make a donation by going to <a href="http://www.searchingforsmiles.net/">http://www.searchingforsmiles.net/</a>.<br /><br />Say "hello" to Team Tabasamu 2007. We welcome Richard Ansong, Debbie Croll, Kyle Evans, Lisa Green, Chris Hermann, Kevin Jennings, Otho Kerr, Kaylyn Koberna, Dr. Paul Leventhal, Evelyn Pantuso, Jessica Pao, Erin Prediger, Dr. Gary Rabinowitz, Lynn Seiden-Preminger and founder Dr. Trey Wilson.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-67557752959202600562007-07-26T17:42:00.000-04:002007-07-26T17:44:32.362-04:00We're Going Back!!Team Tabasamu 2007 is already making plans to fly to Kitale, Kenya on the evening of September 20, 2007. Stay tuned for our upcoming plans.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-8970467494183454882007-06-01T00:41:00.001-04:002008-12-09T14:18:47.795-05:00Dr. Trey Wilson on CNN: "Medical Marvel"<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4SfEfnuIdHo/Rl-lXt0ibII/AAAAAAAAAAM/UcIEPuL4zEU/s1600-h/kitale+clinic_wilson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070953532297997442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4SfEfnuIdHo/Rl-lXt0ibII/AAAAAAAAAAM/UcIEPuL4zEU/s200/kitale+clinic_wilson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Tonight, CNN honored Dr. Trey Wilson as a "CNN Hero". To view the segment that was broadcasted and to view additional material available only on the CNN website, go to <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/specials/2007/05/29/heroes.trey.wilson.cnn">http://edition.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/specials/2007/05/29/heroes.trey.wilson.cnn</a><a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>We welcome your support. To make a donation, please go to our website at </strong><a href="http://www.searchingforsmiles.net/"><strong>www.searchingforsmiles.net</strong></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-10399975127655580672007-05-29T09:26:00.000-04:002007-05-29T09:29:05.045-04:00Dr. Trey on CNN May 31Many of you have been kind enough to ask when CNN will air its segment "CNN Heroes", featuring Tabasamu's own Dr. Trey Wilson. The segment is scheduled to premiere on Thursday May 31st on CNN on Anderson Cooper/AC360 during the 11pm hour. Usually these segments air at the end of the hour, closer to midnight. This premiere could change if AC360 decides to do some kind of extended special report. Other airtimes are not set in stone, but after the premiere, the segment is set to air as follows:<br /><br /><strong>CNN<br /></strong><em>Tuesday, June 5th</em><br />American Morning: 6am - 9am (usually in the 8am hour)<br />CNN Newsroom: 10am - 1pm<br />CNN Newsroom: 1pm - 4pm<br />Paula Zahn Now: 8pm - 9pm + any repeats<br /><strong><em>plus</em></strong><br /><em>Saturday</em>, June 9th: 10am, 2pm, 5pm, 10pm<br /><br /><strong>HEADLINE NEWS</strong><br /><em>Tuesday, June 5th</em><br />Weekdays: 6am, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm<br />Glenn Beck: 7pm, 9pm, Midnight<br />Nancy Grace: 8pm, 10pm, am<br /><strong><em>plus</em></strong><br />Saturday, June 9th: 11:30am, 2pmUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-55240540352676264442007-05-24T14:34:00.001-04:002007-05-25T08:59:54.649-04:00Today, Evelyn Pantuso and her brother Fred went live with our new website -- <a href="http://www.searchingforsmiles.net">www.searchingforsmiles.net</a>! (And they made it so easy to make donations. Give it a try!!)<br /><br />Evelyn was in crunch mode this week to create the site in order to have it available by next Thursday, May 31st, when CNN airs a piece called <em>CNN Heroes, </em>which honors "everyday heroes" and references our site. Next week's featured hero is our own Dr. Trey Wilson, the visionary behind Tabasamu. This CNN global initiative showcases "CNN Heroes," ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary deeds in areas ranging from the environment to civil rights. Culminating in a year-end awards gala, the network will honor the most outstanding of viewer-submitted nominees from around the world.<br /><br />But our excitement does not stop there. May 31st also happens to be the day that we host our Bucks County Tabasamu Night at Trinity Episcopal Church, 6587 Upper York Road, Solebury PA at 6:30 p.m. We plan to share our experiences from last year and recruit volunteer and financial support for our upcoming trip in September. We will duplicate the event on June 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Reisler Room at Temple Shaaray Tefila (79th and 2nd Ave) in New York City).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1162824649249951062006-11-06T09:49:00.000-05:002007-05-24T15:10:18.669-04:00<strong>Team Tabasamu 2006 Trip Report</strong><br /><br />Team Tabasamu has just returned from their 12 day dental mission project in Kitale, Kenya – exhausted and exhilarated from the experience, and enthusiastic about its future. The 12-member team included six members of Trinity (Kaylyn Koberna, Otho Kerr, Kyle Evans, Jerry Harbaugh, Megg King and Trey Wilson), three people from New York City (Dr Gary Rabinowitz, Rev. Cari Jackson and Lisa Green) and three people from Bucks County (Dr. Paul Leventhal, Dental Hygienist Tonia Richard and Evelyn Pantuso). Each person brought an array of gifts and talents that allowed our group to function as a team with only 12 hours of training time together. It was a truly awesome thing to see how the cosmic puzzle of personalities and abilities fit together and how things just got done.