With tickets costing $10,000 and $2,000, patrons certainly got their money’s worth as the ISSA Trust Foundation delivered a night of world-class entertainment on Saturday.
Although there were only three artistes billed for the night, they were enough to satisfy the musical craving of the huge audience that converged on the lawns of Couples San Soucci Resorts in St Ann. Djani served as the evening’s opening act and did well to whet the appetites of the growing crowd. After delivering a crowd-pleasing set, he made way for songbird Tessanne Chin.
Chin took the concert to a whole new level and had the entire venue dancing and singing along to her selections as she wowed with each song. Delivering hits from singers like Whitney Houston, No Doubt, and Pink, in addition to a few of her own original songs, the Voice Season 5 winner had the audience totally captivated. Closing out a superb set with her breakout single Hideaway, Jamaica’s songbird proved to be just what the audience needed to get them amped up for the night’s main act, Air Supply.
After a brief band change, the Australian powerhouse made their way to the stage. They were met with screams and a resounding round of applause as they opened with Sweet Dreams. It was a singalong from start to finish during their set as the audience participated in every song the duo performed.
The audience was so enthralled that not even the threat of rain could force their attention away from the stage. As the heavens opened up, patrons got out their umbrellas or raincoats. Those who didn’t have those got up from their seats and used the chairs as cover, determined not to miss a second of the show.
Luckily, the rains did not last for long, and soon, things were back to normal. Air Supply went on to deliver hits such as Even The Nights are Better, Every Woman in the World, Here I Am, Making Love out of Nothing at All, and All out of Love.
As they made their exit from the stage, the band thanked patrons for coming out, stating that the contribution would go a far way in improving the quality of health care offered at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital. Air Supply also challenged guests to visit the ISSA Trust Foundation’s website and make further donations, stating that they would match each pledge made.
The night ended with an after-party at the beach, hosted by DJ Bambino.
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AUSTRALIAN soft rock band Air Supply brought out throngs of fans to the Lily Pond Lawn at Couples Sans Souci resort in St Ann on Saturday evening.
The outdoor concert, dubbed An Evening with Air Supply, was organised by the Issa Trust Foundation. It raised funds for the paediatric ward of St Ann’s Bay Hospital.
Guitarist Graham Russell and vocalist Russell Hitchcock had patrons singing along during their 75-minute set.
“Air Supply did a marvellous job. They’ve always been popular in Jamaica. They’re really a hit, and the audience was really into them. Their songs are kinda love anthems of the 1980s and 90s and they still sound fresh today. I even saw young people singing every word,” Paul Issa, chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation, told the Jamaica Observer.
Air Supply, who emerged in the 1970s, sang all their major hits including Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, Just As I Am, Even The Nights Are Better, and Here I Am. The band also performed We Are Here, with students of Free Hill Primary School from St Mary.
“They (Air Supply) wrote We Are Here for the Foundation, and it was the first time they were performing it. That was a very nice touch,” said Issa. “Air Supply came on board as Goodwill ambassadors two years ago. They’re just down-to-earth guys.”
The inaugural occasion also saw performances from Tessanne Chin and Djani.
“Tessanne was good. They all put on a great show,” said Issa.
In-between sets there were presentations of works from the Issa Trust Foundation.
The chairman said, while the final figures are not yet in, he thinks they surpassed their $15-million target.
“I’m now thinking that the concert should be a yearly event. Hopefully, going forward, it will,” he said. “Jamaicans are generally kind people; if you give them an opportunity to support a worthy cause with great entertainment, they will support it.”
We are thrilled to come back to Jamaica in support of the Pediatric Ward of St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and the wonderful work they do and of course also to perform again for our loyal fans. – Russell Hitchcock
To be performing a show for the St. Anne’s Pediatric Ward is a great thrill for Air Supply, one of the highlights of our long career. We are hoping that people will respond to this great cause and donate as much as they can to give much needed assistance to these beautiful children! – Graham Russell
The Trust Foundation Pediatric Education Seminar will provide Midwives and Nurses with general information regarding the care of neonates.
