The Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation

April 3, 2003
Associated Press

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By Michael Lasalandra
Boston Herald, March 3, 2003

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By Emily Collins

Countless lives are being saved every day by the interventions of lay missionaries of all faiths and backgrounds who visit the earth’s poorest areas and lend their hearts and hands to people and situations that most of us would consider too difficult or hostile to approach. These are special people who view their missionary roles as a fundamental way of life. This world owes them its deepest gratitude. One of these people, Emily Collins of Concord Mass., is especially close to the Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation. Emily is a trained social worker who advocates for impoverished families locally. Her husband, Tom, is a pediatrician in private practice and also with Concord Academy. They have six children, two grandchildren and many foster children. They are active members of their church where they receive spiritual and financial support for their mission work. Driven by their desire to help people, Emily and Tom began traveling to Honduras in 2001. The fruits of their labors have had, and will continue to have strong positive effects on the lives of many. Here, Emily’s own words can tell you so much more.

They are no longer just faces in the news…they have become our neighbors, our friends, our godchildren. Our journey to Honduras began in 2001, born of the desire to help others. Little did we know then the impact it would have on our own lives. (more…)

By A. Raymond Tye

Our Foundation has one major objective, and that is to help people who have life-threatening illnesses and no financial means via insurance or personal resources to pay for the medical attention needed to save or prolong their lives.

In order to maximize the use of our own funds, we must carefully negotiate with hospitals and doctors to procure the absolutely finest treatment for the patient at the minimum of cost to us. All of the negotiations must be carried out with great awareness that patient care is not jeopardized in favor of dollars saved.

This sometimes necessitates pitting one qualified hospital against another, and one doctor or medical team against another in our determination to reduce, where possible, the cost of each and every procedure we undertake to support. In today’s medical arena, hospitals tend to be quite competitive with each other for cases available.

Additionally, the positive public relations they gain by taking on high profile, difficult cases is a highly valuable asset to hospitals. The Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation is able to attract media attention to the hospital, and this is a great asset in our ability to negotiate. (more…)

By Brian Cohen, M.D.

Dr. Cohen is a member of the Foundation’s Advisory Board.  He has been extremely helpful in evaluating cases, especially those from other countries, and determining the best treatment plan for each patient.  He has also found the appropriate doctors and surgeons for these cases, who have often provided their services at no cost.

I have had the privilege of being involved with The Ray Tye Medical Aid Foundation from its earliest planning stages.  It has been gratifying seeing the Foundation grow into a thriving charitable organization that is helping people worldwide.  I have been involved in coordinating the care for a number of young people from abroad who have medical problems requiring expertise beyond what can be found in their native lands. (more…)