‘We just take care of our kids’ says local Shriners 

Written by  Guy Dawson

Healthcare Partners of Nevada donated the space for the Shriners Jan. 21 outreach clinic held at 1397 Galleria Drive in Henderson. The event brought in 98 area children, many without insurance, with various health needs.

Clowns diligently work the room, searching for the occasional tearful outburst. Surprisingly, there are few. The waiting rooms are packed with children, some with severe maladies. But it is the unlikely, almost festive energy that strikes you. Painted smiles aren't necessary. Nearly all the volunteers are wearing real ones … and the patients, too.

"The courage of the children is what really gets you," said Joe Alvarado, a noble with the Zelzah Shrine Center and chairman of the quarterly Outreach Clinic. "It's amazing."

Healthcare Partners of Nevada, which has nine locations in the Henderson area, donated the space for the Jan. 21 clinic, at which 98 area children were treated for a variety of health needs.

"We have many patients from Henderson. Our doctors and nurses come from Los Angeles," added Alvarado. "We all do it out of our pockets. It's what we love to do. We just take care of our kids. We're very privileged."

According to Mary Morris, who helps run the operation, said many of the children that come to the outreach clinics do not have insurance coverage, and some are illegal immigrants.

"The Shriners don't turn anybody away," Morris said.

Because many of the kids and parents do not speak English or do not know the language well, the clinics always have an interpreter on hand.

"Out here, we need them (translators)," added Alvarado. "In the rooms we need them, because not all the doctors are bilingual. We have to be able to explain to the parents what's going on. That's part of the service."

The program treats more than 25 types of conditions, from neuromuscular disorders to scoliosis and wound care.

"It gets pretty crazy sometimes," said Myron Calvin, a pedorthist with the Prosthetic Center for Excellence in Las Vegas, about the number of children who come for care. "(If not for these outreach clinics), I really don't know where they could go (for medical care)."

Shriners hospitals have been historically noted for the care of children with burn injuries.

"Boston hospital first developed the way to grow skin for burn victims, which of course has been implemented all over the country," Morris said. "It's a marvelous thing (the burn specialist) do. I've seen burn patients that would just blow you away."

Henderson mayor, Andy Hafen, who commonly visits the Outreach Clinic, was unable to attend this clinic, because he was at the funeral of former Henderson Mayor Lorna Kesterson.

The Shriners volunteers transport area children several times a week to and from the nearest Shriners Hospital located in Los Angeles, which is more than 300 miles roundtrip.

"We take them and bring them back," said Alvarado, "two or three times each week, or more. Whatever is needed."

All Shriners' hospitals provide on-site accommodations free of charge for patients' family members. According to Alvarado, it takes $165 million daily to run all the facilities.

Funding comes largely from investments of privately donated money, and recent shrinking returns have put a strain on the Shriners to continue all services.

"We've had to cancel some things here and there," said Shriner volunteer Ron Rueckheim, "but we just keep going."