Posts
DANVILLE — Tim Miller didn’t think about going to Haiti. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, the thought just never crossed his mind, as there was no way the registered nurse from Fresno could get to the earthquake-stricken Caribbean island country more than 3,000 miles away.
Then a family member — an attorney for Danville’s Wheelchair Foundation — called. The nonprofit, which has sent more than 800,000 wheelchairs in almost 10 years to countries around the world, was sending a private airliner filled with medical workers and supplies to aid to the country devastated by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12.
The trip changed his life.
“I’ll go any chance I get,” said Miller, who has been on missionary trips to Mexico but nothing like the one he and a handful of others from Selma Community Hospital made last week.
Though he had spent a few years in an intensive care unit before taking his current job a year ago, Miller said he had never seen such suffering. “Every single family has been torn apart.”
The foundation made the trip last week, using the private MD-87 airplane of housing developer Ken Behring, the nonprofit’s founder, said Jeff Behring, a son who volunteered on the trip.
The plane, based in Stockton, made two trips between Wednesday and Saturday that week. The first was to Southern California and then Fort Lauderdale, Fla., before heading to Haiti — picking up people and supplies along the way. It then returned to Florida to get more people and supplies before returning back to Haiti.
Besides the delivery, Jeff Behring said, they also ferried medical workers who were looking for flights back. In total they brought 12,000 pounds of medical supplies and transported about 30 workers, he said.
Behring said a lot of the work was bringing antibiotics and other supplies for small problems that can turn big,
“Even the minor stuff can turn to amputation if you don’t take care of it,” he said. The supplies came from John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and nonprofit MedShare in San Leandro, he said.
Behring said the effort was sparked after a music industry-related company, which was also looking at ways to support the organization, called asking about putting together some help. Besides big name acts like New Kids on the Block and Rage Against the Machine giving support, Scott Stapp, the lead singer of the band Creed, went with them to help, Behring said.
Behring said it’s unknown if there will be another plane trip, as the group wants to maximize its continuing help.
In addition to the help by plane, about 520 wheelchairs from the foundation will get there by boat in about six weeks. They are going first to hospitals, but will eventually go to patients. The group hopes to send another 1,500. He said the wheelchairs, which are new, cost about $150 each.
Miller, the nurse from Fresno, said seeing children suffer was the hardest. He worked in tent facilities, one for minor wounds and infections and another for more serious needs, like amputations. At the latter, he said there were two to four staff members for every 75 to 80 patients.
He said one father came in with a child suffering from a distended abdomen, a result of the breast-fed baby’s mother dying. An 8-year-old girl came in with a perforated appendicitis.
“If she hadn’t gotten there when she did she would have died,” he said. “It was touch and go, but in the morning she woke up and smiled.”
But then there are those he could not help, like a boy with a depressed skull fracture, who was paralyzed — he had received major injuries when his dad frantically tried digging his family from rubble.
“He probably wasn’t going to make it very long,” Miller said.
For more information go to www.planetohaiti.org or www.wheelchairfoundation.org
SOURCE: Contra Costa Times
Participants in Young adult Enrichment Support Services (YESS) Ask for Wheelchair Donations
News Release:
2/1/2010
From: Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc.
Contact: Geneva Chapman, Marketing Consultant
Number: 419-902-5807 (cell), 419-535-5603 (YESS House)
Fax#: 419-536-3835, Zeigler Administrative Office Say YESS to Helping Haiti’s DisabledReading about the plight of the Haitian people in The Toledo Blade during their daily morning “brews & news”© coffee and newspaper activity, the young adults in Zeigler Habilitation Home, Inc.’s YESS House were moved. They started getting concerned about disabled people in Haiti whose lives have been changed by the hurricane that devastated the nation’s capitol. What happened to their wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility equipment? And what about the newly disabled people who’ve had limbs amputated?These young adults who all have various types of developmental disabilities decided they needed to something. Thinking about the mobility equipment and other adaptive equipment that may have damaged or lost in the rubble left by the hurricane, the participants in the Young adult Enrichment Support Services (YESS) program decided they need to get wheelchairs donated to send to Haiti. First, they formed a committee and decided that calls would have to be made to companies providing mobility products. YESS, the only day program specifically designed for young adults with developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio, provides a transition from youth to adult living through skill development training taught in a youthful recreation/enrichment environment utilizing games, fun habilitation activities, and community involvement to teach skills such as adult daily living, social interaction, problem solving, decision-making, organization, time management, focusing and staying on task, and communication, as well as vocational skills that are applied in actual employment answering telephones, cleaning and janitorial work, and doing other jobs at Zeigler.One of the components of the program is also community service and volunteerism. Therefore, it is only natural that the young adults want to help people in Haiti who, like them, have a disability. The young adults were so excited about helping Haiti’s disabled, they wanted to start right away. However, initial contacts were made by staff to find contact persons at several companies in the area and across the nation for the young adults to later make follow-up calls to and get commitments to assist in the campaign.“They’ll only ship palettes of items,” said owner of local company Patriot Products, Inc., Steve Grudziun who immediately returned the call when YESS staff left him a voice mail. Grudziun explained that in order for things to be shipped that far there would have to be a large enough number because it would be too costly to ship a few items at a time. After hearing about the desire of the young adults at the YESS House to send donated wheelchairs to Haiti, he offered to sell wheelchairs at a loss of profit for his business for only $100 each. The Wheelchair Foundation, an international organization that provide wheelchairs to impoverished people in poor nations, is sending wheelchairs to Haiti for $150, so Patriot Products, Inc. price is competitive. Instead of sending money outside our community, people in the Toledo area can help people in Haiti by purchasing a wheelchair right here in our area at a local business and save $50. On their website, the Wheelchair Foundation whose goal is to send 2000 wheelchairs to Haiti says they’ve already sent 560. But Grudziun says due to the lack of infrastructure those wheelchairs are probably not reaching the people yet and that it will take some time before that happens. In the meantime, it is important to start getting wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment ready to send to Haiti so that when roads are accessible they can be delivered. A valuable local resource, Grudziun offered needed expert advice on the YESS campaign and will, hopefully, continue to provide his assistance. Anyone who wishes to buy a wheelchair from Patriot Product, Inc., should make sure to tell the store representative that the wheelchair is being purchased as part of the “Say YESS to Helping Haiti’s Disabled” and call to the YESS House to let the young adults know the wheelchair has been purchased (see contact information below). Pick-up will be arranged. Also, donations of used wheelchairs will be accepted. Please call for more information.The owner of National Seating and Mobility, Inc., another local company, is checking his stock to see if he has any wheelchairs to donate to the effort. A third local company was contacted, but the contact person has not yet called back. A representative from Care Medical Products in Portland, Oregon, is also checking to see what they can do.“We had a local request, so we’re going to help them first,” she said. Calls were also made to Walgreens, which has an online grant application for non-profit organizations, which Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc. is, but due the lengthy grant process, this may not be viable. However, all possible avenues are being explored.One of those avenues is the Clinton Foundation, which has been contacted about shipping all wheelchairs donated in the YESS campaign to Haiti. If other individuals, groups, or organizations can help with shipping, their assistance is welcomed. Also, other advocacy organizations of the disabled are invited to assist Zeigler Habilitation Homes, Inc’s YESS program in this effort.Due to the number of wheelchairs needed in order to facilitate shipment, the young adults at the YESS House are inviting all organizations and entities serving the developmentally disabled and physically disabled to join them in their campaign. Anyone wishing to help get wheelchairs donated for Haiti’s disabled persons should use the following contact information to express interest in becoming part of a regional effort. Send all inquiries and requests to participate in the campaign or to notify that a wheelchair has been purchased at Patriot Products, Inc. to Geneva Chapman, gjcinc!@att.net or call (419) 902-5807(cell) or (419) 535-5603 (YESS House). A visit to the YESS House can be arranged by calling Michael Zeigler, Jr., YESS House Administrator, Louis Turley, Zeigler Day Hab Executive Director at (419) 536-3825 or Tanya Lee, YESS House Director at (419) 535-5603.
