The Survivor Newsletter: Winter 2001

A few words from the Editor ...

Dear Members

As we approach Christmas, I would like to wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas, and a positive year ahead. Many things have happened since our last newsletter, the saddest of which was the death of one of our Board members, Fr. Paddy Lewis (See Obituary Page 5 ).

The Regional Meetings were very successful, and a summary of what went on at the meetings around the country may be seen on Page 16.

We have two very interesting articles for you, “Counselling and Psychotherapy - what is it anyway?” (Page 6), and “The Crippling History of the Poliomyelitis Virus” (Page 9).

We have an account of the Fund-Raising Breakfast, which took place recently in Dublin - a very successful occasion by all accounts! (Report on Page 14).

I have good Christmas news, our Administrator, Aisling, is expecting a baby, and I am sure that you all join with me in wishing her every good luck with the coming ‘event’. She will be on maternity leave from February, and our new office assistant will be taking your calls to the Post Polio Support Group office for the moment..

We had an ‘unwelcome’ visitor to our computer system recently - a computer virus which did a lot of damage. We always think that computer viruses are something that happens to someone else, or maybe it’s that we feel that we have overcome another sort of virus, and that’s enough for us! However, Jim has all his computer experts working on the problem, and hopefully it will be sorted out soon.

That’s all for now - happy reading and happy Christmas.

Paula Lahiff - Editor

From the Chairperson ...

Since our last newsletter, sadly Fr. Paddy Lewis, who has been a Board member since just after we were formed, died in Tallagh Hospital after a short illness. Many of you may have read about him in the newspapers at that time. An obituary is included in this newsletter. Fr. Paddy will be sadly missed by us all, particularly my fellow Board members. His tall imposing figure as he sat upright in his electric wheelchair at the end of the table always seemed to enhance our meetings. His contributions were always most helpful and he diligently kept us to the agenda and on the right track. May he rest in peace.

At our recent Board meeting the Area Awareness meetings were discussed. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to all our regional representatives for their work in making these meetings so successful. Following these meetings, our overall membership has increased by around 15% to in excess of 400. Early next year, the Board will review the position as to when these meetings will be repeated.

We have engaged the services of a consultant to act as Project Co-ordinator to manage our planned Survey. Because of the pressure of other Group work, the planning for this project has been slightly delayed. It is presently envisaged that we will carry out a pilot survey over the coming 2/3 months. This is being done in order to make sure that our final survey form works efficiently and gives us the results we require. Our aim with this survey is to ensure that we can tailor our Groups future services to meet the needs of all Polio Survivors in Ireland.

Regarding the National Physical & Sensory Disability Database, we will be writing shortly to all our Polio survivor members and asking them if they are agreeable to us providing their Name, Address, Tel. No., Date of Birth and Type of Disability (i.e. Polio survivor) details to their local Health Board. Our Groups position is that we are "very supportive" of the creation of this Data base, as one important result should be that it will greatly assist in highlighting the need for substantially increased Government funding to the Physical & Sensory disability sector.

The design of our new General Information leaflet is nearing completion and it will then be printed. Hopefully this will be available early in the New Year and it will contain a detachable membership form. We now have a CE (Community Employment Scheme) worker assisting Aisling in our Head Office, and they will be working from 9.30 am. to 1.30 pm. Mon. to Fri. (finishes Friday at 1.00 pm). We also now have our own office in the Carmichael Centre, which will certainly ease our pressure on space, prior to this we were sharing a room with eight other Group's.

Post Polio Syndrome was on the agenda at the EU Council of Health Ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, 15 November. Prior to this we had written to Micheál Martin, our Minister for Health about this matter. This was a very significant step in creating awareness throughout Europe regarding the problems facing Polio Survivors. We have our counterpart Group in Belgium to thank for this. Their Chairperson met recently with their Health Minister who is presently presiding over the Council.

On behalf of our Board may I wish all our members, their families and our friends a Very Happy, Peaceful and Healthy Christmas.

Jim.

Obituary

Fr. Patrick Joseph Lewis C.S.Sp.

