CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare News
Karina’s Story
In 2019, Karina Reyna graduated from Houston Community College with her nursing degree. “I was really excited to look for a job, and then the pandemic hit,” Reyna said. During her job search, she came across a posting for CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. “When I heard about it and read the job description, I was…
Identifying Skin Cancer Early Provides Positive Outcome For Patient
Thanks to CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic’s volunteer dermatologist, Dr. Enrique Batres, one recent patient was able to have a skin rash diagnosed and prevent a rare type of skin cancer from developing. A 26-year-old woman came to the clinic for a persistent rash that she had had for several months and was not improving. “At…
The Next Chapter
In October 2019, Dirima Caridad de Pacheco and her husband moved from Venezuela to the U.S. to be with her daughter and granddaughter, who were already living here. Since March, she has been taking English classes with Norma Vargas at CHRISTUS Learning Center. “I have a teacher who goes beyond expectations to help students learn…
Small Donations Make A Major Difference
Random donations can often mean more than a donor realizes. Over the last couple of months on two separate occasions, CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic has received donations of both walkers and wheelchairs. While a call was not put out for these specific items, they became a silent blessing. One day, two walkers were dropped…
The First Line Of Care For Schools
At CHRISTUS School Clinics, care can often go beyond a band-aid. For some of our School Clinic medical assistants, their care made a vital impact on the teachers and students of the schools they serve. The clinic at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic School serves the needs of Pre-K students to those in the…
Developing Life Skills For Independence
For Jesse Jaynes, UTMB-Galveston’s collaborations with area non-profits led her to CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Jaynes is pursuing her doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapy is a holistic, client-centered profession that assists individuals in performing occupations, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, social situations and more. “An OT addresses the physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual factors that affect…
Generous Donation Secured By Volunteer Physician
In addition to the primary care patients receive at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, they also have access to podiatry care, when needed. Podiatrist Dr. David Wolf has volunteered at St. Mary’s Clinic for a number of years. “He is always looking for ways to provide services and podiatric supplies for our patients,” Sister Rosanne Popp,…
WHEN THE SOUL NEEDS HEALING
Partnerships make a major impact in our patients’ health and having Catholic Charities as our partner in mental health services is such an important part of CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic. Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. recently cared for a new patient who had come for a “check up.” Upon entering the exam room, she saw a…
Friends Telling Friends
by Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic On a recent visit to the clinic, one of my patients, Maria, was coming for the results of her annual wellness exam and mammogram. She related that she had a friend, Susie*, had not had a checkup in over four years. Susie was worried because she…
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics Brings Much-Needed Vaccines To Afghan Refugees
Last fall, CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics partnered with Catholic Charities and Interfaith Ministries to aid in the resettlement efforts of Afghan refugees arriving in Houston. While housing and food were immediate needs, healthcare was equally as critical. Prior to arrival in Houston, families came through military bases, where they received healthcare services including initial…
A Trip Back To Peru with CHRISTUS Operation San Jose
In 1983, Dr. Ernest Cronin and fellow physicians Drs. Thomas Cronin and Raymond Brauer set out to make a difference in the lives of children suffering from craniofacial and cleft palate deformities in Latin America. In the years since, CHRISTUS Operation San José has visited nine countries with over 1,500 surgeries made a reality through 135 physicians, specialists…
Working As A Team Toward Better Health
In February 2020, Vicky Whitfield visited CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic, struggling to keep her diabetes and hypertension under control. In 2014, she experienced a heart attack and had a defibrillator implanted, which she now wanted removed. Elizabeth Ryan, Point of Light Clinic’s Nurse Practitioner, spent a lot of time listening to her concerns. Whitfield…
Living His Dreams
For 20-year-old Mark Stewart, the GED is the stepping stone to achieving his dreams. After a few years of being held back, Stewart decided to quit school. When a friend of his told him about CHRISTUS Learning Center, he jumped at the chance to get his GED. “I have been taking classes for about a…
Emma’s Story
Now in its second year, CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic in partnership with Houston Food Bank is providing fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods to patients through the Food Rx program. Patients who have a diagnosis of a chronic disease and are screened for food insecurity qualify for the Food Rx program. They meet…
UTMB Students Give Back At CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread
CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread recently welcomed two special volunteers – Noah Kemp and Alex Yu, both fourth year medical school students from UTMB Galveston. Volunteerism is a graduation requirement for the school, and students have a list of organizations from which to pick, which includes Our Daily Bread. Both Yu, who plans to practice Internal…
Generosity in Action
by Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. I am the recipient of many donations – from medications to medically-related items for someone who has a need. In receiving these items, I sometimes wonder what use I could possibly have for that particular item, but I never refuse a donation because you never can tell. That was the…
A Home For Baby
In November, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread staff had an opportunity to assist a homeless couple with a baby on the way. They were in dire need of housing and so much more. The mother to be was nearing her due date. The couple showed up one morning on doorstep of Our Daily Bread asking for…
Carrying On His Legacy
For Dr. Michael Lypka, it is a “true honor” to carry on the work of Dr. Ernest Cronin, co-founder of CHRISTUS Operation San José. Originally from Canada, Dr. Lypka (pictured third from left) attended dental school in Canada and received his oral and maxillofacial surgery training in Los Angeles. “In dental school, I was always…
Giving Back This Season
