Hello family and friends of NPH,
This past Friday, March 12, 2010 marked the two month anniversary of the earthquake, tremblement de terre la, that shook Haiti and in turn devastated the lives of millions of Haitians and foreigners in one way or another. The following Monday, March 15, 2010 marked my 27th birthday. For those of us who still can't believe that we graduated college so many years ago (five!) and are in denial that 3o isn't far away, 27 can feel really old. This year, however, I am counting my blessings that I was alive to blow out all those candles (in one breath, mind you) on my pink-frosted ice cream cake.
On January 12, 2010 a little after four thirty, I returned home to the Father Wasson Center in Petion-Ville Haiti where I lived and jumped in the shower in my 5th floor room. This timing was important because while bathing is essential in order to wash off the sweat and grime of Haiti before bedtime, if one waits until after the sun goes down it is really hard to get in the cold water, but taking a shower too early ensures more sweat and grime to accumulate on the skin and in the hair and thus the need for additional bathing. At 4:53 pm, as I was toweling off, so fresh and so clean, our building started to tremble ever so slightly. I chuckled at first imaging a large dump truck hitting the building or something else more feasible than an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0. As a foreigner in the country, I was prepared to be wary of kidnappers, gang violence, thieves and hurricanes, but earthquakes were not on my "be ware list."
Soon, though, the rumbling grew more intense and my brain comprehended what was happening. I immediately braced myself in the doorway of the classroom as I had learned to do from TV shows like "Saved by the Bell;" being from Arizona, I never practiced earthquake drills. The door frame was no match for a 7.0, however, because within seconds I was thrown to the ground by walls that had come to life. When the building finally settled, my arms and head were pinned down by concrete slabs. Miraculously, or thanks to a Saturday morning episode of "Saved by the Bell," the door to my bedroom fell on top of me like a tent thus protecting my torso and legs from immediate crush injuries and any further falling debris.
My first thought was, this is it, I am dying. It took me a moment, but I realized that I wasn't bleeding and I was breathing. I decided I could survive for three days without water. I also knew without a doubt that my friends, family really, who worked for Fr. Rick and NPFS would be searching for those of us in the FWC as soon as possible.
So I waited.
After many hours and attempts to get someone's attention by screaming, I 'found' Molly. She was trapped in her room which was once right below mine on the fourth floor. Neither of us could speak very well but we did check in on one another from time to time always ending our short conversations with "I love you."
I was trapped for nine hours before someone finally heard my screams. Three hours later and thanks to the skillful (and precise) jackhammering of my new friend Patrick, a builder from the partially-constructed hotel next door and humanitarian, I was free and was carried down what was then equivalent to one flight of stairs to the waiting ambulance.
I was transported to a nearby doctor's office where I waited for 24 hours to be airlifted by helicopter to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There I received emergency fasciotomies on both arms for the crush injuries I had sustained. Again, thanks to the miracle door, I had no broken bones and other than failing kidneys, was in relatively good health. I spent the next thee weeks recovering at Broward Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and returned to my family's home in Phoenix, Arizona on February 17th.
Today I am recovering physically and am even typing this with two hands; a feat nearly impossible only a few weeks ago! Emotionally, however, I am still have a long road ahead of me dealing with the death of my brother Ryan and my good friend Molly, both of whom were also in the building when it fell. There was five of us in fact, including Rachel a visitor from Portland and Dr. Castro, a hospital employee from Cuba, who were rescued with minimal injuries. The once consolation I have is that my last words to both Molly and Ryan were those of love and I know that both of them lived life to the fullest each day they were able to.
Because I was carried out of Haiti strapped to a backboard, I saw little of the destructed city with my own eyes. Thankfully, though, I have a large backlog of updates and photographs from those working there since day 1 which will be posted on this blog over the next few days.
I have shared this personal experience with you because unfortunately it is not a unique story. Innumerable Haitians lost loved ones on that day, many lost body parts as well and countless lost their homes, their businesses and their schools. I am unique in that I received care quickly enough that I still have my hands and I have a home to live in that is still standing, is full of nutritious food to eat and clean water to drink. And, as far as I know, Phoenix is far from any major fault lines.
Thank you to everyone who has supported NPFS, Haiti, my family and myself through donations, work, and prayers. I continue to pray for Molly and her family and all my friends in Haiti as we, Haiti and myself, heal and move forward.
With love,
Erin
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Some Recent Haiti Updates
NPFS Fr. Rick message part onehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioYDFiwThqY
NPFS Fr. Rick message part twohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ibBB7hQn0
Apologies - I am very late posting this update.
Update: February 28, 2010
The Father Wasson Angels of Light on-site day camp in Tabarre is serving children from three tent communities on a rotating basis. Teams of Hermanos Mayores (youths that grew up at NPFS Haiti, St. Helene home) attend to ten other communities. All locations serve a
total of 1,500 children. Each child (on and off-site) receives breakfast, fresh roll with peanut butter and milk and lunch (currently only on-site) rice and beans, salad, fruit or juice. A percentage of the food and milk are donations received through the Dominican
Republic. The St. Francisville bakery provides 4,000 rolls for the program and any extras are distributed to the families of the children enrolled in the day camp program.
A former cook from the St. Helene home who has experience in preparing large-scale meals will start the second week of March to prepare lunch for the off-site camps. Our transportation team will deliver the prepared meals to the Hermanos Mayores activity teams in the tent
communities who will then distribute the meals to the children that attend the program. Our goal is to feed 2,000 children daily.
The Hermanos Mayores organize the daily activities in the camps. Each day begins with a prayer and singing. Then the children show off their creative abilities by a song contest. Afterwards they break into smaller groups for an array of activities such as frisbee, jumping rope and soccer. After a break there are more relaxed activities such as reading, Spanish, coloring, story telling and charades.
Hermanos Mayores from NPH Mexico and family members of Alfonso Leon, program director, arrived two weeks ago to help with coordination of the on-site camp. Luz has worked on developing the kitchen and activity schedule, supporting the director and warehouse coordination.
Salvador’s carpentry skills have been a great help in constructing benches, chairs and tables out of used wooden shipping palettes. We are very grateful that they are part of our team.
Day Camp Locations and number of children per day.
1 - Ambassade 120 children
2 - Pernier 150 children
3 - Meyotte-Duval 150 children
4 - Boukan Lapli 110 children
5 - Delmas 64 100 children
6 - Girado (My Father’s House) 80 children
7 - Delmas 2 200 children
8 – Cite Soleil 120 children
9 - Carrefour Airport 100 children
10 - Rue Capois 100 children
11 - Delmas 103 50 children
12 - Place Boyer 120 children
13 – Kenscoff 100 children
Emergency assistance to Hermanos Mayores is being distributed and many have already received money and food (rice and beans). Personal care kits and tents will be handed out as soon as they arrive.
Through a contact of the German office, the Friends of Waldorf Education Emergency Education Team offered their service to our program. They did a three day training with our activity teams. During the first day they asked the Hermano Mayores leaders to write how their personal earthquake experience and they broke into small groups to talk about their trauma. The Waldorf group then demonstrated activities that they could do with the children. The Hermanos liked the instructors and replied that they had very good ideas to share.
For the next two days the Waldorf team supported the Hermanos with the day camp activities in the on-site camp in Tabarre.
NPFS Fr. Rick message part twohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ibBB7hQn0
Apologies - I am very late posting this update.
Update: February 28, 2010
The Father Wasson Angels of Light on-site day camp in Tabarre is serving children from three tent communities on a rotating basis. Teams of Hermanos Mayores (youths that grew up at NPFS Haiti, St. Helene home) attend to ten other communities. All locations serve a
total of 1,500 children. Each child (on and off-site) receives breakfast, fresh roll with peanut butter and milk and lunch (currently only on-site) rice and beans, salad, fruit or juice. A percentage of the food and milk are donations received through the Dominican
Republic. The St. Francisville bakery provides 4,000 rolls for the program and any extras are distributed to the families of the children enrolled in the day camp program.
