Comments (1)

By H.O.P.E. Admin, January 28, 2010 12:39 PM

Dear friends/zanmi!

When I said good night yesterday, I was under the impression that we were all set with schedules of shipments and that our first cargo would go out Thursday. All that changed around 8:30 am with a call from Borgne, followed by a flurry of other calls with Jim, Nellie and Reg. Why? Remember the MASH unit/field hospital I told you about yesterday? Well, it is in full swing and they need additional cots (can’t find them in Haiti), sheets, towels, soap, TP, wash basins and two generators (diesel mind you so not easy to find in the US and none left in Haiti)…. I leave you to ponder the dilemma… BUT, again we did it!

We have a Cessna leaving Friday morning from Front Royal, VA with 38 cots, loads of sheets, towels, other supplies… and the two generators. A tour de force for sure, but intrepid people do not let small details stop them. Reg located his friend Rock who will fly his plane with Reg in tow; Nellie mobilized the DC group (as I write they are sorting, wrapping, packing…); Bridget found a Sears in the VA area who had the generators; message was sent alerting the Cap airport to expect our arrival; Embassy letters done!!! Really, men anpil, chay pa lou, with everyone pitching in the job got done! Well done DC and Rochester!!!

Meantime, in the field it was a busy, super busy day. Thony and Mike went back to Milot to pick up more patients, this time there were some amputees. Tomorrow they go back for more. I sensed a high level of anxiety and excitement in Borgne during our many phone conversations, and even more numerous text messages. In the background, the noise of a busy hospital for sure but also of hyper energy… beds and cots being moved into the high school, walls washed down with Clorox, a kitchen is quickly set up, water is piped in… a place buzzing with activity! Remember that the staff agreed to cancel leave time until the place is set… a long time!!

The harder part of the conversations though was about the patients we are caring for. The stories are heart breaking, the suffering deep… how can I express this from here? Words sound trivial in the face of dislocation, loss of limbs, painful wounds and fractures, emotional turmoil and angst… Mike and Thony said that some of our patients were brought to Milot by helicopter and have no idea where their loved ones are… They find themselves in a strange place at the time when they most need familiar surroundings and their kin around them. Some are with relatives who tag along to Borgne and themselves need shelter and some serenity to deal with their trauma.

We are preparing to receive many, many more cases -adults and children, and this means planning! Planning for rehab, long term care of physical and emotional trauma but also planning for help (volunteer professionals to lend a hand and supplement our own staff…), for supplies, and space. We are setting up for 200 now and according to Thony will surpass these numbers… rapidly.

We are warmed by the fact that we know we are not alone in this. Help came when we asked and we will be asking again with faith that the plight of these victims will not fall on deaf ears. I used to be reluctant to ask for support, I no longer have this privilege! I struggled a long time with a statement that Gustavo Gutierrez, the Liberation Theologian, made at a PIH symposium: “If I am hungry, it is a physical problem; when my neighbor is hungry, it is a spiritual problem.” I wondered what he meant by my neighbor’s hunger being a spiritual problem for me. I think I get it now. Hunger is suffering, deep suffering. As a human being, I am affected by the suffering of others and have to address it by any means available to me. This disaster brings each of us closer to our fellow human beings and we find ourselves touched and compelled to act. I can’t express enough my gratitude, that of my colleagues at H.O.P.E., and especially that of all those who will pass through our health facility in the coming months for your support and the energy you bring to us. Mesi anpil!!!

I wanted to write something exciting and uplifting but the picture that Mike sent this afternoon brought me back to reality. I let this picture and Mike’s words close this update and hope that tomorrow will be a better day for those we welcome in Borgne and many more in the days to come…

Good night, na we demen (see you tomorrow)
Rose-Marie

Comments (2)

By H.O.P.E. Admin, January 27, 2010 2:06 PM

On Sunday January 24, a large group of volunteers met at SPOT Coffee in Rochester NY, to support H.O.P.E. member, Dan Sullivan, in his effort to organize a benefit concert for H.O.P.E. and the victims of the tragic January 12th earthquake. Committees were formed to work on advertising, ticket sales, collaboration with the bands and music hall as well as plenty of individual efforts.

Thanks to the epic effort of all involved, H.O.P.E. asks:

Rochester, mark your calendars!

On February 6th, at 6 PM, a selection of local musical groups will be performing at the Water Street Music Hall.

You can expect to hear the musical talents of:

Wild Geese
The Buddahood
Two Ton Ska
Mosaic Foundation
Driftwood
Night Gallery
The Los Fadeaways
Deep Blue Dream

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, including House of Guitars, Ticketmaster.com, Record Archive and through the individual bands. They can also be purchased by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Tickets are $10 presale, and $15 at the door. You must be 16 or older, with an I.D.

We look forward to seeing you there!
-H.O.P.E.