Tis the season to give, and CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread have been on the giving and receiving end recently. Annually, associates from CHRISTUS Health TLRA Houston, CHRISTUS Physicians Group and the Foundation raise funds to pull together bags of food for the CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and CHRISTUS Point of…
A New Home, A New Life
Recently, the team at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has secured housing for four clients. Getting housing requires a lot of steps, and the client trusting the team to work with them. Don, a 47-year-old man who had been homeless for over five years, was one of these clients. “He rarely engaged with others and generally…
A Lifetime of Dedication and Commitment
Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español In 1983, Dr. Ernest D. Cronin, then Chief of Plastic Surgery Service at CHRISTUS St. Joseph’s Hospital, was invited by the government of Honduras to evaluate and treat patients with cleft lip and palate deformities. The first team consisted of Drs. Ernest and Thomas Cronin, two senior plastic…
Toda una vida de dedicación y compromiso
En 1983, el Dr. Ernest D. Cronin, entonces Jefe del Servicio de Cirugía Plástica en el Hospital CHRISTUS St. Joseph, fue invitado por el gobierno de Honduras para evaluar y tratar a pacientes con deformidades de labio leporino y paladar hendido. El primer equipo estuvo formado por los Dres. Ernest y Thomas Cronin, dos residentes…
Asombrado por la bondad
Recientemente, la Hermana Rosanne Popp, M.D. de la Clínica CHRISTUS St. Mary’s recibió una donación monetaria de una Hermana agradecida. La donación estaba marcada como “Para los pobres”. Durante este mismo tiempo, un donante generoso le dio a St. Mary’s Clinic una gran donación de toallitas desinfectantes y máscaras desechables que se compartieron con los…
Awed At The Kindness
Haga clic aquí para la traducción al español Recently, Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. of CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic received a monetary donation from a grateful Sister. The donation was marked “For The Poor.” During this same time, a generous donor gave St. Mary’s Clinic a large donation of disinfectant wipes and disposable masks which were…
Agentes de cambio
Este año, en medio de los desafíos de la pandemia, las Clínicas Escolares CHRISTUS alcanzaron nuevas alturas con sus presentaciones de educación sobre la salud para los estudiantes. Los temas incluidos fueron higiene, nutrición, modales, lavado de manos y el nuevo programa basado en la Arquidiócesis, PUREly You! El programa tuvo directores, personal y maestros…
Un sueño de ciudadanía
Para Mohammad Haydari, el camino hacia la ciudadanía estadounidense ha sido largo. En 2008, trasladó a su familia a Estados Unidos desde Irán. Haydari regresó a su país de origen para trabajar con el fin de enviar dinero a su familia en los Estados Unidos. En 2017, pudo regresar a los Estados Unidos para vivir…
You Have Changed My Life
Recently, a middle-aged female came to CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in need of counseling services. She was crying uncontrollably and could hardly stand or move around, as she was completely overwhelmed by circumstances and emotions. “The client had experienced childhood trauma and traumatic experiences in adulthood, and was dealing with extreme work-related stress and…
On The Road To A New Life
George and Shelly had been married for over 25 years. They both struggled with alcohol and became homeless as a result of their addiction. For nearly two years, George and Shelly received services from CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread while living at The Salvation Army. They both were able to secure jobs and managed to get an…
Food Access For A Healthier Outcome
Over the last year, CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic has partnered with Houston Food Bank in the Food For Change/Food Rx program. This program provides nutritious food to diabetics and other groups with special healthcare needs. “Patients who have a diagnosis of a chronic disease and are screened for food insecurity qualify for our Food Rx program,”…
This Mission Is Personal
Traducción al español a continuación For Dr. Linda Magill, the mission of CHRISTUS Operation San José is close to home. Since 1983, CHRISTUS Operation San José has performed over 1,500 craniofacial and cleft palate surgeries on children in Latin America. Growing up in Houston, Magill had a younger brother who was born with a congenital cleft…
Agents of Change
Haga clic aquí para ver la historia en español This year amidst the challenges of the pandemic, CHRISTUS School Clinics hit new heights with its student health education presentations. Topics included were hygiene, nutrition, manners, handwashing, and the new Archidiocese-based program, PUREly You! The program had principals, staff and teachers excited to incorporate the presentations into their curriculums…
A Dream of Citizenship
Haga clic aquí para ver la historia en español For Mohammad Haydari, the journey to U.S. citizenship has been a long one. In 2008, he moved his family to the United States from Iran. Haydari returned to his home country for work in order to send money back to his family in the States. In…
You Have Changed My Life
Traducción al español a continuación Recently, a middle-aged female came to CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in need of counseling services. She was crying uncontrollably and could hardly stand or move around, as she was completely overwhelmed by circumstances and emotions. “The client had experienced childhood trauma and traumatic experiences in adulthood, and was dealing with…
Going The Extra Mile For Our Clients
Traducción al español a continuación Ted*, a wheelchair bound client of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, has uncontrolled diabetes along with other medical conditions. He frequently receives medical care through the local hospital’s emergency room. Once he is stabilized, he is discharged from the hospital, but all too often, ends up back in the hospital within…
Bringing A Smile To The Children Of Chihuahua
Traducción al español a continuación For patients like Juan Carlos, CHRISTUS Operation San José is an unexpected blessing. For over 38 years, CHRISTUS Operation San José has performed craniofacial and cleft palate surgeries on children in Latin America. In March 2020, nineteen medical personnel spent seven days in Chihuahua, Mexico with CHRISTUS Operation San José. Lead…
Haciendo historia
En enero, las Clínicas Móviles CHRISTUS Healthy Living lanzaron las vacunas COVID-19 al público. Desde entonces, el personal de la clínica ha administrado alrededor de 1.800 vacunas y un promedio de 50 vacunas al día. La mayoría de los pacientes han sido atendidos tanto en la Clínica CHRISTUS St. Mary’s como en la Clínica CHRISTUS…
History In The Making
Haga clic aquí para ver la historia en español In January, the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics rolled out COVID-19 vaccinations to the public. Since then, the clinic staff has administered around 1,800 vaccinations and averages about 50 vaccinations a day. The majority of patients have been seen at both CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and…
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Provides Growing Opportunity for Intern