A former cook from the St. Helene home who has experience in preparing large-scale meals will start the second week of March to prepare lunch for the off-site camps. Our transportation team will deliver the prepared meals to the Hermanos Mayores activity teams in the tent
communities who will then distribute the meals to the children that attend the program. Our goal is to feed 2,000 children daily.
The Hermanos Mayores organize the daily activities in the camps. Each day begins with a prayer and singing. Then the children show off their creative abilities by a song contest. Afterwards they break into smaller groups for an array of activities such as frisbee, jumping rope and soccer. After a break there are more relaxed activities such as reading, Spanish, coloring, story telling and charades.
Hermanos Mayores from NPH Mexico and family members of Alfonso Leon, program director, arrived two weeks ago to help with coordination of the on-site camp. Luz has worked on developing the kitchen and activity schedule, supporting the director and warehouse coordination.
Salvador’s carpentry skills have been a great help in constructing benches, chairs and tables out of used wooden shipping palettes. We are very grateful that they are part of our team.
Day Camp Locations and number of children per day.
1 - Ambassade 120 children
2 - Pernier 150 children
3 - Meyotte-Duval 150 children
4 - Boukan Lapli 110 children
5 - Delmas 64 100 children
6 - Girado (My Father’s House) 80 children
7 - Delmas 2 200 children
8 – Cite Soleil 120 children
9 - Carrefour Airport 100 children
10 - Rue Capois 100 children
11 - Delmas 103 50 children
12 - Place Boyer 120 children
13 – Kenscoff 100 children
Emergency assistance to Hermanos Mayores is being distributed and many have already received money and food (rice and beans). Personal care kits and tents will be handed out as soon as they arrive.
Through a contact of the German office, the Friends of Waldorf Education Emergency Education Team offered their service to our program. They did a three day training with our activity teams. During the first day they asked the Hermano Mayores leaders to write how their personal earthquake experience and they broke into small groups to talk about their trauma. The Waldorf group then demonstrated activities that they could do with the children. The Hermanos liked the instructors and replied that they had very good ideas to share.
For the next two days the Waldorf team supported the Hermanos with the day camp activities in the on-site camp in Tabarre.
Blacklion - Fundraising day for Haiti 17th March
Schedule is as follows:
3.00 pm: Live Music on outdoor stage by local artists
4.00 pm: First Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade in Blacklion Village featuring St Michaels Scout Band, Enniskillen
5.30 pm: Live music and dancing on outdoor stage by local artists
7.00 pm till Late: Music and Entertainment in local pubs
Local artists include Eugene Dolan, Michael Leonard, Together One Voice & Shannean Set Dancers
Fund Raising Events will take place throughout the day in aid of Our Little Brothers and Sisters, Haiti
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Latest Updates 21st and 22nd Feb
Haiti update: February 22, 2010
Haiti is in mourning. One week ago we mourned the one month anniversary of the tragedy with three days of prayer, mass, and reflection. This week the Sisters of Charity heard that some of their fellow sisters, the Sisters of Mary, had died when their church collapsed. They recovered some of their bodies and they are now buried outside of the church at Saint Damian hospital. This week they also discovered a school with two-hundred children inside. The Sisters are recovering the dead, because the government is not present, tragedy compounding tragedy. This morning, we had a funeral for three ex-pequeños, two brothers and a sister, who died instantly when the earthquake caused their home to collapse. The funeral was held at Kenscoff, the main orphanage, and they were laid to rest surrounded by their two surviving brothers and almost 500 of their brothers and sisters, who showed solidarity through prayer, readings and song.
This is but a small glimpse, but one that is close to home for us here at NPFS Haiti, happening inside our walls and to those near and dear to us.
In one of his sermons this week, Father Rick said that we are now in phase two of the crisis, and that this phase is so much harder than the first. The first was one of action, adrenaline, of saving a child’s life by amputating a limb and rescuing people from under the rubble. But now, after more than five weeks, we can no longer find anyone alive, the amputations have been done and now need to be cared for and watched over, and we have begun to think of what we have lost.
And so now we begin to look forward, to take stock of what happened, to begin to feel our losses, and the uncertainty of the future.
Danielle Greilich
Home Correspondent
Message from Fr. Rick :: Sunday Feb 21st
What Family Means During Lent
Dear friends,
Lent is meant to be a heavy time. The dark of winter, the recognition of sin and personal failing, the seeking of penance and self-discipline. This takes place during the period of the sun lengthening to full light at spring, which is the rich symbol of the victory of light in resurrection. Our lent begins with three heavy darkness’s.
We have retrieved the bodies of Mikhael, Delourdes and Ronald Ferdinand (the siblings of hermano mayor and NPFS employee Joseph). They currently are lying in our hospital chapel for burial today at St. Helene. These have been very emotional days for us, especially for Joseph and his older brother Dodo. Yesterday at mass, the chapel was packed with hermanos mayores, crying and comforting, showing that the family bonds we have tried to instill are real, and are clearly seen when it counts. We stood before their lifeless bodies without words, with nothing but each other and our faith, hope and love. These really heal and give courage. It is amazing to see it as a true and deep dynamic. Father Wasson’s intuitions and instincts were right about the ability of a community to form a family.
Four other hermano mayores were arrested yesterday in separate incidences, two by Haitian police during a small rice distribution. The police assumed them to be thieves of the rice and the usual unfairness ensued. They were liberated only when the police themselves became beneficiaries of most of the rice.
Two others were arrested by US military when the bus they were on as passengers hit a wagon. We still cannot understand why they were chosen as the culprits. One was handcuffed and beaten.
I mention this because before both injustices these youths were so clear about right and wrong, fairness and corruption and they are balanced in their views about how to handle it.
Rejecting offers from others to inflame it on the radio, they came to "dad", (me) as they said, to try to talk and figure it out.
I so admire their equilibrium and their refusal to be treated unfairly and this led to long discussions about how to proceed. But it also led to longer discussions about the importance of not internalizing the incident. In other words, fighting the tendency that victims many times have of feeling that for some reason they deserved what had happened. I admire their desire to have "dad" help figure it out and deal with it.
The third incident was also remarkable. A young woman was brought to our hospital in labor.
Her mother, father and husband were killed in the earthquake and she didn’t want to deliver the baby. She kept crying and screaming out to the baby…
“Don’t come out! Don’t come out! Stay where you are. This is no place for you. It’s no place for anyone!”
Literally she fought the delivery. The Italian midwife volunteers tried to help her. Instead of pushing during contractions, she would suck up a deep breath and draw pressure away from her pelvis telling everyone to leave her alone, begging the baby not to come out into such a world.
The Italian midwives were crying, begging the mother to believe life was good. Begging to see the child and welcome the child. They were midwives not just of the baby but of the mother’s soul.
After 12 hours of resisting labor, then came the little baby and a mother with a new but faint twinkle in her eye.
It makes me shudder.
Let us thank God for the power of family during lent and for the powerful reality that with even no blood or cultural ties we can really be family to each other.
Fr. Rick Frechette
Haiti is in mourning. One week ago we mourned the one month anniversary of the tragedy with three days of prayer, mass, and reflection. This week the Sisters of Charity heard that some of their fellow sisters, the Sisters of Mary, had died when their church collapsed. They recovered some of their bodies and they are now buried outside of the church at Saint Damian hospital. This week they also discovered a school with two-hundred children inside. The Sisters are recovering the dead, because the government is not present, tragedy compounding tragedy. This morning, we had a funeral for three ex-pequeños, two brothers and a sister, who died instantly when the earthquake caused their home to collapse. The funeral was held at Kenscoff, the main orphanage, and they were laid to rest surrounded by their two surviving brothers and almost 500 of their brothers and sisters, who showed solidarity through prayer, readings and song.