May 1st & 2nd at Couples Swept Away Resort Conference Room
May 4th & 5th at Couples Sans Souci Conference Room
Times: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Lunch and Refreshments Provided
Cost: US $10.00 at the door. Please bring exact change
Seminar Description: Who should enroll: This seminar will provide midwives and nurses with general information regarding pediatric and neonatal care. The educational program will be geared toward “take home” messages that can be instituted in to medical practice. In addition to didactic lectures, interactive sessions, team-based learning objectives and newborn resuscitation skill sessions and simulation will be incorporated into the seminar.
Instructors:
- Kerri Cook RN, Pediatric Critical Care Nurse, Blank Children’s Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, Issa Trust Foundation Advisory Board Member
- Elizabeth Landry RN, Pediatric Critical Care Nurse, Pediatric Transport Team Life Flight, Blank Children’s Hospital Des Moines, Iowa
- Chris Eckardt RN, Neonatal Critical Care Nurse, Blank Children’s Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa
Questions? Email diane.pollard@issatrustfoundation.com or call 876-503-5903 or 515-480-1683
Schedule
Monday May 1, 2017|
9:00a – 9:15a |
Introduction, Overview of Program, Distribute materials, pretest |
|
9:15 a – 10:00a |
Infection control/team building with your co workers |
|
10:00a – 11:00a |
Fluid balance and IV management |
|
11:00a – 12:00p |
Medication calculation |
|
12:00p – 1:00p |
Lunch |
|
1:00p – 2:00p |
NRP review |
|
2:00p – 3:00p |
Hands on |
|
Review of neonatal resuscitation, hands on with simulation – bag/mask ventilation, (will limit participant number each day) |
|
|
9:00a –10:00a |
Respiratory and ventilator review |
|
10:00a – 11:00a |
Care of infant during prolonged delivery/delayed cord clamping |
|
11:00a – 12:00p |
Developmental and kangaroo care/bereavement |
|
12:00p – 1:00p |
Lunch |
|
1:00p – 2:00p |
hands on |
|
2:00p – 3:00p |
post test, further questions evaluations |
|
Review of neonatal resuscitation, hands on with simulation – bag/mask, (will limit participant number each day) |
|
|
9:00a – 9:15a |
Introduction, Overview of Program, Distribute materials, pretest |
|
9:15 a – 10:00a |
Infection control/team building with your co workers |
|
10:00a – 11:00a |
Fluid balance and IV management |
|
11:00a – 12:00p |
Medication calculation |
|
12:00p – 1:00p |
Lunch |
|
1:00p – 2:00p |
NRP review |
|
2:00p – 3:00p |
Hands on |
|
Review of neonatal resuscitation, hands on with simulation – bag/mask ventilation, (will limit participant number each day) |
|
|
9:00a –10:00a |
Respiratory and ventilator review |
|
10:00a – 11:00a |
Care of infant during prolonged delivery/delayed cord clamping |
|
11:00a – 12:00p |
Developmental and kangaroo care/bereavement |
|
12:00p – 1:00p |
Lunch |
|
1:00p – 2:00p |
hands on |
|
2:00p – 3:00p |
post test, further questions evaluations |
|
Review of neonatal resuscitation, hands on with simulation – bag/mask, (will limit participant number each day) |
|
To Register, email the following information to Ms. Roxanne Henlon:
E-mail: roxanne.henlon@nerha.gov.jm
Name
Telephone Number
Email address
Place of work
Position
Dates Attending : May 1st and 2nd @ Couples Swept Away or May 3rd and 4th at Couples Sans Souci
Mandeville, Manchester: There is no pain greater than that of a mother who thinks she may lose the precious life she was entrusted to bring into this world. Shelly-Gaye Cuff endured much: having to fight for her own life and reserve strength enough to pray and fight for her baby’s survival. But God showed up and granted the Cuffs a blessing in the form of doctors and nurses at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital. “I was 26 weeks pregnant on Friday August 26 of this year (2016). I had just run a few errands and came home to prepare some light dinner. While there I felt a gush – I thought it was urine at first,” she explained. She ‘Googled’ the normality or abnormality of what had just taken place and even sought the help of a friend who was a medical practitioner. Soon after, Cuff went to her doctor’s office and yet again experienced another gush of fluid down her thighs. After an examination it was confirmed that she needed to go to the hospital because she was about to have the baby. With shock and fear of the unknown in less than unfavourable conditions, the soon-to-be mom, with a ruptured membrane and a vulnerable baby, sought to push pass the worst. “In the early morning of Wednesday, August 31, I started feeling contractions: I wasn’t dilating. I then