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Patient Ambassador Megan Johnson Visits Aleppo
Wearing her gold Fez earrings and backpack full of sketches, Megan Johnson and her mother Jill were bound from their home outside Seattle, Washington, for Boston on January 24, 2008.

They were invited by the Aleppo Shriners of Wilmington, MA, to take part in the Ceremonial festivities on January 26.

The next day Stephen G. Eriksen, Chief Rabban, Douglas W. Dodge, Public Relations Chairman, with Curt Nitzsche went to pick up Megan, Jill and William L. Greene, Grand Master of Masons of Connecticut, to go to the Shriners Hospital for Children–Boston. Bill and Megan became friends years ago and he just couldn’t pass up the chance to see her and Jill again so he canceled his plans for the day and drove up.

They arrived at the Hospital and were greeted by Robert Tibbetts, their tour guide for the day. Hospital Administrator C. Thomas D'Esmond came right down to the lobby to see Megan. Tom was at the Portland Hospital, which she is a patient of, prior to coming to Boston.

Sixteen year-old Megan has been a patient of the Shriners Hospital for Children–Portland since she was six. Born in Seoul, Korea, Megan had a severe case of hemifacial dysplasia, which resulted in a cleft lip and palate and other serious facial bonegrowth problems.

She has had twenty-five (25) surgeries so far, but nothing stops this bubbly, energetic teen from accomplishing whatever she wants.

In her backpack are sketch books full of amazing drawings. Jill showed us the one she drew on the plane ride over, a beautiful portrait of her and Bill (Greene).

Jill shared the next of Megan's endeavors which was a book comprised of Megan's drawings which is to be published soon. The proceeds will be going to charity, of course.

Another amazing thing about this seemingly over-caffeinated girl is, she founded "Megan's Mission," which helps keep the homeless warm on Seattle's’ cold streets.

She holds fundraisers like selling apple cider outside her Federal Way home raising money to buy materials to make the scarfs and blankets and also purchasing socks and gloves for them.

Another fundraiser is the silicone bracelets stamped with “Megan’s Mission” that she sells for $2.00 a piece.

Playing the piano, clarinet, violin and singing are just a few things she does in her “spare time”. She also gets straight A’s in school, and takes tae kwon.

As they toured the Hospital, Megan snapped photos of everything! The wall hangings, the extremely colorful walls and floors, the pictures hanging all around that children have made. She saw it, she photographed it.

Megan and her mother were in awe at how welcoming, bright and colorful the Hospital was. Every time you turned the corner absolutely nothing at all in the entire hospital was dull and dreary. Even the research area was bright and inviting.

Megan gave a hug to each and every Shriner she met. While going past the volunteer station she stopped and gave one to Paul F. Rubin and Elmer Maxwell, hospital volunteers and Aleppo Nobles who were manning it. After talking to them for several minutes, off came her backpack and she pulled out a small book which she has each and every Shriner and Shriners Hospital worker she meets sign. Of course they obliged.

Megan has this way of brightening up a room and her contagious energy radiates to every corner. Every person she met, even passing by offices that had their doors open, she stopped and talked to each person, thanking them for all that they do.

Her goal is to visit all 22 Shriners Hospitals. So far she has visited five of them.

The day of the Ceremonial, Jill and Megan took part in the Lady’s Luncheon at the Tewksbury Country Club. They came back with the Lady’s to the Aleppo Shrine Center to catch the Installation of Officers and afternoon session of the Aleppo Ceremonial.

After Stephen G. Eriksen was installed as the Potentate of Aleppo for 2008 the lights went down and a video came on the screen behind the Divan.

It was a video of Megan’s story, starting with her ongoing physical ailments and thru the trials and tribulations of her growing up enduring the dozens of surgeries. It then showed how the Shriners Hospitals for Children helped her break through the rough times of dealing with the doctors and hospitals she had been at, opening the side of her that we see today. The incredible young lady who has gone thru so much and yet has brightened up many lives with her charitable avocations.

Proceeding the video, Illustrious Eriksen invited Megan from the stands. She bounded across the auditorium to the entire assemblage standing and applauding her, their eyes tearing up.

Of course Megan was eager to take the microphone. Immediately thanking the Shriners, Lady's and their families for doing so much for the children who are patients at the Hospitals. She even told them how she wants so bad to be a Shriner, but the only thing standing in her way is that she is a female!

Another selfless act was displayed for all to see: Megan presented Illustrious Eriksen with a check for $100 to go to the Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund.