This is but a small glimpse, but one that is close to home for us here at NPFS Haiti, happening inside our walls and to those near and dear to us.
In one of his sermons this week, Father Rick said that we are now in phase two of the crisis, and that this phase is so much harder than the first. The first was one of action, adrenaline, of saving a child’s life by amputating a limb and rescuing people from under the rubble. But now, after more than five weeks, we can no longer find anyone alive, the amputations have been done and now need to be cared for and watched over, and we have begun to think of what we have lost.
And so now we begin to look forward, to take stock of what happened, to begin to feel our losses, and the uncertainty of the future.
Danielle Greilich
Home Correspondent
Message from Fr. Rick :: Sunday Feb 21st
What Family Means During Lent
Dear friends,
Lent is meant to be a heavy time. The dark of winter, the recognition of sin and personal failing, the seeking of penance and self-discipline. This takes place during the period of the sun lengthening to full light at spring, which is the rich symbol of the victory of light in resurrection. Our lent begins with three heavy darkness’s.
We have retrieved the bodies of Mikhael, Delourdes and Ronald Ferdinand (the siblings of hermano mayor and NPFS employee Joseph). They currently are lying in our hospital chapel for burial today at St. Helene. These have been very emotional days for us, especially for Joseph and his older brother Dodo. Yesterday at mass, the chapel was packed with hermanos mayores, crying and comforting, showing that the family bonds we have tried to instill are real, and are clearly seen when it counts. We stood before their lifeless bodies without words, with nothing but each other and our faith, hope and love. These really heal and give courage. It is amazing to see it as a true and deep dynamic. Father Wasson’s intuitions and instincts were right about the ability of a community to form a family.
Four other hermano mayores were arrested yesterday in separate incidences, two by Haitian police during a small rice distribution. The police assumed them to be thieves of the rice and the usual unfairness ensued. They were liberated only when the police themselves became beneficiaries of most of the rice.
Two others were arrested by US military when the bus they were on as passengers hit a wagon. We still cannot understand why they were chosen as the culprits. One was handcuffed and beaten.
I mention this because before both injustices these youths were so clear about right and wrong, fairness and corruption and they are balanced in their views about how to handle it.
Rejecting offers from others to inflame it on the radio, they came to "dad", (me) as they said, to try to talk and figure it out.
I so admire their equilibrium and their refusal to be treated unfairly and this led to long discussions about how to proceed. But it also led to longer discussions about the importance of not internalizing the incident. In other words, fighting the tendency that victims many times have of feeling that for some reason they deserved what had happened. I admire their desire to have "dad" help figure it out and deal with it.
The third incident was also remarkable. A young woman was brought to our hospital in labor.
Her mother, father and husband were killed in the earthquake and she didn’t want to deliver the baby. She kept crying and screaming out to the baby…
“Don’t come out! Don’t come out! Stay where you are. This is no place for you. It’s no place for anyone!”
Literally she fought the delivery. The Italian midwife volunteers tried to help her. Instead of pushing during contractions, she would suck up a deep breath and draw pressure away from her pelvis telling everyone to leave her alone, begging the baby not to come out into such a world.
The Italian midwives were crying, begging the mother to believe life was good. Begging to see the child and welcome the child. They were midwives not just of the baby but of the mother’s soul.
After 12 hours of resisting labor, then came the little baby and a mother with a new but faint twinkle in her eye.
It makes me shudder.
Let us thank God for the power of family during lent and for the powerful reality that with even no blood or cultural ties we can really be family to each other.
Fr. Rick Frechette
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Haiti - One month later - Links and stories
I have a lot of links and emails to post so this will be a long one.
Links first:
Message from Fr Rick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaMRuSAa9rE
NPFS Day Camp Feb 2nd and 4th
http://picasaweb.google.com/MonicaGery/NPFSDayCampFeb2ndAnd4th?feat=directlink
Haiti Tent Cities Feb 3rd and Feb 6th
http://picasaweb.google.com/MonicaGery/HaitiTentCitiesFeb3rdAndFeb6th?feat=directlink
Letter from Gena - sorry I can't post the photos but I can forward the full letter if anyone would like it.
Kay St. Germaine Rehab Center
February 11, 2010
I woke up to the sound of rain this morning and I said "oh no," as straight away I thought of those in the camps. The sky did not even look as if it was dumping more misery onto a people already in desperation. In fact the sky looked calm and sleepy and the thin clouds were like a light sheet pulled back from a sleeping bed. I rang my staff in Kenscoff (the mountains where the orphanage is and where I usually live) and they were shocked because they woke up to clear skies.
A little while ago I got a phone call from Guerlande, mother of Bedgina, two months old and an amputee. I asked how they were. Yesterday they received a tent from someone that wants to help them. “We are in the mud. Everything is wet and we can’t even put up the tent because everything is wet and muddy.”
I rang Fritzner. He is the uncle of Stevenson. “What can I say Dr. Gena. We are here, everything is wet, everywhere is muddy. The little tent you gave us for Stevenson is good so he was ok. He is gone back to the hospital today for his appointment so you will see him.”
It is quiet where I am sitting and the hazy sun has evaporated all signs of the morning downpour outside my door. My mood is pensive and I wonder what is next for the people of Haiti. Over one month now and still no signs of real solutions for those displaced. Is it normal that after one month people are still crowded together in makeshift tents (made from sheets). Is this what always happens in countries where bad earthquakes occur? Was I being unrealistic when I expected that by now most families would have a real tent and people would be located in areas where there is flat land and where it would seem that it would have been possible to set up proper services? I wonder am I crazy for thinking this could have happened by now. I mean four weeks have gone by already! I try to be optimistic but those of us living here know all too well that the rainy season in Haiti is never much fun and I DREAD what will happen if people are not properly set up before the rains come.
Our work goes on and in a small way we make a difference. Mothers and fathers in the hospital share their stories with us and now we are family to them. Johanne had a surgery yesterday. They removed the bone that had crushed into her brain. An Italian doctor did the surgery and we are all so thankful. You should have seen her family - mother and grandmother! The first day, Johanne was taken by helicopter for a cat scan. Her mother and grandmother, watched every helicopter that flew by for the next hours, waiting for Johanne to come back. When she came, you would think that it was God himself, come down from heaven, such was their relief to see Johanne. Yesterday was the surgery and again the waiting, and the waiting. The surgery went well and Johanne was stable last night and this morning. How beautiful to witness the love that surrounds her. You can see her in the below photo and Norma is working with her to get her to swallow food in her mouth again.
In the same room as Johanne is Angelin. Angelin was buried in the rubble for five days (she is five years old) and now she had lost half her leg. In the beginning she was so sad - never could get a smile from her. Sad eyes, telling stories no five year old should ever have to tell. Her mother stays with her - a young mother that lost her other child in the quake. These days Angelin is much better and much more responsive. Her smile is brave and hopeful and she smiles more frequently now. But sometimes when she is sitting by herself, you can just see how much she has gone through - from the way she sits and stares and her mind is miles away.
This is Veronica. Her mother died and she is being looked after by her loving dad. She is full of the joys of life and always has us smiling! She is two!
How about these beautiful young ladies? They are both so proud of their efforts on the crutches! Marie Marthe is to the right as you look at the picture and Marie Francis is next to her
Lest you think tis only girls in our hospital, how about these darling boys: First is Peterson and his mom. Then we have John Joseph and then Mykenly.
I know it is not easy for you to see these kids in this way. For us too it is not easy and for sure for the families it is not easy. However this is the reality we face and I am happy to tell you that we will be involved in their lives from now on. I say we, but really it is you too because it is your money we are and will be spending. And these are just a few – there are many more and if I have the time, I will bring them into your lives. I tell these mothers and fathers that they are not alone because people care and they are so thankful. My team and I are thankful to all of you.
I started this letter this am and now it is already dark. To my eyes the sky is ominous as if she also needs to cry for all that she sees every day. I spent most of my day on the computer – pulling together many people in an attempt to get Yolene (Director of our special needs school) out of the country to go see her husband who is near death in Michigan. He was evacuated out of here days after he was crushed in the quake. Thanks to our friends in Digicell she is scheduled to go to Jamaica tomorrow and they will help us get her a visa to be with him. Meanwhile as I write, a dedicated friend has been traveling for hours (from the south of Haiti) to get here tonight so she can go with Yolene tomorrow. This morning all of this seemed like an impossible task but I am a person of hope and the day I give up hope is the day I go into the grave! So fingers crossed it all works out and she can make it to see him before he dies. It is a tough journey for Yolene who is only married since last July. Life sure is not easy is it?
Best wishes to all of you reading this and many many thanks for all the help and support. I need you to keep Haiti right beside you all the time – like your loved ones. We are all afraid that people will loose interest after a while and for sure you must be getting tired of hearing about Haiti all the time. Understand that for now, we are not able to do big things – we need to be sure that when we start rebuilding for people, we will be doing it in a way that will be safe for everyone. So for now we give money, clothing and food and we take down all the details so we can find the best way to help each case. The discharged families from the hospital are coming to us for therapy. This week we hired a new therapist for the amputees. She has some basic training and she is very happy to have a job. We will be hiring more therapists in the coming weeks and also a music teacher will start with us on Monday. We need to get the kids singing and laughing!
Love to all. Keep the faith!
Gena Heragty, Director of Special Needs Programs
Letter from Fr Rick
February 12, 2010
Thirty Days Later
It is tradition of the Catholic faith to celebrate mass in the remembrance of the dead after one month has passed. Today throughout Haiti, at 7 am, in what is left standing of the parishes of Port au Prince, this mass will be celebrated for the estimated 200,000 dead. In addition, President Preval has declared today to be a day of national fast, and the beginning of three days of national mourning. We are participating in this act of solidarity by offering mass at 7 am at Titayin, together with Bishop Dumas, at the burial place of the indigent dead. We ourselves have buried about 2,500 people there in the last 30 days.
After weeks of frenetic activity, we are returning to a state of equilibrium. Our hospital had become a trauma MASH unit, as had all other medical centers in Port au Prince that are still standing. We were able to offer about 30 surgeries a day at four sites (two in our hospital, one on our hospital grounds in a tent, and one at the St. Camillus Hospital, which we staffed for the emergency.) Many of these, sadly, were amputations – sometimes two for the same adult or child.
To give an idea of the size of the problem, it is likely there are about 20,000 people now who have been amputated or who have orthopedic hardware screwed through their skin to the bone. Port au Prince estimates about 20 Haitian orthopedic surgeons, and visiting teams to Haiti will soon leave. All 20,000 need to be followed closely for removal of hardware, control of infection, reevaluation of the amputation, and of course for artificial limbs and rehabilitation. We have worked closely with the St. Camillus Hospital so as to return our St. Damien Hospital to a pediatric center and to have a growing center for adults at St. Camillus.
In collaboration with the Papal Nuncio, the president of the Haitian bishops conference, the local CARITAS office and the Italian Protezione Civile, we are setting up seven positions in the provinces, (especially since about 30% of the population has abandoned the capital) to be able to allow access of these people to a medical system. We can do our best to follow a certain number from these sites, return them to Port au Prince for needed attention by helicopter or land, and use the points as well for large distributions of food and educational materials for schools. We hope to continue to partner with St. Camillus and the Haitian bishops to strengthen a similar response in Port au Prince.
At Francisville, we are making a center for production of artificial limbs. Gena Hergaty hosted a meeting two days ago of 30 non-governmental organizations at our St. Germaine program, to determine the best collaboration for all those eager to invest in rehabilitation and physical therapy.
On the home front, Erin Kloos has made an exception recovery after being dug out of our crumbled Fr. Wasson Center. The funeral of her brother Ryan will be later this month in Phoenix. Fr. Craig Hightower celebrated the funeral of Molly Hightower, concelebrated by Fr. Phil Cleary. I hope I can arrange to leave Haiti for a few weeks to see my father, and to visit both families for mass in their homes.
We offered mass last Saturday for Molly and Ryan on top of the rubble of the Fr. Wasson Center on an altar made of fallen block, using chant and incense to honor Molly and Ryan and all who died in the earthquake, and to show our faith and hope, and determination to rebuild and continue our life giving mission.
The Fr. Wasson Center is being cleared by heavy government equipment, and we will rebuild a central administration center on the site, with metal instead of cement framework, which are fast becoming popular here. We will also make an artistic monument to stand prominently on the corner, by a famous Haitian artist, dedicating the new center to Ryan and Molly and honoring all the victims of the earthquake.
In Tabarre our three areas of destruction were the perimeter walls, the tower, and the chapel. The Italian Protezzione Civile is clearing the debris, reinforcing the tower, rebuilding the chapel and rebuilding the walls. Additional internal, non-structural damage to the hospital is being repaired by the Italian companies that made the initial installations (especially the central oxygen supply). The new maternity and neonatal program, born of necessity during the traumatic days following the quake, is following a good and logical course, and the rest of the hospital is returning to normal.
The surgical capacity will still be challenged as we tend to many postoperative children and new traumas. The cancer center got quite a boost, thanks to Sister Judy, as it is now a partner with the Danny Thomas Children’s Cancer Hospital in the USA. This will bring quite a help for development, diagnostic, training, material and medicines.
The St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff was largely spared, but we were glad to see so much charitable activity on the part of the children, coming to the hospital to visit injured children and distributing food and supplies in the tent cities.
The Family Services team has been very attentive to vulnerable children in the tent cities and has elaborated a good plan for continued involvement. Future reports will be given on all these points I mention in this summary by the people involved.
We are still gathering the names of those who have died or disappeared in the rubble. We hope soon that Daniela, our temporary home correspondent, will be able to make a memorial page on the NPH website. We are very much struck with sorrow by the deaths of our colleagues or deaths in their families.
The St. Luke program has been valiant and tireless, and we suffered the loss of some staff and directors. We also suffered the loss of one third of our 18 street schools. We will resume school in tents, as soon as we have enough, and thanks to Artists for Peace and Justice, we are studying all aspects of rebuilding.
Everywhere around us there are huge problems. There are wounded, homeless and hungry among our 800 employees (all programs combined, including St. Luke). This is made more dreadful by the advance of the rainy season. We had our first rain yesterday.
In a separate letter over the next few days, I will outline the investment we hope to make in addressing these three social problems and the rebuilding and advance of our own programs.
For today, please join us in mourning. Join us in prayers for the dead, for the living, for the future.
Thank you and God bless you.
Fr. Rick Frechette
Links first:
Message from Fr Rick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaMRuSAa9rE
NPFS Day Camp Feb 2nd and 4th
http://picasaweb.google.com/MonicaGery/NPFSDayCampFeb2ndAnd4th?feat=directlink
Haiti Tent Cities Feb 3rd and Feb 6th
http://picasaweb.google.com/MonicaGery/HaitiTentCitiesFeb3rdAndFeb6th?feat=directlink
Letter from Gena - sorry I can't post the photos but I can forward the full letter if anyone would like it.
Kay St. Germaine Rehab Center
February 11, 2010
I woke up to the sound of rain this morning and I said "oh no," as straight away I thought of those in the camps. The sky did not even look as if it was dumping more misery onto a people already in desperation. In fact the sky looked calm and sleepy and the thin clouds were like a light sheet pulled back from a sleeping bed. I rang my staff in Kenscoff (the mountains where the orphanage is and where I usually live) and they were shocked because they woke up to clear skies.
A little while ago I got a phone call from Guerlande, mother of Bedgina, two months old and an amputee. I asked how they were. Yesterday they received a tent from someone that wants to help them. “We are in the mud. Everything is wet and we can’t even put up the tent because everything is wet and muddy.”
I rang Fritzner. He is the uncle of Stevenson. “What can I say Dr. Gena. We are here, everything is wet, everywhere is muddy. The little tent you gave us for Stevenson is good so he was ok. He is gone back to the hospital today for his appointment so you will see him.”
It is quiet where I am sitting and the hazy sun has evaporated all signs of the morning downpour outside my door. My mood is pensive and I wonder what is next for the people of Haiti. Over one month now and still no signs of real solutions for those displaced. Is it normal that after one month people are still crowded together in makeshift tents (made from sheets). Is this what always happens in countries where bad earthquakes occur? Was I being unrealistic when I expected that by now most families would have a real tent and people would be located in areas where there is flat land and where it would seem that it would have been possible to set up proper services? I wonder am I crazy for thinking this could have happened by now. I mean four weeks have gone by already! I try to be optimistic but those of us living here know all too well that the rainy season in Haiti is never much fun and I DREAD what will happen if people are not properly set up before the rains come.
Our work goes on and in a small way we make a difference. Mothers and fathers in the hospital share their stories with us and now we are family to them. Johanne had a surgery yesterday. They removed the bone that had crushed into her brain. An Italian doctor did the surgery and we are all so thankful. You should have seen her family - mother and grandmother! The first day, Johanne was taken by helicopter for a cat scan. Her mother and grandmother, watched every helicopter that flew by for the next hours, waiting for Johanne to come back. When she came, you would think that it was God himself, come down from heaven, such was their relief to see Johanne. Yesterday was the surgery and again the waiting, and the waiting. The surgery went well and Johanne was stable last night and this morning. How beautiful to witness the love that surrounds her. You can see her in the below photo and Norma is working with her to get her to swallow food in her mouth again.
In the same room as Johanne is Angelin. Angelin was buried in the rubble for five days (she is five years old) and now she had lost half her leg. In the beginning she was so sad - never could get a smile from her. Sad eyes, telling stories no five year old should ever have to tell. Her mother stays with her - a young mother that lost her other child in the quake. These days Angelin is much better and much more responsive. Her smile is brave and hopeful and she smiles more frequently now. But sometimes when she is sitting by herself, you can just see how much she has gone through - from the way she sits and stares and her mind is miles away.
This is Veronica. Her mother died and she is being looked after by her loving dad. She is full of the joys of life and always has us smiling! She is two!
How about these beautiful young ladies? They are both so proud of their efforts on the crutches! Marie Marthe is to the right as you look at the picture and Marie Francis is next to her
Lest you think tis only girls in our hospital, how about these darling boys: First is Peterson and his mom. Then we have John Joseph and then Mykenly.
I know it is not easy for you to see these kids in this way. For us too it is not easy and for sure for the families it is not easy. However this is the reality we face and I am happy to tell you that we will be involved in their lives from now on. I say we, but really it is you too because it is your money we are and will be spending. And these are just a few – there are many more and if I have the time, I will bring them into your lives. I tell these mothers and fathers that they are not alone because people care and they are so thankful. My team and I are thankful to all of you.
I started this letter this am and now it is already dark. To my eyes the sky is ominous as if she also needs to cry for all that she sees every day. I spent most of my day on the computer – pulling together many people in an attempt to get Yolene (Director of our special needs school) out of the country to go see her husband who is near death in Michigan. He was evacuated out of here days after he was crushed in the quake. Thanks to our friends in Digicell she is scheduled to go to Jamaica tomorrow and they will help us get her a visa to be with him. Meanwhile as I write, a dedicated friend has been traveling for hours (from the south of Haiti) to get here tonight so she can go with Yolene tomorrow. This morning all of this seemed like an impossible task but I am a person of hope and the day I give up hope is the day I go into the grave! So fingers crossed it all works out and she can make it to see him before he dies. It is a tough journey for Yolene who is only married since last July. Life sure is not easy is it?
Best wishes to all of you reading this and many many thanks for all the help and support. I need you to keep Haiti right beside you all the time – like your loved ones. We are all afraid that people will loose interest after a while and for sure you must be getting tired of hearing about Haiti all the time. Understand that for now, we are not able to do big things – we need to be sure that when we start rebuilding for people, we will be doing it in a way that will be safe for everyone. So for now we give money, clothing and food and we take down all the details so we can find the best way to help each case. The discharged families from the hospital are coming to us for therapy. This week we hired a new therapist for the amputees. She has some basic training and she is very happy to have a job. We will be hiring more therapists in the coming weeks and also a music teacher will start with us on Monday. We need to get the kids singing and laughing!
Love to all. Keep the faith!
Gena Heragty, Director of Special Needs Programs
Letter from Fr Rick
February 12, 2010
Thirty Days Later
It is tradition of the Catholic faith to celebrate mass in the remembrance of the dead after one month has passed. Today throughout Haiti, at 7 am, in what is left standing of the parishes of Port au Prince, this mass will be celebrated for the estimated 200,000 dead. In addition, President Preval has declared today to be a day of national fast, and the beginning of three days of national mourning. We are participating in this act of solidarity by offering mass at 7 am at Titayin, together with Bishop Dumas, at the burial place of the indigent dead. We ourselves have buried about 2,500 people there in the last 30 days.
After weeks of frenetic activity, we are returning to a state of equilibrium. Our hospital had become a trauma MASH unit, as had all other medical centers in Port au Prince that are still standing. We were able to offer about 30 surgeries a day at four sites (two in our hospital, one on our hospital grounds in a tent, and one at the St. Camillus Hospital, which we staffed for the emergency.) Many of these, sadly, were amputations – sometimes two for the same adult or child.
To give an idea of the size of the problem, it is likely there are about 20,000 people now who have been amputated or who have orthopedic hardware screwed through their skin to the bone. Port au Prince estimates about 20 Haitian orthopedic surgeons, and visiting teams to Haiti will soon leave. All 20,000 need to be followed closely for removal of hardware, control of infection, reevaluation of the amputation, and of course for artificial limbs and rehabilitation. We have worked closely with the St. Camillus Hospital so as to return our St. Damien Hospital to a pediatric center and to have a growing center for adults at St. Camillus.
In collaboration with the Papal Nuncio, the president of the Haitian bishops conference, the local CARITAS office and the Italian Protezione Civile, we are setting up seven positions in the provinces, (especially since about 30% of the population has abandoned the capital) to be able to allow access of these people to a medical system. We can do our best to follow a certain number from these sites, return them to Port au Prince for needed attention by helicopter or land, and use the points as well for large distributions of food and educational materials for schools. We hope to continue to partner with St. Camillus and the Haitian bishops to strengthen a similar response in Port au Prince.
At Francisville, we are making a center for production of artificial limbs. Gena Hergaty hosted a meeting two days ago of 30 non-governmental organizations at our St. Germaine program, to determine the best collaboration for all those eager to invest in rehabilitation and physical therapy.
On the home front, Erin Kloos has made an exception recovery after being dug out of our crumbled Fr. Wasson Center. The funeral of her brother Ryan will be later this month in Phoenix. Fr. Craig Hightower celebrated the funeral of Molly Hightower, concelebrated by Fr. Phil Cleary. I hope I can arrange to leave Haiti for a few weeks to see my father, and to visit both families for mass in their homes.
