Mobile Medical Team
May 25-30, 2010

Wednesday, May 26

Boarding the usual 6:30 a.m. flight Monday from Minneapolis, team members landed in Haiti at approximately 4:00 p.m. after a long layover in Miami. They are:

• Jeff Boston, RN, Psy D – Team Leader
• Autumn Erwin, MD
• Carson Harris, MD
• Matt Morgan, MD
• Brandi Gary, MD
• Lindsay Christopher, RN
• Martin Elie, Pharmacist
• Rachel Kroeker, Medical Student
• Sarah Westin, RN
• Joan Gunderson, RN
• Norman Byng, St. Paul Fire Captain/Paramedic
• Alicia Arbogast
• Michael Brogan

The team included some newcomers, but consisted mostly of those who had been to Haiti with No Time For Poverty. The “newbies” apprehension was as apparent as was the gentle pleasure showing on the faces and demeanors of those returning to Haiti. Norm, a new member of the No Time For Poverty family, bounced on the scene with a warm and gracious air of excitement.

Bringing with them almost 1200 pounds of medications and supplies, this medical team was not heading to Port au Prince but to Port Salut, Haiti, where No Time For Poverty is working with the community to bring to it a program of comprehensive medical care for children. While there is no doubt that there continues to be a dire need for medical care in Port a Prince, No Time For Poverty is cognizant of its need to do what we set out to do in Port Salut.

Having sent 3 outstanding medical relief teams to Port au Prince since the earthquake, this newest team travels to Port Salut to bring its medical skills and talents to that isolated community, in the southwest region of Haiti. Not only has Port Salut experienced an influx of Haitians displaced from Port au Prince since the earthquake, it continues to suffer from the deplorable lack of basic medical care that characterized the region prior to the quake.

Two out of every ten children die before their fifth birthday from illness and disease easily treatable in the US. The leading cause of death of its children is from dehydration caused by diarrhea, easily treated with a mixture of sugar, salt and water. Pneumonia, the second cause of death in children is easily treatable with antibiotics, and the list goes on and on. There is still but one substandard hospital in our region of 65,000. Medical care for all intents and purposes is in non-existent in Port Salut.

You will be hearing about our medical team this week. You will also be hearing about the progress we are making toward this summer’s completion of our 8,370 square foot clinic and the development of our outreach and education programs. Don’t think for one minute that we don’t need your continued interest – we do!

Until next time,
Michele

Friday, April 16

Touchdown at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport came at about 10:20 last night for most of our medical team. Gordy remained in Florida and Howard flew home to Chicago.
Warm and ingratiating, the team acted happy to see me, though I could not help but feel the intruder for their having had an experience so uniquely their own. Each with that “deer in the headlights” look, it was apparent to me that the Twin Cities airport, ordinarily a reference of comfort in being home, had become unfamiliar in only eight days time.
That there was an element of lost in team members is hardly surprising. They had come from a literal war zone of a society rendered so by the earthquake; where rubble and destruction was the visual, stench the olfactory, and suffering, the visceral.
The order of things alone as they arrived at the Miami airport on the first leg of their journey home was perhaps the initial trigger to the reverse culture shock they encountered. Perhaps, it began even sooner; the moment they boarded the jet from Port au Prince and felt the soft of their seats, signifying a thing of a different sort.
Irrespective of the precise moment it began, the comprehension of the journey home began for each the moment the realization of leaving Haiti behind set in. It is at this juncture that the anger, the sadness, and the aloneness with it all, begins to crop up until it overcomes. And while there are moments of relief derived from contact with other team members, the journey through it is a solo one for the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that reside so deeply within.
The good news is that there will come a time when the hurt begins to subside. Time alone sees to that. Painful memories are transformed into admiration for the Haitian spirit of resilience and guilt for those who are left behind morphs into quiet gratification for the differences one was able to make.
Many of the team will commit to returning to Haiti and some of them will. The only for sure things about our third medical relief trip are these - that like those teams who have come to Haiti before and will come after, every member of our team left a life of peace and security to travel far beyond that; that they worked not in a country, but amongst real people – those for whom a killer earthquake tore down and away their lives and their dreams; that our team saved the lives of some, comforted others, and extended to all the voice and the arms of human kindness which say, “You matter”; that for some period of time there was a place in this universe where strangers from a strange land met other strangers from a strange land and both touched one another’s hearts and souls in ways that most of us can never imagine. No Time For Poverty welcomes home Gordy, Jeff, Rick, Penny, Howard, Lona, Karl, Ruth, Shelby, Dan, Gail, and Judy!
Michele

Thursday, April 15
So, you want to know what you get when you mix two little girls with one grandma determined to make a difference in the world? What you get is a powerhouse of philanthropy!

Pictured above: Josie and Evangelina
It all began when Evangelina, asked her Grandma, Arlana Vaughan, to go with her to return one of the holiday gifts her grandmother had given to her. Exchanging the gift for cash, they bought the fixings to make chocolate chip and sugar cookies. Enter Josie, a good friend of Evangelina’s.
Together, the three embarked on their baking project, which they had named, “Cookies for Haiti.” Intending to sell each and every one of them (but for those that had to be taste tested), the goal was to raise as much money for Haiti as they possibly could.
Order forms in hand, our bakers morphed into door to door sales people and on Superbowl Sunday, sold their goods for cold hard cash. Selling the cookies for $.50 and $.75 cents a piece, the girls amassed a small fortune – well over $150.00! They turned around and used the money to purchase Neosure Neonatal formula for our six malnourished babies at Nos Petites Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) Orphanage.
Having had the extreme pleasure of meeting this tremendous trio, and thanking them for their generous gift, I was struck by two things. The first was the selflessness with which these little girls approached their goal. The second was the humility with which they hardly acknowledged the extent of their accomplishments.
When I asked the girls what it was that they learned from their entrepreneurial experience, Angelina replied, “If you get cookies, you should not keep them for yourselves but sell them and give the money to others.” I think this says it all in a nutshell!
Our hats go off to Evangelina and Josie, both of whom are currently employed as elementary school students. Evangelina attends Unity Balsam Lake Elementary in Wisconsin, and Josie attends Museum Magnet in St. Paul, MN. We also thank their grandmother, Arlana Vaughan, Director of AVA Special Events (an alternative ticket service which helps support the presentation of The Sweet Honey In The Rock Project in the Twin Cities), for choosing No Time For Poverty as the recipient of this most generous donation.
On another note – THE TEAM HAS LANDED! In fact, at the moment of this writing they are all eating hamburgers, a welcome change I am sure from goat! This coherent group was happy, healthy, and excited. Sue and I became a little worried, however, when we heard them in the background crying “Ole, Ole!” Let’s hope they were in a Mexican restaurant and not thinking they were on their way to Spain. The delirium could be expected, we suppose!
Please look in the coming days when we post photos of our team’s amazing journey!
Michele

Wednesday, April 14
With this being the eve of our team’s departure from Haiti, the mixed feelings they are now experiencing can only be equaled by their joy in returning to loved ones. While leaving behind so much of what they experienced, they will be carrying with them back to the United States memories of a lifetime. While many of these will be good ones memorializing the hard work and dedication that made so great a difference in Haiti, others will be painful for the work left to be done and for those who are left behind.
I cannot help be reminded of a book entitled, Haiti: Best Nightmare on Earth, by Herbert Gold. While the book was written years before the earthquake, it is perhaps even more fitting today and likely encompasses the duality of feelings visitors to Haiti experience.
It is hard to know if any of our team will sleep tonight for the contrary emotions that may leave them lying in wake. For certain, whether they sleep or not however, and whether their dreams be gentle or hard, they will no doubt return feeling tired and alone for the world that has been one of a different kind these past many days.
And so for now, I end with our deepest and sincerest expression of gratitude for the twelve men and women who dared to make a difference. ~ Michele

Tuesday, April 13
In some respects, Monday was like all other days for our team – lots and lots of work. Gordy continues to do surgery. Howard is shuttled between hospitals, the demand for anesthesiologists far exceeding the few currently in Haiti.
Karl and Ruthie returned from the mountains, their trip was eventful in many respects – First, the travel to the mountains took six and one half hours rather than the three and a half expected. The road, made dangerous due to the rains, was slow going. Once they arrived at their destination they were met with a significant aftershock that reeked terror to the community and caused Ruthie and Karl’s hearts to skip quite a few beats as well.
Once settled, clinic for Karl and Ruthie began at 4:00 a.m. when droves of people lined up to be seen for treatment of worms, rashes, malnutrition, hypertension, fevers, and much more. Five hundred people were seen at the makeshift clinic in three days. Karl affectionately named their clinic, “Clinic In The Mud!” for the terrain being constantly drenched from the rain.
In the course of the clinic, Karl and Ruthie saved the life of a two year old suffering from a serous infection due to a severe laceration on his foot. Under their care, the laceration was treated, the infection cleared, and the near death baby was put on the road to recovery.
Despite the heat, the rain, and the mud, Karl and Ruthie were struck by Haiti’s beauty. But perhaps even more so, they were struck by the Haitians themselves; the pride they took in their dress and their grooming, and the care that each took of one another. Telling of a woman, blind since birth, Karl could not help but take note of how she presented as someone who had been well cared for and looked after by others for the entirety of her life.
These very things apparent to Karl are in fact what distinguishes a poor country from an impoverished one. That Haiti is poor there is not doubt. It is far from impoverished, however, for in Haiti a community is truly that, and a family goes well beyond its immediate members…
Dan and Rick worked independently all day in the emergency room at the University of Miami Tent Hospital. Jeff calls Dan and Rick “work horses” for the long hours they put in. Rick worked twelve hour shifts three days in a row.
Lona’s shift in the pediatric intensive care “unit” was not uneventful. When the regulator on an oxygen tank broke, sounding like a siren going off – it caused so much terror and panic for fear of earthquake that parents grabbed their very sick children from their beds and ran with them from what they feared could be a falling building. In one instance, a mother tore out the central I V line in her baby’s femoral artery. The damage caused resulted in a postponement of surgery the baby had been awaiting. It was only after some time that calm was restored in peds intensive care.
Gail worked in the emergency room at General Hospital, Port au Prince’s public facility that prior to the quake, treated the city’s poorest. While Gail says that the patients are “awesome,” she describes the hospital as disorganized and chaotic. Quick to add that she thrives in chaos, she also points out that she could not work indefinitely under the circumstances she’s encountered at Hospital General.
Armed with cases of baby formula, Jeff, Penny, Judy, and Shelby went to Nos Petites Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) orphanage, where our six malnourished babies, had at the time of our first and second medical trips, been fighting to stay alive. Formerly too sick to show their photos, the babies, we are told, are now thriving and photos are apparently on their way! The team also brought hand crocheted baby blankets especially made for these babies by the mother in law of one of Jeff’s clients and her friends.
Lovely is now at the orphanage as well. Lovely is the fifteen year old girl found on the street in northern Haiti soon after the earthquake. She weighed only twenty pounds, and despite the fight in her eyes, it was unlikely that Lovely would survive. Yet, today Jeff is quite encouraged. Lovely is gaining weight and her face is no longer sunken-in as it had been. Lovely’s photo would still cause shock and dismay therefore it will not be shown. We do, however, look to a time when her picture would invoke that of which she is named.
While once located in the heart of Port au Prince, Nos Petites Freres et Soeurs has moved beyond the center of the city thanks to a donation of a large plot of land and thereby providing the children at the orphanage with room to play and roam. One of our favorites, little three year old Geoffrey is so proud of his new home and surroundings that he took his old pal Jeff by the hand and “showed him around.”
This picture shows little Geoffrey sitting by big Jeffrey’s feet.

Before

After

Monday, April 12
On Saturday, Jeff reported a “typical day post earthquake in a Haitian hospital setting – too much to do and not enough resources with which to do it.” Three nurses at the University of Miami Tent Hospital were assigned to sixty patients. “People are so sick,” Jeff tells me. Yet despite all that seems insurmountable, he is far from discouraged. It is so apparent that he and the team take for granted that they are in Haiti to do what must be done with neither complaint nor lament.
Jeff tells me of a young man in his twenties. An isolation tent has been assembled for him and his mother as he is suffering from tuberculosis, AIDS, and a fungal infection. Jeff administers a regimen of medication to him and talks with his mother as the young man is far too ill to speak. Frightened for her son as any mother would be, she nonetheless goes out of her way to express her appreciation for the medical care her son is receiving. “Sweet as could be,” is how Jeff describes her!
Jeff goes on to relate the calamity caused by rain flooding some of the tents, and the relocation of thirty patients to higher ground. Thereafter, he speaks of a woman in her fifties seen in emergency. Immediately assigned to a bed for the seriousness of her condition, staff quickly gather I V supplies only to find that in those few moments – she has died. Members of our team prepared her post mortem in the Haitian way for her family to view her.
Karl spoke to Jeff on Saturday. He and Ruthie are not only safe and well but Karl reports that their experience in the mountains has been a good one. The area is beautiful and they are well cared for, their hosts making sure they are offered two meat meals per day. I would venture to guess that neither Karl nor Ruthie has been exposed to goat as frequently as they have been these last few days – if ever!
The practice of medicine in the mountains is hard, Karl relates. They do what they can with very little. There is no hospital in which to refer those who need this kind of care. Our “mountain team” will return to Quisqueya in Port au Prince today. (One quick note – we previously reported that Shelby was also working in the mountains but we were in error. She has been working at the University of Miami Tent Hospital.)
Gordon, our orthopedic surgeon, performed a number of surgeries overt the weekend. Friday evening he stayed on-call overnight at Daquini Hospital where he has been assigned.
When Jeff called on Sunday, I was able to detect an increasing fatigue in him. It is common with relief workers as the days progress. I am, however, unconcerned. I know the remedy is a night’s sleep and paradoxically – more hard work the next day.
The University of Miami Tent Hospital was busy Sunday; too many I V’s to count and much the same inability with respect to numbers of those being treated. For Jeff, however, some patients stand out more than others. He spoke of a young man and woman, paraplegic patients in their twenties and another man in his forties – all victims of the quake.
The young woman suffered from both pain in her spine region and bed ulcers. When ordinarily a dose of morphine would have to wait until the requisite time, an exception was made for her excruciating pain.
Jeff’s aching heart was apparent as he pondered the futures these three wheel chair bound individuals could have in Haiti where rehabilitation is unavailable, where streets under the best of circumstances are not tenable for wheelchairs, and where accessibility of any other sort is non-existent in Haiti.
As he went on, Jeff also spoke of a young woman of twenty three, blinded from meningitis. Treated with antipsychotic medication for the psychotic like symptoms she displayed only at nighttime, Jeff was called upon to do a psychological consultation of her. The young woman as it turned out was far from psychotic, her symptoms instead a reality based panic.
Living on the streets in Port au Prince, the young woman had coveted various hiding places to keep her safe from rape by those who would prey on her vulnerabilities. In the hospital, she knew not of such protection and passed every night in terror. From the severity of her reaction, I could not help but wonder if she had already been violated and perhaps more than once. I find myself angry beyond words for the accident of her birth to the circumstances in that which is Haiti.
Should there be a light note today, it perhaps lies in pizza. Gordon treated the team to it for dinner last night from a nearby restaurant. As there are not many such eating establishments in Haiti, I was immediately familiar from where it came - one of my favorite restaurants in Port au Prince. My memories of it, however, turn bittersweet as Jeff delights in the telling of this “American” eating experience in Haiti. For some reason I had assumed, that like so much of Port au Prince, this restaurant had not survived. Yet the idea that it did when so much else did not, and the fact it was up, open, and making pizza amid the hunger of the Haitians – was (no pun intended) in some ways hard to swallow. That our team deserved pizza – and much more, there is no doubt. It’s just that I had always thought the pizza restaurant an anomaly in Haiti. Now it seems even more so. So much for a “lighter note.”
I have little to report on the work of other team members and for this I apologize. The last two days Jeff has phoned in immediately following very long shifts and before he reunited with other team members. Today, however, Jeff plans to visit our babies at the orphanage, deliver their formula, and report on the team.
The best news of the day is that today is Gordon’s birthday and the team has planned a party with dinner and a birthday cake! I imagine that in his seventy years Gordon remembers many a birthday. I believe, however, that it’s safe to bet that his Haiti birthday will be a memory of a far different kind. Happy Birthday, Gordy!
Michele