SOURCE: Toledo On The Move
Daniel Catullo in Haiti
Thank you very much to every David Archuleta fan that has donated so far to the charity relief “Plane to Haiti” We have received an update from the Founder Dan Catullo. It is not easy to read, it is heartbreaking to say the least but it is reality. Many of us have already donated and are “tapped out” and we ask if a $10.00 donation can really make a difference. Please know that it does, every dollar counts! When we work together, we truly can help our neighbor in need.
CONTINUE BELOW TO READ MORE OF THIS STORY AND SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE PLANE “ON THE GROUND” IN HAITI.
Haiti was insanely touching and the most touching thing I have ever been a part of. It was also one of the most frustrating things I have ever experienced. What you see on the news isn’t exactly accurate.
Before we left, we were getting all of our information by watching the news. We saw tons of footage of chaos, dead bodies everywhere and people looting stores and supply areas.
When we arrived, it was not like that at all.
The destruction was beyond belief trust me. Buildings were in pieces and the entire infrastructure of the Country is gone. It seemed very unorganized and no one knew who reported to whom. Even our military who was based at the airport had no clue what they were doing there.
On the news there are pleas for Doctors and Nurses. We brought down 12 Doctors and Nurses on the first plane and an additional 15 on the 2nd. When they got there and went to University Hospital they were turned away, told that they were not needed and were not “Federalized”. Even though there are thousands of people dying each day and thousands waiting in line for medical help at these hospitals, they did not want our medical supplies or help from our Doctors. It was unreal.
When we arrived we camped out at the airport. The next morning Scott Stapp arrived with his own car (he bought one in Dominican Republic and drove himself into Haiti), a large bus and a convoy of cars. He assembled a team of locals who knew where help was needed the most. One of them was a local Minister who was really respected in the community.
Since the hospitals did not take our supplies or Doctors, we decided to go with Stapp and the local team outside of the airport to villages to bring help to these people.
We convoyed to Leogane, where the epicenter was about a 2 1/2 hour drive. It was beyond devastating there. We were the FIRST people to go there and this was 15 days after the earthquake! Not one relief mission, military force, UN group, NGO, etc was there before us and this is where the most devastation was. Everybody was scared to go there and even though we have tons of military troops on the ground and the airport is overflowing with supplies, none of it is getting to these people.
We set up our own mini hospital/ triage unit in a village. People scurried out of bushes and came from everywhere when word spread that finally help was there and we had doctors. It was mind-boggling. They kept lining up. We treated over 600 patients at that location in 6 hours with 2 Doctors, 3 Nurses and 6 volunteers. It was heart breaking. We saw horrible infections and some massive injuries. We ended up evacuating some people and bringing them back with us to the airport to the University of Miami Medical Center tent. Our evacuations included a 6 year old girl with a crushed finger that needed to get amputated, a 6 year old girl with Tetanus ( she ended up dying later that night), a 3 month old girl with a skull fracture, a 12 year old boy with a bad leg infection, etc.. It was like the Apocalypse. We couldn’t believe how many people had such serious injuries and were unattended to for over 2 weeks.
We never felt threatened at all. They were all polite and patient, even though they had no food, clean water and were in pain. They waited in line to see us and were all emotional that we came. Very touching.
We will all never forget the smell. They were burning their garbage, that included plastic and rubber. It was horrific. Masks didn’t help and we all ended up getting sick from inhaling the fumes for 3 days. I am still coughing up black chunks from the smoke.
The system is broken down there and they need LOTS of help. There is no system to distribute any of the relief supplies that were donated and the NGO’s are overwhelmed. The people are desperate and need help NOW. Everything just sits there while people die. The hospitals are overwhelmed and US hospitals who have gone to help such as the University of Miami Medical Center, have great set ups, but run their hospital like it is a normal day in Miami and an HMO controls them. They would shut down to rest or felt too crowded and turn critical patients away (including the 3 month old girl with the skull fracture), even though people were dying across the street and they had tons of nurses and doctors standing around. We started grabbing all these people and bringing them to our tent city and treated them around the clock.
