Retired Doctor Makes Healthy Gift To Romanians

The ultrasound machine really pressed Joe Kramarz’s happy button.

“Oh wow, outstanding,” he said, his eyes round with surprise. “When the doctor sees this, she’ll be thrilled.”

Ed Marr loaded the machine into a battered blue pickup parked in Dr. Ted Fox’s Coeur d’Alene driveway.

An EKG machine was next in line, then a baby scale.

Until Thursday, the medical equipment belonged to Ted, who retired last Christmas after 57 years in general practice and surgery.

Now, Ted’s microscopes, three-wheeled examining room stools, forceps and surgical spotlights are heading to Braila, Romania.

“I’m delighted,” he said as Joe and Ed paraded up from his basement with arms full of stainless steel. “These are such nice people.”

Ted tried to donate his office equipment to several organizations with medical missions throughout the world. But most places weren’t technologically advanced enough to use it.

The grapevine led him to a Spokane plastic surgeon whose office help is connected with the International Assistance Program out of Spokane’s Northview Bible Church.

The program began five years ago after Romanian Pastor Joseph Stefanuti visited Spokane and told of his town’s poverty. Two Washington farmers were stirred enough at the pastor’s story to visit Braila and figure out a way to help.

Braila’s geography was much like the rolling Palouse, so the farmers collected enough seeds and equipment to start a 450-acre seed farm there. One farmer and his family stayed a year in Romania to ensure its success.

The farmers’ church embraced the aid program, and people from other churches have since joined the effort.

Two years ago, Pastor Stefanuti pointed out Braila’s need for medical help. About 200,000 people live in the eastern Romanian city. Medical care is free, but extremely limited and outdated.

The local hospital packs two people, head to foot, in each bed. Equipment is so old, much doesn’t work anymore.

Joe sold lab equipment to hospitals for 30 years and decided to visit Braila last spring to assess the needs. He found many things the town needed.

The church collected $35,000 to buy and remodel a building into a clinic. Joe and Ed, a retired U.S. Air Force dentist, began hunting for equipment and furniture to fill it.

The nonprofit clinic is scheduled to open Oct. 15. It will offer minor surgeries, tests and outpatient treatments like most American doctors’ offices. It will charge patients a small fee to help cover its costs and to demonstrate self-sufficiency.

Payment will not be a deterrent, Joe said. “People call constantly and come to the door to ask when we’ll be open. They want better care.”

“Our intention is to change the quality of care, offer superior service, be friendly,” Ed said. “People there don’t smile. We want to give them a reason to.”

Ted’s equipment will enable the clinic to test cholesterol levels and blood for iron and diabetes. He gave fetal stethoscopes and surgical tables, tonsil needles and biopsy kits, microscopes and percussion hammers to test reflexes. The donation list is seven pages long.

“It’s sort of fun to visualize them looking at some of this and saying, ‘What in the world is that for?”’ he says. “There’s enough here to start a practice tomorrow.”

The equipment will leave the United States by sea containers Nov. 1. If you would like to donate money or equipment to the International Assistance Program’s clinic project, call Keith Davis at (509) 466-5562.

Horrible hobbies

Who do you know who indulges in a hobby too weird for you to understand? Point them to Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; send a fax to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo