• January 25, 2005: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Safety and Security of Volunteers: Malaria: Sonoma News: Zambia PCV Joseph Cohn returns home to continue his recuperation from a difficult battle with malaria  Friday, January 28, 2005 - 8:35 pm [1]

• January 11, 2005: Headlines: COS - Zambia: Safety and Security of Volunteers: Malaria: Sonoma News: Zambia PCV Joseph Cohn is making a strong comeback after his body was ravaged by malaria  Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 1:32 pm [2]

Zambia Peace Corps Volunteer Joe Cohn ill with malaria



Zambia Peace Corps Volunteer Joe Cohn ill with malaria

Joe Cohn ill with malaria

JOSEPH COHN

12.24.04 - Sonoma Valley winery owner Bruce Cohn is in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where his son Joseph, 27, is in an intensive-care unit, battling the ravaging effects of a bout of malaria.

Joe Cohn grew up in the Sonoma Valley and, primarily, in Santa Rosa. A graduate of Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, in June he earned his bachelor's degree in international affairs from the University of California at Los Angeles. Joe then entered the Peace Corps. According to his father, Bruce, after his stint in the Peace Corps Joe intended to return to UCLA to earn a master's degree in international affairs.

Joe was stationed in northern Zambia, working with a village of people. On Nov. 22 he arrived in Florida to spend Thanksgiving with family members, including his father, Bruce, and his brother, Dan.

On the day after Thanksgiving, Joe, Dan and Bruce flew down to Costa Rica for a fishing trip. Two days later Joe fell ill was what was first thought to be flu.

"They diagnosed it (as malaria) on Dec. 2 and hospitalized him, in San Jose, Costa Rica," Bruce said. "This is a strain of malaria that is deadly. It has killed over 2 million people a year in Africa."

His mother, Susan Cohn, flew down to Costa Rica to be with her son. After two weeks in a medically induced coma in intensive care in Costa Rica, Joe was considered stabilized enough to be transferred to the United States.

Joe, his parents and his brother were on a flight to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, but during a point-of-entry customs stop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., it was found that Joe was bleeding internally.

He was taken to the Cleveland Clinic near Fort Lauderdale, where he remains in critical condition.

"I've never seen more tubes in one individual," Bruce said. "It's been a nightmare. We're doing shifts (to stay by his bedside)."

Although Joe is in critical condition, he appears to be stabilizing, Bruce said.

"We're just hoping that he's strong enough to pull through," Bruce added. "He's young. The doctor said 'guarded optimism.' ... We're hoping to get him back to California by the first of the year, if we can, for further treatments."

Bruce said that cards or notes for Joe or his family can be sent to B.R. Cohn Winery, 15000 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, CA 95442.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

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December 18, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV remembers Deborah Gardner's murder in Tonga 17 Dec Maoist insurgents in Nepal release Swiss aid worker 17 Dec RPCV Alison Williams exhibits portraits of Malian people 16 Dec Former Brazil Medical Director convicted of drug charges 16 Dec RPCV Joseph Opala researched slave trade in RI 15 Dec Vasquez sees resurgent interest in PC 14 Dec Senator who wanted duel with RPCV joins Fox 14 Dec NPCA planning National Day of Action for PC funding 13 Dec RPCV "Harry" Chandler votes in Electoral College 13 Dec Critic says Moyers delivered neo-Marxist propaganda 13 Dec Micronesia RPCV Walter Cavanagh has 1,496 credit cards 13 Dec PC "Survivor" Julie Berry headed for California 11 Dec more top stories...

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Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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