The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word long have a mission of empowering women. Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. continues that mission at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic through its internship program. In March, the clinic provided an two-week internship opportunity for third-year medical student, Kim Parker. A student at UNT Health Science Center in Fort…
CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread Celebrates 35th Anniversary
For former clients like Stanley, Carter and Kacey, the services provided by CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread set them on a path from homelessness to self-sufficiency and stability. This March, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread marks the 35th anniversary of providing healthcare and related services to Galveston’s homeless. Since 1986, five days a week, clients can depend…
Our Mission Is To Treat Clients With Dignity
For almost 22 years, Lori Varela has been committed to serving Galveston’s homeless at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Since 1986, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has provided two hot meals, much-needed medical assistance, access to psychological services, clothes and hygiene products. While the program services have remained consistent, the needs of the clients being served vary day-to-day.…
Breathing To Work, Working To Breathe
For Jose, every breath he takes is work. A patient at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, Jose has a history of asthma and was chronically short of breath, especially when working. His asthma medications were no longer helping, and he was finding his work as a pool repairman a struggle. About two years ago, Jose was…
Nourishing Bodies and Spirits This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving provides us an opportunity to not only nourish the bodies of our clients and patients, but also their spirits. As in years past, the CHRISTUS Health Team throughout Houston and Galveston provided Thanksgiving food baskets to those in-need at our clinic and program locations. In lieu of complete Thanksgiving meals, 70 families received gift…
Better Health Outcomes Through Counseling
Mental health is just as important as medical care for underserved communities, and CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is seeing a greater demand for mental health services among its patients. “Mental health has not been a major focus previously in low-income communities,” said Richard Torres, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare President. “COVID-19 has made it more of…
Reflections of a Backline Worker
By Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. Medical Director, CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic We hear in the news daily about the courage, endurance and dedication of front line health care workers who are battling daily to save patients’ lives during this pandemic. Indeed they are the heroes of the COVID war. What is it like to be…
Patients’ Well-Being Is The Priority
For Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Ryan, working at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic “is a privilege.” Born in Maryland and raised in Atlanta, Ryan moved to Houston in 2003. Prior to seeking her Masters, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia and then worked in various nursing capacities for…
Sisters Start The First School Of Nursing In Houston
In 1905, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word established Houston’s first nursing school, the St. Joseph’s School of Nursing. The Sisters provided all of the instruction to a small group of initial students. Years later when the time came to move the program to a Bachelor of Science degree, the Sisters collaborated with…
Putting Her Best Face Forward
Recently, a 12-year-old girl came into CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic with skin lesions on her face. While not large or disfiguring, she wanted to know if Dr. Popp and her team could help her get rid of them before she went back to school. She was concerned the kids to make fun of her or…
Student-Driven HANDs Project Raises Funds For CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic
Maegan Ford loves community service. A recent graduate who received her high school diploma from Spring Early College Academy concurrently with an Associates Degree in Science from Lone Star College, Ford has contributed over 125 hours to Houston-based programs. Through a recent young women’s leadership conference, Ford learned about a Take Action Challenge to benefit…
Sometimes Shoes And Socks Are Therapy Required
by Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D., CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Recently, a man in his sixties showed up at the clinic for treatment of the sore on his foot. He was a diabetic, who had been untreated for many years. Almost homeless, a friend gives him shelter, and they share food (what there is of it). He…
About CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare (formerly St. Joseph’s Foundation) provides healthcare and social services to underserved communities of all faiths, ages and cultures. To continue learning our story and the work we are doing in our communities, “Like Us” on our Facebook page. If you enjoyed the Throwback Thursday post, check in every Thursday for a…
Our Learners Are A Joy
Karl Virtue understands the importance of language. A native of Boston, Virtue moved to Houston over 40 years ago taking a job as a writer in public relations. Now retired, he has volunteered as an ESL instructor at CHRISTUS Learning Center for over 10 years. CHRISTUS Learning Center gives participating students a new lease on…
The Mission of Our Daily Bread Means A Lot To Me
For Johnathan Vallery, God brought him to CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Originally from Louisiana, Vallery has been living in Galveston since he was two. Five years ago he was introduced to CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Vallery was working for a security company and substituted for the regular security officer at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. After…
Providing Support for IMMTRAC Project
In mid-March, schools across the city shut down to protect students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. CHRISTUS School Clinics Medical Assistants are temporarily providing support to other missions, including CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. CHRISTUS School Clinics’ Ursula Villarreal, Nohemi Flores and Denisse Hardy have undertaken a critical project for…
Time To Get Back On Track
Now more than ever, people are realizing prevention is key to stopping deadly diseases. Since all our eyes are on the topic of this pandemic, let us not forget of the “arsenal” of vaccines safely stored at your nearest provider. Keeping our children on track with life-saving vaccines is now more important than ever! CHRISTUS ST.…
Just A Phone Call Away
While our Health Living Mobile Clinics may not be in the community due to COVID-19, that doesn’t mean patient care isn’t coming first. Bilingual Registered Nurse Natalie Bonilla (pictured) is still caring for those Mobile Clinic patients with critical lab results – high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure – via phone. “My calls are to…
