Well, well, well. Things seem to finally be happening! I just got home after another fund-raiser for Haiti, one last night and one tonight. Altogether, I probably collected about 75 lbs of supplies for Haiti, including clothes, medical supplies, and crayons, among other useful items. I am inspired by the support from my friends and even complete strangers. When I go back to Haiti, I know I have a marvelous group of friends here looking out for me and praying for me.
So, enough with the mushy gobbledygook, on to the stats. Still am not sure about what is going on with the clinic. Gordon is flying to Haiti tomorrow with a team of doctors and mechanics and such, and he will be assessing the situation at the clinic to see just what should be expected. If there are still problems structurally with the clinic, those will probably be addressed first, meaning a group of workers will be sent to rebuild. If, in the best of circumstances, the clinic is ship-shape, we can send doctors and nurses who have volunteered to work in Haiti. Either way, I have been told that I will be the coordinator of the second group of volunteers to the clinic.
In an ideal situation, this is what would happen with the clinic: organize with Medical Teams International and Mercy Corps and set them up on the compound, use the soccer field as consultation rooms or operating rooms if necessary, keep the flow of volunteers constant or have some semi-permanent doctors there so that we can keep the gates open to the public every day, and be a base for medical teams to send out mobile units into the community or to the more rural areas to help those who aren't able to reach the clinic. My ultimate goal is to make the clinic into more than what it is now, make it into something like a hub for other organizations to work from. There is plenty of space, beds, medical equipment (or ability to acquire said equipment), and support to make this happen. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying that this will come to fruition.
In the last post, I don't remember if I had updated about the situation with my friends in Haiti. I had been wondering about my friend and fellow classmate, Molly Hightower, who was living in Port-au-Prince at the time. A few days after the earthquake, her body was found in the remains of her apartment building. A man I worked with briefly during my first visit to Haiti in March of 2009 was also a casualty of the earthquake, leaving a wife and daughter. There are more whom I was not particularly close to, but I am as concerned for them as for any other friends I have there. I am not yet sure about what happened to Daniel and Nubia or Jorje and his wife. The Haitian doctors who I worked with at the clinic are still unaccounted for, and I am most concerned for Dr. Hermione, perhaps one of the most gifted and compassionate and strong women I have ever been fortunate to cross paths with. I sincerely hope Dr. Gordon can give me some good news about her, her husband, and a French journalist, Amelie, who was living with them. These are the last I am waiting to hear about, the rest are safe and physically unharmed. My friends from the Colombian UN are all doing well, emotionally drained and exhausted, but physically, none are injured. I have not heard anything about the Peruvian UN battalion, and I am taking this as good news. Nothing on the news about it, so I am assuming the battalion is still in working order.
Overall, I am in a very good state of mind. I am uneasy about not knowing the fate of my friends, but I will be in Haiti soon enough and can be my own investigator and find out just what happened to them. Once Gordon returns from Haiti, most likely he will be in the States on Feb. 6th and I hope to get the word from him on what is the next step for the clinic and a set date as to when I will be shipping out. This time, my goal is one year. I may need to return to the States for recuperation at some point, but I hope to stay and help to make the clinic function better and get medical care to more people. I'll do my best. And before I sign off, I have to put in a huge thank you to every last person who has donated money or time or supplies for this mission. Haiti needs so much aid and love and prayer and I have seen such an outpouring of this, it renews my gratitude to the human race, reminds me that we have not forgot what it's like to reach out to your fellow humans. I tried to veer away from the mushy sentiments, but I can't. At this moment, I'm proud to say I'm human.
30 January 2010
19 January 2010
Today, I got more information on the clinic. Talking with Dr. Gordon, I learned the Chilean doctors had been evacuated and two want to come back to continue working at the clinic. Currently there are no medical personnel at the clinic and all injured people at the clinic had been taken to the hospital by the MINUSTAH troops. Sister Luz Marina, the nun at the clinic who was also working as a nurse, was taken to the Dominican Republic after having chest pains. She is being tested now for heart problems, but it's very unlikely that she will return. It sounds like there will be another sister taking her place, Sr. Patricia, who is an administrator and will be organizing the clinic very well. I have heard wonderful things about her and cannot wait to start working with her.
There is a group going to Haiti this Sunday, flying into the Port-au-Prince airport, which should be open on Thursday to commercial flights. I'll be working with Dr. Gordon to organize another group shortly after he returns on the 31st.
The clinic is still standing, some minor damage, but we're unsure of exactly how bad. Everyone's safe and no one was injured in the earthquake. A crate was sent from the states full of medical supplies and food and has made it to the compound, so they are distributing it to the Haitians.
This is all the news I have for now, and I'll update it again when I know more.
There is a group going to Haiti this Sunday, flying into the Port-au-Prince airport, which should be open on Thursday to commercial flights. I'll be working with Dr. Gordon to organize another group shortly after he returns on the 31st.
The clinic is still standing, some minor damage, but we're unsure of exactly how bad. Everyone's safe and no one was injured in the earthquake. A crate was sent from the states full of medical supplies and food and has made it to the compound, so they are distributing it to the Haitians.
This is all the news I have for now, and I'll update it again when I know more.
15 January 2010
how to help
Another update from the clinic: the doctors have been evacuated and the sisters and father Joe are the only ones caring for the people there. The Haitian doctors there have yet to be located, so keep them in their prayers. I am still planning on going back to Haiti, whenever Doctor Kraus can get a flight lined up. This may not be for a while, though, we just don't know.
