Supper to benefit Crohn’s transplant recipient

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Last month, you read the story in our paper about the struggle of 21-year-old Joy Weiss of Mariaville to live as normal a life as possible, although she has Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s is an autoimmune disorder, a genetic disease in which the individual’s immune system is programmed to attack the body itself, telling the body’s white blood cells to fight against its own digestive tract, causing pain and impeding the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Joy Weiss is one of 50,000 people in the United States living with this disease.

Weiss told the Bangor Daily News, “My body rejects my stomach and there’s nothing I can do.”

But there is something that can be done for her now, thanks to Weiss’ Bangor-based pediatric surgeon, Dr. Thomas McGill, who learned about an experimental stem cell transplant proposed by Dr. Richard Burt of Northwestern University in Chicago. The transplant uses cells from the patient, not from a donor.

McGill suggested Weiss might be a candidate for the treatment. After traveling to Chicago, meeting Burt and undergoing a series of tests, Weiss learned she is to become the first person in the world to receive such a transplant.

The treatment is expected to kill Weiss’ defective immunity and build a new immune system using stem cells from her own bone marrow.

If the transplant succeeds, it could be a remedy for her incurable disease.

To help the family with expenses, members of the greater Mariaville community are planning a potluck benefit supper for Joy Weiss beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Beech Hill School in Otis.

“Her mother is traveling with her,” explained Dawn Edgecomb of Mariaville, “so they need all the help they can get.”

Edgecomb said individuals are asked to bring a dish to share with others, and that beverages and utensils will be provided. She also said there will be no admission fee. “We’re just asking people for donations.” If anyone has questions about this event, or how they can help in other ways, call Edgecomb at 584-5517; Mary Dority of Mariaville, 537-2142; or Mattie Treadwell of Otis at 667-5289 or 537-3703.

Here’s a tip of the theatrical hat to Bangor’s Penobscot Theatre Company/Maine Shakespeare Festival, which is bringing live performances of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to 16 Maine high schools this spring.

The tour will be kicked off on Shakespeare’s birthday, with a special preview performance at 6:45 p.m. Monday, April 23, at Brewer Middle School.

Directed by PTC/MSF producing artistic director Mark Torres, “Macbeth” will be performed at schools in Baileyville, Bangor, Brewer, Bucksport, Dover-Foxcroft, Hancock, Jay, Kingfield, Lincoln, Livermore Falls, Machias, Mount Desert, Naples, Pittsfield, Thomaston and Veazie.

For some students, this will be a first opportunity to experience live theater, and they are fortunate to have such a wonderful group of actors visit them.

Appearing as Macbeth will be Robert McClure. Jodi Jean Amble will be Lady Macbeth. Joseph Adamczak will appear as Malcolm, Kimberly McNulty as Lennox, Alex Gunn as Duncan and Macduff, Harold Withee as Banquo and Sara Valentine as Lady Macduff.

Bunraku puppets created by resident costume designer Ginger Phelps will portray the witches. Bunraku puppets are actor-operated and were most effective in the company’s December production of “A Christmas Carol.”

Phelps is also designing the costume and Torres the set. Lighting will be by production stage manager Karen Hornberger.

The production is supported by grants from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Bangor Daily News and the Country Inn at the Mall.

If you would like to attend the tour preview performance, or wish more information about scheduling a Shakespeare workshop or “Macbeth” performance, call the PTC/MSF office at 947-6618.

Staff of Penquis CAP Health Services and St. Joseph Healthcare are understandably excited about their opportunity to offer a no-cost breast and cervical screening day for Maine women between the ages of 50 and 64.

The no-cost breast and cervical screenings will be performed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at St. Joseph Healthcare’s Regional Breast Care Center, 900 Broadway, Building 2, in Bangor.

The screenings are offered women with little or no health insurance, or women who have health insurance that either has a high deductible or does not cover Pap tests and mammograms.

“It is a very exciting thing that women can have the whole testing in one appointment,” explained Barbara Parker of Penquis CAP. “Usually, you go in and it takes a while to get a mammogram scheduled.”

But for this screening, she added, “you can get it all done in a half-hour to 40-minute appointment, and it is all under one roof with easy parking.”

Plus, Parker said, those who take advantage of the opportunity will be served by “wonderful skilled providers” who will be providing the screenings.

The special screening is funded by the Maine Breast & Cervical Health program, which offers education and screening opportunities for women throughout the state.

The Maine Breast & Cervical Health program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a partnership with the Maine Department of Human Services and the Maine Bureau of Health.

To learn if you qualify for this screening, or to schedule an appointment, call the Maine Breast & Cervical Health Programs at (800)-350-5180, then press 1.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.