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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 2016)
6 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016 Free dental work ‘From the Heart’ turns 30 B Y C ATHERINE J. R OURKE For the Siuslaw News F olks in Florence will have plenty of reason to smile on Aug. 25, thanks to Wendy and Charles Korando, DDS. While the erosion of dental health coverage takes a giant bite out of wallets across the nation, the Korandos open their practice doors and big hearts to the local community with free den- tistry each year. “Our mission is to provide care to the needy and alleviate their suffer- ing,” Dr. Korando said. “We strive to treat as many patients as possible who cannot afford dentistry since the current system places such a crush- ing economic burden on them.” According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 130 million Americans — one-third of the population — lack dental insur- ance, including 27 percent of chil- dren under 19 and 23 percent of sen- iors over 65. Studies released last year by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute show that untreated dental diseases have reached the highest level in four decades, especially among working adults ages 20 to 64, citing high costs and lack of coverage as the cause. Dr. Korando found this silent epi- demic “so deeply disturbing” that he decided to do something about it long before health care shortfalls became a rallying cry at national political conventions. Every year on “From the Heart Dentistry Day,” he and his wife, Wendy, a dental nurse, along with their two sons — Ryan, a denturist, and Nolan, a dental anes- thesiologist — and their staff at the Korando Dental Group provide free dental services. Founded as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in 2008, “From the Heart Dentistry Day” accommodates approximately 50 to 80 individuals each year with cleanings, extractions and restoration work for 12 hours nonstop, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We take anybody,” Wendy said. “People are lined up at the door and some even camp out the night before, so we put portable potties in the parking lot. Many local business- es donate their services to help make this free dental day possible.” “It’s so rewarding to see people finally getting relief that we’re not even exhausted at the end of the day,” Dr. Korando said. “When you give, you get so much back.” From the day they opened their local practice in 1985, the Korandos dreamed of providing dentistry to “marginalized and special-needs populations” who cannot afford it. They began offering free services on Christmas Eve 30 years ago. “We also wanted to teach our chil- dren to give freely and compassion- ately to their fellow man,” Wendy said. The Korandos estimate that, to date, they have provided free treat- ments valued at half a million dol- lars to more than 1,500 patients. But it took many years of hard work to achieve that generous capacity. “We knew dentistry was our des- tiny,” Wendy said. “But we were so poor and broke in the beginning and started out with nothing.” The aspiring dentist and student nurse met at a party just one day before he was drafted into the Vietnam War. They corresponded while Charles served in the 196th Infantry Battalion and began dating after he returned home. They married a few years later and will mark their 40th anniversary this year. PHOTO BY CATHERINE ROURKE The Korandos will host their annual “From the Heart Dentistry Day” on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “I took one look at Wendy and knew she was going to be my wife,” he said. “We had some tough times and her support is the main reason for my success. There’s material poverty, which is temporary, but we were spiritually wealthy and believed in miracles.” A huge miracle showed up one Christmas Eve in the form of a National Institute for Health Public Scholarship for Charles. “We were told he would never get it,” she said. “But he did and it was a Christmas gift worth $200,000. That’s when I learned to never take no for an answer.” Upon graduation from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Dr. Korando spent three years “working nonstop” as the only dentist serving 15,000 people on the Indian reservations of northeastern Montana. He recalls sub-zero win- ters and often treating “15 full boney impactions before lunch.” Then, the Korandos learned about a practice for sale in Florence and fell in love with its natural beauty. “It reminded me of where I grew up,” Dr. Korando said, referring to a tiny farm community in Illinois. “Florence has a small-town feeling; you can know everybody and the shopkeepers know you. I knew this was where I wanted to raise my chil- dren.” Wendy worked as a registered nurse at the local hospital and joined the dental practice in 1992. The cou- ple volunteered for Rotary-spon- sored dental missions to Mexico and then decided to bring them home. “We realized our true mission was in our local community,” Wendy said. “The desperate, heart-wrench- ing need for dental care for hundreds of underserved people right here is staggering. Our event helps relieve a crushing demand for compassionate dentistry.” “This isn’t just about teeth; it’s about the heart,” Dr. Korando said. “We’re acknowledging people, alleviating suf- fering and turning lives around.” In some cases, the Korandos have even saved them. By checking vital signs and identifying dental infec- tions spreading to other parts of the body, they have referred patients to the hospital in the nick of time. Their goal is to expand the event with more frequency to a wider region and establish an oral surgery center with reduced costs, especially for youth and children. “We aim to fill the