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In 2017, 25 local Northwest suburban friends based in Our Lady of the Wayside Parish chipped in $500 to purchase and donate a laboratory microscope to St. Jude Clinic, a financially struggling medical clinic based in a small village in rural Uganda. Deacon Don was promised by the clinical staff that — equipped with this microscope — a laboratory built around it could substantially boost funds coming in. That microscope became a miracle financial resource, enabling hardship moms and kids with no money to be treated by staff. From that initial donation the St Jude clinic dramatically grew into a hospital surgery center that, today, serves over a hundred patients per day.

Retired Surgeon Dr Edward Maglietta presents his microscope to Deacon Don

Recently, a call came requesting another miracle addressing the struggling “poorest clinic in Uganda,” located in a village called Nandere, serving Our Lady of Grace parish. A local Wayside family responded by donating a retired surgeon’s clinical microscope as a start. The family also donated funds to help initiate a small dairy farm that will add additional income, increasing the Nandere laboratory clinic’s ability to fight malaria. The lab and agribusiness will bring in sustainable funds to help with purchasing medications for the poor. The Our Lady of the Wayside student council, through a “change for change” collection campaign, generously raised $600 which nearly funds adding an additional dairy cow for the Nandere Clinic Farm.

Dr. Joseph Mary, Clinic Director, Our Lady of Grace, Nandere Uganda, East Africa

On April 18, Deacon Don will pack the donated microscope in his carry-on bag, intent to deliver good news to Fr. Joseph Mary, director of the Our Lady of Grace Clinic that is greatly struggling to serve the faithful. A big remodeling project for the clinic could cost $100,000 or more. However, Microfinance Alliance Africa Projects Africa, a US local 501 Charity which was founded based on the success of the first microscope’s impact, believes that sometimes big miracles happen because small steps are taken, one determined step at a time.

To help the Nandere Clinic, please send donations to: MAAPF Nandere Clinic PO Box 1471 Arlington Heights Post Office. Arlington Heights, Il, 60006.