Paddy was born in Sandymount, Dublin City on 18th July 1935. He did his secondary school studies at Blackrock College. His First Profession was on 26th October 1954. Following his Noviciate he studied philosophy at Kimmage Manor (1954-55). In 1955 he was stricken with polio and was hospitalised until 1960. During 1961 he convalesced at Kimmage Manor. He was ordained to the Priesthood on 19th December 1964. Father Paddy made his Consecration to the Apostolate on 3rd July 1965.

Having studies for 1st Year Commerce at UCD in 1954-55, Paddy returned to UCD and was awarded the degree of B. Soc. Sc in 1967. During 1967 he spent some time in Nairobi, Kenya and then returned to join the staff at the Scholasticate in Kimmage Manor. He taught sociology from 1967 until 1974. During this time, in summer 1972, he went on a round world trip.

In 1974 he went to the United States and was awarded an MA in Social Work from the University of St. Louis, Missouri. From 1976 to 1981 he worked with Catholic Charities in St., Louis and was also an assistant Chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital.

In 1981, Father Paddy was appointed to the San Francisco Regional Community. He was appointed Vicar for people with special needs. He played a leading part in organising for people with special needs to attend the papal mass in Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Up to 1992 he continued to be prominent in Catholic Charities and made arrangements for wheelchair access to churches and other buildings in the Archdiocese.

He was chairperson of the Irish Wheelchair Association, and joined the committee of the Post Polio Support Group in 1994. The Spiritian Community generously allowed the Post Polio Support Group Committee to hold their monthly meetings in Kimmage Manor, where Fr. Paddy gave us the benefit of his wide experience, and played an active role in committee affairs. He will be missed.

COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

What is it anyway?

By: Therese O’Driscoll -qualified psychotherapist

Those who have lived with polio all their lives, and may now be living with post polio syndrome, can benefit from the process of psychotherapy. By creating a safe environment where one’s experience around a disability such as polio can be safely expressed and integrated, a person may come to a feeling of greater fullness of life. This does not imply that the polio has been cured or that the everyday challenges surrounding polio do not continue, but that life is experienced more fully, with a greater sense of realness and acceptance of one’s strengths and limitations.

Each person is unique and holds within themselves the known (the details of their life’s story) and unknown (mystery) of their being. This information is stored within our bodies, yet we are more than our physical beings. We are also emotional, spiritual and intellectual beings, holding within ourselves a deep centre, the place of truth about who we are. Connection with this deep centre, awareness of our truth, gives us freedom to become more fully who we are, to live life more fully, to experience joy and to recognise our own goodness, vitality and courage. Yet the reality is we often do not experience the fullness of life, rather we experience life as struggle, as fight, as darkness, as weariness, as pain and as hurt. We are ‘wounded’ beings.

What has happened to cause this experience of being wounded? Life brings many challenges from the moment of conception through to our birth, childhood, adult life and right up in to old age. We respond to situations, develop ways of coping and pick up patterns of living which can become habits. These patters and habits may not necessarily allow us to fully express who we are. We somehow know there is more to us and our lives.

In our life, we may have experienced the fear of not being accepted, loved or allowed to be who we are. Perhaps there was the fear of being judged, accused, diminished or denied. This may stunt our experience of life. Whatever happened, our ‘felt’ experience of a given moment lives on within our bodies and will seek expression in some shape or form. Our emotions, thoughts and intuitions are experiences which cannot be deadened but will be held within the body. They are alive, waiting to be accepted, waiting to be allowed expression, waiting to be given life. To bury feelings, to repress emotion is to try to bury the living. Sooner of later the life will burst forth! If this is not expressed safely, it will emerge as fatigue (enormous energy is spent keeping feelings buried), depression, disease or even death by suicide.

How can we access these busied experiences which are in our bodies and our mind? This is where counselling and psychotherapy can come in. Because our ‘woundedness’ occurs as a result of some failure in relationships in our past, healing must therefore come about through relationship. Counselling and psychotherapy is based on the establishment and development of a healing relationship, which has as its cornerstone, trust, acceptance and non-judgemental respect. It is often considered necessary and helpful for those who have suffered a trauma such as sexual abuse or loss and/or are experiencing depression, anxiety or relationship difficulties of some sort.