Keeping Patients Healthy For The Long Term
by Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. A patient came to CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic for his health check for diabetes and high cholesterol. He had been living and working in Dallas as a construction worker, but was laid off permanently when the pandemic hit. He came back to Houston without an income or place to stay.…
CHRISTUS Learning Center Students Stay On Task During COVID-19
Since January 2018, Robert Harris has been pursuing his GED through CHRISTUS Learning Center. One of the seven mission programs of CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, CHRISTUS Learning Center offers Adult ESL classes, Adult Basic Education classes, and GED classes year-round. Students in the Adult Basic Education and GED classes are able to move at their…
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Welcomes Dr. Maliha Beg
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is proud to welcome one of our newest physicians, Dr. Maliha Beg. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Dr. Beg attended medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She says she was drawn to CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic because “the foundation’s mission resonated with me.” She stated she also…
Long-Time Galveston Resident Provides Nourishment To Homeless During COVID-19
In 2000, Armando Trevino was diagnosed with diabetes and found himself struggling with the news. His wife reminded him how good his life was and encouraged him to give back to those who were less fortunate. Trevino found CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, a homeless outreach on the Island, and has been volunteering there for almost…
Bringing Smiles To Children’s Faces With CHRISTUS Operation San José
For over 38 years, CHRISTUS Operation San José has performed craniofacial and cleft palate surgeries on children in Latin America. Conditions like these are not unusual in that region due to the lack of access to healthcare, leading to fewer medical visits and medical tests for expectant mothers. Nineteen medical personnel just returned from…
A New Path
For over 30 years, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has provided health and social services to Galveston’s homeless. Five days a week, clients can depend on two hot meals, medical assistance, access to psychological services, clothing and hygiene products. For former client Marci Johnson, the services at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread have set her on a…
16th Annual Spring Luncheon Canceled
Dear Friend of the Foundation, After much discussion with our planning committee and with consultation with CHRISTUS Health, our Executive Committee determined that it was appropriate to cancel the 2020 Spring Luncheon in light of the evolving concerns related to COVID-19. This annual event serves as our major fundraiser of the year. The cancellation directly affects…
The Tools To Succeed
Located in Houston’s East End, CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic provides vital healthcare services to low-income, underserved patients – those patients who have nowhere else to turn. Edward Bunch is one. While on disability with no insurance, Bunch was diagnosed with congestive heart failure after having 10 heart attacks. Following his last attack, the hospital instructed…
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics Partners with The Rose To Bring Well-Woman Exams to Remote Areas
This week, CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics launched a new partnership with The Rose mobile unit. Together the two groups will provide full-service well-woman exams which will include a pap smear and preventive health screenings from CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic, and a mammogram from The Rose – all in one appointment. This collaboration will…
That’s Where I Belong
Annually, CHRISTUS School Clinics provide healthcare and counseling services to 16 Houston-area schools. For the last four years, Nohemi Flores has served as the medical assistant for two of those schools – St. Christopher Catholic School and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Her days consist of everything from stomach aches to managing students with on-going…
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics Provides Children’s Immunizations in East End
On Saturday, February 8, the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics provided immunizations for students from J.P. Henderson Elementary School and other area schools at the new St. Mary’s Clinic location. The Mobile Clinics was recently made aware that 77 students at the school were delinquent in their vaccines this semester, keeping them from returning to…
Partners in Health
This month, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare and San José Clinic celebrate 10 years of partnering in better health. Since 2010, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare has housed San José Clinic in the W.T. & Louise J. Moran Health Center. In 2008, the downtown building that the clinic had previously resided in for more than 50 years…
St. Mary’s Clinic Rings In The New Year With Gratitude
Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. Medical Director, St. Mary’s Clinic What do six homemade tamales, one homegrown banana and a Dollar Store ring have in common? These are symbols of gratitude for our service at St. Mary’s Clinic. I am always amazed that people who have so little look for ways to show their gratitude for…
A (Not So) Secret Santa Gifts A Learning Center Student
Christmas came early for CHRISTUS Learning Center student Robert Harris. On Thursday, December 19, Harris was gifted with a new bicycle by Learning Center Educator Karl Virtue. Virtue had noticed that Harris was riding to class on a child-sized bicycle and decided to step in and upgrade Harris’ ride with an adult-sized bicycle. Harris is…
Routine Care at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Offers Early Intervention
For those that are uninsured or underinsured, routine medical care, such as an annual physical, is a luxury that often never happens. At CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, these individuals are able to take control of their health with minimal to no expense for medical care. Every Wednesday, St. Mary’s Clinic provides routine health testing for…
I Was A Stranger, and You Welcomed Me
“Susie” appeared on the doorstep of Our Daily Bread, our homeless outreach in Galveston, with her 3 month old child, telling the staff that she had nowhere to turn. Someone on the street had given her the name and address of Our Daily Bread and told her to go there “because they will help you.”…
Putting A Holiday Meal On The Table
Annually, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s administrative, program and CPG clinical staff and CHRISTUS Health TLRA donate time and funds to create Thanksgiving Baskets for clients at St. Mary’s Clinic, Point of Light Clinic, and the Learning Center. These baskets feature a turkey and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal. It is a great way…
My Journey with Diabetes