Friday, April 9
When Jeff, Penny, Rick, and Judy reported to the University of Miami Tent Hospital yesterday for their assignments, they were met with an actual standing ovation. Short of nurses, the hospital had been forced to close its emergency “room” two days earlier. Our team members were sorely needed.
The University of Miami Hospital in Port au Prince is comprised of three small size circus tents with about fifty smaller surrounding tents. The large tents comprise the treatment and surgical areas, the smaller ones house the patients.
Jeff and Penny worked the medical surgical area with about sixty patients. Judy worked in the resurrected ER, and Rick worked a double shift in the operating room. Jeff reports that the U of Miami Hospital is well organized with some of the brightest and most talented young doctors he has encountered.
Dr. Gordy, our orthopedic surgeon, worked with anesthesiologist, Howard, at Daquini Hospital. Gordy did thirty consultations and multiple surgeries. Howard spent ten hours in the operating room. Today, Howard is working with a German organization called Humedka at Espoir Hospital in Port au Prince. The group apparently has a number of complicated cases that were awaiting surgery for want of an anesthesiologist. Howard will be very busy.
Daniel and Gail were joined by a physician, and under the auspices the Camp David organization, set up an outreach pharmacy and clinic in a Port au Prince church. The group saw 122 patients!
Lona had a rare experience in caring for just born twin boys. Such births are unique in Haiti as the ravages of malnutrition on a mother’s body substantially diminishes the likelihood of multiple live births. As of this writing, we are pleased to report that mother and babies are doing well.
We have yet to hear from Karl, Shelby, and Ruthie, who left early yesterday morning to travel three and one half hours into the mountains to work in a region desperately in need of medical care. Accompanied by Ted Steinhauer, the Director of Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center and Jamie Cartwright, QRC Teacher and Interpreter, we are confident that our team members are in the best of hands and unconcerned for them being incommunicado. Such is sometimes the case in the mountain areas of Haiti.
Though yesterday was a long one for our team, and the weather steamy and hot, our group is healthy and happy. Yet, with each passing day, Haiti’s intensity will grow greater than the days before and by the trip’s end it will be adrenaline that will be partially responsible for carrying each team member on their return home. Accounting for that extra push will be the intensity of a different kind; that being what comes with pushing oneself to a limit that you didn’t know you had within you to reach – all for the sake of something outside of yourself. This is the thing in the end that will bind team members with one another and the thing upon which memories of Haiti will forever be a part of each of them.
The loneliness of the experience will come later. It will come when, home in the United States, time to think invites entry of the sick, the maimed, and the suffering left behind. But for our team today, that is of a later thing. Today our team will work as hard and as long as yesterday and today they will put aside the heavy and the hurt of what surrounds them – because today they have a job to do and putting those things aside is the only way to get it done!
On a final note – we have an update on baby Louisnise. Richard, Administrator of Brenda Strafford, sent us this note late yesterday afternoon. “Just a word to let you know that Louisnise's operation went well. As expected, nothing could be done to save the limb and they had to amputate it. Still, it is much better this way. They say that in about a year, Louisnise could get a prosthesis and learn to walk on it, which I am sure she will do.” We did not mention yesterday that Louisnise’s mother, Louloune, also has need of surgery for a large growth under her arm. While she did let the doctors look at it, she was unwilling to have surgery at this time because she wanted to be able to care for Louisnise. It was determined that the surgery she requires could wait a bit and she agreed to come back to Brenda Strafford in May.
We are so grateful to Institute Brenda Strafford for all they have done for baby Louisnise and her mother, Louloune. We are also grateful to Vivian Rider, the physician who discovered Louisnise and her mother, and who would not rest until this baby’s life was saved.
Michele

Thursday, April 8
Our group’s entry into Haiti yesterday at around 4:00 p.m. was typical of the chaos that now characterizes its airport. But after some time the team was met by staff from Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center (QRC), and taken to its compound. A top ranked English school before the quake, Quisqueya now provides food, lodging, and transportation for medical relief teams working in and around Port au Prince. This week, QRC is home to our group of twelve and about twenty other individuals. The money it raises in providing the much needed support to visiting groups will be used to rebuild the homes of its teachers and staff.
Upon arrival at QCR some of our team set up camp in tents outside the school building. Most, however, chose to make their bed in a classroom. Thereafter, all feasted on a hot dog and French fry supper – hardly a Haitian fare! According to Jeff, accommodations at QRC are by far superior to those of former relief trips.
At 7:30 p.m. the team participated in the evening briefing where a very warm welcome and message of appreciation was extended to our team. Thereafter, assignments were given. Four team members will spend four days working in the remote mountains outside of Port au Prince. Our surgeon, anesthesiologist, and two nurses will be working together at the Adventist Hospital of Haiti, also known as Daquini Hospital. The remainder of our team will be working at a clinic organized and operated by the University of Miami.
Jeff describes Port au Prince as a city far different than that which he encountered immediately after the earthquake. The city, he says, is more organized; the death less apparent though the destruction predominates. The weather is hot but no more so than can be expected of Haiti at this time of year and the rain they encountered steady but not drenching.
The bonding between team members has already begun, a common occurrence between individuals working towards a common cause under trying circumstances and conditions. Spirits are high and everyone is excited and enthused to be in Haiti and to begin their work. The supplies they carried with them will be dispersed tomorrow, including a significant amount of baby formula for those six malnourished babies at Nos Petites Freres et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) orphanage (see updates Jan. 26 – Feb. 3).

(Pictured from Left: Karl Parens, MD, Dan Shindler, RN, Gail Singh, RN, Ruthie Pallow, RN, Shelby Shepard, RN, Lona Lyden, RN, Jeff Boston, Team Leader/RN, Penny Holcomb, RN, Judy Worrell, RN, and Rick Freeman, RN – not pictured are the two team members we met up with in Miami - Gordon Aamoth, Orthopedic Surgeon and Howard Konowitz, Anesthesiologist) Our thanks to Chris Lyden for the great photo!!
All in all, yesterday was a good day. In addition to our team’s arrival safely in Haiti, we were, after one week’s time, able to arrange surgery for three month old baby, Louisnise (pictured below). Born with amniotic band syndrome with lymphatic blockage resulting in a deformity of her hand and foot, Louisnise’s foot needed amputation to prevent further complications of cellulitis and ischemia. Thanks to Chantal and Richard, Administrators of Institute Brenda Strafford in Les Cayes, Haiti, visiting Brazilian orthopedic surgeons will be operating on the baby this afternoon.

We will write more news as it develops. Michele

Wednesday, April 7
We Americans can sometimes have a short attention span for tragedy. I don’t believe this is because we’re shallow or callous. There is just a limit to how much of a hard thing our minds and our hearts can handle. The media is keenly aware of this phenomenon and is the reason why CNN ended its long “occupation” in Haiti. Newer stories became better ones.

The tragedy of Haiti is still unfolding. Yet, there are no television journalists there to tell it and no photojournalists left to memorialize it. For those of us who have come to know Haiti, however, “out of sight out of mind” is not an option.

Most who don’t know me well and even some who do, are likely to think that because of my extensive involvement and commitment to Haiti that I believe it corners the market on suffering. I don’t, however, think such a thing. In fact, I am someone who “takes in” pain from everywhere – and it can be exhausting. I do admit, however that Haiti’s suffering for many reasons seems to be of a different nature. First, its close proximity to the United States makes it unconscionable not to help. Second, that same proximity to the U.S. makes it easier to help. For example, one arrives in Haiti, almost from anywhere in the U.S. after but some few hours of travel. Jet lag is not a debilitating factor. One can actually “hit the ground running” upon arrival. Likewise, goods, services, and people are accessible to Haiti from the U.S. This is not to say that it’s easy to achieve in Haiti. It is not. Everything in Haiti comes hard. But that is not a good enough reason not to help.

Long after the relief efforts end, we will be in Haiti bringing a program of comprehensive medical care to 30,000 or more children in Port Salut. This summer is in fact pivotal towards that end. Our 8,370 square foot pediatric clinic will be completed, our outreach program will be moving forward in development, and many many aspects of the overall program will come to fruition. Never have we lost sight of what we’ve set out to do before the earthquake.

Our medical relief team arriving in Port au Prince today is likely to be our last of that kind. It isn’t that Haiti is no longer in need of medical relief teams because it is. But more than ever Haiti is in need of Klinik Timoun Nou Yo and No Time For Poverty’s extensive support. The medical teams who join us in the future will work in the clinic and in our satellite localities. Focus will be upon prevention as well as cure, and on research, data collection, and outcome based planning. Crisis response will be replaced with ongoing quality care.

Our immediate week’s work, however, is in providing support to our team of ten who departed this morning from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport at 6:25 a.m., connected in Miami with two additional team members and arrived safely in Port au Prince. They will soon be setting up camp at Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center and I am told that the team is happy, eager, and enthusiastic!
Michele

Tuesday, April 6
We haven’t written in awhile but it was not because we were resting on our laurels! We have been busy putting together a third earthquake medical response team. The team will leave tomorrow at 6:25 a.m. from the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.
This time the No Time For Poverty team will be staying at Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center. They will be working at various hospitals, clinics, and mobile clinics in and around Port au Prince. Along with the hundreds of pounds of supplies and medications they will bring with them, the team is also bringing about 250 pounds of baby formula for “our” babies at the orphanage. Some of this formula was donated by two very special little girls. We will share that story with you later this week.
This team of amazing individuals is made up of folks from North Memorial, Fairview University, Fairview Ridges, Shriners, and Bethesda Hospitals, here in the Twin Cities. They are:

• Rick Freeman, RN
• Penny Halcomb, RN
• Lona Lyden, RN
• Ruth Pallow, RN
• Karl Parens, MD
• Shelby Shepard, RN
• Dan Shindelar, RN
• Gail Singh, RN
• Judy Worrell, RN

• Dr. Gordon Aamoth (University of MN Physicians), Orthopedic Surgeon
• Dr. Howard Konowitz (IL), Anesthesiologist

Tuesday, March 16
As you are aware, Chris Hage and his wife, Rushika, along with the Nicollet Island Pavilion and Mintahoe Catering & Events, had planned to host a fundraising event on behalf of No Time For Poverty, this Saturday evening, March 20, 2010. You may be aware that due to technical glitches it was only the past few days that guests were able to use the Hage’s system of online registration. Whether this be the reason that the event did not reach its’ quota or whether there simply was not enough time for people to plan to attend – the event had to be cancelled.

We applaud Chris, Rushika, the Nicollet Island Pavilion, and Mintahoe for their efforts and we appreciate those who had planned to come. That Haiti continues to be in dire need, there is no doubt. Unfortunately this Saturday evening will not provide such an opportunity.

Michele

Friday, March 5
The babies continue to grow. Lovely makes progress albeit slowly. CNN’s gone home. These may be symbolic of a shift that has occurred in Haiti.

The outward signs of frenzy so prevalent on January 12th and the week following the earthquake have disappeared; the screams of fear and pain that rang so loudly have quieted; the white air of dust has become invisible. Make no mistake, however, Haiti still hurts, and it will… for a very long time to come.

The rubble remains for want of heavy equipment to remove it. The homeless, too many to fathom, live in tents or makeshift dwellings of a composite of materials. Still there are parents who are without children and children waiting to be found. Where once there were markets, there are now empty stalls. Where once there was hope for a better life, there is only promise of less.

While January 12th resonates deepest in the hearts, minds, and souls of the Haitian people, one cannot deny the effects of the earthquake on those who came to help. One such account comes from our very own Dayna Wolfe, MD who returned only last week from our second medical mission.
Michele

Reflections on Earthquake-ravaged Haiti by
Dayna Lorraine Wolfe, M.D.

February 15 - 24, 2010 (Port-au Prince, Haiti) I feel challenged to the depths of my soul to step up to the adversity of the conditions in Haiti, even a month after the earthquake, still a lot of chaos everywhere. We are practicing medicine in 3 different languages, trying to care for desperately ill and injured quake survivors. We are all looking to the common Latin etymology of medical terms, as well as the assistance of local untrained interpreters to help with communication, so that we can get the job done. I just finished my second full day on the job at "Centre Hospitalier Du-Sacre-Coeur" (aka “CDTI”). I do not know the reason, but a multitude of physician specialists and nurses were turning to me for guidance in problem solving certain difficult patient care dilemmas. Despite my apprehension and uncertainty at times, when I paused to collect my thoughts, then lead a discussion towards team resolution of a problem, I was able to find peace and satisfaction in knowing I had used every bit of my heart, both hands, and the wisdom of experience to lead (a few good pocket medical handbooks were invaluable as well :)

Our camp site was flooded last night from heavy rain, lots of damage to equipment and supplies, but everyone still in good spirits trying to pull together to recover from this inconvenience. The most gut-wrenching "bearing witness" experience of the day amongst our team was meeting a profoundly disabled 16 year old girl, who weighs 25 lbs, and had been found lying in the middle of the street, left by her family to die. She was brought to an orphanage, where she will live her life. I have been asked to consult with the orphanage, to guide care for her. I will go to see her tomorrow.

Today was my third day at the CDTI hospital in Port-au-Prince. I led a team of doctors, nurses, and therapists as we treated about 100 in-patients. I was running all around stomping out fires, and had the chance to cleverly improvise in the absence of inadequate resources/supplies. I was most touched by a man who arrived to the hospital for care, he had become a quadriplegic due to the injuries he sustained in the earthquake. There are countless patients with horrific crush injuries, needing multiple surgeries. We took care of a little girl with a crush injury to her leg, who had lost her sister in the quake. I had the terrific opportunity to work with a very sweet doctor from "Doctors Without Borders", to arrange for several people to be admitted to their rehabilitation "camp". There are amputees everywhere you turn, young and old, women and men, and they are just beginning their journey to restoring function and re-integration into the community.

Physically, I am holding up quite well, thanks to the fact that I secured an army cot for my tent. A lovely surprise......I was invited to observe Shabbat and share a meal with the Israeli team of health care providers who were on my team today. There are health care providers from 9 different countries working with us at the CDTI hospital. I've had a chance to talk to so many people to learn more about the rehabilitative efforts of the near future in Haiti. I even had the chance to treat one of the Army soldiers who injured his back while working here in Haiti. In case I had not mentioned this, we are sharing camp in Petionville with the 82nd Airborne, who is also doing an amazing job of keeping us safe.

Tomorrow I will be on the "strike team" which is assigned to going out into rural areas of the community, where there are tent cities. For those of you who know me well, it would be no surprise to know of course I am heartbroken over the fact that no one is attending to the animals who were also displaced by the earthquake. When we were driving into town from the airport, there was a clan of pigs pilfering through trash along the roadside. There are hungry dogs running around everywhere.

As I ride in the car around the city and witness the devastating damage, I cannot help but think about the thousands of people who are still buried in the rubble. They will not be discovered until the demolition begins and by then they will have decomposed beyond recognition, and will be thrown away with the rubble. Where are the Haitian government officials? There are seemingly absent from any involvement in the recovery efforts.

There was yet another quake early yesterday am, just before we were to leave. There were no injuries to anyone from our camp, but many could hear buildings collapsing off in the distance, as well as the cries from the refugee camp beside us. I had sustained a minor leg injury in the field the day before, but it was becoming more apparent with time there was concern that a deep vein thrombus had developed in the leg. I was faced with the dilemma of two equally difficult choices. The first was to stay behind in Haiti, go to a field hospital for treatment, knowing that if I did have a clot in the leg, it could progress into a life-threatening situation, and I would not have access to the best care immediately. I would then have to be air-lifted out of there, to access care in Miami. The other choice was to take the risk of flying with a blood clot, which could dislodge under altitude pressure, causing a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. The other health care providers and I surmised that if I did have a clot, the risk of it dislodging en route was low, and that we would be closer to good care, vs. the higher risk or danger of remaining in Haiti with a serious medical problem. I took 4 baby aspirins before travel in order to begin anticoagulation, in case I did have a clot. As the day progressed, the swelling became so severe, so our team decided it was a clot until proven otherwise.

Just as soon as I landed in Minneapolis late last night, I was taken to the hospital at midnight for immediate evaluation. A major vessel obstruction was ruled out, there appeared to be a Baker's cyst behind the knee (which had just developed from the injury), and in a few days I will need to return for re-evaluation again. They said they could not rule out a lower leg clot in some of the minor vessels until I had been seen for a second round of ultrasound a few days later.

By the time I got home, took a hot shower, and put my head to rest on the pillow of my own bed it was about 3am this morning. I felt as if I was lying on a cloud amidst the comfort of my bed. I woke up disoriented, wondering how it could be so quiet, where were all of the putrid smells of post-disaster Haiti, the sights and sounds of profound suffering, the routine of wilderness survival camping, and the fellowship of the other relief workers???

Today life is about re-entry adjustment, reflecting on the tremendous sense of gratitude that I feel for the opportunity to serve the Haitian people, returning safely to the open arms of family, friends and colleagues........gratitude for everything and everyone around me, and to have brought the Mission of Medtronic alive in Haiti but for a short period, imprinted for life in my mind and heart.

It has now been 24 hours since arriving home from Haiti. I still feel "ungrounded", but less so than yesterday. My thoughts are pre-occupied with the experiences of the last 10 days, reliving the kinesthetic experience by looking at the awesome pictures and sharing accounts of "bearing witness" with all who inquire. I knew from my experiences working in Africa, and then in Louisiana/Hurricane Katrina that this period might be difficult. It may take me awhile to find the words to express all that I am feeling.

I've caught up on my sleep, my leg is now doing just fine, all of the swelling is gone. While I am trying to slip back into my daily American routine, I am certainly pre-occupied with thoughts about Haiti. As I wandered through Target yesterday, I felt sick thinking about the abundance of resources we have available to us while the Haitians (and so many others around the world) are in such desperate need. I would normally stroll out of Target having purchased several hundred dollars worth of goods. I left the store with only one item....Starbuck's Italian Roast coffee, and a feeling that I did not need or want any other commodity available to me. I survived for 9 days in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, living from one single backpack of goods, and did not need or want much other than wishing for a life of wholeness for the Haitians (and...OK one thing.... an ice cold beverage, which was very hard to find there).

While lying on the exam table at my follow-up medical appointment yesterday to check my leg, the technician asked, "Well, is Haiti on the "up and up" yet"? My gut churned with anger, and while I knew she was just trying to connect with me about my experience there, her question was a reflection of a perception some may have that by now, out of the eye of the media, things are likely getting better a month after the quake. Haiti was devastated before the earthquake, so the only way for this profoundly impoverished country to recover is for the world to "cradle Haiti in its arms like a fragile newborn baby who was delivered with life-threatening complications".

I will be meeting with many, including executive leaders of the Medtronic Foundation and Medtronic Global Leaders program next week to begin planning for the next phase of Medtronic assistance to Haiti. I will return to the office at Rice Creek East, Neuromodulation Clinical on Monday (March 1st). I know it will be quite a challenge to focus on my daily work upon my return from Haiti. However, I am so blessed to be a part of an awesome, supportive team of professionals who have already acknowledged and are prepared to support me during this likely challenge. I went to Haiti to serve on behalf of my team, on behalf of all of Medtronic, so trust that whatever challenge I will face upon my return will not be insurmountable with the support of my colleagues.

Wednesday, March 3
It’s been a few days since I’ve written. Jeff and I were in the Florida Keys for a wedding, and it was a great break … but brrr … it was cold!

We are going to be gathering the “troops” this week and we will make a decision about a third relief trip to Haiti. We’ve been invited by Sacre Cour Hospital in Port au Prince to work with their staff. It’s nice to be known for the very good work our teams have done!

American Airlines is successfully flying, making travel into Haiti far easier. Moreover, we feel like pros in organizing and executing relief trips. Look for further updates for information on any upcoming trips.

I write today to extend a special thank you to Chris Hage and his wife, Rushika. Along with The Nicollet Island Pavilion & Mintahoe Catering and Events, they are sponsoring a fun event to raise money for No Time For Poverty. It’s an evening of live jazz and hors d'œuvres on Saturday, March 20th and promises to be a great night out! The invite appears below – please come and bring a friend – in fact, bring lots and lots of friends. The night is affordable and guaranteed to be very entertaining!
Michele

Thursday, February 25
I had not intended to write today. Team 2 returned home and it seemed like a good time for a rest. Unfortunately, I could not sleep last night – too tired to be outraged as I sometimes can be for matters that are Haiti, my sadness of heart nonetheless worked overtime. Last night I learned from one of our medical students working in rotation in the Les Cayes hospital about the death of a five month old. While Jean Yves wrote about this baby in the context of other children who had died senselessly, this one died for a mere lack of electricity. Having been previously seen for treatment of pneumonia, the infant’s parents brought him to the hospital again for the distress he was suffering. Oxygen…simple oxygen would have saved him. The machine to pump it was apparently run with electricity and there was none.

The story of this little one is not a new one. I have heard it many times in the years that I have been working in Haiti. Nonetheless, I feel overwhelmed with grief today and I feel disappointed in a universe that allows such things to happen.

I feel urgency for the clinic to open and I feel a deep appreciation to those of you who are helping to make it happen.

Michele

Tuesday, February 23
Waiting … never a strong suit of those of us at No Time For Poverty who are action oriented. Nonetheless, amidst what was still a very busy day for all of us, we were constantly aware of our group exiting Haiti for home today.

Sheryl, Amy, Frank, Dayna, Deb and Carol are scheduled to land at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport at 10:15 p.m. Lori, Heidi, Jacque and Kate, traveling through Chicago, won’t be in until 11:25 p.m. Martin and Stephen, having entered via the Dominican Republic days earlier than the group, will exit from there and heaven knows when they are getting in!

I can only imagine what the team is feeling, exhausted as they must be. I keenly recollect not being half as tired when I laid over in Miami on my way to Minneapolis returning from my first trip to Haiti. Seated at Sbarro having had my first taste of American (!x??) food in days, I watched as good patrons disposed of their trays in the garbage bins provided. In the 40 minutes I spent there, I watched as leftovers enough to feed a small village were carelessly thrown away. I made a vow then – never to waste food - so precious a commodity in Haiti and many other starving nations.

I left the Sbarro to board my plane through security. I recollect passing airline desk after desk, and as if in a movie, watched ordinarily nice folk I’m sure – complain, harangue and demoralize airline agent after airline agent, for some reason deemed reasonable at the time to the impolite traveler. I remember thinking … if they only knew. Life in Haiti was far from easy then. It is by far harder now.

When I returned from Haiti on my first trip, I was alone and therefore I was alone in my thoughts – often my most comfortable place to be. Our group returning today has one another, and for them passing between their own private thoughts and those shared with one another binds them together in a way we outsiders can never be a part.

The next few days will be break time. The group will get their equilibrium once again, and they will adapt to ways of comfort, rest and an abundance of food, all of which are so uncharacteristic of their time spent in Haiti. The team’s adjustment will take time, but as life does go on, only the memory of Haiti will be what remains.

If Team Two be like Team One, their lives will be forever changed by their Haiti experience. Their minds and their souls, along with their hearts, will forever be filled with a place where destruction of epic proportion took lives but not spirit; where singing was heard amidst the crying out in pain; and where a people predicted to do otherwise, acted with dignity and promise.

Every one of the team of 12, like the team of 25 before them, are a special breed: heroes actually, who went to a place of horror and brought it laughter; went to a place of death and saved lives; and went to a place of fear and brought it some peace. Welcome home!
Michele Boston, Executive Director

Monday, February 22

Martin is Haitian. Educated in later years in the United States, he holds an advanced degree in pharmacology. Martin has done a lot for No Time For Poverty. He’s joined us on two medical trips to Port Salut before the earthquake. Moreover, he’s been actively involved in fundraising for No Time For Poverty.

If you know Martin, you know that he places the highest value on structure and order. All of us at NTFP know Martin and can only imagine what it is that he is thinking in the photo when confronted and asked to assist with the pharmacy at Sacre Coeur Hospital. Were we to put Martin’s thoughts in a bubble over his head, we are sure it would read, “…oy vey, oy vey, oy vey!” That’s Yiddish Kreyol for “oh my, oh my, oh my!!!”

On a more serious note, you can see from the photo below, some of our team members appear tired. Don’t however mistake their appearance for a lack of drive or commitment. Once transported to their various locations, team members got right back in the saddle and gave it their all.

500 people came today to our makeshift clinic in Delmas 83. Consisting of mostly mothers and younger children, our team treated almost 250 individuals in five hours. Most of our patients were not critical, but we did see a number of children with pneumonia. Pneumonia is the second leading cause of death among Haitian children. Due to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, if it is not treated within 72 hours of onset, death is likely to occur, especially in children under 5 years of age. Imagine how many lives of small children we saved today alone by merely treating their pneumonia with antibiotics!

Our team also speaks of a little one – born two years ago today! Suffering from hydrocephalus, we transported her to a hospital for immediate surgery to remove the fluid on her brain.

Lovely continues to progress – though slowly. Gradually and with movement still infinitesimal, she keeps up her fight for life… a fight that is so Haitian and defining of their refusal to give up at any cost.

We are grateful to media such as the Minneapolis Star Tribune for continuing to carry major stories about Haiti, many news organizations have left - so many so that it was nearly impossible to find news this morning of a second earthquake to hit Haiti. It happened today at 4:30 a.m., 20 miles west of Port au Prince, and measured a magnitude of 4.7. Our group was safe and unaffected. There appears to be little repercussion from the quake.

While our second team leaves Haiti tomorrow… we are not. The building of Klinik Timoun Nou Yo and the development of a comprehensive community medical and health outreach program continues at full speed – needed now more than ever.

Giving the team days to recover, we will debrief next week. It is then we will decide about future medical relief trips. What we know is this – the frenzy of first medical relief is over. The next wave of medical care requires surgical corrections for amputations that were done under primitive circumstances; bones to be reset. Major rehabilitative services will be required and general medical needs must be addressed ongoingly.

While the need is there, the decision as to whether we send another team into Haiti will be made in the same manner as the two that came before. Any location in which we work must have a need and an invitation extended for our help. We continue to hear of well meaning renegade medical groups walking the streets of Haiti hoping to connect with a hospital, clinic, or outreach program in need of medical professionals. For those of you interested in joining us on a medical relief trip, know that we will be once again exploring the situation and our options and you will hear from us.

For now our attention will be focused on our returning team - all needing our raves, our support, and lots and lots of sleep!

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Sunday, February 21
The team is taking a day off today and so are we. Take care and enjoy the day.
Warmly, Michele Boston

Saturday, February 20
A miracle happened early this morning. A perfect baby girl was born.

Her name is "Julie." Hardly Haitian in derivation or sound, but by the gumption and purpose with which she entered the world, she could be mistaken for no other. When I first learned of Julie's birth and the name given her by her mother I could not help but wonder if it was chosen not as a denial of her culture or heritage, but as a secret or unconscious wish that this newly born little person escape the accident of her birth in what is now Haiti. Perhaps the story of Julie's name is neither so complicated nor dramatic. Perhaps her mother simply knew a "Julie" and there be nothing more to the story. We shall never know. What I do know is that Julie was brought into this world at 1:00 am today delivered by Kate and Dr. Amy, two of our very own team members. Now there in lies the drama ... and a very fine one at that!

I now turn the update over to Lori who wrote the following in an email sent this morning:

Our strike team had a long and exhausting day yesterday as they established mobile clinics in two different areas. They triaged approximately 280 people and treated over 150. Sheryl, Jackie, and Heidi went into the field with docs and paramedics from Ottawa, New York, and two paramedics from Seattle. The patients presented routine ailments in addition to a large quantity of wound care/dressing changes

Deb and Stefan worked hand in hand with the Germans at their hospital in the refugee city - loving every moment of working in their hot and steamy med tent. When I arrived to check on them mid morning, Stefan was escorting a pregnant woman by liter and man power up the 40 degree hill to the medic hospital staffed by the 82nd, Amy, and Carol.

Martin and I joined with a children’s physical rehab therapist and OT person from Alyn, Jerusalem, to escort and introduce them to our team –Dayna, Frank, and Kate- working at Hospital Sacre Coeur (CDTI). We arrived to find an extremely busy and productive tent hospital with the OR, X-ray, Urgent Care and Pharmacy inside the hospital structure with 8 or 9 different nationalities coming together. Great orthopedics, medical/surgical, and physical rehab was well underway.

Oops, one last thing - How could I forget? Dinner last night was a rice creation with good old minute rice and spam!!
Michele Boston & Lori Lindgren

Friday, February 19
The rain stopped - merely a few drizzles last night. After much effort and lots of cleaning, the mud was emptied and our team of twelve slept in clean tents – though quite uncomfortable for the heat.

The team’s day yesterday had been a busy one. Our group at hospital CDTI faced an especially unique challenge. The French team who had been managing the hospital relinquished it to our team as it was time for the French to return home.

The awesome responsibility of caring and treating the all too many patients was left to Kate and Frank under Dr. Dayna’s leadership. As if this challenge was not enough, a far greater one was to come: all orders, charts, and medications were written in French!

Dr. Dayna did rounds with the French doctors and then again with the French nurses before they left the hospital. Translators had to be brought in to assist and by the end of the day the team was exhausted. It had been hard enough to address the needs of so many waiting to be treated. The language element caused the group to find out what it was that they were truly made of. No surprise that true to our expectation, their accomplishments of the day proved that they were made of the finest stuff.

The remainder of our team worked diligently in Refuge City assisting with individuals whose fractures had not been set properly and whose wounds had not been cared for. In some instances, team members transported patients needing to be seen at the nearby hospital. In fact, one such case involved a woman ready to birth her fourth child. Riding along to transport her to General Hospital was our very own Dr. Stefan. His presence was necessary in the event she was to deliver along the way. Fortunately, his birthing services were not required. Our job being complete at the hospital’s front door we regrettably have no information about mother or baby.

Working tirelessly throughout the day our team finally came to rest, only to be awakened by screams emanating from behind their tents. Apparently, one of the injured had suffered a serious grand mal seizure and needed to be attended to. Leave it to our group to be right there. In not too long a time a helicopter arrived and with but one brief minute on the ground uploaded the victim and transported him to the USS Comfort. The excitement over, our team returned and once again took to their tents in the hopes of stealing some sleep.

Last but certainly not least is our update regarding Lovely, the young girl we wrote about yesterday. Lori reports that during her visit with Lovely today, she showed Lori a gentle smile and reached for Lori’s hand. The rigidity of Lovely’s body rendered her incapable of making this connection. Working hard to connect with Lori she tried to speak but in her weakened condition could only utter a quiet sound. Sometimes baby steps are great things!

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, February 18
Her name is “Lovely” and she was found on the streets of St. Marc in the northern region of Haiti. Weighing only twenty pounds, Lovely was brought to Hospital St. Damien in Port au Prince for treatment. We are told that Lovely is fifteen years old. Some, however, think she is older.

Lovely is one of the forgotten ones; abandoned by her family likely for their inability to save her. Lovely was one of the lucky ones – how many more Lovely’s may still be out there, we have no way to know. Perhaps, the lost are not nearly as malnourished but we know they are out there without family or loved ones.

We are told that Lovely is responding to treatment, able to take in food. While our second medical team is working primarily with the 82nd Airborne, the members of our team, having only gotten into Port au Prince on Tuesday, take turns visiting Lovely at Hospital St. Damien. Lori speaks of the time she spent stroking Lovely’s forehead and telling her that things would be “alright.” Sometimes that’s all one human being can do for another. Sometimes it has to be enough…

We’ve purposely chosen not to share our pictures of Lovely. While it is always my intention to write about what is the reality of that which is Haiti today, it is not our intent to shock or appall. We will, however, continue to update you as to Lovely’s condition. For now, all of us will put our hopes and our wishes towards her survival.

Dividing their efforts, our team worked in three locations yesterday; some stayed behind at base camp – setting up the pharmacy and working amongst the thousands living in tents. The area is called “Refuge City.” Others were deployed to what is ordinarily a 17 bed hospital where 80 patients were waiting to be seen for wound care so severe that pain medications needed to be administered; a third group worked in the emergency room, located in what is dubbed the “German tent.” Members of the team provided both medical and trauma care for countless individuals needing to be seen.

Our shipment of baby formula arrived yesterday for our six “little ones.” Lori describes what was taking place around her and Henry as they traveled to the airport to pick up the formula for the orphanage. She speaks of fallen houses being burned to the ground with dead beneath the rubble. The concern for disease is high as the rodents multiply. Moreover, with rain threatening, necessary steps had to be taken. I can hardly imagine what it must be like for mothers and fathers, children and other family members, to watch their homes being burned to the ground, knowing that their loved ones are still beneath the rubble.

The dreaded rain did come last night. Despite flooded tents, our team’s spirits remain high. Knowing that they are making a difference makes it all worthwhile!

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Wednesday, February 17
The medical team in Haiti deployed to multiple locations today. As they will be out in the field until quite late, we will not know until later this evening all that they saw and did. We will share this with you tomorrow.
In the meantime, we did receive a number of photographs of the team getting ready for deployment.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Tuesday, February 16

We just received word at 2:00 p.m. central time that they are on the ground in Haiti and unloading supplies. Having just left MN yesterday, they spent the night in Fort Pierce, Fl and flew this morning on Missionary Flights International to Port au Prince.

It sounds as if they are already functioning quite well as a team. Upon arrival in Fort Pierce yesterday, they learned that per Missionary Flight International’s emergency request, only essential items could be brought with them on the plane today. They had to repack the medications and supplies prioritizing what should be classified “essential.” The rest will be delivered to them in Haiti tomorrow at 12:00 noon. We also learned today that this team is a little “goofy” - when we received a picture from them at approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning. It showed their breakfast – Dunkin Donuts (courtesy of Frank Mitchell), along with leftover shrimp bruschetta and garlic cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster!

After clearing customs, the team will be picked up at the airport and transported to Petionville, where they will set up camp and begin working with the 82nd airborne and the JenkinsPenn Haitian Relief Organization.

We will continue to keep you updated with daily reports from the team. As always – thank you so much for your most generous support and words of appreciation!

Sue Grundhoffer, Outreach Director
P.S. After Michele Boston’s amazing mention of me in her update yesterday, I feel I must be completely honest with you – no one juggles as many things or as well as Michele does!

Monday, February 15 Lined up at 4 a.m. this morning and ready to go at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport our team left today for entry into Haiti tomorrow. A combination of doctors and nurses, this group of ten, will spend the night in Fort Pierce, Florida and be ready to fly again at 6 a.m. on a Missionary Flight International plane to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Thereafter, they will meet up with the 82nd Airborne and begin their medical outreach work in areas yet to receive medical assistance.

Despite this morning’s early hour, the group was awake, excited and eager to go. Led once again by Lori Lindgren, the ten will meet two other NTFP volunteers already on the ground in Port-au-Prince.

Although today’s group was far smaller than our first of twenty five, its thirty six hour prep-time presented challenges of its own. Supplies had to be brought in from storage; some had to be bought as did medications. And then the packing of it all – no small feat – but thanks to all of the following volunteers hundreds of pounds of medication and supplies traveled to Haiti this month with our relief team:

Lindsay Terzich, Mike Rhodes, Erica Kiesner, Megan Nolechek, Kathy Reinke, Tracey Wilson, Katie Campana, Taylor Ashwell, Lisa Dawes, Jill Kraemer, Brian Robinson, John Malchow

Undoubtedly, one of the most intensive aspects of organizing our relief efforts is the coordination of the team members themselves. Once a volunteer commits to traveling with us, the information exchange race is on. First, we want to provide our volunteers with as much detail about the trip as possible. It simply makes them feel better. We also need a lot of information: copies of passports, medical licenses, releases of liability and much, much more. Not only must reams of information be exchanged, but it must be tracked and all in the course of executing tons upon tons of other details.

NTFP, however, has little difficulty juggling this ball. Why? Because we have a machine that does it with ease, grace and aplomb. The machine’s name is “Sue,” and in addition to coordinating many aspects of what goes on at NTFP, Sue single handedly handles the “personnel” aspects of our medical relief trips. Not only is she technical support to all members of the team, but Sue is the emotional support, guiding each and every team member from the time their name goes on our potential volunteer list until they enter the security line at the airport. Everyone should have a Sue!

At the time of this writing (1:45 p.m.), we have learned that the team landed in Miami and is now on the bus which will take them to Fort Pierce. Our wish for them is to get a good night’s sleep tonight as it will be their last one in a bed for one week!

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, February 12 It was with mixed feelings on Tuesday evening that I cleaned off my desk, wall and credenza. Our first medical relief trip was over. Twenty-five team members were home safe and sound having saved lives and treated hundreds upon hundreds of men, women and children in Haiti. The final details of the trip that remained were mostly of a “touch base” or “follow-up” nature.

Going through piles of paper on my desk seemed like business as usual. Tossing list after list of details felt no different as piles and lists are tools ordinary to my approach to work, a complicated task or a force to be reckoned with. Post it notes, on the other hand, are generally not a part of my modus operandi. While convenient, I typically consider them “non-eco friendly.” Life however, since the quake has been anything but typical for those of us at No Time For Poverty. For me, post it notes became an essential tracking device for precious and central details that could not be lost, mislaid or forgotten.

The lessons we had learned organizing and executing the first medical relief trip became emblazoned in my mind as if each one had been part of a “How To” chapter I’d read before. The post it notes were specific “must do’s” and must “make happen.” They laid out the trip’s entirety in progression of details, where in my mind, any one unsuccessfully executed felt a potential threat to the safety of the team or the achievement of their purpose. For this reason, I was hardly surprised by the relief I felt as I “cleaned up” and as each post it note found its way into the trash.

Each and every step of the organizing relief trip had come painstakingly rather than with ease. My relief was for the trip being done. But as life is nothing if it is not a contradiction, with each toss of a note into the trash, I felt a concurrent wave of gratitude: Gratitude for the NTFP staff who worked tirelessly and endlessly toward our relief efforts; Gratitude for the brave and determined first responders who comprised our medical relief team of twenty-five; Gratitude for Jeff and Lori, who not only worked alongside our group, but assured their comfort, safety and direction; Gratitude for those who donated much needed medications; Gratitude to those many, many who trust us enough to donate money for our work in Haiti; Gratitude for the media for telling Haiti’s story and in so doing, making us a part; and first and foremost, gratitude for the Haitian people who throughout this recent horrific event have acted with the poise, grace and perseverance that is Haiti.

That last post it note had hardly hit the bottom of the trash can when two things happened almost simultaneously. First, Missionary Flight International called to say they had a flight on Tuesday, Feb. 16th , if we wanted it. Within hours, the eighty-second airborne with whom a part of our first team had served, invited us back.

I’m here to tell you - that the post it note pad is already half empty, my desk, the wall and credenza are once again covered – and a group of ten amazing souls will leave from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport at 6:10 am Monday for travel into Haiti on Tuesday. Acting as an acute medical outreach team, they will be working in out-lying Port au Prince communities desperately in need of general medical care. Led once again by Lori Lindgren, our team includes physicians, nurses and EMT support. I list their names here:

Lori Lindgren – Team Leader
Sheryl Ebenreiter – Team Leader
Carol Franklin – RN
Jacque James – RN
Amy Kolar – MD
Kate Monahan – RN
Frank Mitchell – RN
Debby Molano – RN/CPNP
Heidi Shafland – RN
Dayna Wolfe – MD
Stefan Pomrenke – MD (meeting us in PAP)
Martin Elie – Pharmacist (meeting us in PAP)

In addition to bringing hundreds of pounds of medications and supplies, the team will also be bringing more formula for our babies at the Friends of the Orphanage.

By 3:30 pm today – all will be readied and finalized for NTFP’s second relief team trip. You won’t hear from us again until Monday after our second team departs at 6:00am from MSP… we’re all going to be sleeping until then.

In gratitude,
Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, February 11 It was a VERY busy day today at No Time For Poverty. Be sure to read tomorrow's update where we will tell you why.

So many photos have touched our hearts since the earthquake. The one above is a favorite of all of us at NTFP. It reminds us that life in Haiti is all about the little ones.

Wednesday, February 10
Today’s reflection comes from Dr. Sharon Carmody. You may have seen Dr. Carmody when she appeared yesterday with Lori Lindgren on the KARE 11 morning show Sunrise.

I know you are anxiously awaiting our thoughts about our Haiti trip. Initially I had started with some notes but have decided to scrap my original thoughts and start again. I had to work over the weekend. Most of my coworkers knew where I had gone and they asked how my trip was. I found myself answering “It was great!” and then realized that my answer was not what they were anticipating. Thinking about what made me answer that way, I came up with several reasons why I would go and witness such a catastrophe first hand yet answer that way.

1) The group that you assembled was diverse, dedicated and very supportive. I believe I have made some lasting friendships. Everyone was hard working and dedicated to helping however they could.

2) The medical volunteers at St Damien’s were also an inspiring group. They came from everywhere and worked well together to provide any assistance they could. I had the opportunity to work with an Italian pediatrician, a Haitian medical student and a group of Haitian nurses and aides to provide care at one of the tent cities/refugee camps. We brought in all our supplies every day and saw an average of 125-150 people, treating dehydration, typhoid, malaria, worms and less critical illnesses that I guess would technically fall into the category of PTSD. We also found a few folks with orthopedic injuries requiring casting or surgery even though it was over 2 weeks after the earthquake.

3) The Haitian people are unbelievably resilient. There was no complaining. There was no drama. They continued to smile and do the best they could to move on. After several days at my mobile clinic I asked one of the guys who was helping to translate for me where he lived and whether his house had sustained any damage. He told me he was homeless. Living on the street. You would have no idea in working with him…. unending smiles, would do anything to help. Arranged for the driver to drive through his neighborhood before I left. Our pharmacist lived in the tent city we were serving. Didn‘t figure that out for 3-4 days. Another volunteer (who was also a medical student) told me that he lost his aunt, his cousin and his best friend in the earthquake and was more than willing to provide that details of his best friend’s injuries. Within minutes, he was asking me about what music I had on my iPod, we realized we both liked the Cranberries and he was smiling and listening to “Salvation” as we returned by tap tap truck to St Damien’s.

4) St Damien’s was a very impressive facility. It was well established before the earthquake and had great resources including an ultrasound machine and digital x-ray machine. I was able to see colitis on ultrasound, which I would have never attempted to see here in the states. Fr. Rick and the regular staff were amazing. Fr. Rick was so inspiring that I went to Mass each morning, and let me tell you, it has been decades since that has happened.

4) Finally, I have to note that your organization was incredibly well organized, well connected. I never felt unsafe. Our travel arrangements were smooth and seamless. It could not have gone smoother.

Overall, I cannot wait to go back. Hope that's not inappropriate. Am working on my Creole in anticipation. Please keep me in mind as you plan additional trips.
~Sharon Carmody

Tuesday, February 9 The reflections from our medical team members have been amazing – the stories both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Today, I share with you a reflection from Erin Bell, an RN who accompanied the team and who had spent time in Haiti prior to our trip. I also share a note from Carol Franklin, RN. Carol is on the waiting list for our next medical trip and works with a number of the members of our first team. Pictures are now beginning to come in from the team. (P.S. That’s two folks from our team with the blue JP hats on.)
Michele Boston, Executive Director

Haitians are seriously the strongest people on earth. I’ve had the privilege to be in Haiti three times pre-earthquake. Their strength and resilience has impressed me since the first time I experienced this country. I have never been able to pinpoint what it is about Haiti that makes me love it so much, but I have always known that it had to do with the people of Haiti, as they are the most beautiful in the world. Since I started going to Haiti, I’ve thought of life there as hell on earth with the most wonderful, kind, and gracious people. After experiencing Haiti following the recent earthquake, I don’t even know what to call it or how to begin to describe it. It’s worse than hell on earth, but the people remain just as wonderful, kind, and gracious as ever. I didn’t think life in Haiti could possibly get any worse, but it absolutely has. Life in Haiti is worse than I ever imagined it could be. And yet the people are hopeful and stoic in the face of the profound sadness and grief they are experiencing as a country. They are overwhelmingly sad about the tragedy and the loss of so many family members and loved ones. Some are the sole survivors of their households. However, the Haitian people are rising up and coming together in both pre-existing and newly established communities that are stronger than ever. I also noticed that the Haitian people are singing like I've never heard them sing before. I really noticed it this time – there was so much singing, even when they were withstanding excruciatingly painful dressing changes and wound cares or living in the filthy and deplorable conditions of a crowded 75,000+ person tent city. And the songs weren’t sad ones – they were hopeful and full of praises to God. I heard the words “Merci Jezi” (thank you Jesus) many times while I was there. The Haitian people are survivors in every sense of the word and they are in this together. They take care of each other - when one has a little bit of food for their family, they are quick to share it with their neighbor whose family is without. I'm so amazed by their character and determination. It’s truly impressive and humbling.
~Erin Bell, RN

Hi Michele,
Hello! I feel so lucky to be involved in the goings on of your organization. I thank you for all your hard work. I did want to write something about my coworkers at Regions Hospital:

Being involved in an important humanitarian medical effort with No Time for Poverty to help those in need in Haiti is extraordinarily admirable. It is inspiring, selfless. It was, I'm sure, an exhausting, demanding, depressing and yet rewarding experience. They will never forget all the many injured, hurt and lost faces they came into contact with during that week.

I am very proud to know and work with the amazing people who were on the first team: Dr. Carson Harris, Dr. Matt Morgan, Dr. Autumn Erwin, and Joe Kurland. It is always a great shift in the ER at Regions (St. Paul, MN) when I work with any of them. Their patience and compassion with which they provide excellent medical care is so inspiring to me, and they can only become more so after this medical relief effort. I hope they don't have any thoughts or feelings that any of their work had only a band aid effect. Because for each woman, man or child they touched, treated, and helped bring back to better health, their effort was not just a band aid. It was a real, human love they were giving to them. A better chance. I can't imagine they will be easily forgotten.

Their effort has in turn has intensified my drive to want to help in Port-au-Prince with NTFP. Just tonight I was lost in thought while brushing my daughter's teeth, with good drinkable water and a clean toothbrush, about how much we take for granted and how much suffering and pain is going on right now. About how much I want to bring a lot of band aids. Thanks to you all.
~ Carol Franklin, RN

Monday, February 8 When I wrote on Friday, I promised to share reflections from our volunteer medical team. I also asked that you send me notes that we could share with our team members. Today, as promised, I have included both.

The first letter you read comes from team member, Dr. Ken Guidera. Ken is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon and is the Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The trip will leave a lasting impression on me. I will hopefully not take for granted all our luxuries and comforts. It was good to go back to basics and sleep on a mat + take cold showers [but not for too long!]. The people of Haiti are polite, appreciative and tough. The country has no infrastructure to include the medical system. When we got there I was amazed at the chaos and the extreme medical /surgical needs of the injured. It looked like a war zone and I felt like we were in MASH. Our multi discipline team with all the competent, industrious people just started to work our way into the system.

The orthopedic surgeons arranged an O.R. to take care of fractures, wounds and amputation revisions. We developed a clinic and cast room, and rotated between those two areas and the inpatient wards. Somehow a C-arm showed up and we were able to take care of complex fractures. We worked about 12 hrs /day in either setting. It was hot, tiring and stressful, with flies in the O.R. and wards. But we all enjoyed it and I never heard a cross word. We felt good about our work and the Haitians were appreciative. We developed lifelong friendships and most plan to go back. At the end of the day we stumbled back to camp, ate some goat meat and rice and supported the Haitian economy with beer money! My mat, sleeping bag and cold shower were greatly appreciated. As other teams arrived we got more equipment to take better care of the patients. The hospital seemed more organized each day. I think we left the place better than we found it. We passed the torch off to other teams and left somewhat reluctantly.

I must take this moment to thank the team of No Time for Poverty on their excellent organizational skills. We had food, lodging, travel, and all necessities taken care of. I was amazed at their ability to get things done. I would stress to anyone who wants to go, to work with an established group with ties to a local facility. Don’t just show up like some volunteers did.

I believe Haiti will need long term care once this acute phase is over. In my Pediatric Orthopaedic specialty we will need long term deformity management and prosthetic care. We need to work together to establish this. I am hoping that if we put groups together like NTFP, Shriners Hospitals, ACPOC [prosthetic group], and facilities such as St. Damien’s, we can make this happen.

I would like to close by thanking all my new friends at NTFP for their assistance, comradeship and spirit of volunteerism. I hope to work with you again.

Ken was an integral part of our team and we can’t thank him enough for his kind words and amazing generosity.

And now, here are some words for you, Ken, and for the rest of our amazing team who worked so tirelessly in Haiti.

To the wonderful staff at NTFP and to the amazing volunteers:

Thank you for your awesome generosity of time, talent and spirit. Your efforts were inspirational. So many barriers kept being removed by timely assistance and intervention that the whole trip easily fits the saying 'There are no coincidences'. Every Haitian that you touched will carry your generosity forever. Not only did you heal bodies, but you fostered the spirit of peace and cooperation. You were all a part of an experience truly blessed by universal energy. That same energy will follow the next teams' journeys. Words really can not express my gratitude for your work with NTFP.
~ Jean Beisler

Dear Michele and all who labor in love. Thanks to you for all the special care and sacrifice for those that are “the least of my brothers.” I plan to do considerable more outreach in the coming years and hope to go and do whatever I can in Haiti in the not too distant future. You all are THE BEST.
~John Feickertt

Michele and team – since I could not be there, you were my hugging arms, skilled hands, and speaker of comforting words. No words of gratitude are sufficient.
~Paul Kaminski

We will share more team member reflections and notes tomorrow. In the meantime, work on our next medical trip is moving along. A log jam of supplies and medical personnel in Port au Prince now exists. We are however, looking at a couple of possibilities where we can be best utilized. We hope to have some more information about this later in the week.
Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, February 5

As of last night, every member of our medical team has arrived home and has had the opportunity to hug their loved ones, sleep in their own bed, and be alone with their thoughts - free from the noise of helicopters and jet engines. Along with the medical team, Sue, Molly, Carmi, Michele A., and I are also going to take a much needed rest – and so you will not hear from us until Monday. On that day we will share more reflections from the medical team.

The writing time is now yours. So many of you following our daily updates wrote and shared your thoughts with me. I now invite you to share your feelings directly with our returning team. Please send me your reflections, reactions, and well wishes for them. I will forward these to team members and post them here.

Until Monday, I bid the entire relief effort team, those who worked tirelessly here and those who worked in Haiti, peace and good sleep.
Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, February 4 The third and final portion of our team awaits departure at the Port au Prince airport as of the time of this writing. Awaiting entry into the United States to return to their lives before the quake, I trust that much like Kurt Anderson writes below, their lives will never be the same.

Michele, first thank you for giving me the opportunity to go to Haiti. A trip which I will never forget. The sights, sound, smells, and most of all the people are burned into my memory. The logistics of the trip from your end were unbelievably difficult and you and Sue here, and Lori and Jeff in Haiti did an amazing job!! It was such a comfort to know that the last thing I had to worry about was the details of the coming and goings, food, lodging etc… I don’t think you could have done a better job given the craziness of the situation. To put into words my thoughts and feelings of Haiti and our time there is very difficult. They are both wonderful and horrific at the same time. I know we did a lot of good for the most people we could, but a drop in the bucket for what was needed and will continue to be needed for months and years to come. I wonder how the people of Haiti will ever recover. To know there will be a whole generation of kids that grow up thinking missing an arm or leg is a normal part of being Haitian. There are large rooms of 15-20 kids in St Damiens where you walk in and look around and then after a few minutes realize that not a single one has all 4 extremities left, and it is like that in every hospital in the country. What will ever happen to these people and how will they function and be productive members of their society? The amount of orthopedic work that remains is enormous: Treating the acute injuries is soon to slow down but correcting deformities, non-unions of fractures, and treating chronic infected osteomylitis will go on for months if not years. If you are of help in these efforts in the future do not hesitate to contact me. Part of my heart and soul is now in Haiti and that part feels broken. I am unsure I can ever heal this broken part of my heart unless I return to do more work and I believe that someday I will. As I sit here in the luxury of my home, having slept in my soft bed with my arms around my wonderful wife Kris, my physical body is rested and restored but my emotional, spiritual, and psychological self is still in pain as I have seen with my own eyes the suffering of the haitian people with injuries, sickness, no where to live , and little to eat. Having said that, I can also say that my short time in Haiti was the most intense and rewarding experience of my life as an orthopedic surgeon. I will share 1 patient story most memorable to me. Prior to our arrival a young women of 18-20 years old and 8 months pregnant was admitted for a severe fracture around the elbow with massive soft tissue loss, although little exposed bone. The initial thoughts by the treating doctors were that she should have an amputation as they did not think they could safely and adequately treat her fractures with the available equipment they had and without xray [carm] in the operating room, yet she had a normal functioning hand!! They had a difficult decision. As long as she did not develop an infection, maybe she could keep her arm. They treated her soft tissue wounds and, although she still required skin grafting, when we arrived it was felt we could more definitively treat her severe fractures as we had obtained the necessary external fixator equipment as well as an all important c-arm xray machine for use in the operating room. We went ahead and placed an external fixator for her fracture. That evening she went into labor and delivered a beautiful healthy baby boy! She certainly could still have complications like infection, which could require amputation, and she may need more surgery in the future to get her fracture to heal but for now she is happy, healthy, and grateful for her new miracle baby, Antonio, as well as her arm to help care for him.

Over the next few days we will be sharing the thoughts of team members writing about their experiences. While no one person was affected by Haiti in this exact same way, all came away with appreciation of having had the opportunity to serve and a deep and abiding respect for the Haitian people.

For those of you who are early risers, be sure to watch members of our team on KARE 11 on Tuesday, February 9th, for a live interview with Morning Show host Kim Insley at approximately 5:50 a.m. We also applaud and thank Ken Guidera for the very fine interview he gave on MPR this morning.

A second medical trip is being organized as we speak. We are in need of some supplies and medications. Our greatest need is antibiotics – if you can donate and/or have a source for antibiotics willing to donate please let us know as soon as possible. We are taking delivery of antibiotics immediately.

The medical supplies we are requesting are specific based on information we have received from those working on the ground in Haiti. Items include: Steiman Pins
K-wires
6” & 4” Splints
6” & 4” Casts
Cast Paddings
K-nails all sizes but mostly: 38, 39, 40 cm x 9, 10, 11 mm External
Fixators for open fractures
16 & 18 GIV needles
Plain 16 & 18 Needles
Syringes 5 cc and 10 cc
Saline Locks and related IV equipment
Thermometers and plastic covers
Sterile Gloves
Sterile Dressings
Surgical Masks
Please email us with respect to any items you may wish to donate. We regret we cannot take receipt of non sterile or expired supplies or medications.

Until tomorrow… Michele Boston, Executive Director

Wednesday, February 3 Jeff called last night. Usually a man of a few words when communicating by telephone he has, in Haiti, increasingly become more and more of a “yacker” – eager to share the goings on. Of course he would have to catch me at Walgreens in search of cold medicine for our daughter Sidney and me. Hearing his excitement and enthusiasm however, I settled into a comfy chair at the pharmacy, pulled out my note pad and listened. Reiterating the respect and appreciation he had for our medical team, Jeff spoke of the many ways our medical team had distinguished itself heads above the rest. He spoke of the initiative team members took, their absolute dedication to their work, and their tireless efforts to do whatever needed to be done – whenever it was needed. Jeff’s enthusiasm was only surpassed by his praise of the team. He wondered whether there was a way to quantify the team’s effect – the number of lives saved and the numbers of others whose lives have been forever changed because of the excellent care and treatment the team provided. I wish I could have put Jeff on speaker phone over the internet and email as he said, “I am so humbled, Michele, by the selflessness of each and every one on our team that I cannot even tell you….”

Jeff went on to speak about how glad he was, despite his initial trepidations, to be on the ground in Haiti. We discussed whether he felt our team would be experiencing any form of post traumatic stress upon their return. Jeff didn’t think so; he felt the team we’d assembled were “built” for the job they did in Haiti. He did, however, talk about his own feelings of survivor’s guilt; knowing that he was leaving behind a disaster of such epic proportions only to return home where even the concept of such a thing could not be fathomed. I could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke of leaving behind a little two year old orphaned boy with down syndrome. He spoke of their everyday exchange where Jeff would blow him kisses – and how in return he would gently blow them back, cover his face, and run away.

He spoke of the little babies – the ones that had received the formula flown in yesterday. He shared how Autumn had poured over these babies for four hours, giving them the best of all possible medical care available to her, knowing that she would be leaving them today. One of the babies she referred to the hospital for fear that it may have had a virus. Fortunately it was fine.

Taking about the earthquake itself, Jeff shared concern for Haiti’s children having experienced the earthquake yet left confused as to what it was that had happened and what it all meant.

He talked about the refugee camp that was being set up next to Hospital St. Damien and wondered how St. Damien’s would manage with the greater demands placed upon it once the camp was filled.

Reading Jeff’s thoughts, one might conclude that he was only sad his feelings. If this be your interpretation, you would be wrong. In ending our conversation, Jeff spoke of the Haitians and the utmost confidence he had in them to overcome – and that their spirit, endurance, an incomparable ability to deal with what most would find incomprehensible, would carry them through.

Perhaps this text sent from Bill Peterson to his wife, Darlene, sums it all up: “…after the meeting (I) walked over to the hill looking out over the tent city. Full moon with hundreds/thousands of people singing Baptists songs. Ironic, very beautiful in the face of massive devastation and misery.”

We welcome back those of our team entering the US today. These include Erin, Karen, Joan, Carson, Joe, Pramita, Cortney, Kyle, Bill, Brenda, Nestor, and Christian. We send them our thanks, our love, our hugs, and our wishes for rest and peace.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Tuesday, February 2 There have been miracles too many to tell that have been evident throughout our relief efforts. Despite yesterday’s report that formula would not reach the babies until Wednesday, thanks to RoadieRelief, the babies are being fed as we speak. Additional supplements arrive tomorrow.

Living in a world turned upside down will not be easy for these malnourished babies. Moreover, doing it without the love of their parents is more than inconceivable to most. But to those of us who know Haiti, we also know that if it is anything, it is a country of strength and determination. My bet is on these little ones!

Literally, as I write at 11:40 a.m., the first four members of our medical team – Jean, Ken, Kurt and Matt – have touched down in Opa Locka, Florida. From the moment of arrival in the United States, that part of Haiti they choose to bring home with them will, I imagine, be forever in their hearts and minds. Their work at Hospital St. Damien is behind them: ten life-saving surgeries per day; creation of a pediatric E.R.; day and night shifts at the adult E.R.; and outreach with the 82nd Airborne to hundreds with no access to medical care. Not bad for a week’s work!

I’ve been writing these past days about our medical team – unquestionably people of valor, strength and character – people who represent the countless volunteer organizations, agencies and individuals bringing aid to Haiti. But our part of the story is only just that – a mere part. This story is really about the Haitians – their resilience beyond even the imagination of we ordinary folk.

Camilla is but one example about whom I write. A Haitian woman in her late sixties, Camilla has experienced the trauma of the quake, the loss of loved ones, and the destruction of her city. She arrives at the orphanage every day at about 6:00 a.m. and leaves late into the night. Where she spent the night is anyone’s guess as her home is no more.

Camilla prepares, cooks, serves and thereafter cleans up from the amazing meals she prepares daily for our team. Camilla speaks no English. Language, however, in times like these comes in many forms and Camilla, we are told, communicates in the “language of love,” more than frequently extending her arms to offer hugs of kindness and appreciation. So often is she seen smiling that one is unable to detect what you know to be a deep and chronic suffering.

What is it exactly that Camilla sees beyond the death, beyond the suffering and beyond the rubble?

All of us who travel to Haiti in this relief effort will return. And as hard, and as painful, and as tiring as our experience may be, we take comfort in knowing that security and abundance awaits us. Not so for the Haitians. Fortunately, however, Haiti is a nation of Camillas; those who will carry on, rebuild and do whatever it takes. After all, be there any other choice?

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Monday, February 1

Today’s update starts with our six tiny malnourished infants (all under 6 months) and our two year old. As with all best laid plans, a glitch developed today and the formula will be brought in on Wednesday - we had hoped it would have gotten there by tomorrow. Leaving out of Miami, the formula could not be found at local pharmacies but had to be ordered for arrival tomorrow. For those of you who may be thinking, “what a difference a day can make”… are quite right. But if this relief effort is anything, it is not predictable, and plans have to be revised, reworked, and reapplied. There is no question that the lives of these children are paramount, but for so many who have been reading about the babies, these infants have come to be a symbol of the preciousness of life and how one must stop at nothing to make a difference. Henry, No Time For Poverty’s Director in Haiti, will take delivery of the formula from David, the RoadiesRelief contact on the ground some time between what we estimate to be 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. He will immediately bring the formula to St. Damien to be administered to the babies. The formula we’ve secured comes in 2 ounce bottles and we are shipping in 144 bottles. Once again, we thank RoadiesRelief.org for making this happen. Many have inquired whether more formula or money to purchase it is preferred. At this point in time, we ask for the later – as storage is often not an option. Moreover, we are attempting to bring a manufacturer on board as a partner with No Time For Poverty to help us with future acquisitions. Today’s outreach team, working with the 82nd Airborne and JenkinsPenn include Lori (team leader), Neil, Brenda, Kyle, Cortney, Joe, and Tony. Vava, our Haitian dental student, has also joined this group. Escorted by military transport, our team set up its clinic in an area known as Delmas 85. On their way to Delmas, Lori speaks of countless people in the streets holding signs saying, “we need food, medicine, and attention,” followed by a pinpoint to their location. She says it is heartbreaking. Delmas 85, like so many others areas of Port au Prince, has yet to receive medical assistance, and countless people quietly wait in long lines to be treated. Many individuals suffer from tuberculosis and infected wounds not yet treated and resulting in sepsis. Some require transport to hospitals as gangrene had set in. The people living in these communities have set up cardboard houses with roofs of tin that remained intact after the earthquake. Children can be found playing amidst the rubble. By definition, outreach clinics are not supplied for every eventuality. Lori, however, reports that our team is creative, positive, and always able to find a way to “make it work.” Despite the post traumatic stress and physical suffering facing the communities in which our outreach teams work, team members report that these communities are welcoming and appreciative. They gather tables and chairs needed for us to set up and are in other ways as helpful as they can be. In every outreach area, a person has been designated by the community as the person “in charge” to work with us and aid in organization. Lori speaks of so many other outreach areas needing our attention but are unfortunately not accessible at this time. We can only wonder how many of the injured still await treatment there. I asked Lori to tell me what strikes her most as she travels though these communities, and this is what she said, “As I ride in the back of the transport trucks I look out on all the destruction. But can you imagine that irrespective of the destruction – and it is vast – Haiti’s beauty is still here. I can see it in its colors, I can smell it in its fragrance, and I can hear it in the singing. Haiti is vibrant and alive.” Shifting to our hospital team, Jeff, leader of that group, reports that 300 hundred post-op patients are expected to arrive at St. Damien this evening from the USS Comfort. Needless to say, our hospital team will be working in overdrive tonight and tomorrow. It seems to me as though our team has been gone for weeks instead of just days. Easy, however for me to say – I can’t imagine what it feels like to them. Our friends from RoadiesRelief have offered free flights out for our team from Port au Prince to OpaLocka (7 miles from Miami) beginning tomorrow. Thanks to this organization four of our members will depart tomorrow, 12 on Wednesday, and 9 on Thursday. With their departure instructions in hand, it is hard to guess what they are thinking. The reverse culture shock when they hit the Miami airport for their connections will be astounding. There is a lot of adjustment each and every one of them will need to make upon their return home. First responders pay the price… sometimes a very high price.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Sunday, January 31

Our malnourished babies in the orphanage are holding their own. With them is a two year old, easily mistaken for an infant for his diminished size. All of these little ones tell us everyday by their fight to stay alive that their time on this earth is not yet up. Sadly, the same cannot be said of two infants who arrived last night at the new pediatric emergency room set up by our team at St. Damiens. Too sick and malnourished when they arrived … they could not be saved. Like so many sick and injured children in Haiti, their chances of survival are lessened by the severity of their malnutrition at the time of the quake. Other factors contributing to the mortality of these little ones is the loss of family members to care for them, or for the post traumatic stress loved ones are experiencing thereby resulting in their inability to attend to these babies. I don’t believe that a life lost can ever be measured against a life saved. But neither can it be ignored. Just last evening our team worked in the adult emergency room. A man was brought in whose chest had been crushed. Working tirelessly, the team miraculously saved his life.

No Time For Poverty is forever grateful to Andrea Fulkerson and her husband of RoadieRelief.org. These amazing people from Eden Prairie have secured and arranged to deliver the much needed formula with supplements for our malnourished babies in the orphanage. We will receive the formula on Tuesday and start the babies on it right away.

Jeff talks to me of the tremendous challenges ahead for the Haitian people. In a telephone conversation this morning, he tells me that one can hardly imagine the numbers who have lost limbs and the countless others who leave the hospital with pins holding limbs in place. “The destruction,” he says, “is all around and you are aware of it, but its overwhelming effect sneaks up on you.”

More news tomorrow.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Saturday, January 30

If day one’s transmission of our medical team into Hospital St Damien was rocky - raising concern for our team’s usefulness there, day two and three assured that we were well needed. Now, on day four, there is not enough of our team to go around.

Despite that migration to rural areas in the north and south of Port au Prince has been of an enormous magnitude, thousands upon thousands who are too sick or injured to travel outside the city, remain. Formerly only for the affluent, Petionville Country Club, located in a well known suburb of Port au Prince with the same name, is now home to almost 100,000 displaced Haitians. Upon its tennis court and golf course now sits a tent city of enormous proportion.

Jenkins/Penn (as in Sean Penn) and the 82nd airborne are organizing food, water, and medical care for those living in this refugee camp. Medical teams are also being deployed from this location to makeshift outreach clinics outside the city. Our team is currently rotating between St. Damien and the 82nd airborne - to say they are stretched is an understatement.

Brenda, Bill, Joan, Nestor, Sheri, Erin, Chris, and Lori comprise the outreach team today. The remainder are our surgeons, who continue to operate, and other team members who are in the process of setting up a pediatric emergency response area.

Arriving yesterday to Port au Prince to meet up with our teams were our amazing interpreters from Port Salut. Working side by side, these interpreters are proving to be as selfless and as dedicated as our medical team.

Thanks to our dear friend, Bruce Compton, the Catholic Medical Mission Board has been contacted in search of special care neonatal formula for our group of little ones suffering from malnutrition (as I wrote about in yesterday’s update) at Friends of the Orphans orphanage. True to their Haitian heritage, these babies continue to persevere against all odds. We know that so many of you are following their story and turning your hearts to them. We will continue to report as we have news of them.

The last chapter of the recent death and devastation in Haiti has not been written. It has been hard for me to be here when a country and a people that I dearly love are suffering so. I look forward to taking a second team down when Jeff returns. Knowing the Haitians as I do, there is one thing I do not doubt: that if the United States and other countries of the world continue to work as they are with the Haitians, the UN, the military, and relief organizations, I have no doubt that out of this tragedy will come triumph.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, January 29

Please forgive today’s entry for errors, grammar, spelling or punctuation. I have taken the day off from most tasks to be with my daughter Sidney. Today’s entry is dictated by me via telephone.

At this moment moving a mountain seems easier than locating a case of nutritional supplements in Haiti. Yet that is what is desperately needed for eight critically malnourished infants all under six months of age and orphaned by the quake.

Taking turns between shifts, our medical team holds, talks to, and comforts these little ones. Here in Minnesota, I send emails to people moving containers of food within Haiti in the hope of finding the supplements these babies desperately need to survive.

Yesterday was a busy one for our medical team. Kurt, Ken, Jean and Karen performed surgeries nonstop into the night. Neil, Bill and Brenda worked in the ER along with Kyle, Chris and Nester. Jen, Tony and Joe worked post-op. Later in the day, Neil, Virginia, Brenda and Bill were escorted with security to work in Cité Soleil, otherwise considered Port au Prince’s worse section. Joining a Slovakian team, the group reported that the area was well controlled and the community clinic to which they were assigned well supplied. Jen by the way is reported never to be without a little one in her arms.

Sadly, a baby was delivered stillborn last night. Her mother had fallen during the quake as she ran to avoid concrete crashing down around her. On the other side of the hospital a mother in her 6th month of pregnancy was heard throughout the night vacillating between singing and screaming – racked in pain for her leg having been amputated above her knee. Her unborn baby survived, apparently thriving against all odds.

Hospital Saint Damien is at this time a mini United Nations of assistance; in addition to our team, others working there include German, French, Slav and Italian teams. While the Italians brought their own wine with them to Haiti, our team lore tells of Neil succeeding in his quest to find four ice cold Cokes in Port au Prince. What would be the likelihood?

Jeff and Lori report that our team works not only diligently as was anticipated but with a level of cohesiveness that could not have been predicted nor expected of a group of individuals coming together as a unit of 25 for the first time – let alone under the circumstances as presented. So impressed are the Haitian docs that our team has been asked to join a US military instillations on the outskirts of downtown PAP. It is there that a tent city has been erected serving an estimated one hundred thousand men, women and children. With an unbelievable report of ten thousand people per day migrating to this “compound” additional medical help is desperately needed.

Jeff is visiting the instillation this morning so as to determine whether our team will be relocated and resume their work under auspices and security of the US military.

Our NTFP “Minnesota” team continues to work with unceasing dedication towards two purposes. First, we want to get back to those of you here who emailed or called offering time, suggestions, or for some other reason awaited follow-up.

If we did not get back to you it was not because we didn’t think you are important. Urgency required us to prioritize and address those emails and calls which aided the immediacy of the situation.

We think we are doing really well with catching up but in the heat of a moment we may have unintentionally lost you. I think I can speak for our Minnesota team in saying that at times our minds were on overload and/or distracted by our aching hearts. Only yesterday I ran the cold water from the faucet for our dogs. I retrieved their water bowls from the floor, shut off the water and returned the bowls to their assigned places. It was only when I began to walk away that I realized I had never actually put the water in the bowls!

Please give us until mid next week to get back to you if you expected to hear from us but have not been contacted. While we don’t think we missed many of you we do suspect that we missed one or two.

The second focus of our current effort is sending our next medical team to Haiti. The systems we developed for our first group worked better than we could have expected and are in place for trip number two. Only two considerations remain – and while to some they may seem to loom large, they are but two steps yet to be taken out of hundreds that have already been finalized. The first is transportation into Haiti. We were told that on Wednesday, the day our aircraft brought our team to Haiti, 27 planes were turned away. Having been made aware of such diversions, we had chosen to fly our team with an organization that even prior to the earthquake had been flying missions into Haiti. We knew that they’d been cleared to continue their efforts and had been afforded priority standing.

Daily rumors suggest that flights to Haiti by commercial airlines will resume on February 1st. We have no such confirmation. Teams and individuals frequently travel into Haiti through the Dominican Republic. If you know of anyone who has bussed from Santo Domingo to PAP please ask them to contact me. We know how to go about sending a team through the Dominican but we would like to confirm its efficiency before bringing a team of 25.

The final consideration for sending team number two is locations. While our team is being put to good use at St. Damien, the multiple teams from around the world working there suggest that the need for a team such as ours may be greater elsewhere. Our on the ground team will be reporting the possibilities to us in the next days. We don’t merely want to send a medical team to Haiti; we want to maximize its effectiveness.

To those medical personnel who have applied on our website to possibly join our next team – we ask you to sit tight. Once plane and location are determined – we will contact you. Please note that we do not adhere to a “first-come first-serve” approach to team selection. Instead, our goal is to put together a well-rounded team of surgeons, doctors, EMTs and nurses so as to serve the Haitian people in the best possible way.

If you are medical personnel or know of any others interested who have not completed our online application – now is the time to do so. We are going to do our best to get our second team off some time between Feb. 8 and 10. There are, however, no guarantees but once all aspects of the trip are in place we will move and we will move fast… but in accordance with proper planning and precautions.

In closing I want you to know that I would be less than honest were I not to admit to questioning the value of us spending literally hundreds of hours to assemble medications, supplies and a small medical team of 25 to bring to Haiti. At times it felt as though we could effect but a single grain of sand in an enormous dune of desperation and need. I wondered in the course of it all whether I would recognize how much was too much… and would I know when it was time to say, “We gave it a good shot – Let it go.”

For certain, it was on the plane to Florida after the teams flight to Haiti had been cancelled, that I was most plagued by doubt. Who did I think we were to even consider the possibility that we could secure an airplane to fly our medical team to Haiti?

In the end it came down for me to this: How much time, money and effort is one human being worth – be it an adult or be it a child … And are we willing to pay the cost? I believe that most of us go through life never truly confronted with these specific questions and if we are, it is asked of us only in the most philosophical of terms. In this instance answers come easy. Confronted with the true reality of the questions, however, I arrived at the answer this way: Be it that we are Haitian or American, we are truly just one; that the value of a life can not be measured against the cost of moving a single grain of sand in a dune of countless grains of sand. After all one can ever know whether one tiny piece of sand so moved, will make its way to the ocean and become pearl to the oyster.

Click here for recent photos from our team.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, January 28

I start our update today with a correction. Yesterday, we listed Queen of Peace Hospital as being located in Faribault – when in fact, it is located in New Prague. We want to get this right because two of our amazing team members, Joan and Jean, hail from Queen of Peace. We also failed to mention Sheryl Ebenreiter who traveled with me to Haiti on my last trip, returning only days before the earthquake. Since her return, Sheryl has been volunteering many hours right here in our No Time For Poverty Office.

The report from our team last night was bittersweet. They describe their accommodations as the “Ritz Carlton” for what Haiti had going on. To top it off Loune Viaud’s cousin, Mona, and her friends prepared a dinner feast exclusively for our team – goat stew, salad, plantains, rice and beans, and cornmeal. Though appreciating so great a meal, much of the team was disappointed, feeling that they had not been put to their best use the first day. A modicum of confusion had reigned. The 600 post operative patients St. Damien had been expecting were not transported. The day had also been one of transition when some medical teams left St. Damiens and others arrived. A child of age 3 with what appeared to be a pelvic break suffered while he awaited care. Another infant post surgery was not waking up. For this child, however, our team worked to bring him to arousal. As I hear the report I wonder if such a small being instinctively knows that waking to such a world as is now Haiti will mean a life of indescribable hardship and pain even greater than that which would have been before the earthquake. I wonder if this tiny thing chooses sleep and peace over the alternative awaiting him.

Lori speaks of countless crying children whose arms stretch out to be held and nurtured, lost and frightened for having been thrust not only into a place of physical pain and hurt but fear and aloneness as well.

Haitian hospital staff talk in fear of rumors that CNN is soon to leave – apparently a trigger for grass roots and other support to withdraw as well… and then what? As already a tragically ignored and forgotten country before the quake, what now be Haiti’s fate?

Today’s light shown more brightly. Our team members awoke to a breakfast of bread, cheese, fresh fruit, and much more. Thereafter, Fr. Rick Frechette held an all team meeting. He told our team leaders that we were needed and asked that we afford the hospital an opportunity to regroup. It wasn’t long after that, that our surgeons were operating, our anesthetist was put to work, and the remaining team assigned to shifts. By 9:30 a.m. central time the team was busy, some in fact assigned to community out-clinics - an option for which many were eager as it would take them outside the confines of the hospital. Jeff was called this morning to assist a surgeon working on a “little guy” who had lost his leg to amputation but needed additional surgery when gangrene set in. The pictures being sent back to us by the team, in fact, tell the story of the countless loss of limbs. While hard to see, the little comfort we take is in knowing that so many have come to Haiti to help. We warn you in advance that some of these can be difficult. We will not be posting those photos of the sick and dying children who lay alone in wait.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Wednesday, January 27

Only until 5:00 a.m. yesterday when the last person on our medical team was no longer visible passing through security at the Lindbergh airport in Minneapolis did my body and soul return to earth and was I aware of my surroundings. It was at that moment I realized the extent to which I had been functioning on some other plane since the horrendous earthquake and aftershocks hit Haiti.

As Sue and I walked to our cars we didn’t have to say it – we knew the impossible had been achieved.

The die was cast – thanks to our email blast, an absolutely amazing team of twenty five came forward, offered to put their personal and professional lives on hold for nine days and travel to a war zone of death and suffering for two reasons only – to cheat death of as many Haitian’s as possible and to alleviate the pain of multitudes more.

As the team was being formed, we developed a comprehensive plan coordinating all aspects of the trip. We knew communication was of utmost importance. Keeping the medical team up to date, making flight and other travel arrangements, working with Partners In Health, keeping up with those people contacting us via phone and email for information, connecting with media outlets, and so so much more was not only happening all at the same time but happening when so many of us were grieving.

Updates to our medical team were honest and thorough. When our flight to Port au Prince was cancelled, we notified the team and asked them to stay on hold. Not one balked or complained. Once a new plane was located (see Jan. 22 update on our website) and made available to our team, countless hours were spent finalizing arrangements with the flight company.

As busy as we were, we knew that we were working for Haiti relief at a time where a window of opportunity to seek donations was before us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it all. We asked for assistance through our daily e-mail updates knowing however, that so many of our constituents communicated primarily through snail mail. We knew that we were not using our facebook or our website to the extent we could have to ask for gifts, we knew, however, the right thing to do was to put our efforts toward organizing immediate relief for Haiti. Having said this, thanks to those of you who did receive our email blasts, forwarded them on to friends and family, and told everyone about the work that No Time For Poverty was doing. We did receive gifts.

Planning for the security of our team was extensive. While we hoped and assumed the team would be in good hands once delivered to Partners In Health, we nonetheless wanted to plan for every eventuality. Team leaders, Jeff and Lori, were provided with two satellite phones, most generously donated for our use by Gene and Jane Ott of PACKSACK out of Ely, MN, thanks to the efforts of Tom and Sheryl Ebenreiter. We are using these phones as back up in the event personal cell phones are inoperable. Team leaders also have personal cell and office phone numbers along with email addresses of Ray Baysden, a top UN Security official on the ground with whom I have developed a close relationship, and many others including Anne Marie Cassella, Special Attaché to Americans In Haiti, also on the ground there Once the team’s location is identified, I will email the information to our contacts in Haiti. In addition to these contacts, we have contacts in the United States and on the ground in Port au Prince with navy and other military. Lori and Jeff are apprised as to the location of the UN and we have also arranged for a “safe” house in the event of an emergency. Finally, in addition to the formal steps taken, we have put on notice staff and countless numbers of our friends who can assist in an emergency. We know, of course, the effectiveness of our precautions are dependent upon the nature of an emergency that could arise. The long and the short of it is – that the 25 members of our medical team are a selfless group who have put their needs second to those of the Haitian people.

Working feverishly to get our medical team off the ground, we simultaneously established a plan for acquisition and accumulation of medication and medical supplies. To the frustration of many, we refused general donations. With the rush of relief effort to Haiti by well meaning renegade groups and organizations, Haiti is becoming a wasteland of ancient medical equipment otherwise difficult to dispose of in the United States. Therefore, we wanted to bring with us only those supplies requested of us and much of it was already available in our warehouse in Hastings intended for use at Klinik Timoun Nou Yo. Only sterile items were packed and only non-expired supplies were included. The list of medications from Partners In Health were quite specific. Our quota was reached by groups who reached out to us before we’d made a request. Also, many of the members of our medical team succeeded in securing large supplies of medication.

Among those donating were: Geritom Medical Inc. of St. Paul, MN and it’s employees, Sharon Carmody and Mercy Hospital; Autumn Erwin, Carson Harris, Tony Bigelbach, and Jessica Sandberg working through Regions Hospital; Jen Paboda through friends and family; Joan Gunderson, Jean Nusbaum and the staff at Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, MN; University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, and Kristen Hansberry, who coordinated efforts by her church and St Therese School in Deephaven, MN.

In preparation for packing meds and supplies, they were laid out categorically. Arriving at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, an amazing group of 15 not only packed twenty six pre-numbered duffle bags, but diligently completed a packing slip of every item included in every bag. This group was so dedicated, focused, and driven – their job was completed by 1:00 p.m.!

The remaining fourteen duffle bags of supplies and medications were brought with them by those members of our team flying from places other than Minnesota. While we had a fifty pound limit per bag on American Airlines domestically, into Haiti we could bring only seventy pounds per person – requiring each team member to check two thirty five pound bags of medication and supplies. Included in the supply duffle bags were one and two person tents to be used by our team. These tents were donated thanks to the efforts of Martin Elie and Julie Brown. Julie and her coworkers at BHZ Company raised money to buy tents by paying for the opportunity to wear jeans for a day.

Knowing that our supplies would be no where near enough of what was needed, we worked with Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, (an organization in Springfield, Il to secure a far greater amount of supplies. It’s president and CEO, Bruce Compton, is a very good friend to No Time For Poverty. Thanks to him and those at his organization, Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach arranged for a 40 ft container to be sent out, brought in to Port au Prince through the Dominican Republic, delivered to St. Damien’s Hospital and earmarked for No Time For Poverty. In addition to some items requested by Partners in Health, such as diapers, formula, etc, we asked that the vast majority of space be used for ortho surgical supplies. While, Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach worked feverishly to get this container out, they are “only hoping” that it will reach us in time. However, if any group can get it to us they can as they are working with the Pentagon and the Military in getting equipment and supplies into Haiti.

Once our arrangements to get the group into Haiti by air were made, we needed an orderly process for the “Minnesota group” to connect with the “non Minnesota” group, both of which made up the No Time For Poverty team. Easier said than done – but our countless hours paid off. Just One hour after touch down in Miami by our Minnesota group, our two groups became one and had boarded the bus with Milly, its driver. The bus, donated by Endeavor Bus Company, brought the No Time For Poverty medical team to Fort Pierce, Fl, where it would be leaving the next day for Port au Prince, Haiti. While there was nary a glitch at our end, American Airlines cannot boast the same. The Minnesota team plane was met upon landing in Miami by the fire trucks. Apparently the landing gear began smoking after arrival and the plane had to be towed in to the gate!

Milly was a great driver and contributed to the teams good spirits. In continuous contact with the group to this point, my only concern for their emotional disposition came about when amidst their laughter in transit I heard a number of team members muttering about “Bus Bingo!”

Upon arrival in Fort Pierce, the team was welcomed – and I do mean welcomed – by the Best Western Inn. The team found the recently renovated hotel to be “awesome” - clean, comfortable, attractive, and located amidst tons of restaurants and fast food chains. According to the team more appreciation and accommodation by the hotel could not have been offered. It even donated a room for all of the baggage as well as for meeting as the group of twenty five needed to gather to discuss what was to come in the days ahead.

This morning, true to the word of the transportation company in Fort Pierce, the shuttle bus arrived at the hotel promptly at 5:30 a.m. Apparently, the company was gracious, warm, and like the staff at the Best Western, expressed its appreciation for the team’s efforts in Haiti. By 6:00 a.m. the team arrived at Missionary Flight International exactly at 6:00 a.m. as required.

Missionary Flight International reported that of all the teams they’ve been transporting into Haiti, ours was “by far” the most organized; duffle bags were packed in number and accordance with MFI requirements, the written passenger list forwarded to it required not a single modification, and no group had physically assisted with luggage to the extent of our group. Moreover the “carry ons” of our team members met all MFI specifications despite that all food, personal items, and sleeping bags had to be crammed into these bags.

By 7:45 a.m. Florida time, our team boarded the aircraft provided by the Hendricks family, with fifteen other passengers and took off toward their first stop to gas up – Exuma in the Bahamas. The comments I heard from our team as they were getting ready for take off were “leather seats!” Soon thereafter I heard an announcement from the pilot – telling the team that “if there was anything – anything at all that they needed - to let them know.” His voice was gracious, sincere, and appreciative. At 11:35 EST, the team landed in Port au Prince, was met by Partners In Health, and was taken to Hospital St. Damien, a state of the art pediatric hospital, under the auspices of Friends of the Orphans.

As I write at this moment (3:50 p.m. central time), I have received a number of phone calls from Jeff and Lori. The team’s tents are set up in a secured compound next to the hospital. They have access to a bathroom, shower, food, ice, and cold drinks.

According to Jeff, there is a significant degree of disorganization and confusion at the hospital. While it is easy to criticize the staff there, Jeff is quick to point out that at least half of the St. Damien staff have died in the earthquake. Moreover, the remaining staff, who have lost friends and family of their own, have been working around the clock since the earthquake occurred. Leave it to our group however, that after a briefing with the hospital’s Assistant Director, they organize themselves in such as way as to begin working by 5:30 central time. In fact, as I write, our surgeons are dressing to begin casting.

All hospital beds at St. Damiens are full and some patients are in tents. Moreover, 600 more post-op patients are being transferred to St. Damien’s from the general hospital in Port au Prince and 80 more from the USS Comfort. Our team will also be assessing 40 injured and disabled children brought from Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs, French for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters,” the orphanage under St Damien’s auspices.

Lori writes – “We have observed massive numbers of amputations thus far. Children reaching out to us for affection. Hugs and nurturing. Heartbreaking.”

We will continue to post updates on our website and send you email blasts. Please forgive if in the course of our business, we fail to include you on our lists of thanks. To all of you who have donated money and time, please accept our heartfelt appreciation. To those of you who continue to send messages of support and kindness, we appreciate your understanding of our inability to get back to you. Please know that each and every word you write keeps us going.

A thank you to the media – especially Fox 9 News (who was at the airport with us at 4:00 a.m. when we sent off the medical team), and the many other television and radio stations who continue to keep Haiti and the story of our medical team in the news. We want to make special mention of Channel 45 for inviting us to be a part of its Sunday morning show, CrossRoads, airing at 7:30 a.m.

We will post information about our plans for our next medical trip sometime in the next few days.

Until tomorrow, Michele and Sue bid you good night!

Tuesday, January 26

Gathering at the Mpls/St Paul airport at 4:15 this morning, an amazing group of individuals met and instantly became a team. Laughing, joking, and excited to be a part of something much greater than themselves, these 14 team members took off at 6:00 a.m. for Miami.

We just learned that the team has already joined up with most of the rest of the group in Miami and are currently traveling by bus (generously donated by Endeavor Bus Company out of Miami) to Fort Pierce, Florida, where they will meet up with the last 4 team members. Tomorrow, all 25 No Time For Poverty medical team members will be flown by Missionary Flights International to Port au Prince, Haiti.

Fox 9 news (out of the Twin Cities) was at the airport with us this morning. They did a number of interviews and camera shots. We are told that their coverage of us will be on the 5:00 or 5:30 news tonight. There is also an article about the medical team on-line at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Lastly, we are told that other local news and radio stations have been reporting about our group throughout the day as well.

One last note until we write more tomorrow. You may remember that we were to hold a raffle drawing on January 15th. In light of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and our need to get a medical team there as soon as possible, we put the drawing on hold. In celebration of our team reaching Haiti, we will hold the drawing at our main office at 12:00 noon on Friday, January 29, 2010.

Until tomorrow….

Michele Boston, Executive Director

StarTribune

Martinez Gazette

KSTP-TV

Monday, January 25

Ok - We’re packed at this end and attending to only final details! Our MN contingent leaves tomorrow on American Airlines # 925 out of Mpls/ St. Paul at 6:00 a.m. The group is scheduled to arrive in Miami at 10:40 a.m.

We will meet up with most of our other team members at the Miami airport and all travel together by bus to Fort Pierce, Fl. We have one small group who is driving from Orlando to meet us in Fort Pierce.

We can’t thank enough, Tom De Matteo of ABC bus companies in Faribault, MN and Mike Amador, owner of Endeavor Bus Company! Tom (who I happened to meet on the plane to Orlando when I flew down to arrange our flights with MFI) was able to connect us with Mike who donated a bus and driver to pick up the team at the airport and bring them to Fort Pierce, approximately 2 hours away. Endeavor Bus Company is out of Miami. They quickly responded to our need for assistance and will forever be our most favorite bus company anywhere.

Once in Fort Pierce, the team will spend the night at the Best Western. The next morning (Wednesday) they will take a shuttle to Missionary Flights International where they will be on one of two flights - either at 7:00 a.m. or at 9:00 a.m.

The team will arrive approximately 3 to 4 hours later in Port au Prince. The information that follows is what we have been told by Loune Viaud, Director of Strategic Planning and Operations for Partners in Health, and what we passed along to our medical team.

We will be under PIH auspices and care from the moment we arrive until we depart. Please keep in mind that we have done absolutely everything we could possibly do to gain their assurance that we will be put to good use and that our surgeons will in fact have the location and the tools that they need to work with. However, when all is said and done, keep in mind that the situation in Haiti is equivalent to a war zone and we can’t know what we know until we know it. Despite this, here is what we have done. We have arranged through Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, (the organization in Springfield, Il whose president and CEO, Bruce Compton, is a very very good friend to No Time For Poverty), for a 40 ft container to be sent out, brought in to PAP through the Dominican Republic, delivered to St. Damiens Hospital (where we are told you will be working) and earmarked for No Time For Poverty. In addition to some items requested by PIH such as diapers, formula, etc, we asked that the vast majority of space be used for ortho surgical supplies. While, Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach worked feverishly to get this container out, they are “only hoping” that it will reach us in time. However, if any group can get it to us they can as they are working with the Pentagon and the Military in getting equipment and supplies into Haiti.

At this point in time – our trip is left to the universe. Special thanks again to all who donated medical supplies, medications, funds, and time.

Many of us at No Time For Poverty will be getting up at 3:00 a.m. to see the team off. For this reason, I shall sign off with more updates to follow tomorrow. For now – whether you believe in them or not, send the angels to follow our team throughout their trip. We at No Time For Poverty have learned that angels come in all sizes, shapes, sexes, and colors. So, if you believe send them. If you don’t – send them anyway.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, January 22 - PM Report

If you saw our website this morning you know that I traveled yesterday to Fort Pierce, Florida to beg for a plane to bring to Haiti the 25 who comprise our amazing volunteer medical team. We’d gotten word on Wednesday that our flight to Haiti had been cancelled. Despite hours and hours of calling and contacting by NTFP staff, we’d exhausted all possibilities save one – Missionary Flights International. While we had been able to reach them intermittently by phone, we were unable to secure confirmation. As a last effort, I decided to travel to Fort Pierce to beg for our cause.

I was scheduled to leave yesterday on a 7:00 a.m. flight out of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Precisely at 700 a.m. the captain notified us that the plane was disabled and would not be flying. Despite NWA’s assurances to re-plane us – I was skeptical but peaceful – a quiet aching to get a plane accompanied by trusting that it was out of my hands.

True to their word we took off on another aircraft at 8:30 am. With me I took the thought of wanting to have commandeered for Haiti the plane we’d given up once ready to fly again.

Landing in Orlando at 12:15 Fl time, I was standing outside Missionary Flight International building by 3:00 p.m. The first person to greet me was a volunteer “What wish can we grant for you here today?” he asked. It caused me pause and I found myself unable to respond. He sounded sincere as if I had arrived somewhere where a wish could truly be granted.

Wanting to get my wish right - as I might not get a second – I told him that I needed a plane for 25 medical personnel to get into Haiti. Leading me to Trina, MFI’s scheduler, our wish was granted in a matter of 10 minutes.

Back at the No Time For Poverty office, Lori, Sue, Carmi, Molly, and MA have feverishly been working on a number of things, not the least of which includes acquiring, accounting for, and packing medications and supplies that have been so generously donated. We are allowed for each member of the team to travel with 70lbs plus their carry on (which the team members must use for all their personal items, including clothes, food, etc) We want to be sure that every ounce of medication and supplies is specific to what is truly needed in Haiti.

It is clear from the response to this medical trip that so many of you have been referring our updates on to friends and family. We ask that you continue to do so, so as to create a wide span of assistance. The weekend is upon us and as we have so very much to do to get ready for Tuesday, we will write as time allows.

Our love and appreciation to all of you!

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, January 22 - AM Report

I write to you from Orlando, FL, heading back to MN this morning. Thanks to Missionary Flights International in Fort Pierce, our medical team will travel into Haiti on Wednesday, Jan. 27th. We couldn’t be more grateful to MFI’s president, Dick Snook and Trina, its scheduler, moreover our gratitude goes to the Hendricks family for the use of their aircraft.

Back at the No Time For Poverty office, Lori, Sue, Carmi, Molly, and MA have feverishly been working to acquire account for and pack medications and supplies that have been so generously donated. We are allowed for each member of the team to travel with 70lbs. We want to be sure that every ounce of medication and supplies is specific to what is truly needed in Haiti.

It is clear from the response to this medical trip that so many of you have been referring our updates on to friends and family. WE ask that you continue to do so, so as to create a wide span of assistance. The weekend is upon us and as we have so very much to do to get ready for Tuesday, we will write as time allows.

Our love and appreciation to all of you.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, January 21

Our Haiti Relief Medical Trip is on thanks to Missionary Flights International. We’re too tired to give you more information right now.
We will update tomorrow morning.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Wednesday, January 20

My day started with hearing about the 6.1 earthquake that hit Haiti. When I saw that CNN and MSNBC were giving it but minimal coverage, I admit to feeling relieved. E-mails on the ground indicate that people were absolutely terrified – it was like living a nightmare all over again. The children were most especially frightened. Imagine what they must be going through.

Apparently we are hearing that there is little damage to property resulting from the earthquake. I suspect this is because whatever was going to come down already has.

We were hearing all day that planes were being cancelled into Port au Prince. Apparently the need for food and water is so great that medical teams were being put on hold – believe that or not. This is not to say that individuals or groups of two or three are not getting in. They are kind of “hopping aboard” odd planes going in and out. Not surprising, we got word that American Airlines cancelled our flights.

Partners In Health wants our group as a whole. We had to ask our medical team to sit tight while we reviewed a number of alternatives. One of our options is to work in Les Cayes, Haiti. Les Cayes is only 40 minutes from our visitor center and clinic in Port Salut. It would be at Brenda Strafford Institute, an excellent Canadian eye, ear, nose, and throat hospital. The Directors of Brenda Strafford, Richard and Chantal are very good friends of ours with whom we have worked on a number of occasions. They have food, water (though we would need filtration systems), lodging, transportation, and security. We would need to bring supplies, but as water would not be a problem – these could be transported with us into the country.

Another option - I am flying tomorrow to meet with an organization out of Fort Pierce, Florida. They are telling us to come down and fly with them standby into Port au Prince. Their flights are going out regularly. We know, however, that our medical volunteers’ time is very precious and without assurance that our group will go out, we do not want to exercise this option. I’m going down to seek a commitment from them to transport our group on a confirmed status.

On a different note, we are delighted to report that one of our friends located her mother and brother alive. Unfortunately, her father is still missing. Her family lived right in the heart of the epicenter of the earthquake. Another friend has confirmation that her uncle and cousin have died. Her family in Haiti is trying to bring them out of the rubble to give them a proper burial before they are placed in an unmarked grave. She is relieved, however, that the remainder of her family has all been found alive. We still have no word of a family of five living in Port au Prince in an area that we know went to total collapse.