However, counselling or psychotherapy is supportive for anyone who wishes to live the fullness of life rather than merely going through the motions of life or constantly feeling as though they are ‘trying’. We are human beings, not human doers or tryers.

Over time, as the healing relationship develops and the person seeking help has spoken of their difficulties, fear begins to be dissolved. Slowly, insights may occur as a result of the conversations between counsellor and the person. But the most powerful and liberating work begins when the person feels free to explore that which remained repressed and buried. S/he may tell of some experience which they have never revealed to another human being. Often though, it is the body which will reveal the truth, and the person will access his/her experience through movement of some form; crying, laughing, shaking or shouting. What was once cut off in some way has now been experienced and received without judgement. Energy can now flow freely, tiredness is eased and the person feels more whole, having integrated, rather than cut off, the repressed emotion. What was held on to has now been freed up, allowed expressing and the person can finally begin the process of letting the buried experiences by heard, let go of, and moved on from. Healing has begun.

References:

BYRNE, Monica. Freedom to be. Inside Out Journal. Autumn 1998.
LEWIS HERMANN, Judith. Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books 1992.

Bio:

Therese O’Driscoll is a counsellor and psychotherapist currently practicing and living in Sligo. She can be contacted at 087 271 2000.

For a comprehensive list of psychotherapists in Ireland, contact the Irish Association of Humanism and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP), 44 Northumberland Ave., Dun Laoghaire, Tel: 01 2841665

SUBSCRIPTIONS GO EURO

This year, we will not be collecting the annual subscription until February, so that the work-load for the treasurer can be spread out somewhat.

As you know, 2002 will be the introduction of the Euro, which will also affect our membership subscriptions. For 2002, the subscription will be at the members discretion - you may pay €5 which is equal to £3.94, or you may pay €10, which is equal to £7.89. A new membership subscription rate will be introduced in 2003.

We will enclose self-addressed envelope for subscriptions with our next mail-shot.

THE CRIPPLING HISTORY OF THE POLIOMYELITIS VIRUS

Dr. Patrick Treacy looks at the poliomyelitis virus—the most feared disease on the planet by the time of the Great Depression.

Article first published in the Irish Medical News of 19 November 2001.Reprinted with the kind permission of Dr. Patrick Treacy, and the Irish Medical News

I am poliomyelitis virus, and I have inhabited this planet for many more years than I care to remember. I was there with the ancient Egyptians long before Menes United the two kingdoms of Lower and Upper Egypt in 3100BC. In fact, the findings of misshapen bones of some mummies show I was already celebrating my 600th birthday before his unification party.

You know, I followed the Badarian south to Abydos in Upper Egypt, helping them with the copper-smelting, even supervising them building their houses of mud-brick and thatch. But enough of that, suffice to say, I must have liked the sunsets over the Nile, because I was still there if you look at the stone relief of 1500 BC -those poor priests with their atrophied short legs, their muscle-wasting, their crippled bone-growth.

Just look a little closer at the artefacts on show the next time you are down near that old sandy museum in Maydan El Tahrir, Cairo, and you will probably see my calling cards.

Anyway, I decided I needed a Greek holiday and arrived on the island of Kos. It was just about the beginning of the fourth century. Well, who did I run into but the great Hippocrates himself, and he even mentioned me under the title of ‘infant paralysis’ in his latest book The Hippocratic Corpus. OK, it wasn’t exactly a best seller, but with Plato, Philolaus and that newcomer Lysis of Epaminondas all trying to make the Christmas list, well he had some still opposition, you know. By the way, my name is Greek - polios (gray), myel (marrow) and itis (inflammation).

And as the Roman Empire fell, and unwashed barbarians descended upon their cities, looting artefacts and burning books, I went with the Irish who took up the great labour of copying all of Western literature, and the Celtic physicians called me ‘the pestilence that is called lameness’.

For centuries I remained a mild disease, often ignored by physicians, until some bright spark abandoned the chamber pot for the modern flush toilet and unwittingly transformed me into a paralysing agent of epidemic proportion. The improvements in waste disposal and the widespread use of indoor plumbing during the late nineteenth century meant that babies were no longer exposed to me at a young age, and acquired no natural immunity.

