Bulletin Dec 07

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B><U>Site Index</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0050e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><B>Site Map</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3890e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bulletin May 08"><B>Bulletin May 08</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3890e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF6600" FACE="Arial" ><B>Bulletin Dec' 07</B></FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <script language="JavaScript1.2">  </script><script> if (document.all) document.write('<p align="center"</p><a href="javascript:addbookmark()">Click here to Bookmark this site!</a>') </script>  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="581" HEIGHT="1%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFBF0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 70 ><NOBR><div> Beryl Thyer</div> <div> Memorial Africa Trust</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Go back to: </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bulletin May 08"><B>Bulletin May 08</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Peter's Bulletin - December 2007</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="443" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 72 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3af383d0.png" border=0 width="56" height="61" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <I>Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust</I></div> <div> Registered Charity No. 1112603</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Bulletin: Issue No.1; December</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>2007</B></div> <div> <B>Includes details of my proposed 'Parachute Jump', please read on.....</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> Dear friends, colleagues, supporters;</div> <bR> <div> This is the first of what I hope will be a series of twice-yearly reports to you. In one way or another, be it academic interest, general interest, donors in cash or kind, donors of drugs or medical apparatus, or of children's clothes and other paediatric items - you have shown an interest in this Trust which I have recognized and appreciated. I feel that you should hear from me regarding the way your donations are being used, and regarding the progress of the Trust. You deserve it.</div> <bR> <div> My main messages to you in this Issue are in relation to three conferences I have attended in 2007. I was a participant in all three; all were exhilarating; all were of relevance to our Governing Document which states our commitment to children in Cameroon suffering from the predominant, highly malignant, potentially curable cancer of children in that country - BURKITT'S LYMPHOMA, and to the care of the newborn babies in the three hospitals we serve in Cameroon.</div> <bR> <div> <B>September 20 and 21 marked the 10</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>th</B></FONT><B> anniversary of the United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking</B>.</div> <bR> <div>  UKAMB's conference was held in Chester, an ancient city of Roman origin, in northern England. I am a fully paid-up member of UKAMB because of my interest in establishing breastmilk banks in Cameroonian hospitals. Gillian Weaver, the Chairperson for UKAMB, invited me to talk in conference about my work in establishing 5 breastmilk banks in Cameroon.</div> <bR> <div> It was an honour and privilege to do so. It was a grand meeting, with folk from all over the world, who were dedicated to the care of fragile neonates in their countries, describing what they were achieving in their own settings. My own presentation was the only one from an African country - with the notable exception of the great Professor Anna Coutsoudis from KwaZulu Natal University, S Africa.   </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div> I had never met Anna Coutsoudis before, though I had read articles written by her and her colleagues in the medical journals. Her own presentation, and that of her colleague Penny Reimer, were enthralling and very moving. Prof Coutsoudis and her colleagues look after HIV/AIDS orphan children - of which there are more than can be counted - in S Africa. Human breastmilk, from the earliest moment in the life of the baby, is the most important service they can offer to these most fragile new citizens.</div> <bR> <div> My own presentation was of much lower key than the majority of presentations from the developed world delegates. Nevertheless it seemed to have been well-received; indeed a number of people gave me donations toward our breastmilk banking work in Cameroon. Moreover, Gillian Weaver contacted me after the conference saying that I had been singled out for special mention and praise for what was being achieved in Cameroon. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="39332e60.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> This UKAMB 10<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#339966" FACE="Times New Roman" >th</FONT> anniversary cake was auctioned at the end of the conference for BTMAT; another £30 came effortlessly our</div> <div> way as a result</div> <bR> <div> Noteworthy also is the fact that Lynda Coulter, one of the delegates at the conference, had subsequently organized a fundraising event for me, the result of which was to enrich BTMAT's funds by £650. This, in addition to £1000 we hold already for breastmilk banking, will be enough to establish two, and perhaps even three more banks in Cameroon. I am searching for hospitals with maternity units, reliable electricity supply, dedicated staff, and good </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 1</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> laboratories, to which I can donate a breastmilk bank. Banks already established in Cameroon by the Trust are these:</div> <div> Provincial Hospital Bamenda</div> <div> Banso Baptist Hospital</div> <div> Mbingo Baptist Hospital</div> <div> Baptist Hospital Mutengene</div> <div> General Hospital Buea</div> <div> <IMG SRC="39432e60.