ABOU ZAABAL LEPER HOSPITAL PROJECT

A big thanks to all those who participated this semester in the project to assist the Abou Zaabal hospital and village.  We made the final trip of the semester on December 23rd to give the hospital the money and clothing donations.  Dr. Ahmed Rashad, the director of the Leprosarium Hospital met with Dr. Whoolery, the Psychology 302 class from the American University in Cairo, and the Gerbers from LDS Charities.  He received the 30,000 LE donation raised by class members of Dr. Whoolery's Psychology class from Fall semester 2006.  The money will be used to finish an operating room working on ear, nose, and throat conditions by the patients at the leper hospital.  A significant amount of clothing, both new and used, was also donated to the patients at the hospital.  The hospital staff and patients were very touched by the dedication of the students and other donors to the project. 

Dr. Rashad receiving the donation of 30,000 LE (about US$ 5,000)
From left to right, Dr. Rashad, Amira Wissa, Nadine Arafa, Dina Hamouda, Heba Ghaleb, Sandra Rizkalla, Heba Rifaat,
Matthew Whooelry, Nader Wahba, Lenore Gerber, Fatma Hefny, Grant Gerber, and Gehad.

The operating room that has been funded by the donations

Everyone helping to unload all the donated clothing

 
The huge pile of clothing with everybody.  Thanks especially to Dina Hamouda (far right) for her work
on the donation, sorting, and organization of the clothing donations.

 
We had a chance to meet a number of the patients at the hospital.  On the left, Vaughn helps a man open his wallet--
this is difficult with the damage to his fingers from the leprosy.  On the right, Grant Gerber talks to one of the older patients.

Fatma (center) with a young man and his mother.  This young boy was diagnosed late and
had already lost use of his hands--a tragic case.

 
Many of the patients like to be as independent as possible, cooking their own food, etc.  On the right are the prosthetic
legs of one of the patients.  They often have limbs amputated because of nerve and bone damage from leprosy.

The gardens of the hospital are really beautiful, thanks to Gehad, a 3-year long volunteer
who has really transformed the environment at the leprosarium. 

Many of these children have parents who are patients at the hospital.  They loved meeting the students
and followed them around during our visit at the hospital.

 
Heba with one of the little girls and the goodbye at the end of our visit

Matthew with one of the patients at the hospital, Sheikh Sayeed.  He has been at the hospital for 60 years
and got leprosy before they had medications to treat it.  His hands, feet, and face all bear the marks of
his disease.  But with all that, he is one of the most cheerful and outgoing people we had ever met before.
He kept us engaged in conversation and told Dr. Whoolery to tell President Bush to "lay off!"

Thank you to all the students in my Psychology 302: Personal Growth and Adjustment course this semester.  Neither I nor the people at the hospital expected the kind of response we got from the AUC students.  Your dedication and willingness to stretch yourself for a good cause has been amazing to see.  And for those who came to the hospital and village this semester, thank you for your choice to leave your comfort zone for a little while to visit Abou Zaabal.  The patients and staff at the hospital were really uplifted by your cheerfulness, willingness to smile and interact with patients, and enthusiasm for helping.  I am humbled by your response to this project. 

Sincerely, Dr. Matthew Whoolery

For pictures of our initial visit, click here.

For students who came on one or both of the visits, click here for the page with all the photos from the trips.  Just click on any picture to see the full-size photo.  You can then right-click and save it.