Russian Hamms

God is so very good!

It has been almost seven months since Lena left to bring her mother Nina to Canada for a six-month visit. There were of course many highlights to Nina's visit, but there was no time more memorable than her past eight weeks. When Nina was admitted to hospital on March 16, we couldn't have imagined what would come next. After Nina's life-saving emergency triple by-pass we quickly recognized God's hand in leading Nina here, in having her extend her stay (she had been scheduled to return in early March) and in surrounding her with a community of His people.

God provided for Nina's needs in miraculous ways. Through the incredible donation of the surgeons (providing all their services at no charge), through the generous reduction in fees from the hospital and through the overflowing kindness of friends, family & strangers (correction: brothers & sisters in Christ whom we simply have yet to meet!).

We are thrilled to share with you that we have received over 99% of the needed funds for Nina!!! Here are the actual figures:

Total Expenses:    $14,582.44
Gifts Received:    $14,480.00

Nina's expenses grew somewhat from the time of her surgery due to follow-up examinations and tests. While we do not anticipate many more expenses in her remaining two weeks, there may be a few minor ones. Regardless, we want everyone to know that Nina's expenses have now been covered and that any additional monetary gifts received will be used for Nina's future care.

On Monday, June 2 at 12:20 in the afternoon, Nina will depart from Winnipeg and head for her home in St. Petersburg, Russia. Lena will accompany her and then return the following Monday. Before that, I will leave on a nine-day trip to Missouri for the A.C.E. International Student Convention. Our family would covet your prayers for the next 12 days as we prepare for our journeys, travel and cope with each other's absences.

We have one final related note to share with you. It was just over five years ago that we put out the call for people to invest in an apartment for Nina. Many of you will recall that Nina had been living by herself in Omsk while we, her only family, resided in distant St. Petersburg. As a family we did not have sufficient funds to obtain a home for Nina, so we asked for people to help. More than two dozen families & individuals answered the call and provided enough money for us to bring Nina to St. Petersburg. Now, five years later, their investment grown substantially. We are happy to report that Nina's apartment is worth approximately 2.5 times the 2003 purchase price! We will be contacting our "investors" very shortly to share specific details about the apartment investment.

For all that God has done for Nina (and her family) through you, His wonderfully kind people, we offer our heartfelt thanks!

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

Greetings!

This is a short update to inform you about the following:

• To date just over 5000 CAD has been received to help cover Nina's medical and related expenses—Praise the Lord! This means that only $9300 more is needed!
• Benefit Concert for Nina: Saturday, May 10 from 7-9 p.m. at the Portage Evangelical Church, 72 - 3rd St. NE in Portage la Prairie (click here for driving directions from Winnipeg). Friends have organized a concert featuring Alfred MacLaren, winner of the Country Gospel Music Association's Male New Artist of the Year award for 2008, with a special performance by the Allard Family. Children's entertainment for ages 10 and under will be provided by Eugene, Comedy Illusionist. A free-will offering will be taken with all proceeds going to help with Nina's medical expenses.

We are very grateful to all who have contributed over the past weeks. Nina is overwhelmed by your generosity and love shown to her. We would love to see you this coming Saturday if you are able to attend, but of course we understand that many of you may not be able to do so. Regardless, we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to keep Nina in mind as she visits the hospital on Wednesday for x-rays (she still has some major discomfort in her left lung).

Grace & peace,

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

[click here for a four-page, full-colour print version in PDF]

Note: Those of you who receive Hamm Prayer Points will find that much of the following information is an updated summary of what you have received recently. However, we ask you especially read the "Question & Answers" section.

Nina's Visit To Canada Canadian Hospitals!

Greetings and Happy (Orthodox) Easter! For those of you who don't receive Hamm Prayer Points, we have some significant news to share...

The really brief version:

Just over four months into her Canadian visit, Lena's mother Nina was taken to emergency at our local hospital on March 16. She had been experiencing chest pains and fatigue. Thirty-six hours later she was taken by ambulance to St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg for further tests. On March 19 surgeons performed an emergency triple-bypass on Nina. One week later she was discharged and has since been resting in our home in Portage.

The long version:

Sunday, March 16: After two days of increasing pain and discomfort, Nina asked us to take her to the emergency ward at Portage District General Hospital here in Portage la Prairie. After numerous tests and time spent under observation, an angiogram was scheduled for Nina in Winnipeg.

Tuesday, March 18: After waking up feeling quite ill, Lena received a call from the hospital that Nina was set to depart for Winnipeg by ambulance at 9 a.m. Lena quickly prepared for the trip and accompanied Nina to St. Boniface General Hospital. After waiting until the afternoon for the angiogram, the test was administered and revealed that Nina's heart was in desperate shape.

Wednesday, March 19: By noon, doctors at St. Boniface had met and decided that an emergency bypass operation was the only recourse for Nina. Her heart could not survive any further delay. Surgery was scheduled for the evening. I joined Lena in Winnipeg after taking Maya & Deena to my parent's home. We arrived at the hospital at 10 p.m., but the surgery went later than expected. Shortly after eleven one of the nurses met with us to assure us that the triple-bypass operation was going well. Just before midnight the surgeon arrived and gave us the complete details. The surgery was a success and Lena saw her mom just after one a.m. We returned to my uncle & aunt's home by 1:30 for some much-needed rest.

Thursday, March 20: Lena had to return to the hospital before 9 a.m. so that the nurses could communicate with Nina. We spent much of the day at the hospital, but in the evening we were thrilled to discover that a Russian-speaking nurse would be taking care of Nina for the next 12 hours. Lena & I enjoyed our first restful night in a long while!

Good Friday: Lena seemed to be getting sicker instead of better, so after checking in with Nina, Lena spent the rest of the morning waiting in the emergency room, trying to see a doctor. By lunch time Lena had been given some medical attention and was headed for an afternoon rest (once again a Russian-speaking nurse was caring for Nina). After the rest, my Dad & Mom brought Maya & Deena to visit. Lena hadn't seen the girls in three days, so it was a happy reunion.

Easter Sunday: Lena & I were able to attend the early service at Fort Garry M.B. Church before being summoned to the hospital so that Lena could interpret for the physiotherapist. Lena had to spend the afternoon & evening with Nina, but was able to come downstairs for a short while when our girls (this time including Sonia) came for a visit and supper.

Tuesday, March 23: Shortly after 9 a.m. Lena & I met with the hospital administration to find out what Nina's bill would be. As an out-of-country patient, Nina was expected to pay a substantial fee for her week at St. Boniface, plus whatever the doctor & anaesthesiologist would charge. After asking if there was any way for the amount to be reduced, we were asked to detail our & Nina's situation. After we explained, the gentleman in charge looked thoughtful and said that it may be possible to reduce the amount by 40-odd percent, providing we could put the details of our situation into a letter for the hospital. We happily assured him that we would, and thanked God for apparently providing a way to reduce the huge bill. As we waited for Nina's surgeon to meet with us before the release, we wondered what the rest of the bills might be like. After the doctor had given his okay for Nina to go home and had answered all of her questions, Lena asked him if he would be willing to see Nina once more before she left for Russia. The surgeon asked Lena to follow him to the consultation room, closed the door and told her, "I understand that your mother has no medical insurance and that you will have to pay for all of her expenses." Lena nodded. He continued, "I talked with [the anaesthesiologist], and we decided that we would not charge you anything." Lena was speechless! Finally she thanked him and told him that this was an answer to the prayers of many friends and family. It truly is! Shortly after that Nina was on her way to Portage la Prairie. We have so much to thank God for!

Tuesday, April 15: During her time of rest & recovery at our home in Portage la Prairie, Nina began to experience increasing pain in her lungs, resulting in coughing fits and shortness of breath. A low-grade fever was also troubling her. On this day Nina was blessed by the visit of her Russian nurse from St. Boniface. Svetlana (who hails from St. Petersburg) called Nina several times over the past weeks. Today Svetlana drove from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie to give Nina an unofficial "check-up". After listening to Nina's lungs, Svetlana urged us to take Nina for an x-ray as soon as possible.

Wednesday, April 16: This morning we consulted with a number of knowledgeable people and decided that it would be wisest to take Nina directly to Emergency at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. So here we are at St. Boniface again, four weeks to the day since Nina had her operation! After spending nine and a half hours in the Emergency room, Lena & Nina finally left with some good and not-so-good news. It turned out that Nina's nurse was correct—fluid was building up in her left lung, causing it to collapse. The doctor on duty prescribed medicine that should alleviate Nina's condition within two weeks (it's a pity that the doctor in Portage who examined her last week didn't notice it then). Thankfully, Nina's blood work & AKG revealed that she is otherwise fine.

Your Questions, Our Answers:

Q. Would Nina have been better off getting this surgery done in Russia?
A. Russian hospitals would not have performed a heart bypass on Nina. Because she is a pensioner, she would have been hospitalized and kept comfortable, and that's all. Without 100% of the money for the surgery, it is likely that Nina would have perished in St. Petersburg.

Q. Didn't Nina have insurance?
A. There was no insurance available to Nina that would have covered these expenses. As Nina had a pre-existing heart condition (she had been hospitalized several time before in Russia), having an insurance company cover Nina's heart bypass expense would have been highly unlikely.

Q. What are Nina's total medical costs?
A. While we are still waiting for some of the bills to come, the rough total for Nina's medical expenses is just under 12,000 CAD. In addition to that, there have been just over 2400 CAD spent on airline tickets (changing Nina's ticket & obtaining an accompanying ticket for Lena), visa change application, lost income and other miscellaneous expenses. This is a far cry from what the totals could have been! Thanks to the kindness of Drs. Warrian & Peters, and the mercy shown by St. Boniface General Hospital, the money owed by Nina is far less than it originally seemed. We praise God for His blessings! Of course, $14,000 is still a lot of money for anyone, especially for a foreigner whose pension is barely $125/month.

Q. Since Kevin is now a Vice-Principal and no longer a missionary, can't you afford most of the expense?
A. Believe it or not, we were better off financially as missionaries! While I love my job at Lighthouse Christian School, it is a small school that receives no government funding. They cannot afford to pay me more than what a teacher's aide earns in a public school. No complaint, just simple fact. Please understand that Lena & I are not asking for your financial support. We both are paid by the ministries for which we work. However, Nina cannot survive without outside financial help, and we are limited in the assistance that we can provide.

Q. What about Nina's plane ticket & visa? When will she return to Russia?
A. Nina arrived in Canada on November 5, 2007. She is permitted to remain until May 5, 2008. Because Nina's surgeon instructed her not to travel so soon, we have requested a one-month extension to her visa. We have now changed Nina's return ticket to June 2^nd (she can't travel much later than that, as "high season" starts before mid-June). We still await a decision from Citizenship & Immigration as to Nina's status.

Blessings

• My Dad & Mom—they took care of Maya & Deena during our time in Winnipeg and also brought the girls to visit us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
• My Uncle Hank & Aunt Lynn—they provided a home for Lena & I during the time Nina was in St. Boniface.
• Pastor Ramsy—he visited several times with us at the hospital and prayed with Nina.
• The nurses & staff at St. Boniface who cared for Nina.
• The doctors, nurses & staff at the Portage hospital who cared for Nina.
• The surgeon & anaesthesiologist who donated 100% of their effort to giving Nina new life.
• The willingness of the administration at St. Boniface to reduce the amount owing for Nina's care.
• All who prayed, visited, sent cards and helped in tangible ways!

Petitions

• That Nina's body will continue to heal as it should.
• That Nina will be granted an extension for her Canadian visa.
• That God will continue to provide for Nina's financial & material needs.