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> … and this is what it is all about; donated breastmilk being fed to a tiny orphan neonate, in the early days of his life, at Banso Baptist Hospital. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Late October and early November was the 39</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>th </B></FONT><B>Annual Conference of SIOP</B> - The International Society of Paediatric Oncology, held in Mumbai, India. Prof Hesseling was there, and also Dr Naomi Wright - a bright young doctor newly qualified from Leeds University. Both she and Prof Hesseling had Poster presentations; I was a co-author in both of them. Prof Hesseling's poster won the prize in its section; first among more than one hundred and twenty submitted posters.</div> <bR> <div> Prof's poster showed that our Standard protocol for BL can rescue 50% of our patients. It further showed that a third of relapsed cases can be saved by our Rescue protocol. This brings to 65%, the proportion of BL cases curable with our protocols. This is far and away better than </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div> any other statistics from any other workers in sub-Saharan Africa. It is something of which we are modestly proud; it is something of which we intend to keep our colleagues worldwide aware. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="39532980.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="408" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Naomi's elegant poster, above, was a précis of her study in the epidemiology of Burkitt's lymphoma in Cameroon. She worked methodically through all cases of BL admitted to hospitals in the NW Province of Cameroon for 2005. She put flesh on what we had suspected clinically about clustering of cases from one area of the Province, and her statisticians at Leeds University showed statistical significance from her raw data. To my certain knowledge such a study has never previously been conducted in NW Cameroon. The future for this young lady will be great.</div> <bR> <div> I learned a lot at the Mumbai conference; and met a lot of people who are vastly experienced in childhood cancer. It was quite an honour for colleagues of much </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 2</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> greater stature than me, to be asking me to email them our BL Protocols, and our Wilms' tumour Protocol!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3962de20.jpg" border=0 width="301" height="226" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> An evening of food and conviviality during the conference, with Naomi, Prof Hesseling, and Emmarencia his wife.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The last conference</B> to tell you of was of our own making; The First Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board Burkitt's Lymphoma Symposium; celebrating 5 years of BL work in our three CBCHB Hospitals - Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH), Mbingo Baptist Hospital (MBH), and Baptist Hospital Mutengene (BHM).</div> <bR> <div> The BL work started in 2002 at BBH. As the workload there increased we were permitted by CBCHB Administration to open the work at MBH. More recently we commenced BL work at the little BHM hospital. Until the Symposium the teams treating BL children had never had the opportunity of coming together under one roof; indeed two of the doctors involved had never actually met. </div> <bR> <div> Prof Hesseling and I constituted the Organising Committee. We spent 8 months in multiple emailing in order to assemble more than 20 delegates and about 40 invited guests for a one day conference.</div> <bR> <div> Each delegate was given a topic relevant to his or her input in the BL work at their hospital, and asked to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about it. Prof and I reviewed all 23 of the presentations in advance, and made final adjustments during our few days before the event.</div> <bR> <div> It was a splendid event. Many of the delegates had never given presentations previously; everyone performed remarkably well. Everyone enjoyed the meeting, and everyone enjoyed the beach party at the end of the day, when we ate freshly caught </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div> fish, barbecued at the beach restaurant.</div> <bR> <div> Prof Hesseling's two presentations looked to the future. He is devising a new BL protocol, built upon the step by step experience gained from our earlier clinical studies. It will combine Standard and Rescue elements, and will be `tailored' according to the clinical and Ultrasound findings in each individual case.  This is another `first', and a very exciting development. We are due to start enrolling patients early in 2008.</div> <bR> <div> His other innovation is the inauguration of a BL parents' support programme. Many parents of the BL children are poor. They are often hungry. The hospital does not provide free food. They often cannot afford travel expenses from their distant homes to the hospital. A Parent Support Organisation in S Africa (CHOC) has pledged several thousand pounds over 3 years, for the support of deserving poor parents of our BL patients in BBH. Wonderful. The details of budgeting have been worked out; the Research Assistant Nurse at BBH has been briefed; the Administration at BBH is in full agreement. This is another `first'. The project starts in 2008.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="39732e60.