[News Boquete] August Newsletter Boquete Health and Hospice

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Table of Contents: •  Letter from our President •  Art Auction Coming Sept 13 •  BHH Tree of Life •  Blood Drive Postponed •  Being Prepared Radio Interview •  COVID-19 Survivors •  Our Mission Letter from the President BEING Prepared: I hope you all were able to listen to the BoqueteNOW! Talk Radio show hosted by Al Stefanelli about Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death.  In case you missed it, it can be found on our website in the gallery, near the bottom of the page  https://boquetehealth.org/gallery  or near the bottom of this newsletter. Team Leader Joanie Feuerstein was joined by Char Lintz and Bev Tyler, Nurse Administrator.   They did a wonderful job explaining why Being Prepared is such a critical part of living in Boquete.  We are all aware that living in a different country comes with the occasional challenge, but when those challenges involve emotions, they are even harder to overcome.  This guide provides the foundation for being able to handle the fundamentals easily.   If you haven't listened/watched the video, please do so.  You may obtain a PDF copy of the guide by clicking the donate button just after the video in this newsletter or on our website.  A minimum donation of $5.00 is requested or by going to MailBoxes Etc.  where you may get a bound copy for $10.00.  Many people who got the PDF then went and bought the bound copy because it keeps everything together.  Boquete Health and Hospice Tree of Life The BHH Tree of Life is growing!  Since we announced its "planting", we have received several donations.  I wish to personally thank everyone who has contributed to our growth, is contributing today, and may contribute in the future.  Without your support, whether it is monetary, or time and talent, we could not provide the support and equipment to our community. Volunteering at Boquete Health and Hospice Several people have expressed interest in joining BHH.  We are keeping a list and when we have enough people to have a class (probably our two-hour Introduction to Boquete Health & Hospice which may be held via Zoom) we will contact those people.  If you are one of those interested, please complete the application on our website.  It will be forwarded to our teams and someone will contact you.  We are all looking forward to being able to meet in person.   This   *&^*^$^*(YT%$$^%#&((%%   Virus Yes, I know.  It has been going on for such a long time and everyone is tired of all the restrictions.  But now is not the time to start cutting corners.  BHH is still not visiting people in their homes for one reason – we don't want to spread the virus.  Our volunteers can not be 100% sure that they are not carrying the virus into someone's home and our patients are a very much at-risk population.  We also cannot be sure that a patient who has been in either a hospital or a nursing home hasn't brought the virus home with them.   PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU ACT Go See the Art Auction Click Here to Enlarge Tree NEW DONORS – NEW LEAVES for the Tree of Life Bond and Luan McCamy Marne Coggan & Debbie Friedenberg Brian Armitage Artists that have donated art for the Auction: Tatiana Arefina-Armitage Sally Foulke Nancy Gallawa MaryEllen Watts Barbara Will-Wallace Sally Zigmond Add Your Name Donate Now Being Prepared Radio Interview It was another gorgeous sunny morning in Alto Boquete on August 7. 2020.   It was hard to believe it was rainy season in Boquete, yet such is our blessing of sun-filled mornings with refreshing afternoon rains here… in 'almost Paradise. '   Then it happened! The purple cloud of Boquete Health and Hospice (BHH) arrived at the radio station which had been converted to an outdoor venue in compliance with social distancing.   With radio host Al Stefanalli leading the purple cloud on Boquete Now! 103.3 FM, no hurdles hindered the purple cloud of Bev Tyler, Char Lintz and Joanie Feuerstein from sharing about Being Prepared in Boquete for Life and Death.   We were able to explain what BHH does and is doing under current restrictions.   Al was a swell interviewer to give us the floor (wink-wink.. grass and dirt) to inform our community about why someone needs to not only purchase our BHH Guide at Mailboxes Etc., but also the incentive for every foreigner living here full time, part time or visiting, to take personal responsibility and learn how the medical system in Boquete functions differently than in our passport countries.  The BHH team explained what it meant to be in legal compliance with Panamanian law regarding hospitalizations and end of life treatment, plus the practical steps to take before and after a death here.  The purple cloud shared that this detailed and professionally printed 'reader-friendly' guide is also beneficial for our Panamanian neighbors whom we also help and serve as well as Expatriates.  Contact numbers for ambulances, hospitals, clinics, doctors, funeral homes, and embassies can benefit every resident of Boquete.   After 45 minutes of Q and A, our broadcaster host Al endorsed this BHH Guide as the best he has ever seen to help people navigate medical systems.   Thanks to Al and Radio Chiriquí, that broadcasts community news in English every Friday at 10 am. Viewing the video of this very informative and fast moving radio broadcast (much easier to watch than listen☺) is available on You Tube at Boquete Now Talk Radio! (August 7, 2020).  It's a comprehensive overview of what every foreigner living here needs to know and is also quite helpful for our Panamanian friends as well.  The video leads you to the BHH Guide that helps you step by step to get your affairs in order, brings you into legal compliance with the laws of Panama, provides the forms needed and gives you and the family/friends you leave behind, peace of mind.   And then, GO and LIVE out with JOY the abundant life and the very reason you moved to Panama.  Don't cheat yourselves out of the joy!  What kind of legacy will you leave behind?  Don't leave a mess behind for your family/friends overseas.  Bound guides are available for a minimum donation of $10 at Mailboxes Etc. or the PDF is available for $5 at boquetehealth.org.     We at BHH are The HELPING HANDS and CARING HEARTS to our Boquete Community, and serving you with gladness.  Get Your PDF Being Prepared Guide Now COVID-19 Survivors:  You´ve got a lot of fight in you.  Donate your plasma. If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to help patients currently fighting the infection by donating your plasma. Because you fought the infection, your plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies. These antibodies provided one way for your immune system to fight the virus when you were sick, so your plasma may be able to be used to help others fight off the disease. Individuals must have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation. A negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease is not necessary to qualify for donation. How Can I Donate Convalescent Plasma? Several resources are available regarding options to donate convalescent plasma in your area. To learn more and find the site nearest you: Hospital Rafael Hernandez (Hospital Regional): 777-8817 Or contact our blood donor team at WhatsApp 6590-2000 **Note: Women who have ever been pregnant can't donate plasma for Covid-19 patients.  According to medical experts, women, during their pregnancy develop antibodies – called human leucocyte antigens (HLA) – against the father´s genetic material.  In fact, greater the number of successful pregnancies a woman has, greater the HLA count.  Once developed, they are present in the blood forever.  Though HLA antibodies are not harmful to the person who made them, if transfused to another person they can cause a rare but serious complication in the recipients.  Since Covid-19 patients requiring plasma transfusion usually have their lungs weakened by the virus, transfusing the plasma of a woman who´s been pregnant in her life could prove fatal.

Our Mission Our mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services.   To Make a Donation  BHHF functions with donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution by check or cash contact Merl Will-Wallace,our treasurer,at dharma49@icloud.com to arrange a time and place to pick up your donation. You can also click here to make an online Paypal donation. For more information visit our website: http://www.boquetehealth.org We also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks  Please Like our page and share the contents with your family and friends.   Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. To Contact Us   Hospice/Health:  (507) 6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,  9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday    Please!  Blood Donor Program:  WhatApp (507)-6590-2000 or call (507)-6781-9250 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday,  9am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday, Please. Email:  info@boquetehealth.org   Please Donate Freely send this to anyone, use any part. Our mailing address is: info@boquetehealth.org

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