Dulce Garcia, Nutritionist CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic It feels as if I am inextricably linked to the profession of dietetics. I believe everyone has a purpose, and ironically, it just happens that my name is Dulce (Spanish for sweet). I have diabetes, and I chose to be a dietitian. I was diagnosed with type 1…
CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic & Krist Samaritan: Partners In Physical & Mental Health
CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic and Krist Samaritan are partnering together to not only heal the body, but also heal the mind. In 2019, Krist Samaritan began offering their counseling services to Point of Light patients. The need has grown so much that counselors are now available 2 days a week. According to Krist Samaritan…
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Receives $3 Million Gift From CHRISTUS Health for St. Mary’s Clinic Construction
On Friday, November 8, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare received a $3 million gift from CHRISTUS Health to aid in finishing construction of the new CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic building. This generous gift will allow CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare the ability to build a larger facility than originally planned and address issues related to Hurricane Harvey,…
Serving Hope and Safety at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread
For 27-year-old Daniel Griffin, Non Commission Security Officer with Central investigation & Security Solutions, the challenge of assessing and providing a safe place for both clients and staff, is never dull. A Day in Daniel’s Shoes Griffin helps clients look at things objectively all while securing their daylong stay at CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for…
Westwood Wealth Management Joins the Fight to Care for Galveston’s Homeless
Westwood Wealth Management, an investment management organization, does more than just give back. The organization invests where it counts, championing CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread’s values. Westwood Wealth Management is helping to make the homeless services facility’s intentions a reality. For 34 years, CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread has worked to help the underserved population on Galveston…
CHRISTUS Learning Center Provides English and Cultural Sensitivity Education
From early on, Father Ian Balinomo, FLP, understood the importance of communication. He understood how communication connects people and organizations with each other. “Communication is so important,” said Fr. Ian. “Knowing this, I decided that as soon as I could, I would seek to study the English language to become the best communicator I can…
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic Attention to Detail Puts You in a Different Frame of Mind
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is not your typical run-of-the-mill clinic. The clinic staff see an average of 65 people per day walk through their doors. Hours upon hours of preparation goes into getting the facility and medical professionals ready for your appointment. Getting Ready for You Medical emergencies are not fun. Understanding that, Director of…
Medical Mission to Mexico Puts Focus on Restoring Hope
On February 23, 2019, 22 volunteer medical specialists embarked on a medical mission, with Operation San Jose, travelling to Monterrey, Mexico to help children and their families find hope in their smiles. The volunteers saw more than 100 children under the age of 18. The children all suffered from various degrees of cleft palate and…
Hogg Foundation Awards Grants to Address Well-being
We are excited to share that CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is one of 10 Texas organizations recently awarded a grant of $800,000 from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The grant will support collaborative and inclusive approaches to improving the well-being of communities in the Houston Metropolitan Area. The initiative focuses on increasing resilience and…
CHRISTUS Learning Center: Helping Juan’s Dream Come True
There is a dream that Juan Perez visualizes every day. His dream is to complete his high school diploma and start a promising career in mathematics or computer science. His dream is now closer than ever thanks to the CHRISTUS Learning Center and its staff. Perez is currently a student at the CHRISTUS Learning Center…
CHRISTUS Learning Center Helps a Mother of Two
Learning is dependent on several things. Repetition, connecting existing knowledge and experience to new ideas and the application of lessons to appropriate situations are all part of the equation. Without the sum of all these parts, the world can be a difficult place to navigate. Introducing Elive For Elive Campos, the world was a strange…
Being the Good You Want to See in the World
Identifying yourself as poverty-stricken will not prevent you from seeking medical attention at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. In fact, those with limited financial resources and in most cases no insurance coverage can rely on the medical professionals who work tireless hours until the last patient is seen. Treatment at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic…
TeleMedicine Bridges Child Health Care
If you thought telemedicine was merely a matter of convenience, think again. Telemedicine is an emergent method of accessing healthcare for people who have a lack of resources or extenuating circumstances leading to health issues. Telehealth became a part of the medical treatment at the CHRISTUS School Clinics in 2014. Ashley Montalvo Estrada has been…
Grateful to be of Service to the Community
Lives are being saved every day by the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics team. While clients lined around the medical unit before being called in to see the medical team, others walked away with life changing diagnoses, medicine and treatment. The CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Unit is in the business of changing lives. After a…
Helping Clients with Prescriptions
Prescription Assistance Program Affords Clients Better Health and Hope CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, one of two stand alone clinics under the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare banner, is changing the outlook of the underserved in and around the East End community to one of hope, through reduced-cost services provided to clients. The majority of the…
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Hosts 15th Annual Spring Luncheon
Event raises $252,585 to support Foundation’s mission to bring healthcare services to under-served communities. HOUSTON (March 29, 2019) — CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare hosted its 15th annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, March 26. The yearly event honors community leaders and raises funds for CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s healthcare programs. This year’s luncheon raised funds for…
UTMB Students Help CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread Clients Achieve Better Quality of Life
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) students, on their psycho social rotations are incorporating their fieldwork into the CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread program. The students use their occupational therapy knowledge and practicum to help the homeless population acclimate to the community, using occupational therapy. Defining Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy is not what you think it…
