Shriners in Galveston, TX needs your help!

[Dr. Russell Fell]

As you all might know, Shriners is a non-profit organization and health care system that gives free burn treatment to young children in the United States, specializing in skin graft operations and psychological and physiological therapy. One of the most efficiently run hospitals located in Galveston is in danger of being "closed." After Hurricane Ike, the hospital has been in dire need of repairs (even though the staff had worked tirelessly to ensure the clinic remained operational through the crisis). Now, the board of directors are looking to "suspend operations indefinitely." Why the wording? Because corporate can't legally close the hospital. To do so, they must have a vote from the Shriners fraternity (the lodges, guys with funny hats and small cars, etc). So, by suspending the hospital - effectively terminating all employees, halting all repairs to the building, and ending any and all services to children in need of health care - the board is undermining the necessary vote from the fraternity while still doing so legitimately. The fraternity wasn't too pleased, and rightly so. Three kids who would have been easily treated if the hospital had remained opened have already died, and the number is only going to rise. This Monday, Mr. Ralph Semb, the head CEO that is spearheading the call to close the hospital, will be visiting Galveston. There is a large call to all in the community there to show up and illustrate a point to Mr. Semb that the hospital cannot be closed. Accordingly, mass emails are being sent to Mr. Semb's email (rsemb@shrinenet.org) urging him to keep the clinic open and to hopefully shed some light on the amount of opposition to his stance leading up to tomorrow.

If you can, please visit http://www.save-galveston-shriners.com/ and post your thoughts; and if you have the time, shoot Mr. Sember an email expressing your opinion on this matter.

Thanks!