We offered mass last Saturday for Molly and Ryan on top of the rubble of the Fr. Wasson Center on an altar made of fallen block, using chant and incense to honor Molly and Ryan and all who died in the earthquake, and to show our faith and hope, and determination to rebuild and continue our life giving mission.
The Fr. Wasson Center is being cleared by heavy government equipment, and we will rebuild a central administration center on the site, with metal instead of cement framework, which are fast becoming popular here. We will also make an artistic monument to stand prominently on the corner, by a famous Haitian artist, dedicating the new center to Ryan and Molly and honoring all the victims of the earthquake.
In Tabarre our three areas of destruction were the perimeter walls, the tower, and the chapel. The Italian Protezzione Civile is clearing the debris, reinforcing the tower, rebuilding the chapel and rebuilding the walls. Additional internal, non-structural damage to the hospital is being repaired by the Italian companies that made the initial installations (especially the central oxygen supply). The new maternity and neonatal program, born of necessity during the traumatic days following the quake, is following a good and logical course, and the rest of the hospital is returning to normal.
The surgical capacity will still be challenged as we tend to many postoperative children and new traumas. The cancer center got quite a boost, thanks to Sister Judy, as it is now a partner with the Danny Thomas Children’s Cancer Hospital in the USA. This will bring quite a help for development, diagnostic, training, material and medicines.
The St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff was largely spared, but we were glad to see so much charitable activity on the part of the children, coming to the hospital to visit injured children and distributing food and supplies in the tent cities.
The Family Services team has been very attentive to vulnerable children in the tent cities and has elaborated a good plan for continued involvement. Future reports will be given on all these points I mention in this summary by the people involved.
We are still gathering the names of those who have died or disappeared in the rubble. We hope soon that Daniela, our temporary home correspondent, will be able to make a memorial page on the NPH website. We are very much struck with sorrow by the deaths of our colleagues or deaths in their families.
The St. Luke program has been valiant and tireless, and we suffered the loss of some staff and directors. We also suffered the loss of one third of our 18 street schools. We will resume school in tents, as soon as we have enough, and thanks to Artists for Peace and Justice, we are studying all aspects of rebuilding.
Everywhere around us there are huge problems. There are wounded, homeless and hungry among our 800 employees (all programs combined, including St. Luke). This is made more dreadful by the advance of the rainy season. We had our first rain yesterday.
In a separate letter over the next few days, I will outline the investment we hope to make in addressing these three social problems and the rebuilding and advance of our own programs.
For today, please join us in mourning. Join us in prayers for the dead, for the living, for the future.
Thank you and God bless you.
Fr. Rick Frechette
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Letter from Adele
Sorry for not updating recently but am making up for it now with this email that Adele sent in the last couple of days. You can feel her pain in her words.
Haven't had much time lately for email. Sorry. The impact of what is happening around us is having an effect. The volunteers who have responded to the emergency are working tirelessly. Admin., doctors, nurses etc. There are so many living in tents and under the stars it is difficulty to know exactly how many. They seem to come in on a two week stint. Surgeons leave and surgeons arrive from the DR. The airport is still closed to commercial traffic. A new group of Italian civil defence have arrived and errected more tents around the guest house. It's more like an army camp every day. Only discovered yesterday a group of Slovak army personnel are camping at the back of the car park.
Little by little the hospital is returning to being a paediatric centre again. Our OR doesn't appear to be as busy but post op patients are still coming in from the USS Comfort hospital ship. We expect to be getting around three hundred. These are now being treated in army tents outside the hospital buidling. With army hellicopters landing continuously on the grounds there is no lack of activity.
Through it all it's the children, their parents and our Haitian workers who continue to amaze. I'm here a week now and only found one employee who has a house standing, and even they are afraid to go indoors. None of the parents have houses standing. All are happy to be in the hosptial with their children/family because they have nowhere to go. All our workers are living under makeshift tents on the streets near their homes. They go about their work as if nothing has happened but there is an emptiness and deep sadness in their gaze. Something I've never seen before. Many have lost loved ones with still more unaccounted for.
For most, reality is setting in. The initial shock is turning to dispair as people wonder how they are going to manage. Especially the families of childen/patients who are amputees.....out of work and with nowhere to go, grim reality raises it's head. Those who have been hopeful and smiling over the last week begin to feel the weight of this reality.
A few of us went to Petionville and Port au Prince yesterday and passed hundreds living on the streets. Camp cities were visible in parks and laybys. The city centre is like a bomb site. Collapsed buildings and rubble are being cleared but as yet with nowhere to go. People, perhaps family members, are still chipping away at mounds of what have been homes, schools etc. in the hope of finding those still unaccounted for. We passed a university where the locals told us about 200 bodies remain buried. Charred remains were visible because bodies have been burned to prevent disease spreading. Even writing about this is troubling. I can't imagine what it is like to be living this hell on a daily basis. And yet life goes on. Street vendors have already set up stalls beside many of the distroyed building, some precariusly overhanging the streets. Many shops have reopened but with little on the shelves. Banks are back in business.
Visiting the hospital wards I notice our Haitian staff are back on their normal shifts. Fewer foreigners are around as normality returns. Many visiting doctors are out doing clinics in the poorer areas. As for the children!!! One little girl of eleven, Croixnise, has lost all her family. She always gives us a big smile with outstretched arms looking for a hug. Her foot is in plaster but hopefully will heal well. There is never a mention of her loss and she never complains. Victoria, two and a half is still smiling although her leg has been amputated below the knee. I know I mentioned her before but she is a treasure and as bright as a button. Her dad dotes on her. Last night she gave me all the money ($5) from her dads shirt pocket and then said she had to go wash her hands because of the 'microbes.' Her mom and older sisterr died in the earthquake. Another little baby has lost both arms but holds out his little stump when we gesture to shake hands. Life has to get better for these little warriors.
And then, new to our hospital, is the neo-natal ward. Here new babies are born daily. But they are so tiny and almost appear old before their time. The really healthy ones are few and far between. I haven't seen the dad of the twins in days, which makes me wonder if baby Jonas has joined his sister with the angels.
And our older children who are living outside the orphanage...... Many are helping out in the hospital, bakery, depots etc. It gives them a purpose and I am grateful they are by our side at this difficulty time. However, with schools still closed and nowhere to go many more visit us regularly. They are sleeping outdoors to in the park's camps. Most tell me they can't sleep and have recurring dreams of the terrible 46 seconds that changed their lives forever. We are told the first quake only lasted 46 seconds. 46 seconds to shatter dreams and hopes for the future. Already they have been told there will be no state exams this year. Government buildings have been destroyed and all records lost. Again, a sense of dispair prevails.
And yet there is always a funny side to Haiti. Recently a driver went to renew his car tax and although his car had been damaged in the quake, without windows and with a big dent in the roof, the tax officer was grateful and renewed his tax. Most likely, they didn't even have any records.
Yesterday I also stepped into another world. Visting the orphanage, our childen are almost oblivious to the havoc wrecked on the outside world. Except for the odd few all are back sleeping in their houses. There was great excitement when former volunteers visited, some of whom they hadn't seen for over a decade. The 'babies', the youngest now four, sang and danced for us. All wanted to see if my wires had been removed and some mimicked how I looked after the motorbike accident last year with my scarred face and swollen eyes. Boy do they have good memories.
Better go and see how they are at the hospital.