CHRISTUS School Based Clinics Awarded $15,000 by Charity Guild of Catholic Women
On February 4, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women awarded $586,000 to 47 non-profit organizations to help children in need in the Greater Houston Area. The presentation took place at the Charity Guild Shop located at 1203 Lovett Blvd. The Charity Guild was originally founded in 1922 to support what is now the San José…
CHRISTUS School Clinic Provides Safe Harbor for St. Pius V 6th Grader
These are the two words that make, 6th grader, Mia Hernandez feel safe; Mommy and Denisse. Now 11 years old, Mia recounted an ordeal that led her to add CHRISTUS School Clinic Medical Assistant, Ms. Denisse Hardy at St. Pius V, to the likes of her mother, aligning her name with a sense of safety.…
Everyday People: Richard Jesse Reece in His Own Words
In The Beginning I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1971 at 16-years-old, my parents and I a Judge gave me a choice, either a Boys Home or the service and I picked the Marine Corps. I am a proud member of the 103rd Battalion. My military occupational specialty (MOS) was Motor Transport and I…
Finding Her Voice, Supporting the Homeless
When Ashley Montalvo Estrada became a part of CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread, she found a sense of satisfaction that she never felt before. Why? To put it simply, it gave her a new point of view. Clearly, Ashley found her calling. She found her voice. The Alice, Texas native came to CHRISTUS through an impressive…
Worth the Weight…Loss
The Struggle of Weight Loss Weight loss is more than just a $70 billion industry in the U.S. For someone diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, weight loss is very important. It is all part of a recommended regimen of necessary changes. These changes are a part of a plan to control…
Dulce’s Light: The Mission of Helping a Seven Year Old Face the World with a Smile
Close your eyes and imagine going blind right after birth, because of medical negligence. Couple that with a mid-facial cleft, and missing fingers and you have the beginning of a life trials, for a sweet seven-year-old. Thanks to CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare and Operation San Jose mission Dulce’s story doesn’t stop there. Dulce’s parents were…
USFHP Named Presenting Sponsor for the Nun Run
Presented with an opportunity to support CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, US Family Health Plan (USFHP) has agreed to fund the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics ministry and the annual Nun Run as a presenting sponsor for the next two years. USFHP provides health plans for eligible beneficiaries under the department of Defense’s TRICARE Prime program. USFHP’s dedication to these outreach programs of the CHRISTUS Foundation for…
Nun Run Raises $83,000 for Underserved Children
The 14th Annual Nun Run, presented by USFHP, coordinated by The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, helped raise $83,000 for underserved children in the Houston area. The event was held on Saturday October 13th, 2018. The charitable ride started at the Villa…
Paying It Forward: The Steve Gonzalez Story
At the age of 23, Steve Gonzalez was a husband and father to three beautiful children, four, two and a one-year old. He was employed as a car washer on the north side of Houston, near Bush Intercontinental Airport. If you knew Steve, you would know the term “hard-working” does not begin to describe him.…
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Clinics Awarded for Excellence
The Texas Vaccines for Children Program, has awarded not one, but two CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Clinics with a rating of “Excellent,” for increasing adolescent vaccine coverage. Both the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics and CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic will add the accolade to other awards they have received over the years. Healthy Living Mobile…
St. Mary’s Clinic Makes a Difference
Eight year old Sandra Lopez’s parents brought her to St. Mary’s Clinic to update her vaccines. Thankfully St. Mary's Clinic made the difference.
Flu Season is Here, Are you Prepared?
It is about that time of year again: Flu season. It is a time characterized by fever, muscle and body aches, headaches, running noses and more that has led to dire consequences, like death, without the first line of defense; the flu vaccine.
Breaking Bread with Cesarea Sandoval
CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread’s Kitchen Manager and resident cook, Cesarea Sandoval aka Cissy, is the heart of the building, evoking memories and creating new ones with every meal prepped.
Especially Blessed
Moments after Stephen Decker’s birth, Dr. Ernest Cronin was called to the maternity ward at St. Joseph Hospital, where he diagnosed Stephen with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Seven surgeries and 17 years later, Stephen’s smile is evidence that he requires no more significant procedures. A model high school senior at Alief Taylor, Stephen…
A Triumphant Journey
A baby born with a cleft lip/cleft palate in a poor, remote region of the Amazon has slim chances of ever affording corrective surgery, but baby “Angelica’s” mother heard a medical mission team was traveling from Houston to Columbia to perform surgeries to repair facial deformities. She knew this was her only chance to change…
One Client’s Daily Struggle
Johnny M has been fighting a drug addiction for most of his life. After nearly 15 years of sobriety, he had a moment of relapse. This was the beginning of his downward spiral. His addiction resulted in marital problems and subsequently Johnny was homeless. Miserable and hungry, Johnny M sought CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread for…
Working Parent Praises School Clinic
Many times we have to wait and take them to an emergency care place on the weekend, just so we don’t get financially penalized for missing work. It’s one of the most difficult decisions to make, because your children come first, and knowing that they are suffering because you can’t afford to take them to…
Aid for an Infection
as reported by Nipa Kamdar, RN, FNP-C A mother of a student called me because she wanted someone to check her leg for an infection. She was running a fever and had spreading redness on her calf. Although she has insurance – her deductible is high and her husband has been unemployed for several months…
I love, love, love Point of Light Clinic!
excerpt from a patient letter I work, but my employer doesn’t offer healthcare and I just can’t afford health insurance for my family of four. I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have access to Point of Light Clinic. I love, love, love Point of Light Clinic. Sister Dimalibot M.D. is the…
CHRISTUS Clinics Offers Reduce-Priced Vaccinations
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics offer all vaccinations for children two months to 18 years of age at zero-cost. Vaccinations are just as important for newly graduated high school seniors and new college students and college freshmen.