gap between the destitute and the insured,” Dr. Korando said. “Why should just those who can pay cash or have great insurance be the only ones with a healthy mouth and a great smile? We need a health system that prevents people from falling into the cracks.” The Korando Dental Group is located at 1705 W. 22nd St. Grab your sleeping bag and get in line for the upcoming event — no tooth- brush necessary since the staff will have plenty on hand. Meanwhile, Dr. Korando offers this advice: “A piece of floss is the best dental insurance at just $1.98.” ______________________ Catherine J. Rourke is an award- winning writer, journalist and book editor who teaches creative writing at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance. She may be contacted at CJReditor@gmail.com. Prevent heat illness while working in hot weather As temperatures rise this summer, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administra- tion (OSHA) encourages employers and workers in con- struction, agriculture and other labor-intensive activities to learn the signs of heat illness and focus on prevention. Exposure to heat can lead to headaches, cramps, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and even seizures or death. From 2011 through 2015, 28 people received benefits through Oregon’s workers’ compensation system for heat- related illnesses (at least three days away from work). “Workers in Oregon tend to be more likely to suffer from heat-related illnesses, because they’re used to working in mild weather and often not acclimat- ed to this type of heat,” said Penny Wolf-McCormick, health enforcement manager for Oregon OSHA. “That’s why it’s especially important for employers to provide drink- ing water, offer shaded places for workers to take breaks, and to watch for signs of trouble.” Here are some tips for pre- venting a heat-related illness: Perform the heaviest, most labor-intensive work during the coolest part of the day. Use the buddy system to monitor the heat. Drink plenty of cool water — one small cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, such as cotton. Take frequent short breaks in cool, shaded areas — allow your body to cool down. Avoid eating large meals before working in hot environ- ments. Avoid caffeine and alco- holic beverages (these make the body lose water and increase the risk of heat illnesses). To help those suffering from heat exhaustion: Move them to a cool, shad- ed area. Do not leave them alone. Loosen and remove heavy clothing. Provide cool water to drink (a small cup every 15 minutes) if they are not feeling sick to their stomach. Try to cool them by fanning them. Cool the skin with a spray mist of cold water or a wet cloth. If they do not feel better in a few minutes, call 911 for emergency help. Certain med- ications, wearing personal pro- tective equipment while on the job and a past case of heat stress create a higher risk for heat illness. Heat stroke is a more severe condition than heat exhaustion and can result in death. Immediately call for emer- gency help if you think the per- son is suffering from heat stroke. Employers can calculate the heat index for their worksite with the federal OSHA heat stress app for mobile phones. The tool is available at w w w. o s h a . g o v / S LT C / h e a t ill ess/heat_index/heat_app.htm. Realtors plan food drive Aug. 13 Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will mark the Central Oregon Coast Board of Realtors second annual com- munity food drive in coopera- tion with the local Florence Bi- Mart store. Everyone is encouraged again this year to stop by Bi-Mart and make a generous contribution to this important community effort. All food contributed will be presented to Florence Food Share for distribution among the members of the Florence community. In addition to food, financial gifts toward hunger can be given to Realtors present at Bi- Mart. Florence Food Share can provide three meals for every single dollar contributed at the food drive. Denture Services, Inc. • Dentures • Partials • Relines • Repairs • Immediate Dentures • Implant Retained Dentures How To Participate The fee to participate is $20. An ad for the Community Wide Garage Sale with a map of all participating sales will be published in the Siuslaw News on September 7th and 10th. Because of print deadlines, the registration deadline is 5pm August 30 2016. You will also receive two offi cial Community Wide Garage Sale signs as well as a tip sheet on how to have a great sale. Please post signs only on private property with the owner’s consent. Posting signs on City utility poles, street or signal light poles, and median strips is against the municipal code. Additional maps will be available at the Florence Visitors Center and the Siuslaw News. Name _________________________________________________Phone____________________________ Address___________________________________Email__________________________________________ Subdivision name (if any) ____________________________________ Dates (CIRCLE): Emergency appt. available • Same Day Reline & Repairs 0% Financing available OAC William A. Foster, L.D Denture wearer Sherry Offi ce Manager William A. Foster, L.D. “Locally Owned and Operated” www.DentureServicesInc.com Denture Services, Inc. 524 Laurel Street, Florence • 541-997-6054 Saturday 9/10 Sunday 9/11 Times: ___________ ___________ 15-word description: Add’l FREE CONSULTATIONS Friday 9/9 ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Date, times and address are included. Additional words over 15 are $0.50 each. Bring form and payment to 148 Maple St in Historic Old Town or mail to Siuslaw News PO Box 10, Florence, OR 97439 Call 541-902-3526 Online www.fl orencechamber.com Deadline is August 30th at 5pm to be included on the map.