Own

Published by The National Herald, March 4, 2005

Columbia's Hellenic Students Help Their Own

NEW YORK – More than $11,000 were raised during a classical music concert on February 10 to benefit ailing Columbia University student George Pappas, who is currently suffering serious complications after a recent kidney transplant.

More than $30,000 have been raised to date, and the money will be used to help fund Mr. Pappas’ treatment. As the National Herald reported this past November, Mr. Pappas received a kidney from donor Chrysoula Zikopoulos of Astoria last September, after his own failed due to eight years of extensive chemotherapy and radiation.

After medical efforts in Greece had failed, Pappas, 28, a student of Experimental Psychology at Columbia’s School of General Studies, first came to the United States in 1992 in search of treatment for a form of cancer so rare, his was only 43rd documented case. His medical insurance was terminated at the end of 2004, however, after reaching the million-dollar ceiling.

Mr. Pappas has been in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital since Christmas. Once he is released, he will need to continue taking medication which, as his friends and family informed the Herald, costs an estimated $5-7 thousand a month.

The recent fundraising concert, "Some Notes on Compassion: An Evening of Inspiration and Hope," was held at the Barnard College campus of Columbia University in Manhattan, and was jointly organized by Columbia University’s Hellenic Association; the University’s Hellenic Studies Program; the Greek American Undergraduate Association of Columbia, HELLAS; the Hellenic Students Association of New York University; and the philanthropic foundation, Hope For Life.

At the concert, young Greek and non-Greek musicians offered their time and talent without compensation, playing to a full house of more than 200 people, many of them standing in the corridors. Mr. Pappas was not able to attend the event, but he was represented by his mother Amalia, who fought hard to hold back her tears, bravely keeping her chin up during many remarks from the event’s speakers.

The event’s musicians, all of them students from prestigious New York music schools, featured Nikolaos Laaris (piano); Regi Papa (violin); Giannis Rammos (piano); Lina Tsaklanganos (viola); Vassilis Varvaresos (piano); Vanya Visnjic (violin); and Cesar Reyes (piano).

Among the event’s speakers were Greek Consul General in New York Catherine Boura; Stanley Matthews, founder of the Greek Children’s Fund; Assistant Dean of Students at the School of General Studies of Columbia, Paola Scarpellini-Crotts; Theodora Ziongas, Executive Director of the Children’s Blood Foundation; Mrs. Zikopoulos; Kalli Kofinas, president of the Greek American Undergraduate Association of Columbia; Mr. Pappas’ close friend, John Yazzo; and Columbia Hellenic Association President Isidora Avgerinopoulou.

"The hall is filled with love and humanity," Mrs. Zikopoulos said after the event. "George has a great heart, ethos and spirit. He is a Lazarus in the sense that he has been resurrected many times. He loves life and needs help from all of us," she said.

"We all experienced a sense of catharsis at the concert," one of the event’s organizers, Mache Mouzakis, a Columbia law student and close friend of Mr. Pappas, told the Herald.
$100,000 NEEDED

"The program was like a Carnegie Hall concert and better. The musicians, who volunteered to play as a show of support to George, played like angels," she said, adding that while the Greek American community has supported to the effort, "a lot of prominent members have disappointed us. We were discouraged because the money that George needs to continue his therapy adds up to a very large sum. But at the concert, we regained a sense of encouragement to continue our efforts. We hope to raise $100,000."

Ms. Mouzakis had spoken a little earlier at the concert about Mr. Pappas’ "strength, courage and perseverance," assuring Mrs. Pappas that neither she nor her son were alone in their struggle.

"In 1992, after doctors in Greece concluded that his condition was without a cure, George came to the United States in search of hope in the form of cancer treatment. For over eight years, he lived in the Ronald McDonald house. In his eight-year battle with cancer, his strength and endurance never faltered, and they brought him a miraculous recovery. After years of intensive chemotherapy and radiation, however, he suffered total kidney failure. In 2002, both of his kidneys were removed. For almost two years, he underwent dialysis 3-4 times a week, and after a devastating and fruitless search for a kidney donor, George found before him an angel on Earth – Chrysoula Zikopoulou, who performed the most altruistic act I’ve ever heard of by donating her kidney to George – a kidney that matched beautifully. This past September, George underwent an exceedingly difficult transplant. Although initial signs were promising, he is currently experiencing serious complications. He has been in the hospital for the past two months. His father, Achillea, struggles to keep the family afloat, working long hours in Greece, and his mother, Amalia – one of the kindest, gentlest, most dignified women I have ever met – struggles daily to comfort her son in the hospital, sleeping and waking on a hospital chair, because she loves her son too much to leave him and go home. We refuse to let them struggle alone," Miss Mouzakis said.

