HELPING HAITI NOW

THIS IS THE LATEST UPDATE I RECEIVED FROM DR. CHRIS BURESH (23 April 2009)

In the last 12 weeks, we have seen approximately 15,000 outpatients, roughly half are children. We've performed ~325 surgical procedures, mostly urgent or trauma related. We have seen 2,000 patients in the ER. We average ~10 deliveries per week. And have had 378 patient-nights for hospitalization (meaning if a patient stays 3 nights, they are counted 3 times). Our inpatients have have been hospitalized for everything from malaria and acute respiratory infections to acute trauma.

In the last week I was down there, I saw at least a half dozen people walk out of that hospital that would have died if they'd shown up even a few hours later.

The thing about statistics like these is that they are never just numbers. Each of these digits represents somebody's husband, wife, parent, son, daughter, newborn, bread-winner, and hope for the future. This is an entire community that we're taking care of. In fact, it's several communities. Our logs over the last few weeks show that people are coming to our facility from far-flung reaches of Haiti. I've just had a few minutes to reflect today, and the enormity of what is going on has just washed over me. Did you know that with your input and support, the field hospital is providing for 53 employees and their entire families? We've also brought in tons (literally) of food that has been distributed by helicopter, flatbed truck, and by hand, and are bringing in housing for several thousand people. Our partners are drilling wells and ensuring folks have clean water to drink. By supporting us, encouraging us, joining us, sweating with us, giving to us, and praying with us you have become partly responsible for the stabilization and rebirth of an entire region of Haiti. Together we've done and are doing things that I don't think any one of us would have imagined was possible just 4 months ago.

I'd like to echo Brennan's sentiment below and take one moment to congratulate each of you on your collective accomplishments. It is hard when you are in crisis mode to take time to reflect, but I think that each of you should take a brief moment to take pride in this endeavor. I know that I've never felt more blessed to be associated with a group of people in my entire life. I'd also like to thank everybody that is reading this from the bottom of my heart. Most of the people on this list have touched my life and have shaped my involvement in this project in tangible and intangible ways.

There's no question that we've a long way to go. The obstacles to a self-sufficient system in Haiti are multitude and monsterous. However, when I see what we've managed to pull off on little more than a wing and a prayer, I have every confidence that by working together we can have a real and lasting impact on the lives of our friends in Haiti. It is the greatest honor that I have ever had to work along side of you all, and I look forward to facing Haiti's future while standing shoulder to shoulder with you. Thank you again so very much.

Chris

Chris Buresh, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.A.E.M.

Co-Director, Community Health Initiative, World Wide Village

HELP FOR HAITI

Have you ever had a headache or "body ache" and were so thankful you

could take a pain killer for relief?

Thank you, GOd, for ADVIL!!! Have your kids been sick and you were able to give them Tylanol and see them smiling an hour later? Of course, we have.

So here's why I'm asking...

I am working with Dr. Chris Buresh in Iowa City who is with a team of docs in Haiti. They have specifically asked for these items (among other items) and will take what they can with them as they rotate teams to Haiti. They also have had volunteer transports. You want to do something DIRECT, this is as direct as we might be able to get without taking the stuff there ourselves.

The next time you're in the store, how about picking up a bottle of pain medicine and getting it to me. (If you have a Sam's membership, they have big bottles and large quantities if you feel like spending a few bucks more.) Spread the word to family and friends.

No one is "sponsoring" me. I'm doing this on my own and asking friends and family to "trust me." If you can drop items off at my house (14248 Augusta Ct between 4:00-7:00 Thursday evenings) or at American Realty from 8:00-5:00(2115 JFK RD), I will see that the items get to Iowa City.

For those of you who like "choices"...Other items needed are book bags (Sam's have some for 8 bucks), latex gloves for the docs and nurses. And still walkers, crutches, plaster for casting...BUT NO MORE SHOES FOR NOW!

Think about those first two questions, then think about how good you can help someone feel even if it's just for a few hours of relief. If you can help, fine. You don't need to reply to me. If you've already helped in anyway, that's wonderful. That's my pitch! Thanks for listening. Carol Foht

HELP FOR HAITI NOW …

T H A N K Y O U T H A N K Y O U (Updated 8 Feb)

I want to thank all who have donated to Dr. Buresh’s needs for the Haiti victims so far.

Your response and giving is truly overwhelming. I am grateful, the Iowa City team is grateful and the people of Haiti are grateful.

We delivered a cube truck full of shoes, walkers, crutches, bookbags, medicines, etc. to Iowa City on Saturday. John Deere, Dubuque Stamp, Bodine Electric, the school kids in Lancaster, WI...and a lot of individuals were why we had to call in for a bigger truck as our pick up couldn't handle the whole load.

For n, we are no longer taking shoes. Medical “stuff” is still needed. I will continue to make updates as I hear back regarding the current needs.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to give money, please give it to one of the many organizations out there that can use it. I do not want money…I want the “stuff!”

To learn more about Dr. Buresh and his team you can check out this website:

http://www.worldwidevillage.org/leogane-community-health-initiative

ITEMS CURRENTLY NEEDED As of 8 Feb 2010:

Plaster for casting, ibuprofen, children’s Tylonal, vitamins (adult and children)

NEW NEEDS: Shelving that can be dismantled (not heavy duty) and taken to Haiti to store medical supplies. Also 6 ft. high fencing (about 200 ft.) for securing the medical areas.

HOW THIS GOT STARTED…The earthquake in Haiti had many of us reaching for our checkbooks to send money to help the victims of this horrific disaster.

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As I wrote out my checks, I felt there had to be more we could do with a little more effort.

One evening I was watching Channel 9 News and saw an interview with Dr. Chris Buresh from Iowa City. He was preparing to head for Haiti with a team of doctors. I picked up the phone and called Dr Buresh and asked… ”Besides money, what can we do for you? There’s got to be some ‘footwork’ that we can do." He replied that he needed to get to Haiti and would email back to his wife who would let me and others know what was needed. The first plea came in for shoes and medical supplies.

THEN WHAT…

First I put messages out on facebook.

I’m not adept whatsoever at using FB, so it was a shot in the dark for me as to who would get it and who would read it. But…somebody would see it.

I contacted businesses in the Dubuque area…Dubuque Board of Realtors, Dubuque Stamp, Bodine Electric, John Deere, etc.

I began sent emails…if you were in my address book, you probably got tagged.

Some people questioned what I was doing when there were so many organizations who were doing things and many weren’t having luck getting things into Haiti. Dr. Buresh told me, “If you get it to Iowa City, we’ll get it to Haiti.” That’s good enough for me!

On Friday, January 29^th we took our first pick-up load to Iowa City. The word continued to spread and WOW what a response. People are so willing to help!

“One man’s junk (well, hardly junk in this case) is another man’s blessing!”

I know people out there have items they’re willing to help out with... Like the set of crutches you’ve had since your surgery 10 years ago? You know… the set you’ve moved from house to house and are taking up room in the basement! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!!! And walkers…check out this picture. There are lots of unused walkers out there and these poor people in Haiti could desperately need them.

Talk about recyling...doesn't this make a whole lot of sense!

Friday, 4 February Delivery

Larry Richey and his wife Cindy of Dubuque Stamp help load up the cube truck with items for Iowa City

We needed a BIG truck after the steady stream of “donors” came in Thursday night. Larry Richey of Dubuque Stamp responded.

Burny Foht moves items collected from Luther Manor from the pick up to the BIG truck.