<br /><br />Our mission was to provide free dental care and education for underserved communities in the Anglican Diocese of Kitale in western Kenya. In addition, our mission is to provide opportunities for cross-cultural exchange between the two communities. We established some very specific goals in advance of our trip. Here’s the breakdown of our goals and our experiences: (and yes, our equipment arrived on time and in place in advance of our arrival!) We hoped to provide actual treatment (fillings and cleanings) to at least 150 people, and our team of four dental professionals did just that!! We hoped to support local professional treatment for at least another 300 people (dental extractions). We actually examined and treated more than 500 people with the help of about 16 Kenyan volunteers!! We hoped to educate another 450 people on good oral hygiene and preventative techniques. Our “Tooth Tour” team actually made presentations to more than 5000 students at 14 academies and at the two clinics we operated!! Otho Kerr did a phenomenal job heading up the Tooth Tour (“Safari ya Meno” in Kiswahili). Our vans not only visited 14 schools but also some very small parishes in more remote areas of the Diocese. Our programs offered a wonderfully crafted puppet show called “How Tooth Became Healthy” that helped young people understand prevention and the role of diet in a very amusing and musical narrative. The puppet show was conceived by Doylestown’s Evelyn Pantuso (her husband has won four Emmys for his work on “Sesame Street” but she conceived the idea herself!) There were also visual aids and a panel discussion that enabled older children to learn about improving oral health.<br /><br />The average Kenyan suffers from EXTREMELY poor oral health, which adversely affects them in a myriad of ways. Dental hygiene and dietary awareness are topics that get very little attention in Kenya. In addition, there is only one dentist for every 300,000 individuals. Knowledge of available dental resources is very poor and dental services most often accessed are emergent (e.g. treating infections and tooth extractions). It is a drain on an individual’s budget to have a tooth pulled ($1.30 US) and so many people live in a chronic state of pain and infection. Painkillers and antibiotics are also not readily available. Our goal is to help our dental community be aware of alternative treatments like fillings, dental cleanings and fluoride treatments and to offer those individuals that choice if the situation is not too serious. We also encouraged students at the academies to consider dentistry as a career and were met with a great deal of interest. We were encouraged by the curiosity and enthusiasm of the students and will maintain contact with interested students to support their potential career choice in dentistry. Kenya needs quality, affordable dental care and between the two clinics we opened for the week and the Tooth Tours, Tabasamu provided a service that the population clearly needs and values.<br /><br />Some of the highlights of cross-cultural experience were: our first annual “Tabasamu Night.” We invited 40 people from the Diocese to a beautifully decorated banquet to say “Welcome,” “Thank-you,” and “Here we are.” Each table of four told a particular tooth story, some based on local folklore and others based on experience. Otho led the entertainment with a solo rendition, a capella, of his brand new now famous Broadway-bound rendition of Tabasamu sang to the melody of “Every Man has a Daydream.” We brought to the group’s attention that Tabasamu was not exclusively a Christian Mission and that we had all just finished experiencing the holy day of Yom Kippur with our Jewish friends on the team. They were very appreciative of this to say the least. As a symbol of the friendship, our two communities exchanged a friendship tile from the Moravian Tileworks in Doylestown and toothbrushes were given to every guest. Every day held endless opportunities to go outside of oneself and experience life through the eyes, ears and steps of Kenyans. Whether it was from the local dishes we ate, the music we heard, the open markets we visited, and the smiling faces we encountered everywhere, Team Tabasamu came away with an appreciation for how God’s Love is celebrated and shared in a beautiful corner of Kenya.<br /><br />Trey WilsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1159712232892902142006-10-01T10:17:00.000-04:002007-05-24T15:10:41.662-04:00<p class="mobile-post">Jambo!! Today is October 1st, but each of us will be taking turns writing<br />about what we experienced the day before. Kaylyn and I are sitting in the<br />Cyber Cafe in "downtown" Kitale, Kenya wanting you to know that Team<br />Tabasamu made it to Kitale after flying five hours to London, flying eight<br />hours to Nairobi and driving seven hours to Kitale. (Former<br />Vice-presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards was on our flight and said a<br />kind "hello.") Despite a little rain on the drive to Kitale, we enjoyed<br />witnessing the splendor and vastness of the Great Rift Valley, where<br />civilization began. We got chills as we crossed the Equator, and we saw<br />enough monkeys and zebras to temporarily satisfy our thirst to see some<br />African wildlife. We lost only one bag along the way (during the flight,<br />that is). We were greeted at the Bishop Muge Conference Center, where we<br />are staying, by Rev. and Dorcas Chemengich who have made this trip possible.<br />There isn't much to say about this first day except that the entire gang<br />is excited to be in Kenya and to do what we came here to do. We<br />anticipate a lot of living, laughing and loving over the course of our stay.