Anyway, back to my tale. In 1916 I crossed the Atlantic and while poor Padraig Pearse was busy battling it out in the General Post Office, I checked out the new flushing toilets in New York! That summer, I befriended thousands of young children in the city and panic erupted as thousands of families fled from Manhattan. Talk about bio-terrorism at its best, the Department of Health quarantined the city and hundreds of families were turned back on Brooklyn Bridge.

By the end of the summer, 2,000 Manhattan children were dead, and I had paralysed 9,000 others. By the time of the Great Depression, I was the most feared disease known on the planet and everywhere there was sanitation there were people hobbling around on crutches, rolling about in wheelchairs, lying immobile in giant iron lungs - the legions of sufferers, not knowing what was causing their affliction. Things got so bad that President Franklin Roosevelt actually declared a war on me and eventually the tremendous resources of post-war America were brought to bear in trying to develop a vaccine against me.

However, the 1930s were years of great poverty, and medical advances were often rushed in an effort to stop my advances. In 1935, field trials for a new vaccine were tried by Maurice Brodie and John Kollmer. Brodie concocted his vaccine from an emulsion of the ground-up spinal cords of infected monkeys. He even attempted to deactivate me by exposing me to formalin and then he tried the concoction on 20 monkeys and 3,000 children. But, in the words of a historian of the period, “something went terribly wrong and his concoction was never used again”.

Kollmer then tried mixing me with various chemicals and putting me in a fridge for two weeks. The new ‘attenuated’ virus, he called me. Well, he tried out this veritable ‘witches’ brew’ on a few monkeys, himself, his children, and 22 others. He even started to distribute it to hundreds of physicians across the country, but after he was blamed for causing many cases of polio, some even fatal, he gave up the quest.

To be fair, Kollmer did manage to pick up the pieces and go on to a successful if not distinguished, research career. But poor old Brodie, he died shortly afterwards, but not before accepting a minor research position in Michigan. It is rumoured in many circles that he took his own life, but either way he was not around to see Jonas Salk having a little more success with the problem. True, Salk also dipped me in Formaldehyde, but he also heated me up in an effort to find my weak spot. You would have thought that after all those summers in Egypt and Greece, I would have been a bit more used to the heat, but like an American bomber with a Taliban in his sights, he knew that he had me on my back.

In 1952 he inoculated his wife and their three sons with his mixture and they all began producing antibodies to the disease, yet no-one became ill. The following year he published the results in the Journal of American Medical Association and nationwide testing was carried out.

By 1952, I had befriended over 57,628 cases, making it the worst year yet. His former mentor Thomas Francis Jr., who had helped him develop the influenza vaccine during the Second world War, decided that America should start mass vaccination of its schoolchildren.

In the early 1960s, I was on the run, and when Albert Sabin started to produce different oral versions of me, I decided to go into hiding. By 1964, approximately 100 million Americans had taken Sabin’s vaccine on sugar cubes or sweetened syrup. The fact it could be taken orally and kept in the refrigerator until administration time meant it was easy to administer in Third World countries such as Africa.

Soon, I was only a memory in most of the industrialised world, and the economic and social impact was incalculable - except for the makers of crutches, wheelchairs and iron lungs, who quickly went out of business or started work on drones that could be later used in Afghanistan.

More recently, the World Health Organisation took umbrage against me and said it would smoke me out and run me off the planet by 2005. In 1999, there were 7,141 cases world-wide and this had dropped to 3,500 in 2000 - a 99% decrease from the 350,000 annual cases estimated in 1988.

Last year, 550 million children under five years were immunised - and this included India, where 152 million children were vaccinated in three days. This keeps the campaign on tract for a world certified polio-free by 2005.

(And as we all know, it didn’t end there - Editor)

Email from Helena Edwards which may be of interest to Internet Buffs

“If you or any other Irish Polio Survivors are interested, we have a regular weekly chat at 8.00 p.m. on Saturdays on our web site http://www.post-poliouk.org Its easy to find and use, just click on ‘chat’. The regulars are myself, and Jim Mc Vay from Leics. and Hugh from Ireland. Other people tend to drop in with specific queries....we have a bit of a calliper fest going on at the moment, with specific reference to the Swing and Hugh’s modifications thereto (he’s an engineer). Please pass my best wishes on to all I met in ‘99, hope you are all well”.

