Thursday, April 19, 2001
About 8,000 area children have severe respiratory problems, a doctor said.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Little coughs came from the front of the room. Nearby sat a laundry basket full of medicines.
All the coughs and bottles concerned the eight children with serious breathing problems who looked on as Lareane Rue pleaded for help.
Rue is mother to four of the children. She asked city council members Wednesday for help toward restoring local health services needed by her kids and others.
Forum Health Tod Children's Hospital brought in a specialist in 1998 who was available whenever children needed help.
Discontinued program: The hospital recently discontinued the program, however, because of money, Rue said.
Forum still offers services to the children through links with a Cleveland hospital, but Rue says that's not good enough.
Local children shouldn't have to travel to Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Akron for urgent treatment or have to stay in out-of-town hospitals, she argued.
"We need these services right in our Valley," Rue said.
She and other parents are trying to form a local pediatric respiratory care foundation, as other areas have.
Forum officials could not be reached immediately, but Dr. Barry Cohen, who worked with the program until it ended, said about 8,000 area children have severe respiratory problems.
Cited a need: There clearly is a need for such a program so children can get all the services they need in one place, he said, adding there needs to be a charitable organization involved to make it work financially.
Dr. Cohen estimated $500,000 to $700,000 is needed to start such a foundation.
Mayor George M. McKelvey suggested the parents seek help from local charitable foundations.