William Penn Life, 1988 (23. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-04-01 / 4. szám
Page 12, William Penn Life, April 1988 Niki undergoes second liver transplant If you would like to help Niki and her family, send your donations payable to: WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION NIKI FUND 709 Brighton Road Pittsburgh, PA 15233 PITTSBURGH — Four-year-old Nikoletta Pecsvarady of Hungary underwent a second liver transplant here March 22 after doctors discovered an infection in the first transplanted liver. Volunteers, who have befriended "Niki” and her father during their stay in this country, said the girl awoke about one hour after her operation and seemed fully alert. Niki’s doctors at Children’s Hospital were reportedly optimistic about the success of the second transplant, noting the second liver was more suitable for Niki. However, she was to remain in the intensive care unit several days for observation. Doctors ordered the second transplant after an infection on the first donor liver prevented it from functioning properly. Hospital officials also said Niki did not reject the first liver. Niki underwent her first transplant Jan. 16, several months after doctors in both America and Hungary diagnosed the girl as having primary sclerosing cholangitis. The disease is an inflammation of the liver’s bile ducts that prevents a normal flow of blood and subsequently causes the liver to fail. She was brought to America for treatment since liver transplants are not performed in Hungary and no doctor there has treated the disease which afflicted Niki. Through the efforts of her uncle, Thomas Pecsvarady of Middletown Township, N.J., arrangements were made to bring Niki and her father, Kont, to America from their home in Sárospatak, Hungary. Thomas Pecsvarady is serving as the child’s legal guardian while she is in this country. The cost of Niki’s medical care is expected to rise well above $200,000. Anyone wishing to help defray her medical bills can send their donations to the William Penn’s special "Niki Fund” at the address listed above. Fifth golf tourney nears Hole-in-one contest adds to excitement CLEVELAND — To a golfer, the word "drive” means hitting a golfball hard and long down a fairway. But that could change for one lucky golfer participating in the Fifth Annual WPA National Golf Tournament, to be held July 23 at the Brunswick Hills Golf Club near Cleveland. The first golfer to drive a ball well enough to score a hole-in-one will drive home in a new car, courtesy of the William Penn. The hole-in-one contest will add a great deal of interest to an already exciting tournament, organizers said. In addition to the men’s and women’s golf competition, the event will also feature the annual tournament banquet, complete with plenty of door prizes and the popular auction raffle. Final plans for the tournament are still being completed. Look in future issues of the William Penn Life for additional information as it becomes available. Until then, all William Penn golfers should start practicing their driving, both down the fairway and the highway. Both types may come in handy at this year’s tournament. Director scores hole-in-one on birthday CORAOPOLIS, PA — On his most recent birthday, National Director Elmer Furedy gave himself a present most golfers can only dream about: a hole-in-one. Mr. Furedy achieved the rare golfing feat March 4 on the 14th hole at the Overoak Golf Course in Kissimee, Fla. What made the achievement even more special was that he was using the golf clubs his wife Barbara had won during the auction raffle at last year’s WPA golf tournament. Mrs. Furedy said her husband "had a grin on his face from ear to ear” as he told her of his first hole-in-one. "He insists that he was born at three in the afternoon, so the first thing he wanted to know was what time it was when he hit it,” she said. His golfing partner told him it was 2:20 p.m., but that did not lessen his enthusiasm, she said. Whether or not he can repeat his ace at this year’s WPA tourney remains to be seen. Cibulas earns honor from employer ALLIANCE, OH — National Director Zoltán J. Cibulas was recently honored as the 1987 recipient of the Edmont Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Cibulas, a plant chemist at Edmont’s facility in Canton, Ohio, was given the award for his outstanding contributions to the company over many years. In a letter to Mr. Cibulas, Edmont President James R. Wessel wrote: "Throughout the years, you have made many contributions and directly helped Edmont to grow and be the success it is today. Your persistent work in the development, refinement, and improvement of the Solvex products in Canton has been commendable.” A member of Branch 189 Alliance, Mr. Cibulas was elected to the National Board of Directors during the 31st General Convention held last September. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Chemistry from the University of Youngstown and a master of science degree in the same subject from Carnegie Technical Institute (now Carnegie- Mellon University) in Pittsburgh. He and his wife Katharina have four children. Edmont is a division of Becton Dickinson and Company located in Coshocton, Ohio. The Edmont Lifetime Achievement Award carries with it a bonus of $3,000. Home for elderly to install cable TV by end of April WELLSBURG, WV — Thanks to the generous donations of many members and branches, the elderly residents at the William Penn Home will be enjoying cable television as early as the end of April. According to Home Administrator Paul Kovács, preliminary plans for the installation of the new cable television system have been drawn. Installation by the Wheeling Antenna Co. was to begin in either late March or early April with final hook-up to the Home scheduled three to four weeks later, he said. Eventually, individual cable outlets will be installed in each private room, all central areas of semi-private room modules and the retreat house, he said. Current television reception at the Home is severely weakened by the Home’s location in the rolling hills of West Virginia. The cable system will improve reception and offer the residents more entertainment options. In the meantime, the Home continues to accept donations towards financing the cable system. About $5,500 of the more than $7,000 needed to install the system has been raised since the Home began its fund raising campaign last June, Mr. Kovács said. "We are very pleased with the COOK BOOK HUNGARIAN SPECIALTIES and OTHER FAVORITES Net proceeds to benefit the William Penn Association Scholarship Foundation DONATION: $5.00/copy Send check or money order to: WILLIAM PENN SCHOLARSHIP FUND P.O. Box 438 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 way our members and branches have responded to our appeal,” he said. "I think it shows we really care about our aging members. It truly is a fraternal effort.” Recent donations to the cable fund include $25 from Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Stelkovics, $5 from Branch 8036 Greensburg, Pa., and $5 from Home resident Larry Hummel. If you would like to help in this worthwhile effort, send your contributions to Paul T. Kovács, William Penn Home, R.D. 3 Brinker Road, Wellsburg, W. Va. 26070. NIKI PECSVARADY