We found it fascinating that even though time is of the essence and people are dying every minute, they all closed at night for new patients. We treated people 24/7. We turned no one away and worked until we were ready to drop dead. The red tape and politics in place there is so messed up. It seriously is like our US insurance companies are running the show. We met several people (filmed them all) who walked 15 miles over 3 days critically injured to get medical treatment, only to be turned away because the staff needed “rest” or they were “over crowded”, even though the staff we spoke to wanted to take them. The head doctor turned them away and then when we grabbed the patients, he tried to stop us because we weren’t “official”. He said they should go home and come back in 1-2 days when it is slower! It was mind boggling.
Why is it that a group of musicians, led by me a DVD producer & director were more effective than our government and major medical companies? In 3 days we treated over 1,000 people, saved at least 100 lives, administered tons of antibiotics, distributed thousands of pounds of food and water, etc.. We became the “Robin Hood” gang of the airport base. After we saw that the supplies were not being distributed and were sitting there for days, including 1000’s of cases of water from the UN and tons of meals from the Indian Army, we took it all and brought it to the people. Never once did they riot or get out of hand. I think the way food is being distributed by the Army and UN is sad. They throw the food at them from the back of a truck. That is why they act like animals. Treat them like animals and people will act that way. Hand them the food like humans and they are all gentle and beautiful people.
We cried everyday and all want to go back now. We want to raise more money and go down immediately (within the next 1-2 weeks). People are dying from wounds as simple as a cut on their leg because no one is even giving them band aids and antibiotics. I can not believe it.
Everybody from The Wheelchair Foundation and Medshare were absolutely amazing. Scott Stapp, his sister Dr Janette Nesheiwat and her brother Daniel Nesheiwat were UNBELIEVABLE. True heroes and really rose to the occasion. It was a trip I will never forget and the first of many down there.
Daniel E. Catullo III
DC3 Music Group, LLC
Founder
SOURCE: Archuleta Fan Scene
Reach Out with David Archuleta and his fans to raise awareness for the “Plane To Haiti” project and receive a gift of an Angels For A Cause awareness bracelet that reads “David Archuleta/Prayer of the Children.“
Grammy award nominated music and TV producer Daniel Catullo has created the opportunity for David and his fans to reach out and help those in need. In 7 short days, Mr. Catullo’s organization Plane To Haiti set up the frame work for this impressive humanitarian accomplishment.*
In the same spirit, Angels For A Cause is offering, as a gift, their recognizable sky blue awareness bracelet similar to the one David wore at the recent Salt Lake City concerts but now updated with the wording: “DAVID ARCHULETA-PRAYER OF THE CHILDREN.”
Please reach out with us to raise awareness for this honorable cause.
Here is how you can help now!
- 1. Go to www.planetohaiti.org to give your contribution.
- 2. When prompted to respond to the question “How did you hear about this fund drive?” please type in ‘David Archuleta.’
- 3. You will be emailed a donation receipt confirmation from the WheelChair foundation**
- 4. Donations of $10.00 or more will receive one sky-blue Angels For A Cause awareness bracelet.
- 5. TO RECEIVE YOUR GIFT – YOU MUST- email your donation receipt that is emailed to you from the wheelchair foundation to Angels For A Cause at:
an***********@ya***.com
. - 6. The address on your donation receipt will be used for mailing the bracelet. Please allow at least 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.
Only donations made directly through Plane To Haiti will be eligible to receive the awareness bracelet.
* Planetohaiti.org was started by Daniel Catullo. Catullo is very active in working with charities including The Wheelchair Foundation, The Thalians and various Children’s charities. In 2010 after being saddened by the Earthquake in Haiti, Catullo organized a relief mission to Haiti and in 7 short days raised over $1 million in medical supplies and wheelchairs and a donated jet. He recruited his celebrity friends and associates to help him with this mission including David Archuleta.
** A special website for this mission has been set up to receive donations directly through the Wheelchair Foundation at www.planetohaiti.org.