Take care
Adele
Haven't had much time lately for email. Sorry. The impact of what is happening around us is having an effect. The volunteers who have responded to the emergency are working tirelessly. Admin., doctors, nurses etc. There are so many living in tents and under the stars it is difficulty to know exactly how many. They seem to come in on a two week stint. Surgeons leave and surgeons arrive from the DR. The airport is still closed to commercial traffic. A new group of Italian civil defence have arrived and errected more tents around the guest house. It's more like an army camp every day. Only discovered yesterday a group of Slovak army personnel are camping at the back of the car park.
Little by little the hospital is returning to being a paediatric centre again. Our OR doesn't appear to be as busy but post op patients are still coming in from the USS Comfort hospital ship. We expect to be getting around three hundred. These are now being treated in army tents outside the hospital buidling. With army hellicopters landing continuously on the grounds there is no lack of activity.
Through it all it's the children, their parents and our Haitian workers who continue to amaze. I'm here a week now and only found one employee who has a house standing, and even they are afraid to go indoors. None of the parents have houses standing. All are happy to be in the hosptial with their children/family because they have nowhere to go. All our workers are living under makeshift tents on the streets near their homes. They go about their work as if nothing has happened but there is an emptiness and deep sadness in their gaze. Something I've never seen before. Many have lost loved ones with still more unaccounted for.
For most, reality is setting in. The initial shock is turning to dispair as people wonder how they are going to manage. Especially the families of childen/patients who are amputees.....out of work and with nowhere to go, grim reality raises it's head. Those who have been hopeful and smiling over the last week begin to feel the weight of this reality.
A few of us went to Petionville and Port au Prince yesterday and passed hundreds living on the streets. Camp cities were visible in parks and laybys. The city centre is like a bomb site. Collapsed buildings and rubble are being cleared but as yet with nowhere to go. People, perhaps family members, are still chipping away at mounds of what have been homes, schools etc. in the hope of finding those still unaccounted for. We passed a university where the locals told us about 200 bodies remain buried. Charred remains were visible because bodies have been burned to prevent disease spreading. Even writing about this is troubling. I can't imagine what it is like to be living this hell on a daily basis. And yet life goes on. Street vendors have already set up stalls beside many of the distroyed building, some precariusly overhanging the streets. Many shops have reopened but with little on the shelves. Banks are back in business.
Visiting the hospital wards I notice our Haitian staff are back on their normal shifts. Fewer foreigners are around as normality returns. Many visiting doctors are out doing clinics in the poorer areas. As for the children!!! One little girl of eleven, Croixnise, has lost all her family. She always gives us a big smile with outstretched arms looking for a hug. Her foot is in plaster but hopefully will heal well. There is never a mention of her loss and she never complains. Victoria, two and a half is still smiling although her leg has been amputated below the knee. I know I mentioned her before but she is a treasure and as bright as a button. Her dad dotes on her. Last night she gave me all the money ($5) from her dads shirt pocket and then said she had to go wash her hands because of the 'microbes.' Her mom and older sisterr died in the earthquake. Another little baby has lost both arms but holds out his little stump when we gesture to shake hands. Life has to get better for these little warriors.
And then, new to our hospital, is the neo-natal ward. Here new babies are born daily. But they are so tiny and almost appear old before their time. The really healthy ones are few and far between. I haven't seen the dad of the twins in days, which makes me wonder if baby Jonas has joined his sister with the angels.
And our older children who are living outside the orphanage...... Many are helping out in the hospital, bakery, depots etc. It gives them a purpose and I am grateful they are by our side at this difficulty time. However, with schools still closed and nowhere to go many more visit us regularly. They are sleeping outdoors to in the park's camps. Most tell me they can't sleep and have recurring dreams of the terrible 46 seconds that changed their lives forever. We are told the first quake only lasted 46 seconds. 46 seconds to shatter dreams and hopes for the future. Already they have been told there will be no state exams this year. Government buildings have been destroyed and all records lost. Again, a sense of dispair prevails.
And yet there is always a funny side to Haiti. Recently a driver went to renew his car tax and although his car had been damaged in the quake, without windows and with a big dent in the roof, the tax officer was grateful and renewed his tax. Most likely, they didn't even have any records.
Yesterday I also stepped into another world. Visting the orphanage, our childen are almost oblivious to the havoc wrecked on the outside world. Except for the odd few all are back sleeping in their houses. There was great excitement when former volunteers visited, some of whom they hadn't seen for over a decade. The 'babies', the youngest now four, sang and danced for us. All wanted to see if my wires had been removed and some mimicked how I looked after the motorbike accident last year with my scarred face and swollen eyes. Boy do they have good memories.
Better go and see how they are at the hospital.
Take care
Adele
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Letter from Gena - Mother's and Children's stories
I have been holding off on putting up this letter as I wanted it to go up on a day when there was no update so it wouldn't be overshadowed. If anyone would like to assist these and other women like them I can make sure that your donations are assigned for that purpose, just email me. Gena says she will be following these women and assisting them where she can.
Kay Ste. Germaine,
Sat.30 jan.2010
Finally some quiet – finally some moments to stop and think about all that has happened since Jan.12 2010. I am tired – physically tired and my spirit is tired. I am in our rehab centre – just beside the hospital. Today I am trying to stay away from the hospital – trying to put some distance from me and the sad realities living over there. My body is here on the couch and yet my mind is there with the children. I see Johanne lying on her bed-seven years of age and she is in a coma. The wall that fell on her head pushed a bone in her skull into her brain and to most people she is dead. The doctor asked me to tell the grand-mother-Meritanne- that they cannot do anything for her and that there is no hope for Johanne to recover. I told him that I would tell the grand-mother that it was unlikely Johanne would recover BUT I would not say that there is no hope. Where there is life there is hope and how could I take that little hope from this loving mother? How could I? Meritanne has been with her grand-daughter day and night and she knows that she is very sick. She is not expecting a full recovery BUT she sees her alive when many are dead. She has hope that she might recover – even a little bit. Hope is not the same as expectation. Who has the right to take away Meritanne’s hope? No one has that right. I understand this doctor – he is a kind man that came to help. He does not want to give the family false hope. I told him he does not have to worry about this BUT we will not take her hope. She is a smart woman and she is realistic. She is a Haitian mother and the Haitian people are a people of hope. Good for her. I share in her hope.
And what of Johanne- one eye open and the other closed shut and who knows what is going on in her mind. When you talk to her and kiss her soft skin, I liked to believe she is aware of it and that the blinking of the eyelid is her way of saying that she is indeed listening. Meritanne takes comfort from the fact that the “white doctors” – Norma and I (neither of us doctors!) are giving her child so much attention and that we BELIEVE that Johanne is still very much with us. I told everyone in the ward that we have to put a lot of attention on Johanne- that Johanne has to know how much we want her to come out of this coma. Other mothers give encouragement and everyone says the same thing – thousands died, Johanne is alive. There is a reason! Johanne is one of seven kids. The others are ok – the house destroyed and they are all living in a nearby park. They lost all they owned. The grand-mother wonders what will happen if Johanne is discharged. I wonder the same but for now she will not be going anywhere as she is too unwell. Probably you dear Johanne will not be discharged as for sure your family cannot take care of you in the rubble or under the four sheets that is now your home. Dear dear Johanne, in a moment your life is changed forever and there is no point in even beginning to wonder why. I hope, I so dearly hope that we can help you and your family. I hope. I hope. I hope for so much!
From where I sit, my mind takes me to the bed of Meleanda – five years of age and immobile in her bed. She was trapped in her house – stuck under a door and debris. Her family pulled her out and she was rushed to hospital and put on Oxygen. She was 10 days on Oxygen and now she lies on her bed – ubable to move, unable to talk, unable to eat- very like Johanne but Meleanda is not in a coma. She is aware when the nurse comes to give her medicine and her little body tenses in fear. Her Mam, Clarice tells me that Meleanda responds with her eyes when she talks to her. Meleanda tries to move but cannot. The father is a school teacher – he used to work in two different schools – one in the am and one in the pm. Both schools destroyed.
