Check out the latest edition of our podcast featuring news from CURE’s recent work in Haiti. Go here to download it or listen now.
Archive for the ‘Haiti’ Category
March CURE Cast Podcast
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
SoCal Church Offers Concert to Benefit CURE
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
We’re so blessed to have friends and partners across the US and around the world that resonate with the mission of CURE and support the work that God is doing through CURE. The following article is one such event. It was hosted today by a church in Oxnard, CA called Radiant. They’re holding a benefit concert this evening to support CURE’s work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to the victims of the January Haiti earthquake.
You can read about it here: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/05/concerts-proceeds-to-aid-haiti/
We’re thankful for their support and yours. God bless you as you begin another week, and stay tuned for updates all this week from the Dominican Republic from Noel Lloyd and Bryce Flurie.
CURE Haiti Update for 3/1/2010
Monday, March 1st, 2010Here is an update on CURE International’s relief efforts in Haiti.
Over the last couple of weeks, CURE International has transitioned its work from the Haitian Community Hospital to the Hôpital Adventiste d’Haiti (HAH). Below is a map of the hospital’s location in Port-au-Prince.
Like Haitian Community Hospital, CURE International has worked closely with this hospital since the first days after the earthquake. We are most grateful for the partnership we’ve had with both of these facilities.
A CURE team from the Madison, Wis., area is now on the ground serving through this week, with others to follow through March. Dr. Scott Nelson continues in his role as the leader of CURE’s efforts in Haiti.
At HAH, there are four to five surgeries being done per day and about 175 patients currently in the hospital. Although the demand for surgeries had decreased, there are still many Haitians in need of follow up care. The hospital has become one of the best run, staffed and equipped trauma facilities in the country.
CURE is also ensuring the spiritual needs of its Haitian patients are being met.
Pastor Samuel Reyes, CURE Dominican Republic’s spiritual director, recently completed his second trip to Haiti and is working with Haitian pastors to provide spiritual counseling to patients.
In early February, Dale Brantner, a senior vice president with CURE International, and his son, Jordan, spent a week in Haiti with a small team ministering to patients.
CURE SVP Dale Brantner (second from right) and his son, Jordan (fourth from right), with the rest of their team
You may remember the story of Jose, one of the patients treated at the Haitian Community Hospital. Dale reports Jose is now running around and getting back to his normal life!
Despite the many struggles, there are stories like these that continue to inspire us.
Please check back for more updates in the coming weeks.
Anne Marie Colby’s Haiti Story
Monday, February 22nd, 2010Anne Marie Colby is a Chicago nurse who spent a week volunteering with CURE International in Haiti. While there, she kept a daily journal. One of the most touching things she wrote about was the special relationship she formed with a Haitian patient named Daniel.
We’d like to share some excerpts from Anne Marie’s journal:
January 21 (Anne Marie’s first day in Haiti)
I have been up for the last 42 hours and could probably stay up more if needed. The only thing that really hurts is my feet. I still feel the adrenaline all throughout my body. There is so much that needs to be done. I feel guilty going to bed and closing my eyes for a couple of hours.
- Daniel and Anne Marie Colby
We are sleeping on the roof of the hospital in a tent with other women from our team. As I look up at the sky and the stars, all I can think is…Where am I?? I hear the sounds all around me. I hear the people outside in tents, sounds of pain, crying, singing, dogs barking, roosters crowing and people talking.
I was brought on this trip as a nurse to work in the OR, but ended up working in the ICU, which is where I would rather be. It is funny how things work themselves out.
In regard to food, I ate rice, beans and water (that was at 7 p.m.) with no lunch, no breaks, one bathroom visit. It was okay. I did not complain; in fact, I barely noticed because there was no time, and my body was not hungry. To tell you the truth, I can’t even keep track of the time, because it is going so fast. It is non-stop…people coming and going.
There are relief workers here from all around the world (Korea, Sweden, New York, etc.). Most of the patients have some sort of trauma, crush injuries, amputations, gangrene, infection. There is a mixture of adults and children.
The language barrier is not that bad. The Haitians speak both French and Creole, and we have some Haitian translators. Some people have families, and others are now orphans.
January 23 (The day Anne Marie first met Daniel)
Daniel, a 10-year-old boy, was playing outside his home when the 7.0 earthquake rumbled beneath the earth. He started running toward his house and tripped on an opening of the disheveled ground and broke his leg.
It just seems unfair that a young boy has to endure two surgeries with metal rods (external fixators) sticking out of his left leg. But, I guess nothing about this is fair. He will not smile and barely talks. He just lies in his bed, watching others around him. I was overwhelmed with compassion for him,and I am starting to work on his heart.
U.A.E. Haiti Team News
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010One of the relief teams that CURE sent to Haiti included medical professionals from the CURE Oasis hospital in the United Arab Emirates. There were a couple of news stories about the team in the U.A.E.
To watch a TV report about the team, go here. (The story starts at the 2:09 mark.)
And to read another story, go here.
Susan Beemer talks about her first days in Haiti
Sunday, February 14th, 2010When she returned to Santo Domingo, we had the opportunity to sit down with Haiti Relief Team member, Susan Beemer, regarding her experiences in Haiti in those first days. Susan and her husband, Ted, are recent additions to the CURE Dominican Republic staff with Ted taking over the medical director responsibilities at that hospital as Dr. Scott Nelson transitions on. We’re thankful for the way God brought Ted and Susan – each with unique gifts – to CURE Dominican Republic for such a time as this.
Susan Beemer talks about her first few days in Haiti. from CURE Video on Vimeo.
Two Inspiring Haiti Testimonials
Thursday, February 11th, 2010Good morning from snowy Pennsylvania.
Here are a couple of inspiring testimonials from volunteers who served with CURE International in Haiti.
The first is from Dr. Michael Kwon. Dr. Kwon and his wife, Anna, were part of a team that flew in from Dallas on January 21. He shared his story with his church. You can watch it here. His story is on until the 5:35 mark.
Another volunteer who went with the Dallas team was a Chicago RN named Tiffany Cupp. She wrote a touching blog about her experience and how she met a girl named Yveline. Read it here.
Relief Efforts Continue in Haiti
Thursday, February 4th, 2010The relief effort in Haiti continues. Another team of volunteers (including some from as far away as the United Arab Emirates) arrived in the country this week and are now hard at work giving medical care. The CURE hospital in the D.R. continues to care for Haitian patients as needed. We once again want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers who have contributed so much to the relief efforts.
We also received an update from Rob Werner. Rob is one of the volunteers on the ground at the Haitian Community Hospital. In a nutshell, he’s the “go to guy” for many things at the hospital. Even in the midst of his busy days, he took the time to send us an update. In it, he talks about some of the people he’s encountered at the hospital, the heroes of the Haiti relief effort. Here is some of what he shared: (more…)
Bryce Alan Flurie Haiti Press
Monday, February 1st, 2010Bryce Alan Flurie, CURE’s multimedia producer, traveled to Haiti last week to document the work of the CURE Haiti Relief Team.
Upon his return, he was able to share his trip with the news media in the Central Pennsylvania area.
Here are some of these stories from ABC 27, WGAL NBC 8 and WITF’s Radio Smart Talk. (Bryce’s interview starts around the 26-minute mark.)
Although Bryce is more comfortable BEHIND the camera as opposed to in front of it, we think he did a great job!
Dr. Scott Nelson Interview
Sunday, January 31st, 2010Last week, we were able to find a few minutes with some of the doctors providing aid in Port-au-Prince, regarding the experiences on the ground. Among those interviewed was the leader of the initial CURE Relief team, Dr. Scott Nelson, who is the medical director of CURE’s hospital in the Dominican Republic. Here is what Doctor Nelson and others shared with us.
CURE’s Dr. Scott Nelson in Haiti from CURE Video on Vimeo.
Dr. Nelson’s Latest Blog Post
Dr. Nelson also posted his own thoughts as well as a link to dozens of photos he took from his first several days in Haiti. Warning: Several of the photos are extremely graphic and surgical in nature.
How can you Help?
Click here to give a gift to CURE Haiti
or text CURE to 85944 to give a $10 gift through your cell phone.
And to help support CURE’s response to the earthquake in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, add the following message to your Facebook/Twitter/email signature:
Help CURE in Haiti: http://helpcurenow.org/haitirelief or txt CURE to 85944 to give a $10 gift. Follow: http://blog.helpcurenow.org
