The Mountain Messenger, Thursday, July 12,1990
ou never know exactly what another fellow does until you have
, ;dkcd a mile in his shoes, t.ast week 1 had to wear Dennis
V > llcdge's shoes. Dennis' shoes are running shoes with a cap[-
t.d -R". Dennis is Circulation Manager lor the Mountain Messenger
ltc is the man who sccs that you actually receive your newspaper.
t is not an easy job.
fast Monday Dennis. who works long and hard hours, went to
qccp at the wheel of his truck and wrecked just outside of Union.
l lc was on his way home alier taking tiffs newspaper to our printer
t'tdaski, Virginia. Dennis badly injured his spine and now is a
I)alicnt at Humana Hospital in Fairlea. He's doing okay, but will bc
inCal)acitatcd lot 12 to 18 weeks according to his doctor.
The first thing Dennis thought to do when hc got to the emcr-
,cncy room at the hospital was to call us. I wcnl down to the
hospital and talked to him while he was receiving initial medical
t catment. Through intense pain. hc outlined to mc what he does
week to get the.newspaper printed and to the post elliot. By
cccssity, Dennis handed mc the baton -- and 1 didn't even know I
\v3~; ill lhc race!
luckily, titian Scarle, a sales representative on our sial+f, offered
J,+ will] mc on the lollowing day's adventure which started at 3
tJ ck+ck in the morning. The day didn't end until 11 o'clock that
nit_,ht 20 hours later. We did il +- 'twasn't easy. Made us appre-
ciate, even more than wc already did. all that Dennis Woflledgc
doc~!
You never know what another fellow goes through
Until his shoes you have worn for a mile or two.
-- Chas. A. Goddard
Big Issues, some age-old, face us today.
The Mountain Messenger
Encourages
you to
Let us know how you feel about:
Schools
Taxes
Aborhon
Politics
Economy
Religion
Ethics
Morality
Ecology
Health
Communications
Your opinion Is as Important as ours.
It is through sensible discussion that we
grow and learn.
I
Dear Editor:
I received a copy of a letter wnt.
ter~ to you by Ms Anne Blair Alder-
so~ on the subject of mammogra-
pny. I would like to take this opportu-
nity to respond to some of her con-
cerns on the subject.
I did not view the NBC television
series on Mammography referred to,
laowever an inquiry was made to the
American Cancer Society at the
number stated in her letter. (1-800-4
CANCER). The American Cancer
Society stated the information given
on the NBC television s~ries was
misleading due to the fac~they did
not state that being accredited by
the American College of Radiology
for performing mammogra~)hy is
completely voluntary. This is,not a
requirement. This does not give any
indications or guarantees that a fa-
cility practices quality mammogra-
phy. The American Cancer Society
did inform us that three questions
should be asked of any facility
where you would consider having a
mammogram. The are as follows:
1. Is the facility's equipment used
dedicated solely to mammography?
2. Does the facility perform at
least ten (10) mammograms per
week?
3. ts the Radiologic Technologist
registered or Certified and is the
Radiologist reading the mammo-
gram Beard Certified by the Ameri-
can College of Radiology?
In response to the first question.
The equipment used for mammogra-
phy at Humana Hospital-Greenbrier
Valley is a Picker Sureview mam-
mography System. This is a radio-
graphic unit designed for the diag-
nosis of the breast and other soft
tissues in both individual and mass
examinations. The system utilizes a
high frequency generator which
yields a higher "useful" dose than
olher radiographic units. It has a
molybdenum rotating ar/ode tube
with O.03mm molybdenum filter
which produces the optimum x-ray
beam for mammography. The Sure-
wew Unit also has an automatic ex-
posure control which guarantees
uniform "quality" of image regardless
of any change in density of the oh-
ject being x-rayed. This unit is desig-
nated solely for the use of mam-
mography and soft tissue radiologlc
examination.
Question number two asks if the
facility performs at least ten (10)
mammograms per week. Humana
Hospital -Greenbrier Valley performs
an average of eleven (11) matured-
grams per "day."
The last question regarding the
Certification of the Radiologist and
the Radiotogic Technology, The Ra-
diologist at Humana Hospital-Green-
brier Valley is Terry D. Lesko, M.D.