UTMB Students Visit CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread
University of Texas Medical Branch Medical (UTMB) students enrolled in the School of Medicine and Masters of Public Health programs visited and toured the CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread facility, located at 2420 Winnie St. Galveston, Texas, as part of a 4-week long class called “Topics of Public Health.” The class was designed to introduce students…
Bodies in Motion Wraps Up Another Successful Program
CHRISTUS School Clinics ‘Bodies in Motion’ completed another successful year of the month-long summer camp for Houston-Galveston area children on June 28th at Christo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory.
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Announces New President
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard R. Torres to the position of President and Executive Director, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. Torres will begin on Monday, June 11, 2018.
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic: Fulfilling the Mission
When you cannot afford most medical assistance it adds a whole new dimension to avoiding the doctor. Affordability compounded with obvious signs that medical assistance is needed patients almost never submit and schedule a visit. In addition a diagnosis can sometimes feel very personal and lead to a patient feeling alone with their diagnosis.
But CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic is changing that.
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Announces 14th Annual Nun Run
The Nun Run is a 40-mile, Blue Knights police-escorted motorcycle ride. The event that raises funds for 19 CHRISTUS School Clinics in Houston’s underserved communities.
Operation San Jose: Dulce's Story
Seven year-old Dulce has been battling the odds her entire life. At birth, doctors left her under a heating lamp too long, causing her to go blind when her cornea’s dried out. Along with her blindness, she was born with a mid-facial cleft and missing fingers on her hands. Her parents, living in Puebla, Mexico,…
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare hosts 14th annual spring luncheon
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare hosted its 14th annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, March 20. The yearly event honors community leaders and raises funds for CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare’s healthcare programs. This year’s luncheon raised funds for the Foundation’s community clinics – CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic in Houston’s East End and CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic…
Valero donates $1,000,000 to help establish new community center
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare in collaboration with the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word-Houston announced a major initiative to improve the health and well-being of underserved and low-income residents in Houston’s East End with an unveiling of the renovation of the St. Austin Community Center. Renovating St. Austin Center will allow…
Our Patients Trust Us
Almost 12 years ago, after surviving, an almost fatal case of the flu, walking pneumonia, and a two-week hospitalization, Mrs. Robinson, found CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics for her health care and vaccination needs. Since 2005, Mrs. Robinson, regardless of her fears of needles, vowed to receive a flu shot every year to protect herself…
An Everyday Miracle
A story shared from the daily workings of CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic as they offer access to Christ’s love and healing through compassionate healthcare. After suffering a severe case of pancreatitis, an over nine month coma and several abdominal surgeries, Laura was left with Type 1 Diabetes and a colostomy. Laura has no source…
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Help Support CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. Be a part of our Twitter Challenge! Follow @CHRISTUSFdn Help us reach our goal of 1,000 followers by November 30th and an anonymous donor will donate $5 per follower, that totals to a $5,000 donation! Join our online community to stay in the know on exclusive news and updates…
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Celebrates 13th Annual Nun Run
Riding to keep children healthy! Saturday, October 14, marked the 13th Annual Nun Run. More than 250 participants took to the roads for the 40-mile, Blue Knights police escorted motorcycle ride from St. Austin Center in Houston to Topwater Grill in San Leon. A fun-filled day was enjoyed by all. The Nun Run raises funds…
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics receive Excellence Award for ZERO Deficiencies from Houston Health Department's Texas Vaccines for Children Program
CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics, one of six ministry programs supported by CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare, were the recipients of the Excellence Award for ZERO Deficiencies from the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC) for 2016. Texas Vaccines for Children Program works in collaboration with different agencies in Houston/Harris County, guaranteeing the availability of vaccines…
Much Needed Medications for Mr. M
as reported by Sister Rosanne Popp, MD Mr. M is middle aged and homeless. While taking his medical history, I found out that he is an engineer and until recently had a job that provided health insurance. Without insurance he could no longer afford his medications for his hypertension or his chronic asthma. He was trying…
Hurricane Harvey Relief
We were here then…We are here now…We will be here tomorrow. Hurricane Harvey leaves in its wake tens of thousands of people without everyday necessities. The devastation has been heartbreaking as we see family, friends and fellow southeast Texans power through difficult times. On September 8, 1900 the Sisters of Charity stood strong while the Galveston…
We Survived the Storm!
We were fortunate that our facilities had little or no damage and are grateful to be able to share the following updates: CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic is open and seeing patientsand CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread in Galveston has resumed operations as well. CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in Dickinson has minimal damage, but is open and seeing patients. CHRISTUS Healthy…
CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE HARVEY
***ATTENTION*** Due to Hurricane Harvey, please note the following changes to our clinic schedules: CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic and CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic will remain closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread in Galveston is closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinic will remain closed through Wednesday. CHRISTUS School Clinics will be closed…
Back-to-School Summer Bash provides close to 1,000 students with free backpacks and immunizations!