developed a fever; I was hot then cold, shaking uncontrollably and I couldn’t breathe, my complexion had changed and at that point my body was becoming septic – my body was literally shutting down and I thought I was going to die – my family thought I was going to die.” By then a doctor advised Cuff that an emergency C-section had to be done, but priority would be given to saving her life, as her baby could very well be dead as a result of an infection. “When the baby came out she wasn’t breathing, they kept resuscitating her but it wasn’t until after 20 minutes that she gasped. A doctor told my husband that the baby was slowly deteriorating and it was highly unlikely that she would make it to morning.” She continued, “My baby was there – just panting and the hospital had no ventilator to help her breathe. On September 2, she flat lined three times.” When it felt it as though hope was diminishing, God reminded the Cuffs who He was and what He can do. A call came in from the St Ann’s Bay Hospital enquiring if the baby they were told about in Mandeville still needed the ventilator, as a baby had just been discharged. “JDF (Jamaica Defense Force) came and took the baby to St Ann’s Bay Hospital and the baby not only received the ventilator, but top-class care, I felt as though my baby was the only patient there.” She continued, “Initially the doctors and nurses said the baby didn’t look promising: they said they were only instruments, it was all God’s doing. Every doctor on call came to the assistance of my baby; it was just a different experience, state-of-the-art care… I want to say thanks to St Ann’s Bay because they didn’t have to take her and to have spent such a great deal of time on her – 59 days – was awesome. I must thank Elaine Johnson-Kelly from NERHA (North Eastern Regional Health Authority) who pretty much opened her home to accommodate me for the period.” Cuff said upon leaving the hospital, after being granted the go-ahead to take her baby home, she watched all the members of the medical team who knew and worked with her baby, cry. “They called my baby ‘Miracle’ and ‘Grace’. I’m happy to know that in Jamaica there are still health practitioners who don’t deal with humans as statistics but as persons, amid the negativity around there is a beacon up there in St Ann.s Bay. I’m forever indebted to them for the care they gave to me and my baby.” With a new found joy; 17-week-old Aaryn-Grace, the Cuffs have, for now, completed their happy home.
Ernie Sandona (left), biomedical engineer and Issa Trust Foundation volunteer, demonstrates some of the modern features of the state-of-the art ECG machine to Dr Vincent Riley, cardiologist.
Over the past two weeks, the Issa Trust Foundation – founded as the non-profit arm of Couples Resorts in 2005 – has donated a total of $10.3 million in equipment and supplies to hospitals in St Mary, St Ann and Portland as well as the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. Twenty autoclaves (valued at $3.4 million), which are medical electronic equipment that sterilise surgical instruments under high temperature and high pressure, were part of the donation, as well as a new Welch Allyn ECG machine valued at $580,000. A crucial element of donations made by the Issa Trust Foundation is the provision of training and maintenance. Ernie Sandona, a biomedical engineer from Michigan, United States, was on hand to conduct a training session to approximately 30 attendees at the Annotto Bay Conference Centre. His training focused on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment to ensure longevity. A shipment of new cribs, mattresses, IV poles and baby scales, all donated by Direct Relief, a valued partner of the Issa Trust Foundation, was made to the St Ann’s Bay Hospital with a value of $1.9 million.
Unlocking doors by opening eyes
An amazing team of volunteers embarked on the Vision Mission to impact the lives of the children in health and education. This has been one of the most fulfilling experiences to watch the incredible gift of the volunteers, and teachers showing genuine sense of compassion and love. The team spent two days at the Ocho Rios Primary School, one day at the Oracabessa High School and Free Hill Primary School. In 4 days, the team provided 1, 505 eye exams, 293 glasses were dispensed in addition to 17 referrals at no cost.
Celebrating our 10th Year Anniversary! Thank you to all of our partners, volunteers and friends for your support!
View “Celebrating 10 Years of Giving Back” commemorative online brochure on the Jamaica Gleaner Website
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