Times Advocate, 1994-04-20, Page 15Times -Advocate, April 20, 1994 Page 15
Exeter woman helps thothers and
children of Chernobyl deal with the pain
By Amy Nellands
Special to the T -A
EXETER - Dorothy Chapman, of
Exeter, recently returned from
Chernobyl, Ukraine leaving behind
a "healing atmosphere" for the chil-
dren of the Chernobyl nuclear ac-
cident.
In April, 1986, due to operator er-
rors, a nuclear reactor at the power
plant in Chernobyl blew up leaving
a devastating mark on the area and
its people that continues all these
years later.
Radiation from the power plant
got into the food, water, and air for
miles around the area of the ac-
cident. The grazing cattle ate radi-
ated grass contaminating the beef
and milk. Crops were not able to
grow because the land was de-
stroyed.
"It will be affected for years to
come," Chapman said.
Chapman first visited Russia in
November, 1992. She went with a
team to work with kids with cancer
caused by the radiation. They also
went to present a program on the
immune system. Radiation de-
stroys the immune system and
makes the body open to any dis-
ease.
"They call it 'Chernobyl AIDS',"
she said.
Many people over there are
scared to have children because of
birth defects, she said. Also, chil-
dren are more affected because
their immune systems are not fully
developed and are easily more de-
stroyed by the radiation making
them more prone to disease.
She then decided to start her own
project with some children who are
in a hospital in Minsk, Belarus, a
former Soviet republic. She looked "There is no cure for their dis-
at the things they needed help with eases but they can bring about a
and witnessed the "incredible pain healing environment."
of the mothers" seeing their chil- Chapman was able to get the
dren suffer. book printed and translated into
"Russia is a different culture than Russian.
here. They don't talk about illness. She then decided to set up a prac-
There are no support groups and it tical workshop based on her book.
is a weakness to cry. There is no The workshop was to be set up at a
outlet for pain in the mothers." children's ward in a hematological
Seeing this made her decide to hospital in Minsk. These children
write a handbook called "Winds of have blood disorders caused by the
Change, Rainbows of Hope". radiation.
"It was written with the Russian Where children with the same
mothers in mind," she said. diseases over here would have a
It deals with the mothers' feel- higher chance of recovery, "80 per-
ings and shows them how to create cern of these children don't make it,
a healing atmosphere for their chil- their systems are so radiated."
dren and bring a little light into There is also a lack of med-
their lives. Some hospitals and or- ication, she said. Many of the peo-
phanages are full of kids and there pie can't afford to buy it.
is nothing for them to play with. "You purchase your own med-
she said. ication or you don't get it. The doc-
tors are well trained but they don't
have the tools to work with."
Chapman went over again on
March 14, 1994. She decided to go
then because there were two other
people going over at the same time
who could help her set up her pro-
gram.
She showed the mothers how to
create a healing atmosphere
through song, play, and laughter. A
daily program was set up for the
children that the mothers could do
with them after she left. She also
taught them pain management.
A play area was also set up for
the children, donated in part from
individuals from Exeter.
There is also a program that
brings some of the children over to
Canada. They come for six to sev-
en weeks to live with a family.
While they are here they receive
good food, vitamins, and they have
their eyes and teeth examined by
doctors. The point is to lower the
radiation in their systems and to get
them into a healthy atmosphere, she
said.
The Charitable Fund for Children
of Chernobyl chooses which chil-
dren they are going to send. They
have sent 50.000 to 60,000 children
to places all over the world.
"Germany and Holland have been
a big financial support, the Dutch
in particular."
Doctors and psychologists have
also gone over to help, she said.
Russian doctors in exchange have
visited Canada and other countries
to receive more training.
"Response to the project has been
tremendous, people are willing to
help in anyway they can. It's nice to
leave behind a project that will
function once you leave."
Ailsa Craig YOUR LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE CELEBRATING
MAGICWMON'S IOIbANNIVERSARYWITI! TIIE
UCW
AILSA CRAIG - Five young
girls provided beautiful musical
entertainment when the Ailsa
Craig United Church Women met
with the residents of Craigwiel
Gardens in the auditorium of the
Nursing Home. Piano solos were
played by Allison Daigle, Ronda
Yeo, Katie Walker, Megan Daigle
and Stephanie McLarty.
With Sylvia Thirlwall at the pia-
no three hymns were sung.Jean
Mcguire read some verses of scrip-
ture and gave a meditation on
faith. Sylvia talked about the kind
of flowers that should be grown in
the garden of life. Some of the
flowers are the flower of service,
the flower of praise for others, the
flower of purity, and compassion
and to care for the flowers we need
good cheer, kind words and words
of encouragement. After the pro-
gram the ladies served cookies and
tea.
Happy birthday was sung to very
special lady, Esther Craven, who
was celebrating her birthday that
day. Verlyn Campbell provided
the birthday cake.
Mary Sutherland presided for the
business meeting. Colleen Higgs
had sent several cards to the sick
and shutins. Mary Scafe reported
that the quilting group is working
on a quilt. Mary closed the meet-
ing with a benediction. The United
Church Women will meet again on
May 10 in the Sunday School
room at 7:30 p.m.
Exeter adult
drop-in
April 18
Carpet bowling
3 games played
Wilmar Wein 3 wins, score 36
Peter McFalls 3 wins, score 36
Ray Smith 3 wins, score 22
Lawrence Russell 2 wins, score .31
Metrion Dearing 2 wins, score 30
June Hodgson 2 wins, score 28
Mildred Thomson 2 wins, score 17
Last poor boy luncheon of the
season is next Monday, April 25.
Phone Tammy at 235-0258 if you
wish to attend.
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