RTE 1 PROGRAMME ON SLEEP APNOEA

The Health Show

The Health Show, which goes out on RTE 1 on Tuesday Nights at 7.30 p.m. did a most interesting show on Sleep Apnoea some weeks ago.

Many Polio Survivors suffer from Sleep Apnoea, which is a breathing disorder characterised by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. It owes its name to a Greek word “Apnoea” meaning “want of breath”. Apnoea sufferers rarely achieve deep sleep because they are constantly being pulled to near wakefulness by the condition. The consequences of such frequent interruptions of deep restorative sleep often leads to one feeling extremely tired during the day, it some cases it can be associated with early morning headaches.

Contact addresses are as follows:

RTE Website: http://www.rte.ie/tv/thehealthshow/8c.html

Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust: http://www.isat.ie Tel: 086 323 0667

Sleep Lab Unit, St. Vincent’s Hospital: Tel: 01 269 4533

(If you have any concerns regarding sleep problems, it is advisable to contact your physician—Ed).

INFORMATION FROM THE REVENUE COMMISSIONERS

Which may be of interest to some of our members

All people aged 70 and over, no longer have to pay the 2% Health Contribution regardless of whether or not they are actually in possession of a medical card.

Fund-raising..

Our group has commenced a fund-raising campaign which is to run until the end of the year 2002.

We aim to collect IR£150,000 (€190,500) which are needed for five specific projects:

Occupational therapy, in order that a survey can be carried out to quantify the needs of Polio Survivors;
Physiotherapy, to assist those unable to employ physiotherapists;
To cover the shortfall in local authority grants towards adapting houses;
Assistance towards the cost of home heating;
A research project set up in Beaumont Hospital into why all Polio Survivors do or do not suffer from Post Polio Syndrome.

We are a registered charity eligible for tax purposes, which makes it tax efficient for both donors and ourselves when we receive donations. If any member knows someone who might contribute to this fund, brochures and tax forms are available at the Post Polio Support Group office, Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick St., Dublin 7.

We had our first function on 22nd November when we organised a breakfast at the Radisson Hotel in Dublin. There were 55 people present and Jim Costello made an excellent speech, setting out the aims of our group. There was a brief auction, kindly conducted by John de Vere White, of three items donated by the K-Club, Paddy Power Bookmakers and the auctioneer himself. So far, the breakfast has raised almost £20,000 (€25,3950) and with further donations expected, we hope a considerably higher figure will be achieved.

We are entering next year in the Evening Herald Women’s Mini Marathon, which is on 3rd June, and we are looking for people who will participate and get sponsorship—please let us know if you, or a friend, would be willing to take part - it is a lot of fun and not too onerous. We are also planning a number of other events in the next 12 months throughout the country, and if anybody has any ideas which would help, please contact your area rep., or the Post Polio Support Group office.

Hugh Hamilton—Fund-raising Committee

Letters to The Editor

This was passed on to me by one of our Board members, Frank Prenton Jones, - thank you Frank!

A CREED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED

I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey …
I asked for health, that I might do great things
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things …
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise …
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God …
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things …
I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among men, most richly blessed!

ROY CAMPANELLA

Regional Round Up

The Regional Meetings were very warmly received in every Health Board area, and a big thank you is due to the Regional Reps who organised the meetings, to the various Post Polio Support Group Board Members and Aisling our administrator, who attended the meetings, to the different speakers who came and gave us information about entitlements, grants, Citizen’s Information Bureau, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and especially to all our members, old and new, and their families, who came and participated fully. A big thank you also to our Treasurer, Mary McEvoy, who handled all the finances (not an easy task) and to our able friends and relatives who helped in every way they could.

We were delighted to hear that the meetings resulted in a 15% increase in our membership, and everyone agreed that it was an opportunity to meet others and share experiences on ‘home ground’.

