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Libertyville dentist and her staff heading to Kenya on mission trip to help orphans

As a local dentist, Meagan Heilman regularly helps children with their dental hygiene, but it's not every day she gets to have the same impact on children half a world away.

In October, she'll get to do just that.

Heilman and two fellow staff members from Park Avenue Dental Professionals in Libertyville will travel with other dentists and a father-daughter team to Kenya, where they will help about 100 orphans with their dental care.

In all, 10 people will participate in the mission trip through Oasis for Orphans, a nonprofit organization formed in northern Illinois a decade ago to help orphans in Nairobi. This will be the 11th group representing Oasis for Orphans to travel to Africa this year.

"I'm getting goose bumps. It finally feels real," Heilman said.

Heilman said the children's pastor at her church - The Chapel's Libertyville campus - approached her and asked if she'd ever thought of going on a dental-focused mission trip. She said she had thought about it, and noted she'd dreamed of going on such a trip her entire career.

She started forming the group in January, securing a husband-and-wife team and a couple of their staff members. Dental hygienist Kim Foster and dental assistant Judy Scharringhausen, who work with Heilman at Park Avenue Dental Professionals, also jumped on board. Soon, 10 people committed to the trip, with each paying $4,000 to do so. They also need to bring dental supplies.

Heilman, Foster and Scharringhausen initially sent letters to friends and family seeking donations. Scharringhausen organized a Kenya Market, where she, Heilman and Foster held a rummage sale and hosted vendors. They are also planning a wine and cheese fundraiser with friends, and they've set out a donation jar at their dental office.

People who would like to donate money or help provide dental supplies should contact Park Avenue Dental Professionals at (847) 918-1255.

The team will travel to Kenya for two weeks starting Oct. 19.

"Everybody I've ever known who's gone on a mission trip has talked about how much it's changed them forever," said Heilman, who added she's eager to help the orphans, most of whom have never had any dental care.

"I want to show them love and compassion and just learn from them.

"I'm fully expecting to be changed," Heilman added.

She also plans to visit a slum where the children live.

"I'm nervous, but I want to see it," she said.

Though her parents are nervous about security issues, Heilman knows the trip's organizers wouldn't put the team in harm's way.

Foster said she has always wanted to go on a mission trip that would utilize her skills.

"I am excited to be able to use my dental hygienist skills and be available to help the kids," she said.

She acknowledges there will be challenges, and there is a level of anxiety over the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa, but it hasn't occurred near the area they'll be visiting.

Mostly, like Heilman, she is looking forward to seeing how the children will change her.

"I would hope to make a difference, but I hope they change me," Foster said. "Seeing them is going to be more of a blessing to me than what I'll do for them."

To close out their trip, the team plans to go on a safari.

  Dentist Meagan Heilman, center, of Park Avenue Dental Professionals in Libertyville and her two staff members, Kim Foster of Libertyville, left, and Judy Scharringhausen of Wauconda, will go on a two-week dental mission to Kenya with a group called Oasis for Orphans. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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