Dr Lesko is the Medical Director o1
the Department of Diagnostic Imag-
ing which includes mammography
Dr Lesko is Board Certified with the
American College of Radiology. The
Radiologic Technologist performing
the mammograms is registered by
the American Registry of Ra~diologic
Technologists. She has four (4)
years experience m mammography
and seventeen (17) years experi-
ence as a Radiologic Technologist.
She is regarded by Dr Lesko as one
of the finest Radiologic Technolo-
gists he has ever worked with,
The hospital has applied in the
past for Registration with the Ameri-
can College of Radiol~jy. At the
time it was declined pending the
purchase of a dedicated mammog-
raphy film processor. This processor
has been included in the next year's
budget. We do not foresee this
equipment improving the quality or
consistency of our mammography
program, however it is a require-
ment of the American College of
Radiology in order to register with
them.
I would like to invite Ms Aldsrson
or anyone interested in our mam-
mography service to view our facility
and ask any questions they might
have concerning mammography. At
Humana HospitaI-Greenbrier Valley
we' have a commitment to continu-
ally strive to provide the highest
quality services available for our
customers.
This commitment is evidenced by
our compliance with all national,
state and local regulatory agencies.
This includes full accreditation in the
JCAHO and HCFA surveys, State
STAFF
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To the point
By Jonathan Wright
The death of an acquaintance or
relative ts always painful, regardless
of how close the person was to you.
Death means separation. Separa-
tion from those you cared about is
not pleasant.
My cousin Barbara Ann Louder-
milk died last week. We had met
only a'few years ago, shortly before
I moved to Greenbrier County. We
had never been in touch while I was
growing up. She was actually my
second cousin once-removed, which
perhaps partially explains why we
hadn't met until later in our lives. My
grandmother and her mother were
cousins and corresponded until my
grandmother died m 1975. Apart
from that I knew very tittle about her
family.
When I moved here in 1984 I got
to know the Loudermilks a ittle bet-
ter, mainly from the times I saw
them at their church's popular semi-
annual "bean suppers." Every time
we meet there or elsewhere
throughout the area, we exchange
pleasantries and ask about each
other's families. Our conversations
rarely last more than a few minutes.
but they are always heart-warming.
Talking with Barbara was always
pleasant. I enjoyed the occasions I
visited the Extension Office m Le-
wisburg, where she worked, for her
bright smile and sweet personality
lifted my spirits. Added to that. of
course, was the bond that comes
only from being blood-related to an-
other. I felt it every time I talked to
her.
Barbara fought a relatively short
battle with cancer and lost. Her un-
wavering faith in the God who made
her was an inspiration to many--
and her genuine commitment to Him
ts a formidable challenge to many of
today's cymcs disenchanted with
rampant hypocrisy. She served her
Lord, and although she lost the
battle with cancer, she won the one
race that ultimately matters.
Yes, there's an emptiness now
with Barba[a gone. I wish 1 had
taken time°t0~ knov~ herb~tter~Ut
rm glad our paths crossed for what
time they did. My life is richer for ~t.
Board of health and Fire Marshal in-
spections.
Humana HospitaI-Greenbrier Val-
ley participated in the American
Cancer Society Breast Cancer
awareness program for the past
three years. In April 1989 we com-
pleted approximately 210 mammo-
grams at a reduced fee to assist in
this program. We are currently par-
ticipating again in the Cancer
Awareness program. This year the
program started in April and will be
offered through August. The time
frame has been increased due to
the increased community demand.
This annual program provides edu-
cation and early detection to pro-
mote preventative health and raise
the communities level of awareness
in the area of breast cancer.
In closing I would like at address
the dangers of mammography. Ex-
amination with current low dose
technique as being performed at
Humana HospitaI-Greenbrier Valley
can be equated to the following:
One hundred (100) miles traveled by
air. fifteen (15) miles traveled by car,
smoking one fourth of a cigarette,
one-third minute of mountain climb-
ing, and five (5) minutes of being a
man aged sixty.
Sincerely,
Arnold M. Yell
Director, Diagnostic Imaging
Dear Editor:
I just read Bailey Tyter's column
(7/5/90 issue) "Greenbrier County
Board of Education -- News and
Views from Chestnut St." with great
interest, rm from the western end of
the county and I understand exactly
what the parents of the eastern end
are going through and the feelings
of anger and frustration they must
be experiencing. We had a similar
"clash of wills" with the Board over
closure/consolidation. We won an-
other year for our children, but there
seems to be a great storm looming
on the horizon of our children's
scholastic future. If the Board suc-
ceeds in their "tunnel vision" pursuit
of all-out consolidation, it will be the
children and their parents, not the
Board, paying the price for years to
come for this proposed short-sighted
action.
The county, east and west, has
to stand together on this issue.
True, many people on the western
end say it's only on the eastern end
now, but if it goes through in the
east, the Board can use it against us
m the west with this argument
"We've closed and consolidated in
the eastern end and in the vein of
equal education, it is only fair we do
the same on the western end."
Think about it. Only in a united
effort can we stop the Board of Edu-
cation in its tracks. We have to take
a stand for our children -- no one
else will!
It seems to me that the Board
has forgotten one very important de-
tail about the public school system
-- the public, which is largely made
up of parents who are voters, as
welt as tax payers, rm sure I not
only speak for myself when I say
that I'm sick and tired of having
agendas, taxes, proposals and other
such foisted upon me without my
permission or vote -- such as we
do for a school levy.
In closing, I wish to thank Ms Ty-
ler for a very informative column. I
shall watch for it in the future.
Cheryl Houchins
Leslie
Dear Editor:
Reference Ms Anne B.
Alderson's letter published in your
paper July 5. Investigation of the
facts surrounding the information
contained in Ms AIderson's letter
has identified several distortions and
inaccuracies of facts.
Humana HospitaI-Greenbrier Val-
ley has a state-of-the-art mammog-
raphy unit and has previously ap-
plied for accreditation by the Ameri-
can College of Radiology. As indi-
cated in the enclosed letters, this
accreditation 4s voluntary and is not
a requirement of any regulatory
agency to allow facilities to provide
mammography services.
In March 1988 Humana Hospital-
Greenbrier Valley contacted the
American College of Radiology re-
garding application for accreditation
of our mammography services. This
application was not submitted due to
a requirement for a dedicated film
processor to be utilized solely for
By Heather Hanson
Lying in my bunk bed, I try to de-
c~de if the motif in the wood above
the door ~s supposed to be fish. But
tt doesn't really matter. I am more
comfortable than I had expected to
de m the two-room. 15 x 20 foot
wooden house that ~s my home m
Haiti for two weeks
A group of ten Americans from a
vanety of backgrounds, are here to
dO construction work for schools
and churches m the mountains of
the Caribbean Island of Haiti. The
work was requested by a Haitian
pastor, Pere Albert. and our jobs are
in his parish. Harvey Musser, son of
Birdie Musser of Frankford, worked
for three years as hospital admims-
trator Jn Hospital ST. Croix, funded
by the Medical Benevolence Foun-
dation. Pere Albert used to work
there, and that's where he and Har-
vey began working together on proj-
ects to md the tmpovenshed people
of Haiti. In the east six years. Har-
vey, h~s brother Marshall. and others
nave raised money for supplies and
gone w~th two other work teams m
help Pere Albert. The majority of fi-
nances for this tnp come from the
Old Stone Presbyterian Church, as
well as donations by individuals, the
work team members, ane their
churches. Those of this work team
from Greenbrier County are
Marshall Musser Criss Haynes,
Klase Longanacre, Reverend
Weston Guthrie. Dr Jerry Penning-
Ion, and myself.
Although this s only our third day
here, we all agree that we are very
comfortable and at ease living
among the people of Grande
Colline. This town is our base, with
the mare parisl~ church, a school
house of ten rooms and Pere
Albert's home. As Pere Albert has
worked w~th many Americans. he
understands our basfc concerns. He
lust completed a bathroom before
we came, which ~s a small cement
budding with a toilet and a shower
head. (In the mountains of Haiti,
there is not a shortage of water, yet
orgy few sp~jots.So you do see lots
of women carrying buckets of water
on their heads.) Four young girls
cook and serve us three hearty
meals a day, with plenty of good
food and bottled water. Pete Albert
~s always speaking of our dec=sion
to come to Haiti as a miracle from
God, since we leave the luxury of
the U.S. to come to the poorest
country n the Western Hemisphere.
He keeps asking if there is anything
we need, or if he can make our stay
more comfortable.