Lots of people are always hungry in Haiti. Before the earthquake many people were lucky if they ate once a day. Now can you imagine the scene – no house, no clothing, no money, no food- for thousands and thousands of people. Mothers in our hospital have no money to feed themselves while they are with the sick children. They worry about their other children that are sleeping in the parks and streets. Can you imagine the stress of these people? Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine the sadness? World- wide people are trying to help and this is so good. Say a prayer for Johanne and for Meleanda. They are only two and there are many more like them. But I have put them in your head and if you keep them there I believe it will be good for them.
Maybe ye have room for another little kid. His name is Stevenson and he is a bright and sparky three yr old. He had one leg amputated(below the knee) and yet he is still able to smile and play with his little car in his hospital bed. To see him smiling there, you would never imagine all that he has been through. His grandmother is not smiling. She sits there with a sad and tired face. When I talk with her I realize that she is worried about what and will happen when she has to leave the hospital. She has seven kids, two grandchildren and she is the one supporting all of them as she has no husband to help. Oh this woman! How can I describe the sadness, the quiet sadness that did not find the words to come out. When we spoke I felt I wanted to take her in my arms and tell her that she was not alone. “What will I do when I take him home? I have no home- we are sleeping on the street and it will not be good for him because at night it gets cold and he is already fragile. What will I do? I have no idea.”
I told her, I was going to tell her story and maybe I could help. She looked at me and in a very quiet way she said “ if you were able to do this for me, this would be so so good and I would give thanks to God. Maybe God brought you to be because you are the first person that has asked me about my home and maybe you will be able to help me. I will be so so thankful if you can help me because I do not know what I am going to do”.
This beautiful woman that could be my sister, or my cousin or my mother! Her name is Ghislaine.
I spoke to some of the foreigners that are staying in our grounds and I asked them if they can give me their tents when they leave next week. They said yes so that means I have some tents for some of the patients that will soon be leaving. For now I will be able to give Ghislaine a tent for her little boy and I will give her some money to help her out. I cannot give her life back but we will help her as we can. We have over twenty children with amputations in our hospital and probably as many adults. The statistics say that so far there are at least 2000 amputees since the earthquake. We have a lot of work to do! We do what we can and we are grateful for the thousands of people helping us do what we can do.
Gena Heraty
Kay Ste. Germaine,
Sat.30 jan.2010
Finally some quiet – finally some moments to stop and think about all that has happened since Jan.12 2010. I am tired – physically tired and my spirit is tired. I am in our rehab centre – just beside the hospital. Today I am trying to stay away from the hospital – trying to put some distance from me and the sad realities living over there. My body is here on the couch and yet my mind is there with the children. I see Johanne lying on her bed-seven years of age and she is in a coma. The wall that fell on her head pushed a bone in her skull into her brain and to most people she is dead. The doctor asked me to tell the grand-mother-Meritanne- that they cannot do anything for her and that there is no hope for Johanne to recover. I told him that I would tell the grand-mother that it was unlikely Johanne would recover BUT I would not say that there is no hope. Where there is life there is hope and how could I take that little hope from this loving mother? How could I? Meritanne has been with her grand-daughter day and night and she knows that she is very sick. She is not expecting a full recovery BUT she sees her alive when many are dead. She has hope that she might recover – even a little bit. Hope is not the same as expectation. Who has the right to take away Meritanne’s hope? No one has that right. I understand this doctor – he is a kind man that came to help. He does not want to give the family false hope. I told him he does not have to worry about this BUT we will not take her hope. She is a smart woman and she is realistic. She is a Haitian mother and the Haitian people are a people of hope. Good for her. I share in her hope.
And what of Johanne- one eye open and the other closed shut and who knows what is going on in her mind. When you talk to her and kiss her soft skin, I liked to believe she is aware of it and that the blinking of the eyelid is her way of saying that she is indeed listening. Meritanne takes comfort from the fact that the “white doctors” – Norma and I (neither of us doctors!) are giving her child so much attention and that we BELIEVE that Johanne is still very much with us. I told everyone in the ward that we have to put a lot of attention on Johanne- that Johanne has to know how much we want her to come out of this coma. Other mothers give encouragement and everyone says the same thing – thousands died, Johanne is alive. There is a reason! Johanne is one of seven kids. The others are ok – the house destroyed and they are all living in a nearby park. They lost all they owned. The grand-mother wonders what will happen if Johanne is discharged. I wonder the same but for now she will not be going anywhere as she is too unwell. Probably you dear Johanne will not be discharged as for sure your family cannot take care of you in the rubble or under the four sheets that is now your home. Dear dear Johanne, in a moment your life is changed forever and there is no point in even beginning to wonder why. I hope, I so dearly hope that we can help you and your family. I hope. I hope. I hope for so much!
From where I sit, my mind takes me to the bed of Meleanda – five years of age and immobile in her bed. She was trapped in her house – stuck under a door and debris. Her family pulled her out and she was rushed to hospital and put on Oxygen. She was 10 days on Oxygen and now she lies on her bed – ubable to move, unable to talk, unable to eat- very like Johanne but Meleanda is not in a coma. She is aware when the nurse comes to give her medicine and her little body tenses in fear. Her Mam, Clarice tells me that Meleanda responds with her eyes when she talks to her. Meleanda tries to move but cannot. The father is a school teacher – he used to work in two different schools – one in the am and one in the pm. Both schools destroyed.
Lots of people are always hungry in Haiti. Before the earthquake many people were lucky if they ate once a day. Now can you imagine the scene – no house, no clothing, no money, no food- for thousands and thousands of people. Mothers in our hospital have no money to feed themselves while they are with the sick children. They worry about their other children that are sleeping in the parks and streets. Can you imagine the stress of these people? Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine the sadness? World- wide people are trying to help and this is so good. Say a prayer for Johanne and for Meleanda. They are only two and there are many more like them. But I have put them in your head and if you keep them there I believe it will be good for them.
Maybe ye have room for another little kid. His name is Stevenson and he is a bright and sparky three yr old. He had one leg amputated(below the knee) and yet he is still able to smile and play with his little car in his hospital bed. To see him smiling there, you would never imagine all that he has been through. His grandmother is not smiling. She sits there with a sad and tired face. When I talk with her I realize that she is worried about what and will happen when she has to leave the hospital. She has seven kids, two grandchildren and she is the one supporting all of them as she has no husband to help. Oh this woman! How can I describe the sadness, the quiet sadness that did not find the words to come out. When we spoke I felt I wanted to take her in my arms and tell her that she was not alone. “What will I do when I take him home? I have no home- we are sleeping on the street and it will not be good for him because at night it gets cold and he is already fragile. What will I do? I have no idea.”
I told her, I was going to tell her story and maybe I could help. She looked at me and in a very quiet way she said “ if you were able to do this for me, this would be so so good and I would give thanks to God. Maybe God brought you to be because you are the first person that has asked me about my home and maybe you will be able to help me. I will be so so thankful if you can help me because I do not know what I am going to do”.
This beautiful woman that could be my sister, or my cousin or my mother! Her name is Ghislaine.
I spoke to some of the foreigners that are staying in our grounds and I asked them if they can give me their tents when they leave next week. They said yes so that means I have some tents for some of the patients that will soon be leaving. For now I will be able to give Ghislaine a tent for her little boy and I will give her some money to help her out. I cannot give her life back but we will help her as we can. We have over twenty children with amputations in our hospital and probably as many adults. The statistics say that so far there are at least 2000 amputees since the earthquake. We have a lot of work to do! We do what we can and we are grateful for the thousands of people helping us do what we can do.
Gena Heraty
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