After her speech everyone got to see first-hand one of her many talents. A grand piano was set up beside the stage. She took a seat, poised herself and played several songs. The beautiful notes permeating around the auditorium. Not another sound was to be heard.

At the end of the Ceremonial the Parade in Review was underway with all the Aleppo Units making their way around the auditorium pass the stage. Megan and Illustrious Eriksen stood proud as the Units passed by, saluting. When the Clown Unit went by she pulled out a clown nose and put it on. Smiling and saluting back, Megan had the time of her life. Not only was she in Massachusetts and had seen Boston, finally, and another Shriners Hospital, but she was in the company of Shriners.

And that book with all the signatures, of course during her speech she told everyone there not to leave until they signed it!

Aleppo Shriners News, VOLUME LXV Number 2, March/April 2008

Life-Saving CPR Classes being Scheduled Now

Those interested in taking CPR classes by the Aleppo medical Corps are asked to please contact Assistant Rabban Jeffrey Arnold at: 978- 536-2842.

A class can now being set up if there is a minimum of 10 people (including nobles, family and friends0 interested, or if unit would like to have class.

The class includes adult and child CPR, and use of an AED (automatic External Defibrillator). Your certification card and a key-chain pocket-mask are included in the cost. The class is three hours long and the cost is $40.00. There is a book and CD that goes along with this class for an extra $10.00.

For every sixty (60) people taught at Aleppo Temple, when Seconds Count (located in Salem, Massachusetts, provides standard and custom CPR and First Aid Courses throughout New England), and Jeffrey Arnold will donate a defibrillator to the Aleppo Shrine Temple.

Aleppo Shriners News, VOLUME LXV Number 2, March/April 2007

Your Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund Needs You!

How can I help?

Nobles All,

We are entering into another year where the Aleppo Shrine Hospital Children’s Transportation Fund is expected to raise and expend an excess of $300.00 dollars. These funds are mostly voluntary donations and are the result of your hard work. Though they are Shrine Hospital Funds and fully deductible, they are distributed locally to aid and transport children in our two Massachusetts hospitals.

The cost to Aleppo for one acute care flight to our Boston Hospital is now approaching $50,000.00 per flight. Our largest fundraiser is the annual North-South Football Game and nets the Transportation Fund about $70,000.00. As you can see, this amount barely covers one flight. The remainder of this money is raised from the contributions of our Shrine Clubs, Units, paper Crusades and Can Tabs.

If you are a new Noble or an existing one willing to help, there are many avenues you may and get involved. We always need help manning our Paper Drivers and collecting Can Tabs. The time requirements can be as little or as much as you have to offer. If you need more information or assistance with any of the above, send me a note to; Aleppo Shriners, Attn: Peter K. Stone, 99 Fordham Road , Wilmington , MA 01887 . Or call 978-657-4202. I will answer any questions you may have and try to guide you to the choice that is right for you.

To our Shrine Clubs and Units, we thank you for all that you do. While costs are constantly on the increase, please consider a new fundraiser or an additional day for an existing one. Our Shrine Hospitals and children have come to rely on our support and it is our hope to meet any request sent from them without delay.

Remember, our aim is not just to raise money but to educate everyone we can of the wonderful things our Hospitals do for the children and to find new children in need of our services. The rewards far outweigh the time spent helping those who so urgently need our support.

We thank you for your efforts in the past. We expect great things from you in the future and we know your hears will swell with the knowledge that you have promoted your Shrine Hospitals and helped the children so desperately in need of our services.

Fraternally,

Peter K. Stone and the Committee

Aleppo Shriners News, VOLUME LXV Number 2, March/April 2007

Boston Burns Hospital Board of Trustees

During the recent Board of trustees meeting, David S. McKechnie was appointed to serve as Vice Chairman of our Board of Governors in 2007.

Alton L. Moore was re-elected to serve another three-year term on the Board of Governors. His term will expire on December 31, 2009.

Robert C. Keogh was elected to emeritus status on our Board.

John F. Sugden, Jr. was elected to serve a three-year term on our Board. His term will expire on December 31, 2009.

We look forward to their continued participation.

On behalf of the Shriners burns Hospital, allow me to express my deep personal gratitude to Aleppo Shriners for their support. I assure you that we could not progress in our mission of helping children in need without the dedication they have shown to our hospital program.

Bruce Bradigan,
Chairman, Board of Governors

Aleppo Shriners News, VOLUME LXV Number 2, March/April 2007

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