Thus far our daily schedule has
been like this: breakfast is about
7:30, except for Wednesday and
Sunday, when the meal follows the
7 a.m.-9 a.m. church serwce. Then,
Pere Albert, Dr Terry Pennington,
and Cries Haynes go to another
town -- anywhere from one hour to
four hours away on very bumpy,
twisty roads. Dr Pennington pulls the
rotten teeth of at least 50 people a
day, and Pere Albert shows Criss
his hopeful sights for future
churches and schools. Criss draws
up some construction plans.
The other men use an electric
generator to power electric tools m
order to construct benches for the
school houses of Pere Albert's par-
ish. A Haitian team of workers is
constructing a building beside them,
and the two teams cooperate and
share their supplies and skills. Next
week, the 'men wilt be roofing in
other towns.
Tina Renders, Jane Valentine
and myself paint the most recently
constructed school building. As we
paint, and as the men construct, we
are never alone. There are always
children watching and eager to
The men can't let the children
but we women can. They
move things, hold paint
use the roller. We can only
or two held at a time, as they
not painted before and they
messy. At first, I feared the
would be jealous tlqat only
could neF3. But they dO not g
gry w~th eacn other. They
content jUSt tO watciq and
a few words wtth us.
The language of the peol
Haiti is Creole. but the sct'
teach French. I am lucky to
French, so ~[ ~s easiest for
commumcate w~th the locals.
speaks Creole. which ~s
to get the construction work
Yet it ~s not too difficult to get
sage across to the locals.
ano gestures communicate a
any language. Some of the
agers have been studying
the c~ty of Leogane. and are
to practice. Thus. all on our
team qave made many
The children are so ea
learn, that a group asking
~n the church has turned into
ternoon two-hour school.
the one notebook I brought
church's chalkboard. First they~
and teach me to speak Creole,
they give me the French
then I teach them English.
nave difficulty w~tn several
phonetic sounds (h, r. m, th,
they try so hard nave even ta
them short EngNsn songs,
they stag throughout the day.
stop me at all times of the
repeat a word or phrase.
always begging for a piece of
or a pencil. I wish I had brou
tra supplies to give out. Yet
per and pencils that were
our group, will be given to
bert to distribute equally
school recommences in
Still. it is amazing to see
large group of people all
learn, wanting just one sheet
per, always wanting to help
your things, asking to have
photo taken, atways these
eyes looking. I guess they
very many white people, living
n the mountains, three hours
Port-au-Prince. know I've
seen a group like them. It's an
scribable feehng to look
many eyes of those who
understand you" and you
understand them but the
and goodwill s universally ur
standable.
in the evening, we play
w~th the children in front of
church. It's cool enough for 30
people to play frisbee, to
around to play jacks with
.w.ithout being sweaty or
able, Some of us go exploring
the rocky mountain paths
would be difficult at mid-day.
eat dinner together, and joke
how lazy we were today
though we all worked as hard aS
could. Pere Albert usually ends
meal with a story.
Some of you doubted
would find what I expected,
reared I'd be unable to help
people and get frustrated,
get depressed at the poverty
simplicity, or that I'd be too
sick to work. But I tell you it iS
contrary in this little community
rounding a church and school.
surprises me is that rm ever
comfortable than I had ex
Love,
Heather
Heather Hanson lives in L
burg. She is the owner of
sions. While in college she was
tern for Mountain Messenger.
mammographies, Humana Hospital-
Greenbrier Valley fully meets all
other requirements for this voluntary
accreditation, This facility has one
film processor that is utilized for all
aspects of diagnostic imaging. At
the time of the implementation of
this program purchase of a dedi-
cated film processor was not fea-
sible due to budgetary and space
constraints. Additionally the quality
of mammography reading has not
been compromised by the use of a
non-dedicated film processor. The
voluntary application for accredita-
tion was not initiated until a dedi-
cated film processor for mammogra-
phies could be included in this
facility's capital budget. Currently
this film processor has been budg-
eted for purchase during the fiscal
year beginning 9/1/90 and applica-
tion was initiated to the American
College of Radiology for accredita-
tion in June 1990. The facility appli-
cations will be completed
dedicated film processor is
in the fall of 1990.
Humana Hospita
lay welcomes you and other
bars of the media to come
facility for a tour and
the technologies available'in
agnostic Imaging Department,
facility has nothing to hide
to any of the statements
in Ms Alderson's cortes
and welcomes the up
provide information to the
garding these services. If
any questions or would like a
our facility, please contact
your earliest convemence.
Sincerely,
Sherley
Associate Executive
Additional Letter
Editor, Page
