Lviv clinic named in honor of couple from Corning, N.Y. (02/27/05)

Lviv clinic named in honor of couple from Corning, N.Y.

CORNING, N.Y. - William and Gloria Misnick, who chair the Corning Sister Cities Association, Lviv Committee, have supported the Lviv Regional Specialized Children's Hospital for more than five years. During that time they led campaigns that provided equipment valued at more than $10,000 to the facility, including wheelchairs and portable equipment for blood glucose monitoring.

"This would not be possible without the help of other people," Mr. Misnick said. "Grants from Corning's Christ Episcopal Church and many individuals enabled us to bring more glucometers and test strips to the hospital."

Ms. Misnick said the diabetic clinic - the first such clinic for children in Lviv - was a dream the couple pursued. "Our dream has come true, and I am very moved and humbled," she said. "I love the city of Lviv and this country. I understand as far as the problems exist we should help. We will continue to help this clinic because it still needs plenty of things."

It was announced during the clinic's opening on September 24, 2004, that the hospital will receive a blood analyzer valued at more than $2,100, which will make 90-day blood sugar readings possible. "The hospital will be the only one in Ukraine and Eastern Europe to have this equipment," Mrs. Misnick explained.

Donations for the purchase of the blood analyzer came from the Corning-Lviv Sister Cities Hospital Fund, the Corning Lions Club and a number of individuals.

Dr. Ihor Hrytsiuk, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Lviv hospital, said the establishment of the clinic and the fact that it is named in honor of William and Gloria Misnick is "a sign of respect and gratitude for the Misnick family."

"These people indeed did a lot," he said. "I hope that now that the clinic was named after these people, they will continue to support it." Dr. Hrytsiuk said treatment for diabetic children in Ukraine lags behind that in Russia and neighboring Poland.

"We are trying to fill up this deficit, which is possible only due to the benefactors like William and Gloria Misnick," he said. "In Lviv they are, in fact, the only ones who work in this direction."

Dr. Hrytsiuk said that the next item on his agenda is the creation of a diabetic teaching center. "Hopefully we will be able to create such a center in a year from now," he said. "The needs of these children are changing constantly. Therefore, having a place where they can learn how to live with diabetes and make the right decisions is essential."

Mrs. Misnick said about 400 children with diabetes live in the Lviv region.

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