On May 11, 2007, Houston Dory Hinton, Jr., a member of the San Carlos Apache Nation and father of five, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. The Native Ministries Program Group has supported Dory and his family through fund raising at last fall's convention and through help during our holiday food drive. Dory had a bone marrow transplant last Christmas and went into remission for a few months. However, the leukemia has returned, and he is once again receiving treatment at the cancer center at the University Medical Center in Tucson. This illness has caused a great physical, emotional and financial strain on Dory and his family.

His family of six is again making trips to Tucson each weekend to help him in his physical and emotional fight with the illness. The round trip from Bylas on the San Carlos Reservation to Tucson is about 285 miles. Dory again needs to live in the Tucson area to be close to his doctors and to maintain his treatment schedule, which means additional expenses for the family. The price of gasoline has gone up considerably in recent weeks, which will create a great hardship for this family. 

The Native Ministries Program Group has supported this family in various ways and would like to make their need known to the diocese at large. If anyone would like to assist this family with a monetary donation, checks can be sent to All Saints Episcopal Church, 210 Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546 and marked for the Hinton family fund.

Another way to help is to bid on the Apache doll we have listed on e-Bay as item #300236217970. It is a beautiful, hand crafted item and includes a cradleboard that is just like an actual Apache cradleboard in miniature.

Melinda Weisser-Lee can be contacted at weisserlee@gmail.com. 

 

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Other Native Ministries Program Group News

The Program Group is also requesting help in saving Campbell's soup bar codes and General Mills "Box Tops for Education" to assist the San Carlos Apache Headstart Program in Bylas. You can give these items to your congregation's representative on the Program Group or send directly to:

Melinda Weisser-Lee
3864 W. Kimball St.
Thatcher, AZ 85552

Thanks for your support!