"You see, talking to George, one gets the sense that he is just a little bit wiser; that his worldview is just a little more developed than the rest of ours. He and I have talked for hours, and so thought-provoking were his words, that I admired him for his maturity and his depth of thought. In the same conversation, he would explain why he had severed ties with people from his past, for example, from the Ronald McDonald House, because so many of the friends he had met there had died; he felt guilty for having survived; he felt tired of always having to say goodbye. Yet in the same breath, he would speak of his dreams: to earn his doctorate, to continue studying experimental psychology and more specifically, brain function. After 13 years of suffering, of boundless courage and bitter disappointments, George studied passionately, and he still dreams of his academic future. Never have I met a person that has suffered so much pain; nor have I ever met anyone who has endured the pain with such pride and such grace. George is the person who suffers quietly; who refuses to trouble others with his problems. Before I met George and Amalia, I had never met anyone that needed so much, and yet asked for so little," she added.

"When Andreas Constantinides, the Vice President of our Hellenic Association here at Columbia, and I first decided to organize a fundraiser for George, we didn’t know what kind of reaction to expect from our board – from our classmates. We were completely overwhelmed as we watched our classmates mobilize. They neglected their studies and worked late into the night to prepare for the fundraiser; they walked in the bitter cold in order to knock on countless doors to ask for contributions. Those doors were not always open to us; asking for money in New York is not easy. You have to have nerves of steel and so much patience – kind of like the patience that George has," she said.

"You see, George’s remarkable perseverance has touched us all, and has inspired us to join him in his battle to survive – to continue hoping. Tonight, we ask you, in turn, to join us. As we are still students, we can not reach our goals alone. No one should have to wage such a battle alone when they could have a community such as ours backing them." Miss Mouzakis said.

"I haven’t shared with you yet George’s most admirable goal: he wishes to write a book; on many occasions, George would look at me and say ‘you can’t imagine the things I’ve seen. I want to write. I know I could give strength to thousands if I’m able to write this book.’ I’m hoping that today we can give George a bit of strength… that we can help make his path a bit easier," she said.

"We turned to our University, particularly the School of General Studies, which has supported George more than I ever dreamed an academic institution could. As the Hellenic Association, we also turned to the Greek Community, a closely-knit community known for its warmth and compassion. Greek Americans have recognized extraordinary success in every field imaginable – ranging from the fields of medicine and law to the business and financial sectors. We own some of the finest restaurants in the United States. We build, we research, we teach, we dance, we weave melodies. But our success must also be measured by our commitment to compassion, and by our determination to retain a level of humanity in all our endeavors," she added.

In response to Miss Mouzakis’ moving comments, Mrs. Pappas said that, thanks to the support of so many people, she has never felt alone in New York. Her son’s medical expenses are an "enormous obstacle," she added. "I sit by his bedside day and night. He has become so weak," Mrs. Pappas had told the Herald weeks ago over the phone trying to withhold a sob. "I am so moved by all this support, from my son’s fellow students and the Greek community overall. I wish everyone health above all." Mrs. Pappas’ husband lives in Athens with their other son, Stavros, 19, also a student.

Hope For Life President Irene Drakopoulos, who assisted the Pappas family last year in finding a kidney donor, said that, while the circumstances appear to be grim, "God is great, and He will help George. We have done what we could so far, and will continue to do what we can as long as it takes. Everyone loves him because he deserves our love. The community will continue doing its duty for him," she said, inviting Greek Americans to make donations for George’s fund.

In the past few weeks, George’s condition has dramatically improved, according to Mr. Constantinides: "It is as if George has responded to the warmth and compassion of so many with renewed energy and strength. When we told him about the success of the fundraiser, his reaction was that of astonishment and immense gratitude. He grows stronger with each passing day, and doctors are optimistic. We hope the community will continue to support us so that we may reach our goal of raising $100,000."

For those who would like to make a donation, checks may be sent to Hope For Life, P.O. Box #6156, LIC, NY 11106-0156. An account, Friends of George Pappas (#07059574) has been opened for George Pappas at Atlantic Bank. All donations are tax deductible. The Hellenic Students of Columbia University are planning another benefit for Mr. Pappas within a few weeks.



Volume 7 Number 10 - Tuesday, March 8th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY