My Turn: A misunderstood disease PenikeseIslandHospital PenikeseIslandHospital Published: 4/1/2021 1:28:41 PM Thanks to Carole Gariepy for remembering the painful history of people diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease (aka leprosy) in Massachusetts a century ago. Massachusetts operated the Penikese Island Hospital from 1905-1921 and cared for about 40 patients total. Most were immigrants, originating from Cape Verde, Italy, China, the British West Indies, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Japan, the Philippines, India and Russia. Some of their names were Flavia, Wong, Hyman, Porfius, Nassem, Isabelle, Nicholas, Yee, Demetrius, Goon Lee, Hassan, Manueil, Fong, Getulio, and Iwa. Their stories are intimately humanized in Eve Rifkah’s graceful book of poems, “Outcasts” (2010, Little Pear Press).