I will admit to all of you today to having a most heavy heart all day today – something I have not allowed of myself. Some of it may be sheer tiredness. Some of it may be disappointment in our flight being cancelled. Perhaps it is Haiti catching up to me

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Tuesday, January 19

This morning when I awoke, I was keenly aware that it would be another day of all of us at No Time For Poverty putting one foot in front of the other in an effort to stay focused and do what it is that we need to do. The news about those few remaining people we know and love but have yet to hear from leaves us with heavy hearts. But we know what it is that we have to do…

Thanks to all of you forwarding yesterday’s email blast on to others, by noon today we had not only one medical team to go to Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 26 leaving from Minneapolis, but we also pulled from people across the country for a second team that will meet us on the ground in Haiti. The Minneapolis group we are calling Group Number 1 and they are 14 in number. This was the maximum amount of space that American Airlines had left on that day. The number of people in Group Number 2 arriving in Port au Prince prior to Group Number 1 is still growing. We should know the exact number early in the a.m.

Lori Lindgren from No Time For Poverty will be leading Group Number 1. My husband, Jeff Boston, will be leading Group Number 2. I will be commanding the No Time For Poverty offices with Sue, Molly, Carmi, M.A., and Sheryl, who accompanied me on my last trip to Haiti. Lori has been to Haiti numerous times, led two medical trips to Haiti, has worked with Partners In Health, and is quite familiar with the ins and outs of Haiti – its social, political, and economic structure. Jeff is a Psy D. psychologist and RN. Jeff has also led two medical trips, been to Haiti numerous times and is also familiar with its ins and outs. Both of our groups will be met by Partners In Health. Throughout their stay they will be transported and cared for under the auspices of that group.

Our volunteers will need lightweight 2-person tents. We would be grateful if you have any to donate. Most likely they will be left in Haiti for the use of others. They can be received at our offices at: 1865 Old Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN 55119.

Most importantly, we are hoping to secure children’s antibiotics – hundreds of pounds of them, and so we need your help. As you did yesterday, we ask that you again circulate this email to anyone you know who may be able to contribute these medications or money to purchase.

We want you to know that the team we have assembled is an excellent one. It includes three surgeons, one anesthesiologist, a number of doctors, emergency and otherwise applicable experience, nurses, and EMTs. I am struck once again as I write by the generosity and bravery, not only of these medical volunteers, but of their families and loved ones who support their travel. We will be notifying you of a second medical trip to Haiti which will likely occur on or around Feb. 6 or 7. Medical personnel interested should email mboston@notimeforpoverty.org for more information.

It has been one week and one hour ago at the time of this writing that this terrible earthquake hit Haiti leaving its people in a horrific state. In some ways it feels like yesterday; in other ways it feels like weeks and weeks ago. I returned to the U.S. from Haiti only five days before the earthquake, having had a most successful trip - finalizing so many things necessary for the completion and opening of Klinik Timoun Nou Yo.

Only one of the many things that we achieved was the intensive training of eleven census takers ultimately dispersed to five localities in our region to distribute in the course of the census, vitamin A and albendazole. The vitamin A will prevent blindness, the albendazole will treat parasites. Not only are the census takers weighing the babies ages 0 – 5 so as to determine those worse cases of malnutrition, but they are also acquiring information regarding the medical and vaccination histories of mothers and children. Similarly, we will record information pertaining to poverty indicators such as whether a hut has a thatched roof or a tin one, a cement or a dirt floor.

When in my head and in my heart, I had no doubt that the census we had begun would cease under the terrible weight of the death and destruction of Haiti. I learned today however, that the community and the census takers have refused to stop the census; that they are more driven than ever to do whatever it is that they have to do to bring a program of comprehensive medical care to the region of Port Salut by No Time For Poverty. I must admit to it causing me pause to learn that even the completion of the clinic by the laborers is moving forward who also refuse to stop. Though while it is true that the effects of the earthquake were minimal in Port Salut with the loss of life estimated at around 6 people, everyone in our region has lost or has yet to learn the fate of loved ones.

I have traveled to many places around the world – most especially those of developing nations. Jeff and I chose Haiti because never before have we encountered a more beautiful people who persevere despite all of the worst that comes their way.

I thank each and every one of you who support No Time For Poverty by reading our updates, forwarding our emails, or donating time or money. We are grateful to each and every one of you – until tomorrow.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Monday, January 18

It is with deep sadness that we learned that a wife of dear friend has died in Port au Prince. She was attending church when the earthquake happened and was crushed under the debris. All of us are heart sick. We are also hearing of a number of our Haitian friends here who still continue to fear the worst. Our thoughts and our wishes are with them always.

We have cleaned out our med closet in Port Salut. All medications and supplies we have are being taken to Brenda Strafford Hospital in Les Cayes. It is located only 45 minutes from Port Salut. That city is already overflowing with the sick and the maimed who have come all the way from Port-au-Prince looking for medical care, food, water, and shelter.

We have received a telephone call from one of our medical students. He is working around the clock in Les Cayes where he had been interning at the general hospital. It was the first good connection we had with anyone on the ground as his phone call to us on Friday was not well connected. He describes things as all who contact us from Haiti do – horrific.

We have have sent out emails to medical personnel advising that we have booked a flight leaving on Tuesday, January 26th returning Wednesday, February 3rd, for our first medical team to go to Haiti and help with the disaster.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Saturday, January 16

First and foremost, we are happy to report that we have discovered that the two children of one of our staff have been found alive in Port au Prince. Our search list is getting smaller and smaller and for this we are grateful. We know now for those alive in Port au Prince, the key is to help them with water, food, and medical care. If you’ve been watching CNN, you know these efforts are being coordinated by UN, military, and major relief organizations. It is still very hard, however, when you have actual friends and acquaintances walking the streets of Port au Prince who are without food, water, and medical care. We know of almost no one whose house was left standing. Again also, we have so many friends from organizations here doing good work in Haiti that still await word from friends and families. Our hearts go out to them.

Critical to today’s news is that there is new word on our medical trip. Just yesterday I wrote to tell you that we would not be taking medical teams into Port au Prince. We told you that we were still dealing with issues of internal transport, safety, and a viable place to work. These “on the ground” details are no longer an issue for us. Early this morning I received an email from Loune Viaud, Paul Farmer’s Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at Zanmi Lasante. You may know of Paul’s organization, Partners in Health. This outstanding group perhaps has done more for Haiti than any other. Partners in Heath is the on the ground coordinating health and medical agency.

Loune has requested and secured clearance for our medical team(s) to come to Haiti. She, herself, will be meeting our team in Port au Prince and we will be assigned a specific site and transported there in an official capacity.

What does this mean exactly? 1, It means that if you are a surgeon, physician, or other medical personnel and are interested in going as we hope to be going in and out on rotation, please forward the following to sgrundhoffer@notimeforpoverty.org – in subject line please note - medical team volunteer.

We will put you on our medical trip updates as we have them. For now, we know that so many of you want to help – but we will only be bringing in medical personnel at this time. Also, if you know of any medical personnel who might be interested please forward this email to them.

2. Standing in our way is transportation to Haiti. We are researching multiple avenues to get us in. There are many rumors about commercial flights at this point in time. If you know anyone with, for example, a corporate jet, helicopter, etc. that can be placed at our disposal, please let us know – in subject line please note – air travel. Here again, if you know of anyone who could help in this area, please feel free to forward this email.

3. Many of you have been asking what supplies can be donated towards our medical teams. We are asking that you not donate items at this time. For some things we already have a donation stream, other things are best purchased outright prior to each trip as the needs are changing by the minute. Because we will be carrying everything in with us, space is a commodity and we want to bring sure that every item we bring in is what is being asked for and needed on the ground in Haiti.

How else can you help?

1. We wrote yesterday and told you that we need money now more than ever and we do. We are committed to the relief effort and thereafter to rebuilding Haiti. Our sources on the ground tell us that the migration out of Port au Prince into the country sides has begun at epic proportions. It likely will take years and years to rebuild Port au Prince. Already, we are told, that Les Cayes, the city closest to Port Salut, is bursting. There are no services specifically for children in the area and there will not be until we open Klinik Timoun Nou Yo. The medical needs of these children coming out of Port au Prince are, and will continue to be, horrendous. Our commitment to completing and opening Klinik Timoun Nou Yo is unyielding.

We filled you in (above) about our medical trips and relief efforts. We’re asking you now to donate either toward that effort or to the completion of our clinic. You may do so by any of the following methods: a. Donate via our website at www.notimeforpoverty.org b. Send a check to No Time For Poverty, 1865 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55119 c. Leave a message on our phone line at 651-714-6359 and some one will return your call. Please indicate whether you wish your dollars to go to the relief effort, the completion of the clinic, or our discretion. If you do not so indicate it will be used in accordance with our discretion.

2. You can forward this email on to everyone in your address book. Please let them know who we are and what we are doing. Vouch for our efforts, legitimacy, and the extent of our commitment, dedication, and effort. Please stress the importance of them passing along our cause as well.

3. We seek your assistance in helping us create a facebook campaign equal to that of some of the biggest we’ve seen since this new technology. Please link our website/cause onto your facebook site and share it all your facebook friends. Also, please stress the importance of them sharing the information as well.

4. You can speak to your employer about contributing or setting up a matching funds donation. We stand ready to share our story by giving more information to your agency, firm, or company. If you want us to forward information to them, please let us know and title your email - need info.

We want to thank you again for all of the cards, emails, calls, good wishes, and most of all support at this so critical a time in Haiti’s history. Don’t think for one minute that this country will not be rebuilt. It will. From out of these ashes will arise a new generation of children who have been through much much more than any mother or father could fathom for their children. Also, do not think for one minute that your assistance is but a band aid on a wound never to heal. The Haitians are an amazing people. They are resilient and they will rise above this. Those of us working in Haiti continue to have great great hopes for this amazing country and its people. Help us to heal its children who will grow up to make a difference.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Friday, January 15

This morning I was struck by the following reflection: the title of our foundation, No Time For Poverty, is but a backdrop for what we are feeling right now – there is no time for tears. While the situation in Haiti is dire, people like Sue, Lori, Molly, and Carmi are working tirelessly to help locate people, maintain communications, and evaluate and formulate relief efforts.

The latest:
First, we know now that the actual death toll will never be known. Bodies are being put in mass graves because there is little room elsewhere for them. Most persons will not be identified or counted. To do so, is an impossibilty.

The U.S. military is in control of the airport in Port au Prince. We have two groups of American friends trying to get out of Haiti but at this moment the current state of confusion is making it difficult. Planes are being diverted because the airport is jammed. We know that everyone in these groups are safe. But, they are exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I imagine recovering from all they have seen and been through will take a very long time

We continue to plan and strategize using information and recommendations from our higher level contacts within the UN and US military. Based on what we now know, we have decided to put our emergency medical relief team on hold. The Port au Prince airport is turning planes away. The single runway is unable to receive landings. Food is unavailable and clean water is non existent. We are working with “higher ups” to overcome these obstacles. The food and water, we believe, would not be an issue for us. However, a viable place to work from and security, are paramount and we won't take a team unless we can maximize transport, operation, and safety.

This afternoon, we had an appointment with someone with navy connections. He may be able to assist. We are looking at entering Haiti from the Southwest. The city of Jacmel is 70% annihilated. Many people are in need of services. Also, the city Les Cayes, located not too far from our village of Port Salut, has become crowded with people who have left Port-au- Prince in search of medical assistance.

So many people have been asking, "what can I do?". To each and every one of you, I say " I am more grateful than you can imagine." As for what can you do, here are some options: we need your donations and we need them now. We are asking for you to make a contribution of dollars to No Time For Poverty.

As I have already written, our clinic is needed now more than ever. You can earmark your donationto be used to complete construction of Klinik Timoun Nou Yo. Alternatively, you can earmark your donation for emergency relief and we assure you that your donation will not go toward any item left on a dock in Haiti but that it will be used directly and immediately to benefit the people of Haiti. You can also donate without any earmark and trust that we will use your contribution as we think best.

I will continue to keep you updated.

P.S. It seems trivial now, but we have been selling tickets for a raffle. Thanks to all who have purchased tickets. The raffle drawing was to be held today. Given the state of things we are moving the drawing to sometime next week. We will let you know.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Thursday, January 14

Another long day so please forgive if this update lacks panache. We are happy to report that we have located two more of our close Haitian friends, and they are alive. We are still awaiting word on others. Moreover, we have talked to a number of other philanthropic groups in Haiti who are awaiting word from Haitian friends and staff in Port au Prince.

While yesterday was a rollercoaster of emotions as we learned one-by-one about the survival of those we love and care about, today we are working in overdrive to move forward. The issues seem to be these. First, the clinic is needed now more than ever before. The news story featuring No Time for Poverty by KSTP-TV last night brought about a realization that in our shock we had not considered; once completed Klinik Timoun Nou Yo will be the first new operating clinic in all of Haiti since the earthquake. If our drive to open the clinic was huge before, it is now gargantuan.

The second issue is that of providing immediate medical relief to those in need. Toward this end, we have begun to plan for a medical trip to Haiti. Indeed this is a difficult task. Preparations for this trip must be made mindfully. The team we put together should be diverse. It must include doctors of different specialties, EMT’s, nurses, etc. We must assure that we can secure proper medications and supplies. Transportation to Haiti must be assured and travel within Haiti must be guaranteed. Gas is limited and so it is incumbent upon us to assure to the best we are able that it is available for the vehicles that we will be using. Lodging and clean water are paramount for our volunteers. There are a number of other factors to consider – finding a viable location from which to work is critical … and much, much more.

We have been inundated by persons willing and wanting to come to Haiti to help. The trip we are putting together is only one of many that we will be making as long as volunteers, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals are available. If you’re interested in future trips, please provide us with your name, qualifications and contact information.

So many have asked what can be done to help and to this point in time, we have not specifically asked for financial contributions but only responded to those requesting to donate. We have done this as a result of the lesson learned two years ago from the hurricane disaster in Haiti. At that time, people wishing to help donated tons of food, supplies, etc. through various agencies and organizations. Unfortunately there was no viable method of distribution in place and a substantial amount was lost or ruined and never distributed to those who needed it as there was not an infrastructure to do so.

We are fortunate to know Haiti very well and to be able to secure the help from those on the ground willing to help and offer what they can despite the enormous losses they have personally endured.

Now I’m here to tell you that we need your donations and we need them now. We are asking for you to make a contribution of dollars to No Time For Poverty. As I have already written, our clinic is needed more than ever and you can earmark your funds to be used to complete construction of Klinik Timoun Nou Yo. Alternatively, your contribution may be earmarked for emergency relief and we will assure you that your contribution will not go toward any item left on a dock in Haiti. We will guarantee that it is used directly and immediately to benefit the people of Haiti.

It is usually our delight to thank you within 24 hours of receipt of your gift, and we will make every effort to let you know it was received, but please appreciate that it may take us some time to catch up.

To those of you who have sent e-mails, written notes and have telephoned, please know that we are grateful to each and every one of you for the support that you lend to all of us at No Time For Poverty. We wish we could respond to each and very one of you individually. For now it may be the best that we can do to provide you with these updates.

I will write again tomorrow.

Michele Boston, Executive Director

Wednesday, January 13

The last 24 hours have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The news coming from friends and staff in Haiti is horrific. The good news is that we have learned that 12, for whom we feared, are alive, 7 are yet unaccounted for. The clinic compound and our visitor center, both located away from Port-au- Prince, have sustained no damage, though many of our friends have lost their homes in Port-au- Prince. There is also little or no food, water or medical care available in Port-au- Prince.

We are awaiting information from our contacts within the military and the pentagon on strategy and planning. While so many want to help, we want to avoid the situation of 2008 when food and supplies were left to ruin in Haitian ports for lack of a distribution method. As soon as our government's intervention plans are solidified, we will be posting those ways you can truly make a difference.

If you do not want to wait - we are accepting donations online. The need for KTNY to serve children ages 0-16, and our comprehensive medical outreach program is needed more than ever. Should you wish to contribute, you may indicate whether your contribution be earmarked for emergency relief efforts, completion of our pediatric clinic, or a combination of both.

In addition to all else going on, Michele was interviewed to appear on the KSTP TV 10PM News.

As we learn more, we will share information here at the end of each day. If you wish to receive more frequent updates, sign up for email blasts.