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Dr Felicité delivering her presentation</div> <bR> <div> Preparations are well underway for the creation of a Children's Cancer Registry at BBH. The software for it comes free of charge from St Jude Children's Cancer  Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. BTMAT will donate the required computer and printer. With a data base we shall be well-equipped for our BL work, and also our Wilms' tumour work. The computer will be wired for internet connection. All interested parties in our work - wherever they are in the world - will be able to access the Registry; and yes, this is another `fist'!</div> <bR> <div> This and much more was discussed at length on December 8<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> at the Symposium. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 3</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> The last item on our Symposium Programme was `The Children'. The three doctors treating BL children each arranged for 2 longterm survivors of BL to come to the Symposium. I had just enough time to teach them verses to of a `thankyou song' to sing to their doctor.  An electric keyboard was laid on so that I could accompany the children. This was a most moving climax to our day; and not least for the three doctors who were seated in front of the little choir. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="39832e60.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The singing survivors; two from BBH, 2 from MBH, 2 from BHM, and 2 (tacit) from Provincial Hospital, Bamenda.. Two Research BL Nurses; Sister Edith (behind) and Sister Mercy (far right).</div> <bR> <div> Dr Paul Wharin, my neighbour, friend, and new recruit to our work in CBCHB also gave a presentation; `Observations of an outsider'.</div> <div> Except I think he can no longer be called an outsider. Paul's wife and mine were at the Symposium too.  It is refreshing to welcome new blood, and to have the support of our wives!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3ac32e60.jpg" border=0 width="306" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The three doctors to whom the choir sang their `thankyou' song; Dr Francine (BBH) left, Dr Felicité (MBH) centre, and Dr Edouard (BHM) right.</div> <bR> <div> The Symposium was supported by Baxter Oncology, Germany, and Genus Pharmaceuticals, UK.  Without generous assistance from these Companies the Symposium would have proved difficult to fund.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3b22e520.jpg" border=0 width="302" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Peter, in a rare moment of frivolity, after the Symposium</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div>   - o0o -</div> <bR> <div> BTMAT becomes 2 years old at the beginning of January 2008.</div> <bR> <div> 2007 has been an interesting year. Much progress has been made. There is much to be thankful about; not least the steady stream of supporters from Northamptonshire and beyond.</div> <bR> <div> BTMAT needs you my friends.</div> <bR> <div> Thank you so much for your support</div> <bR> <div> Yours sincerely;</div> <bR> <div> God bless you, and Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you all! </div> <bR> <div> Peter McCormick; Founder; BTMAT </div> <div>                           </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   - o0o -</div> <bR> <div> <B>POST SCRIPT</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. I intend to make a parachute jump from a light aircraft over Sibson Airport, Peterborough, provisionally arranged for April 2008. The aim is to raise money for the Trust of course. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I have persuaded the organisers that though thirty years above the generally permitted age limit for this nonsense, I am not mad, and am comparatively fit. At least I still climb the Scottish Munros. My doctor will give me a letter to say this is OK; (I will write the letter for him to sign). </div> <bR> <div> I also need to sign various disclaimers to the effect that if there is a squashy mess of broken bones and ruptured organs on the ground after I hit it, no-one is to blame but me.</div> <bR> <div> I will inform my local papers, the Evening Telegraph and the Chronicle and Echo and also Anglia TV and BBC Look East will be informed. </div> <bR> <div> Who else should I tell? Your ideas would be welcome.</div> <bR> <div> I will only do it if it promises to raise at least £1000.</div> <bR> <div> Can I look to you the readers of this Bulletin to sponsor me; you and your extended families and your friends? If so, please go to the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >'Donate Now' </FONT>link of this site.</div> <bR> <div> Please tell me what you might propose, and how much sponsorship you think you might accrue.</div> <bR> <div> Peter.</div> <bR> <div> <B>PSS</B>; Perhaps some of our supporters might wish to sponsor me <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>NOT</B></FONT> to do this parachute jump? If so please tell me by email on the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >'Contact the Trust'</FONT> link of this site. </div> <bR> <div> The sponsorship raising the most cash will obviously be the one I will choose!</div> <bR> <div> Any thoughts on this and any other matters raised in this Bulletin please email me using the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >'Contact the Trust' </FONT>link of this site.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 4</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>Go back to: </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bulletin May 08"><B>Bulletin May 08</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> (Peter's Bulletin, Dec 07)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id65_m.htm" TITLE="Bulletin Dec 07">top of the page</A></div> <div> Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust, a UK registered charity  ~  1112603</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>