CHRISTUS St. Mary’s and CHRISTUS Point of Light clinics held two free, family-oriented Back-To-School Summer Bash and Health Fairs in July and August. These events provided close to 1,000 students with backpacks and school supplies, immunizations, and sports physicals in an attempt to get low-income families in the community ready for the upcoming school year. Various vendors,…
A Small Collection of Big Stories III
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare announces new leadership as Kara T. Hill assumes role as President
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is pleased to announce the appointment of Kara T. Hill to the position of President, CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare. With over 20 years leadership in healthcare and social service organizations, Kara comes to CHRISTUS Foundation with a strong background in organizational excellence and growth, financial administration, strategic planning and development. “We…
Moody Foundation funds Mental HealthCare for CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful to Moody Foundation for supporting Mental HealthCare Services at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. With the addition of these services, CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic will bring some of Houston’s most vulnerable residents coordinated care for their mind and body. Thank you Moody Foundation for your help in…
We love our Iris P. Webre Coach!
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare special thanks to The Iris & Lloyd Webre Foundation for the support of the vital CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. Due to your generous giving, thousands of men, women, and children will be reached and offered compassionate healthcare. CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and truly blessed to join forces with…
TPC Group Supports CHRISTUS School Clinics and Back to School Health Fair
Tis’ the season of giving! TPC Group presented CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare a check from the proceeds raised at the 2016 TPC Group Charity Golf Tournament to support CHRISTUS Back to School Health Fair and School Clinics. Thank you TPC Group for your generosity and support which will provide over 1,000 children with physicals and immunizations for…
Bank of America Supports more than 9,000 at Our Daily Bread in Galveston
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful for Bank of America’s grant to help support Our Daily Bread. With this support, we’ll be able to provide services to assist more than 9,000 homeless men and women at Our Daily Bread, a social services center in Galveston. Thank you Bank of America for the generosity which will directly…
A Small Collection of Big Stories II
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures
Smart Financial Credit Union Supports CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is extremely excited to accept Smart Financial Credit Union’s donation towards supporting Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. Thank you Smart Financial Credit Union for the generosity which will directly benefit thousands of men, women, and children that might otherwise remain excluded from healthcare. CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and…
Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza blesses New CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic
CHRISTUS Point of Light clinic celebrated their new expansion and relocation with a blessing and dedication ceremony performed by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza. Many sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word were also in attendance as Archbishop Fiorenza gave a very special and beautiful blessing of the clinic. Fiorenza thanked CHRISTUS Foundation and the Sisters…
A Small Collection of Big Stories
CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare serves men, women and children of all faiths, ages and cultures.
2016 CHRISTUS Spring Luncheon is a Grand Slam!
The annual March event served to honor generous community leaders Pat and Dan Breen, showcase the Foundation’s work in the community and attract new supporters. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and Houston Astro Great, Nolan Ryan, also attended the luncheon as interviewee for longtime KPRC news anchor Steve Smith. The Spring Luncheon marked its 12th anniversary, as…
Gilbane Building Company’s Gilbane Cares Golf Tournament Supports CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics
(Featured Image) Gilbane Building Company’s Dan Gilbane, Business Unit Leader for Gilbane Southwest and Lisa Martin, Vice President and Director of Sales Services, present Foundation president, Les Cave and Laura Clay, RN with a generous check to support the CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics. CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare is incredibly grateful and truly blessed…
Avoiding Emergency Rooms
Experts report that more than half the problems patients bring to emergency rooms either do not or would not require hospital-based care if an alternative source were readily available.
Many Fronts in Fighting Obesity
More than a third of American adults and nearly one child in five are now obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Developing Life Skills For Independence
For Jesse Jaynes, UTMB-Galveston’s collaborations with area non-profits led her to CHRISTUS Our Daily Bread. Jaynes is pursuing her doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapy is a holistic, client-centered profession that assists individuals in performing occupations, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth and hair, social situations and more. “An OT addresses the physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual factors that affect…
Read MoreGenerous Donation Secured By Volunteer Physician
In addition to the primary care patients receive at CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic, they also have access to podiatry care, when needed. Podiatrist Dr. David Wolf has volunteered at St. Mary’s Clinic for a number of years. “He is always looking for ways to provide services and podiatric supplies for our patients,” Sister Rosanne Popp,…
Read MoreWHEN THE SOUL NEEDS HEALING
Partnerships make a major impact in our patients’ health and having Catholic Charities as our partner in mental health services is such an important part of CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic. Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. recently cared for a new patient who had come for a “check up.” Upon entering the exam room, she saw a…
Read MoreFriends Telling Friends
by Sister Rosanne Popp, M.D. CHRISTUS St. Mary’s Clinic On a recent visit to the clinic, one of my patients, Maria, was coming for the results of her annual wellness exam and mammogram. She related that she had a friend, Susie*, had not had a checkup in over four years. Susie was worried because she…
Read MoreCHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics Brings Much-Needed Vaccines To Afghan Refugees
Last fall, CHRISTUS Healthy Living Mobile Clinics partnered with Catholic Charities and Interfaith Ministries to aid in the resettlement efforts of Afghan refugees arriving in Houston. While housing and food were immediate needs, healthcare was equally as critical. Prior to arrival in Houston, families came through military bases, where they received healthcare services including initial…
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