fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Musicians pitch in with benefit concerts to help singer Ingrid Sertso

by Violet Snow
April 1, 2016
in Art & Music, Community, Entertainment
0
Ingrid Sertso (Dion Ogust | Almanac Weekly)
Ingrid Sertso (Dion Ogust | Almanac Weekly)

For years, we’ve been hearing warnings that overuse of antibiotics could lead to a crisis of mutated microbes that fail to respond to the usual drugs. And now MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is here, and the staph infection is prevalent in the places where the most antibiotics are in use: our hospitals and nursing homes.

When leaders of the world’s major industrial nations met at the G7 summit in Germany this June, one of the issues discussed was the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant infections. Scientific academies of the seven countries issued statements that recommended boosting research on treatment options and raising public awareness about the problem.

Singer Ingrid Sertso of Woodstock, co-founder of Creative Music Studio, now has awareness of MRSA from personal experience. Her story of disaster and recovery began with a broken arm on December 5 of last year. Although the injury was not serious, Sertso, 71, spent a night in the hospital with an IV.

Sertso returned home and was fine for about a week. Then, she recalled, “I got tired, I couldn’t eat, and every day it got worse. I became nauseous. I went into delirium shortly before the new year. I don’t remember getting back to the hospital. In intensive care, a lot of friends went to visit me, and I can’t remember one face. From New Year’s to the end of February, I was half awake and half gone — mostly gone.”

The infection spread to the liver and kidneys, and Sertso contracted pneumonia. She needed a ventilator to breathe and a tube feeder to take in nourishment. “I couldn’t eat or speak for two and a half months,” she said. “I couldn’t get up and could only lie on my back. They tried to find the right antibiotic that would kill this bacteria. Many doctors came to see me.”

She was also visited by monks from Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) monastery in Woodstock, where Sertso and her husband, musician Karl Berger, study and practice Buddhism. Dr. Charles Kutler, the physician of KTD teacher Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, finally found the antibiotic that cleared up the infection.

Sertso was transferred to Wingate Rehabilitation Center in Beacon, where she relearned how to walk, sit, eat and speak. “When you have something like that, you become like a baby,” she said. “I got fantastic physical therapy. The young girls who worked with me said I learned so fast. I was two days on a walker, then on a cane, and then I walked freely. I had to learn to eat right so nothing goes into my lungs.”

Staph bacteria tend to infect people with low immunity. Sertso, on the other hand, was in good health. “I’d never been so sick in my life,” she remarked. “I used to do yoga every day and African dance, qi gong. We eat a good diet, organic food. But several doctors said if you break something, it’s such a shock to the immune system and the body.”

Several musicians have offered to perform at two fundraisers to help pay Sertso’s medical bills. The first benefit will be held this Monday, September 28 at the Falcon in Marlboro, Sertso will be joined by her husband, CMF co-founder Karl Berger (piano, vibes), Peter Apfelbaum (reeds), Joe Fonda (bass), Harvey Sorgen (drums), Steve Gorn (bansuri flute), Kenny Wessel (guitar) and other special guests.  The performance starts promptly at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, October 17 from 5 to 11 p.m., the Kleinert/James Gallery in Woodstock will host an evening party and performances to celebrate Sertso’s recovery and to help recoup costs from her medical bills. Highlights from this concert will include Jack DeJohnette (solo piano), Woodstock Percussion founder Garry Kvistad (solo percussion), Marilyn Crispell (piano) with Doug James (drums), Steve Gorn (flutes) with Ingrid Sertso (vocals), Karl Berger (piano/vibes) with Tani Tabal (drums), John Menegon (bass), Teri Roiger (vocals), Ted Orr (guitar), Marc Black (vocals), Nina Sheldon (piano) and other well-known musicians from the Hudson Valley and beyond.

For those who cannot attend the benefits but want to make a financial contribution, donations can be made on the Creative Music Foundation website with a note that says “For Ingrid.” For details, visit www.creativemusicfoundation.org or contact creativemusicfoundation1@gmail.com.

Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Violet Snow

Violet Snow wrote regularly for the Woodstock Times for 17 years and continues to contribute to Hudson Valley One. She has been published in the New York Times “Disunion” blog, Civil War Times, American Ancestors, Jewish Currents, and many other periodicals. An excerpt from her historical novel, To March or to Marry, has appeared in the feminist journal Minerva Rising. She lives in Phoenicia and is currently working with horses, living out her childhood dream.

Related Posts

Woodstock police officer likely saved my life, grateful reporter says
Community

Woodstock police officer likely saved my life, grateful reporter says

June 11, 2025
First annual Pop-Up Puppet Festival will feature professional puppeteers, workshops and community support for Afghan refugees
Community

First annual Pop-Up Puppet Festival will feature professional puppeteers, workshops and community support for Afghan refugees

June 9, 2025
Not much sinking at the septuagennial New Paltz Regatta
Community

Not much sinking at the septuagennial New Paltz Regatta

June 10, 2025
Peace, love and pride (photos)
Community

Peace, love and pride (photos)

June 9, 2025
Eleventh annual Historic Preservation Art Show announces prizewinners at Elting Library
Art & Music

Eleventh annual Historic Preservation Art Show announces prizewinners at Elting Library

June 8, 2025
Catch eco-friendly experimental music in Phoenicia’s newest music venue this Saturday
Art & Music

Catch eco-friendly experimental music in Phoenicia’s newest music venue this Saturday

June 5, 2025
Next Post

Harvest festival and barn dance at Phillies Bridge Farm on October 3

Weather

Kingston, NY
82°
Fair
5:18 am8:32 pm EDT
Feels like: 82°F
Wind: 8mph SW
Humidity: 39%
Pressure: 29.98"Hg
UV index: 3
ThuFriSat
86°F / 57°F
77°F / 59°F
70°F / 57°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing