Exciting News!
Since last post, I have been contacted by 2 groups wanting to help with our trip.
One is a church group who has been supporting an orphanage in Port au Prince for years. Luckily, they were able to get all their kids out of danger with only a few injuries. They have been collecting for their orphanage and are hoping that we can bring some medical supplies there.
The second was from Abilities Unlimited, a company that produces prosthetics and orthotics in Colorado Springs. They are also willing to donate supplies to us - it would be amazing to be able to bring prosthetics to Haiti where there are more than 10,000 new amputees. We are planning on touring their facility, selecting from what they have, and being trained in fitting.
We are confirmed as a group of 5, me (Rachel), Megan, Danielle, Kimberly and Lisa. We all have passports, plane tickets and are getting geared to go! I'm spending extra time in my car with the Berlitz "Basic French" CD's. Luckily, it's coming back pretty fast.
Next steps, finishing getting my immunizations, getting more aggressive with fundraising, getting scrubs to wear, and finalizing the list of supplies to bring. Can't wait. - Rachel
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Progress!
Hiya everyone who's following our Haiti adventure!
Things are proceeding apace! Paypal finally released its hold on our funds today, and I've received several checks so we are really doing well. My passport came in the mail last weekend. Plane tickets have been purchased. Tomorrow is my day off and I plan to spend it getting my immunizations and looking for rain gear.
Travel plans are as follows: In Miami on April 10, in Port-au-Prince on the morning of April 11, leaving Port-au-Prince on the evening of April 17, home from Miami on Sunday April 18. So many people have shown their support, not just by donating funds but also by making a point to tell me how happy they are that we're going. It feels wonderful, and although it's still scary, now more than ever I'm convinced this is the right thing to do.
- Megan
Things are proceeding apace! Paypal finally released its hold on our funds today, and I've received several checks so we are really doing well. My passport came in the mail last weekend. Plane tickets have been purchased. Tomorrow is my day off and I plan to spend it getting my immunizations and looking for rain gear.
Travel plans are as follows: In Miami on April 10, in Port-au-Prince on the morning of April 11, leaving Port-au-Prince on the evening of April 17, home from Miami on Sunday April 18. So many people have shown their support, not just by donating funds but also by making a point to tell me how happy they are that we're going. It feels wonderful, and although it's still scary, now more than ever I'm convinced this is the right thing to do.
- Megan
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Hello all Moms in Haiti supporters!!
Last Wednesday I went to a lecture by Dr. Meinig, an orthopod who was in the first wave of surgeons to go to Haiti from Colorado Springs. My friend Justine Crowley, also an orthopedic surgeon, went with them and is still there - morphed into a hospital administrator and running one of the only functional hospital sites in Port au Prince. Go Justine!
Anyway, Dr. Meinig gave a passionate and moving presentation, including slides. Here are some amazing facts I got from his talk:
The amplitude of Haiti's earthquake got up to 13 feet - imagine your house being bounced up to 13 feet in the air and then dropped. With the very poor quality of construction there, most people did not have a chance.
The median age of Haitians is 20 years old. Dr. Meinig referred to Haiti as "a country of children". This is both troubling and hopeful. Troubling because so many of the leaders in the government and church were killed. Hopeful because young people can be so much more resilient and can be trained for future leadership.
Dr. Meinig reassured us in the audience that he never felt any security concerns. He said "it's surreal how peaceful they are", and said that reports of looting and violence were overblown. He particularly said he felt safe in the compound where he stayed (the same place our group will be staying).
There is a Colorado Doc from Pueblo, Dr. Jim Smith, who has an organization called Health4Haiti. He has been a presence in Haiti's 3rd largest city, Gonaives, for several years. Even though Gonaives was not in the earthquake zone, his clinic is busier than ever, treating streams of injured people who fled Port au Prince. I hope to get in contact with him and see if we can help there, too, or bring some supplies.
When I decided to go to Haiti, I asked people to go with me, but kept quiet with my other friends. Now that I have outed myself, I am both more committed and a little more nervous about the trip. Thank you so much for your support so far!!
Love, Rachel
Last Wednesday I went to a lecture by Dr. Meinig, an orthopod who was in the first wave of surgeons to go to Haiti from Colorado Springs. My friend Justine Crowley, also an orthopedic surgeon, went with them and is still there - morphed into a hospital administrator and running one of the only functional hospital sites in Port au Prince. Go Justine!
Anyway, Dr. Meinig gave a passionate and moving presentation, including slides. Here are some amazing facts I got from his talk:
The amplitude of Haiti's earthquake got up to 13 feet - imagine your house being bounced up to 13 feet in the air and then dropped. With the very poor quality of construction there, most people did not have a chance.
The median age of Haitians is 20 years old. Dr. Meinig referred to Haiti as "a country of children". This is both troubling and hopeful. Troubling because so many of the leaders in the government and church were killed. Hopeful because young people can be so much more resilient and can be trained for future leadership.
Dr. Meinig reassured us in the audience that he never felt any security concerns. He said "it's surreal how peaceful they are", and said that reports of looting and violence were overblown. He particularly said he felt safe in the compound where he stayed (the same place our group will be staying).
There is a Colorado Doc from Pueblo, Dr. Jim Smith, who has an organization called Health4Haiti. He has been a presence in Haiti's 3rd largest city, Gonaives, for several years. Even though Gonaives was not in the earthquake zone, his clinic is busier than ever, treating streams of injured people who fled Port au Prince. I hope to get in contact with him and see if we can help there, too, or bring some supplies.
When I decided to go to Haiti, I asked people to go with me, but kept quiet with my other friends. Now that I have outed myself, I am both more committed and a little more nervous about the trip. Thank you so much for your support so far!!
Love, Rachel
Friday, March 5, 2010
Important Announcement
Hello everyone!
I'm posting today because I'm having a bit of an issue with PayPal. It seems that there are people in the world who would pretend to be a charitable organization, take money from unsuspecting hopeful do-gooders, and make out like a bandit. PayPal in their infinite wisdom checks out the sites where their "Donate" buttons are linked and make a determination whether that site meets the requirements of a "charitable organization." If so, then they need documentation to prove that the organization is verifiably tax exempt, etc.
This trip to Haiti is indeed a charitable mission, but the funds we raise are mainly intended to fund the travel expenses of those involved. There are plane tickets, immunizations, clothing, rain gear, medicines, bedding, and medical supplies to be purchased. Each person's expense will be somewhere between $1200 and $1800 depending on the kinds of deals we're able to get.
Your donation, while needed and much appreciated, is not tax deductible because we are not a certified non-profit organization. You are donating in good faith that we are who we say we are, that we are indeed going to Haiti, that we will indeed spend a week lending our medical expertise to the cause. Those of you who know us personally will no doubt have no problem with that leap of faith, but of course PayPal can't tell what is what in the anonymous blogosphere.
I hope that the lovely folks at PayPal understand that you know and we know that your gift is more or less an individual gift, and for all practical (and tax related) purposes, will be for personal use.
Thank you for your support!!
- Megan
I'm posting today because I'm having a bit of an issue with PayPal. It seems that there are people in the world who would pretend to be a charitable organization, take money from unsuspecting hopeful do-gooders, and make out like a bandit. PayPal in their infinite wisdom checks out the sites where their "Donate" buttons are linked and make a determination whether that site meets the requirements of a "charitable organization." If so, then they need documentation to prove that the organization is verifiably tax exempt, etc.
This trip to Haiti is indeed a charitable mission, but the funds we raise are mainly intended to fund the travel expenses of those involved. There are plane tickets, immunizations, clothing, rain gear, medicines, bedding, and medical supplies to be purchased. Each person's expense will be somewhere between $1200 and $1800 depending on the kinds of deals we're able to get.
Your donation, while needed and much appreciated, is not tax deductible because we are not a certified non-profit organization. You are donating in good faith that we are who we say we are, that we are indeed going to Haiti, that we will indeed spend a week lending our medical expertise to the cause. Those of you who know us personally will no doubt have no problem with that leap of faith, but of course PayPal can't tell what is what in the anonymous blogosphere.
I hope that the lovely folks at PayPal understand that you know and we know that your gift is more or less an individual gift, and for all practical (and tax related) purposes, will be for personal use.
Thank you for your support!!
- Megan
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hello blogosphere! Here is the text of the letter I sent to my friends and extended family about our upcoming trip. If you like it, please copy it and forward it on to anyone else you think might be interested. xxoo Rachel
Dear Friends,
On April 10, 2010 – my 40th birthday, I’m flying with a group of medical professionals to help in Haiti. Since 40 is the new 20, I’m really excited to begin my adulthood with an experience that exemplifies my sincere aspiration to do good work in the world. I’ll be going with other “Medical Moms” (we are all working moms with young kids). We will be staying and working out of a medical complex called “Quisqueya”, which has been active since the January 12 earthquake in organizing and supplying medical teams to work in the remaining hospitals and impromptu medical clinics that have been set up in Port au Prince and outlying areas. For more information, check out http://qcsrelief.quisqueya.
Something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is the rise in technology and the possibility of bettering the world. I frankly don’t think that anyone is better off from most of the programming on the television or internet, and I could care less what new games gadget or high-def modality is in the works. However, I think there is a great potential for world improvement because of the unprecedented access to world news. 10,000 years ago, most humans rarely saw anyone outside their local tribe, and events beyond this group were unknowable. 1,000 years ago, this was extended to the city-state. 100 years ago to a person’s country. In the last 10 years, we have gained the ability to witness events across the world, and care about people in countries continents away. We can send them money and aid, and watch their recovery (until our attention is diverted elsewhere). Sometimes this is very depressing, as more and more information about human suffering is accessible. But I think of the possibilities. If we know about problems, we can care. If enough people care, then a proportion will act. If enough people act, problems can be solved. Diseases can be cured, hunger and drought can be alleviated, injustices can be corrected.
So, I’m going to Haiti to put my ideas into practice and hopefully do some good. Because of technology, I can get there in about 7 hours and phone, e-mail and blog from there. I know that this is going to be a mind-blowing experience: seeing poverty, disease and the ascendancy of the human spirit first hand. I hope I can make a small dent in the suffering and maybe make somebody smile and hope in their turn. I hope to meet with other professionals in public health and crisis care and learn from their experience. I hope that Haiti reinforces my drive and optimism, and I hope that my experience encourages you to do something that you have been only dreaming of until now.
This is a charitable mission, so if you would like to support us, please check out our blog at http://pamomsinhaiti.blogspot.
Thanks so much for your interest and your friendship! Good luck with all your pursuits!
Love, Rachel
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