Towanda native creates drive to help Ethiopian children 

Towanda resident and Misericordia University nursing student Kayla Zechman is beginning a fundraising drive for Doctor Rick Hodes, an American who over 20 years ago moved to Ethiopia to help treat children with various medical conditions.
Zechman, along with fellow student Ashley Allen of Milford, was inspired to help after being introduced to Dr. Hodes' philanthropy by Misericordia nursing professor Kathy Gelso.
Zechman also drew inspiration from reading "This is a Soul: The Mission of Rick Hodes" by Marilyn Berger, a biography of Hodes' good deeds.
"I read the book about him and was shocked at how much good he does over there," Zechman said. "There are so many kids that are dying that walk to him because everyone in Ethiopia knows he will help them."
One of the main focuses of Hodes' is to help patients with severe spinal diseases such as tuberculosis and scoliosis. He was the subject of the HBO documentary "Keeping the Crooked Straight."
In addition to helping patients with spinal problems, Hodes also works with children suffering from heart disease, and cancer.
According to Zechman, he also has adopted 15 children who live with him in Ethiopia so that they could be covered on his medical insurance.
Even though Zechman knows the amount of money raised will be a small amount compared to the out of pocket expenses Hodes faces, she is very confident it will help many children.
"The cost of healthcare over there is extremely cheap. It only costs about $1,000 to treat a child for cancer," she said.
Hodes sacrifices better pay to help more needy children, according to Zechman.
"The pay he receives is miniscule in comparison to what he would make practicing in the U.S.," she said.
His only source of monetary funding is through donations and his own income.
Zechman is a nursing assistant on the medical surgical floor at Memorial Hospital on weekends and holidays when she is not attending classes. She has lived in Towanda her whole life and graduated third in her 2010 class at Athens High School. Zechman is also a member of the Towanda First United Methodist Church. Zechman is currently a junior in the nursing class of 2014.
Since reading his biography, Zechman remains in contact with Hodes by e-mail, who has been notified of her donation drive intentions.
All money donated will be sent directly to Hodes' medical account, which will then be used for the sole purpose of fulfilling the medical needs of children.