People were able to help each other on various topics such as disabled driving qualifications, invalidity pensions, where to get shoes made, where to get counselling, swimming pools with suitable access, and many other things. The Southern Health Board area members held a stress-management week-end, in St. Dominick's in Montenotte, with a talk on natural health medicine by a GP, and OT on organising home and work settings, and a refresher session with Fr. Louis Hughes on meditation/relaxation.

Members from the North Western and Western Health Board Areas would like to organise a long week-end break next Autumn, also along the stress-management theme. More about this at a later date.

May I wish a warm welcome to our new members, as this will be their first newsletter. Please feel free to contact us if you have a query on a point of information, or even if you just want a chat. All phone numbers are to be found on the last page of this newsletter.

Paula Lahiff—Regional Rep Co-ordinator

A Reminder from the Disabled Drivers’ Association:

Please return your tickets for the Annual Super Draw which will take place on Tuesday 18th December 2001.

THANK YOU

A MOTHER

By Joan Bradley

She grew with hope beyond compare, a future filled with normal care;
Marriage, home and was she not already promised, t’was her lot.
Then a vision clear and bright, an angel spoke, it was a sight.
Told her that though humble, mild, she would be mother of a child.
A son not born of man, he said, but by the power of God be made.
Such events would lift her heart, but sorrow too would play a part.
Who was she to answer no, it was God’s angel told her so.
It all took place as she was told, a child was born, the Son of God.
With many joys her heart was thrilled, how could sadness be her fill?
He grew a lovely son to all, she wondered how a son so tall would cause her grief. Yet at twelve she had felt a pang, a glimpse so brief
Of sorrow, when he left her side, on business that to her was wide of any hope she had for him. Would he rebel? The thought was grim. Something deep kept them apart. It sent an arrow through her heart. Still her confidence was sure, she asked his help and then endured rejection, for her thoughts were low, he was not ready yet to show his face. Yet she knew his power, his will to help the human race.
A healer, preacher he became until she felt she must restrain such
show of power to teach and heal. He didn’t even seem to feel
fatigue or hunger or need rest. He spurned her effort as a test
to turn him from his path of love, to serve his Father God above.
The path that meant though mother she, others be his family.
It hurt, but there was more to feel, a mothers’ care is always real.
One day she stood upon a hill and watched as he was mocked and slain crucified and left in pain, to die a death of utmost shame.
There she grieved and watched the scene until she clearly heard her name.
He called to loyal John nearby to take her home where she could cry
in peace. The end of this, her son, the final arrow, its work done!
For him and her the end of pain, when three days gone he rose again.
Her faith rejoiced in him anew. Her work was done and his was too.
Their part was played in that great plan of God to save the soul of man.
Now joys and sorrows always blend in the hearts of all until the end
of time, when earthy man will join, in songs of praise for God’s great plan.

FESTIVE MINCE PIES

Ingredients for all-in-one rich sweet pastry:

8 oz (225g) plain flour
2 oz (50g) icing sugar
5 oz (150g) soft margarine

{I egg yolk}
{1 tablespoon ice-cold water} BEATEN TOGETHER
{1/2 teaspoon lemon juice}

Filling: 12 oz/350g mincemeat

Pre-heat to Gas Mark 6, Elec. 400ºF/200ºC.

To make pastry:

1. Sieve flour and icing sugar together
2. Place half the flour mixture in a mixing bowl together with the margarine and beaten egg mixture
3. Cream with a fork until well mixed
4. Add the remaining flour and mix to a firm dough
5. Knead lightly until smooth. Place in a polythene bag or wrap in cling film and leave in fridge for 1 hour.

To cook mince pies:

6. Have ready 12 un-greased non-stick tartlet tins
7. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry thinly on a lightly floured table
8. Cut into rounds with a fluted cutter, a little larger than the tins
9. Line the tins with these rounds sealing to the tins with the fingers. Place one heaped teaspoon of mincemeat in each
10. Roll out remaining pastry and cut into rounds with a slightly small cutter to fit the tops
11. Brush round the pastry edges of the mincemeat tarts with water and place the smaller rounds on top, seal with the fingers
12. Mark two little slits in the centre
13. Lightly beat the left-over egg white with a fork, brush over the pies and sprinkle with caster sugar.
14. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes. Serve hot or cold.