<br />(Please be sure to scroll down the entire blog to find out more about what<br />happened prior to this trip.) Amani, Otho</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1159408243666117292006-09-27T21:50:00.000-04:002007-05-24T15:13:20.989-04:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">MONDAY<br />2nd October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:placename st="on">Kapenguria</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">District</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype> and <st1:placetype st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> Elgon Hospital, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><br />- Kitale Academy Secondary (9.30AM) and Primary (11.30AM)<br />- St. Marks Cherangany Girls (2PM) Boys (4PM)<br /><br />TUESDAY<br />3rd October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> <st1:placename st="on">Kapenguria</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">District</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype> and <st1:placetype st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> Elgon Hospital, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><br />-<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">St. Johns</st1:place></st1:city>, Chepareria A.C.K (10AM)<br />- Chepareria Primary and Chepareria Girls H.S.<br /><br />WEDNESDAY<br />4th October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> <st1:placename st="on">Kapenguria</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">District</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Elgon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;">- Nasokol Girls School 3.30PM; (Morning)<br />- <?xml:namespace prefix = st2 /><st2:sn st="on">St.</st2:sn> Francis School for the Blind School (12Noon)<br />- Shimolatewa (Morning hrs)<br />---------------------------------<br />EVENING (6:00 PM): Party BMCC<br />----------------------------------<br /><br />THURSDAY<br />5th October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> Kapenguria District Hospital and Mt. Elgon Hospital, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><br />-Kapsokwony A.C.K /Kaptama (Morning)<br />-Kapsokwony H.S (Afternoon)<br /><br /><br />FRIDAY<br />6th October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> Kapenguria District Hospital and Mt. Elgon Hospital, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><br />- Osorongai H.S.<br />- Bishop Muge H.S.<br />- St. Patricks, H.S.<br /><br />SATURDAY<br />7th October, 2006<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Clinics:</b> <st1:placename st="on">Kapenguria</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">District</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Elgon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Hospital</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Kitale<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Safari ya meno (Tooth Tour):</b><br />- Safari ya meno Team divide to join dental doctors at Kapenguria and Kitale<br /><br />SUNDAY<br />8th October, 2006<br />TEAM DEPARTS</span><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1159133769108502982006-09-24T17:36:00.000-04:002007-05-24T15:13:03.136-04:00<p class="mobile-post">Today, Rev. Marshall Shelly commissioned Team Tabasamu to go forth on its mission to Kenya. Team Tabasamu leaves in just four days! </p><p class="mobile-post">The team is over the moon with enthusiasm. In the last week, Trey has conducted two four hour training sessions, preparing Team Tabasamu to enter the world of dental care in Kenya. Evelyn unveiled her incredible children's puppet show on taking care of teeth , which will have its world debut on the Tooth Tour. Otho introduced a new song into the Tabasamu songbook. The Kobernas and J&J are sending us with 1,000 toothbrushes. Lisa presented each team member with a team shirt. And everybody else has joined in to secure the final details. But the highlight of the week was our receiving an incredibly generous donation of much-needed medicines from our annual supporter, Dr. Roger Emert. Thanks Roger!</p><p class="mobile-post">Well, say your prayers. We are ready to go. If all goes as planned, we will be sending updates on this blog beginning next Monday at the latest!! Stay tuned... OK<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1158119153611972032006-09-12T23:41:00.000-04:002007-05-24T15:13:39.280-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/524/3767/1600/Operation%20Tabasamu%20Day%202%205-16-05%20045.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/524/3767/320/Operation%20Tabasamu%20Day%202%205-16-05%20045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kaylyn (sixteen years old) has been with Tabasamu from the start!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34214116.post-1158118606194675632006-09-12T23:10:00.000-04:002007-05-24T15:14:13.813-04:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/524/3767/1600/Operation%20Tabasamu%20Day%202%205-16-05%20021.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/524/3767/320/Operation%20Tabasamu%20Day%202%205-16-05%20021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />While Tabasamu is a dental mission, it has served as a wonderful catalyst for other projects that can help underprivileged communities in western Kenya. In the past several days, Tabasamu has received incredibly generous donations of fabric from several sources. Mary Kerr, Julia Kerr, Linda Sue Blue, Otho Kerr Jr. and Audrie Lavine sent separate shipments of fabric that will be used in technical schools that currently rely on paper (as shown) to teach young people how to sew. Currently, these schools can't afford to use real fabric, even for year-end projects. We hope that the provision of fabric will not only give the children a more realistic learning experience, but will also give them a chance to create marketable products, the sale of which may fund future purchases of fabric, creating a self-sustaining operation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0