The clinic has been damaged, one of the walls surrounding the compound has fallen down and it was ransacked by people looking for food or water. The nuns and a Swiss nurse there had to lock themselves in their rooms for the night, but they are alright now. Food is the biggest problem right now, there are only so many goats and rice on the compound. The compound has connections with various UN battalions, but they are all stretched so thin right now, it is difficult contacting them. When I go back, I hope to get in constant contact with them so we can turn to them for assistance and protection.
I am going to Haiti as soon as I get word from Dr. Kraus and I will be there for a year, probably coming back after a few months for a vacation. I am working with Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis and if you would like to give donations, send mail to:
Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis
1779 Kirby Parkway Box 319
Memphis, TN 38138
Donations are marvelous, and I am trying to collect supplies to take there. A sea crate has been filled and will be shipped to Haiti soon, but getting supplies from the port to the compound is another story altogether. So bringing stuff in my carry-on is my plan. I am turning to my family, friends, and church to help me with this, so if you can, monetary donations would be the greatest help. Things can be bought and shipped depending on what is needed, especially later on when things have somewhat calmed down.
The Haitians are an incredibly resilient people, but this tragedy will test their faith and their strength like nothing else. Please give what you can and keep communications open with family and friends; don't let Haiti fall by the wayside, keep up the support and the donations, this will take years to rectify.
The clinic has been damaged, one of the walls surrounding the compound has fallen down and it was ransacked by people looking for food or water. The nuns and a Swiss nurse there had to lock themselves in their rooms for the night, but they are alright now. Food is the biggest problem right now, there are only so many goats and rice on the compound. The compound has connections with various UN battalions, but they are all stretched so thin right now, it is difficult contacting them. When I go back, I hope to get in constant contact with them so we can turn to them for assistance and protection.
I am going to Haiti as soon as I get word from Dr. Kraus and I will be there for a year, probably coming back after a few months for a vacation. I am working with Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis and if you would like to give donations, send mail to:
Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis
1779 Kirby Parkway Box 319
Memphis, TN 38138
Donations are marvelous, and I am trying to collect supplies to take there. A sea crate has been filled and will be shipped to Haiti soon, but getting supplies from the port to the compound is another story altogether. So bringing stuff in my carry-on is my plan. I am turning to my family, friends, and church to help me with this, so if you can, monetary donations would be the greatest help. Things can be bought and shipped depending on what is needed, especially later on when things have somewhat calmed down.
The Haitians are an incredibly resilient people, but this tragedy will test their faith and their strength like nothing else. Please give what you can and keep communications open with family and friends; don't let Haiti fall by the wayside, keep up the support and the donations, this will take years to rectify.
13 January 2010
earthquake in Haiti
I know most of you know what's going on in Haiti, but here's a quick rundown: Yesterday, January 12th, there was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake with the epicenter just south of Port-au-Prince. There were aftershocks for the following twenty-four hours, I think they are still happening now. The clinic I just returned from was due east from Port-au-Prince and I have heard from most people I worked with. The doctors (Fernando, Pia, and Leo) are all okay, the sisters (Luz Marina, Bertha, and Rosemithe) are also okay although I heard one had a head injury or something, the UN troops (Santiago, Ancizar, Omar, Frank, etc) are also okay.
The doctors are very busy, when I last heard, and working on triage. I think the clinic is still in good condition, there seems to be no major structural damage. I talked with Santiago, a colonel with the Colombian UN and he said he was in the UN headquarters when it collapsed, but he managed to escape with only a small injury to his hand. All my friends with the Colombian UN are doing well, there were no injuries other than Santiago's.
There is one person I am waiting to hear from: Molly Hightower. I contacted her family and they are still waiting to hear from her. She was a fellow student at UP with me, we took French classes together and she was working for an organization called Friends of Orphans. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
As of now, I am planning on returning on February 11th to stay for a year. I would love to have some help for the clinic, although I don't know what is needed for right now. I think a good idea would be sheets from the Goodwill or old used sheets if any of you have them. These can be used as slings or as bandages or as bedding or housing or even to make clothing. I cannot think of many other things at the moment, but in the coming days, I will think of more and will post and ask for more assistance as needed. Please keep everyone in your prayers, especially Molly and her family. Encourage friends and family to remember Haiti and donate what you can to Mercy Corps or Medical Teams International or the organization I worked with, Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis.
If you would like to contact me, my phone number is 1(541)914-3958.
The doctors are very busy, when I last heard, and working on triage. I think the clinic is still in good condition, there seems to be no major structural damage. I talked with Santiago, a colonel with the Colombian UN and he said he was in the UN headquarters when it collapsed, but he managed to escape with only a small injury to his hand. All my friends with the Colombian UN are doing well, there were no injuries other than Santiago's.
There is one person I am waiting to hear from: Molly Hightower. I contacted her family and they are still waiting to hear from her. She was a fellow student at UP with me, we took French classes together and she was working for an organization called Friends of Orphans. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
As of now, I am planning on returning on February 11th to stay for a year. I would love to have some help for the clinic, although I don't know what is needed for right now. I think a good idea would be sheets from the Goodwill or old used sheets if any of you have them. These can be used as slings or as bandages or as bedding or housing or even to make clothing. I cannot think of many other things at the moment, but in the coming days, I will think of more and will post and ask for more assistance as needed. Please keep everyone in your prayers, especially Molly and her family. Encourage friends and family to remember Haiti and donate what you can to Mercy Corps or Medical Teams International or the organization I worked with, Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis.
If you would like to contact me, my phone number is 1(541)914-3958.
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