How You Can Help

Many of you have asked how you can help, and many have helped already! Several families provided meals during our first week back home, many visited & brought cards & flowers, and a number of people have given money to help cover expenses. Nina's most immediate need is money to cover the medical bills. As of this writing, another $11,400 is required. Some have asked about receiving a donation receipt for monetary gifts, but that is impossible for us to provide since we are private citizens. We are deeply grateful to all who offered or provided assistance to date. Please continue to pray for God's provision to meet this financial need, whether through the giving of God's people or through other means. As well, we covet your prayers for Nina's continued health improvement in both body & spirit!

In Other News...

Sonia completed her first year in the Fine Arts program at Brandon University. Her professors were very pleased with her work, and she is looking forward to returning to study in September. Sonia has moved home with us, and hopes to find a job in Portage la Prairie so that she can earn money for the next school year.

Lena completed her translation of The Lion Graphic Bible for Canadian LifeLight Ministries. She now has new translation work, this time for the Far East Broadcasting Corporation. Lena is translating radio scripts for broadcast in Russia. Lena quit her job at Reflections Café in Portage la Prairie in order that she may be able to devote more time to translation work.

Thank you for standing with us,
Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

Just in case you do not have our current contact information:

Mail:        123 2^nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie MB, R1N 1R9
Kevin's cell:    1.204.872.3802
Lena's cell:    1.204.872.0325

April 16, 2008: Greetings, Friends! Thank you for your prayers over the past while. Three weeks to the day Nina left the hospital, she's back…

Here's the latest news:

• Nina has been resting & recovering at our home in Portage la Prairie for the past three weeks.
• For the past week Nina had experienced increasing pain in her lungs, resulting in coughing fits and shortness of breath. She also had a low-grade fever during this time.
• Yesterday (April 15) Nina was blessed by the visit of her Russian nurse from St. Boniface hospital. Svetlana (who hails from St. Petersburg!) called Nina several times over the past weeks. Svetlana drove from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie to give Nina an unofficial "check-up". After listening to Nina's lungs, Svetlana urged us to take Nina for an x-ray as soon as possible.
• This morning (April 16) we consulted with a number of knowledgeable people and decided that it would be wisest to take Nina directly to Emergency at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, where she had the bypass operation on March 19th.

So here we are at St. Boniface again! We will update you on the situation as soon as we are able. Later...after spending nine and a half hours in the Emergency room, Lena & Nina finally left with some good and not-so-good news. It turned out that Nina's nurse was correct—fluid was building up in her left lung, causing it to collapse. The doctor on duty prescribed medicine that should alleviate Nina's condition within two weeks (it's a pity that the doctor in Portage who examined her last week didn't notice it then). Thankfully, Nina's blood work & AKG revealed that she is otherwise fine.

We have some news to share about Nina's financial situation as well. So far (and the bills will continue to grow after today) Nina's & our combined expenses are just over $14,000. This is a far cry from what it could have been! Thanks to the kindness of Drs. Warrian & Peters, and the mercy shown by St. Boniface General Hospital, the money owed by Nina is far less than it could have been. We praise God for His blessings! Of course, $14,000 is still a lot of money for anyone, especially for a foreigner whose pension is barely $125/month.

Many of you have asked how you can help, and many have helped already! Several families provided meals during our first week back home, many visited & brought cards & flowers, and a number of people have given money to cover expenses. Nina's most immediate need is money to cover the medical bills. As of this writing, another $13,500 is required. Some have asked about receiving a donation receipt for monetary gifts, but that is impossible for us to provide since we are private citizens. We are deeply grateful to all who offered or provided assistance to date. Please continue to pray for God's provision to meet this financial need, whether through the giving of God's people or through other means. As well, we covet your prayers for Nina's continued health improvement in both body & spirit!

Thank you for standing with us,

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

Just in case you do not have our current contact information:

Mail:        123 2^nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie MB, R1N 1R9
Kevin's cell:    1.204.872.3802
Lena's cell:    1.204.872.0325