White Coat Brigade

07/02/2018

03/02/2017

Ethiopia

25/01/2017

Update from White Coat Brigade's partner Out of the Ashes, Inc.

We arrived in Ethiopia late last night. And while our bags didn't make the short layover in Frankfurt we did (just barely-we checked our fitbits are its looks like we ran carry-on luggage in tow, for almost two miles in twenty minutes!) No problems other than that. We were able to get a good night's sleep and pick up our bags this morning with just enough time to get to our day's work.

We met with our Executive Director who updated us on the program. Overall things are much improved even since our last meetings just six months ago. We will continue to have more detailed discussions and planning sessions over the course of the next 10 days but we are off to a good start. Our administrative goals this trip are focused on the budget (a necessary evil) and program improvement.

Two major issues in discussion are improved communication between sponsors and students and spiritual development. Both of these items are aimed at providing increased support and guidance to our dear students. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to meet about issues of positive improvement rather than crisis management. What a welcome change.

Background:
Out of the Ashes has been operational for just three and 1/2 years. During our first year we had to build an organization, design our program, hire a staff, and develop a donor base, all while complying with non profit laws in two countries ! The following year we experienced a rapid expansion when we were called to take over another failing program. In the short course of 45 days, we added 400 new kids to our tiny 50-child, OA student roster. With this rapid growth came a whole host of complexities requiring compassionate and skilled leadership. Ultimately we determined a change in the Executive Director position would be necessary to move the program forward, and we then spent many months trying to hire the right, Godly man, for the job. We've spent the remainder of this past year working with our new ED as he transitioned and transformed the Ethiopian side operations.

Going back to the issues discussed today...

I am especially hopeful about our plans to develop a robust program to support and encourage the kids with their spiritual needs. As the leader of the medical team I have seen first hand the destructive nature of hopelessness. So many of our kids come to us with complaints of illness that can be tied back to depression and mental illness. And why would anyone be surprised? Korah is a dark and difficult place to live in. The fact that so many are depressed, anxious, hopeless, angry or emotionally and mentally broken is not surprising to anyone who has stepped foot in this village. And these are kids...the most vulnerable of all. How they even get up everyday and go to school is beyond comprehension. They, like all kids, need encouragement. They need to believe in themselves and the adults around them, they need to believe in the transformative power of education and most of all they need to believe in a loving God who will guide them out of darkness.

The core of our program finally in hand, it is now time to do our most important work.

It's going to be a good week.

The medical team arrives in two days!!

07/01/2017

On our way back to Ethiopia in just two weeks! This month marks four years of serving the beautiful people of Korah, Ethiopia.

03/08/2016

Photos from our Summer 2016 trip to Ethiopia.

The next White Coat Brigade to Ethiopia is scheduled for late January/early February 2017.

27/07/2016

Breaking the cycle of poverty in Korah with education, care for basic needs and empowerment through the love of Jesus💜

Sponsor a child today 👇
www.outoftheash.org

16/07/2016

We spent the day touring Korah, sorting medical supplies and training on our new electronic medical record system.

The team is in good spirits and healthy except for Stacy Humbles Segebarth who has been down for the count all day. Send up a prayer please for her to get better and for everyone else to remain healthy. We have a big job to do this week and we need everyone to stay strong.

10/06/2016

There is still time to Donate something from our wishlist:

Another Round of Thank you's go to:
Janette Mathews Green and Family
Eric Hill and Alison Guy Hill
Gary Coday and Robin Henson Coday
Buffie Goddard
Robyn Klein Windsor and Aaron Windsor
We still have unclaimed boxes as well. 1st box Basketball and a bag of candy. 2nd box 2 blankets and hand sanitizer pump. 3rd box basketball, 2 hand sanitizer gels and 1 pump.

Amazon.com Universal Wishlist for stacy segebarth.

07/03/2016

Summer dates to Ethiopia announced. Space is limited. Register today.

13/07/2015

One of the compelling aspects of the White Coat Brigade is the opportunity to work with a community on a long term basis. White Coat Brigade is not a medical tourism group but rather an ongoing clinal resource to the communities we work with. As such we have the privilege of going in deep and really getting to know and love the people we serve.

Today as we make final preparations to return to Korah. Ethiopia, our 4th team in the last 24 months, we were encouraged by a photo sent by our partner organization Out of the Ashes.

The photo shows OA's Founder Stacy Segebarth with Kidist, a child we met on our last White Coat Brigade.

Six months ago when we first met Kidist she was near death due to a severely infected right hip. On the day our team found her she lay wrapped in a blanket covered in flies too weak to swat them away. A foul smelling pus poured out an opening in the side of her hip and abscesses on the bony protuberances of her arms and legs. She was emaciated and her hip was chronically dislocated from the osteomyelitis having eaten the femoral head. The pus wept constantly from 4 cm abscesses in about 8 different places on her body soaking through the blanket.

Our team immediately began treatment, treatment which extended to the coordination of surgery occurring after we returned to the U.S. WCB doctors even continued to consult and help manage her care from the U.S. by working with the local Ethiopian trained health workers who counties treatment for Kidistl. Something only possible with a long term commitment and ongoing relationship with a community.

And today we are all thrilled beyond measure to see this beautiful child ALIVE and well. Her smile is a celebration of our work.

Each time we go we have these moments, patients who if not for our serendipitous presence might otherwise perish. It is an awe inspiring and humbling experience...and we are looking forward to doing it all again.

30/06/2015

White Coat Brigade and Out of the Ashes are thrilled to accept the donation of a portable ultrasound from Froedtert Hospital & The Medical College of Wisconsin.

The ultrasound will assist in diagnosis and treatment of impoverished and medically undeserved patients in Korah, Ethiopia.

Sending a heartfelt thank you to Dr Michelle Michael and Jamie Beaudry for making it happen.

Your compassionate care just extended all the way to Africa!

27/06/2015

Our youngest White Coat Brigadier Macy, daughter of WCB's founder, is collecting donations for our July 24th mission in Ethiopia. Macy is making her first trip to Ethiopia this summer and is trying to fill her suitcase with supplies for the kids there.

Even if you can't travel you can help. Send your donations of band aids, toothbrushes and vitamins to;

Macy's Big Purple Suitcase
123 So Miller Rd, suite 250
Fairlawn, OH 44333