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It may not be everyone's idea of an ideal vacation, but for Dr. Daniel Kreager of Warsaw Family Dentistry, rest and relaxation isn't on the itinerary for 10 days in Bosnia.
"Last October, I went to a retreat in Medjugorje to see the appearance of the blessed virgin Mary," he said. "While there, I saw they had a lot of refugees there and they needed our help.
"They already have a clinic built, they just need people to staff it," Kreager added.
So, working with Sandi Tobin of Clearwater, Fla., and Dr. Barry Sherman of Pennsylvania, who have constructed a dental clinic in Mostar, Bosnia, Kreager is going to donate his time to help the victims of the ethnic strife in that region.
He and dental assistant Jodi Garver will make the 30-hour trip to Bosnia, as will his son, Ryan, who will get community service credit from his school for making the trip. They will be catching up with the four suitcases full of supplies that have already been sent to Mostar.
"We've found that if we box the supplies up, the airlines will charge us thousands of dollars in freight," Kreager said. "So, we find volunteers to take over the supplies packed in suitcases and it doesn't cost us anything."
Those supplies, - compounds for fillings, anesthetics and antibiotics, and other dental instruments - are in short supply in Bosnia, Kreager said. It was important that those things be in place before the arrival of the doctors.
"When I was over there last October, we visited both the state-run clinic and a private clinic," he said. "The state clinic was very poorly stocked and the private one wasn't much better. The were using temporary cement to do their fillings."
Kreager also offered high praise for Warsaw-area dentists and businesses for their generosity in helping the cause.
"The community has been very supportive and helpful - donating supplies and money," he said. "Gene Zale, of Zale's Drugs, donated a large amount of liquid antibiotic for the children. Dr. Mike Duch donated a full case of anesthetic."
As for going into a region experiencing so much turmoil, Kreager said, he isn't concerned for the safety of himself, his son or Garver.
"My wife is really very concerned about us going into a war-torn area. The bus ride will get us pretty close to Montenegro. But, all the action from the current NATO action should stay well south and east of where we'll be.
"I'm confident that we will be able to do what we're going there to do - get people out of their pain," he said.
Kreager's itinerary has them leaving Chicago May 13 and returning May 24.
