help me go to Haiti
 

Okay, this is a little weird for this forum but I thought I'd give it a shot, so bear with me.
I'm a registered nurse with 25 years of varied experience. I am going to go to Haiti to help out with an organization called Heart to Heart International. I put a plea out on Facebook and one on Craigslist for donations to get me there. Three people have donated. A man named Don here in Santa Fe is going to pay my airfare by putting it on his credit card. Then his daughter and granddaughter are going to raise money at their schools. Another man named Page gave me $60 and a friend from Oklahoma City, Elaine, is sending me $50. I am speechless and near tears at their generosity. So, I have my airfare taken care of. I have to get MREs to take with me. So, they are going to be about $150 for a weeks worth of meals and Lord knows I don't like to go without a meal!!! My passport has been about $300 total to get it expedited. My reason for posting here is to ask if anyone would want to contribute even a little bit to the effort. I know times are really hard now and if I don't get any responses, no hard feelings. I just thought I'd ask.
Thanks to all of you for all the emotional support you have given me. I'm still out there riding.
1-27-10
on the advice of those wiser than me I have edited out my address and phone number. So if you want to contribute just PM me and I will get right back to you with the pertinent information.
Kate

try contacting the university of miami, they just set up a large field hospital associated with Jackson Memorial Hospital and UM School of medicine, we have been dealing with many patients coming from Haiti to local hospitals, they need medical materiels, food and resources according to the news and statuses we are hearing. Also any resources have to bring their own supplies. UM is soliciting MDs, RNs, check volunteer tab.

http://www.med.miami.edu/haiti-relief/

At the risk of showing poor judgment and poorer taste, I'm reminded of the risque Cole Porter song, "Katie Went to Haiti." Although the lyrics are pretty sedate by modern standards, I won't post them here.

Be safe on your trip. Is there a Paypal account or other electronic 'mailbox' funds can be sent to?

I have been reading several articles about people who have been going down who have no experience in relief in third world countries who have been having to get helped themselves, and therefore taking up valuable relief resources. Unless you have experience in this field (relief efforts, not just medical training) i suggest sending money.

I don't have a paypal account or other electronic access. But if you wanted to send me a money order or something I think there's plenty of time.

I am planning on going Feb. 15 which is my Dad's birthday and I will be staying one week.
Thank you to everybody for your support.
To Barturtle- I hear your concern. I've been a nurse for 25 years. I'm going to my family physician to put together a first aid kit for me as is recommended by the CDC. I'm not easily ruffled in a crisis. I have great support here at home. I don't intend to go out and about by myself, thereby putting myself in harms way. Having lived through the experience of the Murrah building bombing (not as a victim but as an observer and volunteer) I think I have at least a limited conception of what devastation is about. I don't speak French, that's true but neither do most of the Israelis, Brazilians, Russians, Chinese, etc who are going to help. Maybe I'll get down there and be a huge burden that somebody has to deal with---I don't think so. But if only people with Third World crisis experience went there wouldn't be enough help. I'll just do what I know which is nursing---and keep my head down.

You should not have to pay to get there, I think. Passport and travel to a US staging point perhaps.

Could you contact an organization such as Doctors Without Borders and get in with them?
One organization that has been working there for decades is Plan Canada. They've already got people and facilities in place, so they might be well equipped to use your services. Here's their website:
http://plancanada.ca/
(I'm sponsoring a Haitian kid through them, and I sure hope she's okay.)
Check your local airport to see if Westjet (a Canadian airline) stops there. They've been donating flight time to get supplies and people in to Haiti. There may be other airlines doing this as well.

I have read this also. It's not just the tragedy of the event; it includes the extremely primitive living conditions that relief workers will endure. Lack of clean water/sanitation, privacy, comfortable quiet place to rest (if you have any downtime at all). People with military field experience are strongly preferred.

I am a big fan of indoor plumbing, clean sheets, internet access, and ice cubes in my diet coke. I'd last a few hours. :)

HI Turtlewoman - This is awesome of you! I gave already to Haiti - but decided to give to you as well so you can go where your are called! Also - I think you should deltee your address - etc. I am afraid of the internet etc and have people PM you if they want to donate.

Ok anyone want to match my donation ($50) - Any of my fellow 2010 nominees for Poster of th Year - or any of my favorite triathletes. Let's help Turtle go to Haiti.


Oh and Ride Turtle Ride!

It is EXTREMELY UNWISE to post your address and personal phone numbers online.
Even in a benign forum such as this. The info is available to EVERYONE IN THE WORLD

Missbumble, you are awesome! Thank you so much. I had to revise my travel plans a little bit because Heart to Heart sends people out on Thursday for some reason--I guess it simplifies logistics. Anyway, I am going the 11th and coming back the 20th. I have my plane ticket and I'm expecting my passport any day--I got it expedited as I think I already said.
I am so excited about this opportunity to help these very deserving people. I know it will be a shock to me--like nkfrench, I'm also a fan of indoor plumbing, clean sheets and all that. But I do have this skill that's needed. I can do anything for a week----as long as I get to eat and I have a nice, ice cold Coca Cola waiting for me when I get home!
As far as posting my address and phone numbers----you are probably right about it not being a good idea. But they're already out there so I guess it's too late. I just wanted the information to be as accessible as possible to anyone who might want to donate. Anyway, I have a VERY MEAN BIG dog in my yard to protect me and I can always hang up on wackos.
Thank you again, Missbumble-you rock, you're awesome, you're the greatest!

+ eleventy

Ms. Wolfe,

I strongly urge you to edit your post and remove your personal contact information. Your intentions are awesome, but your posting is foolish. By posting your real name, real address, and real phone numbers you have put yourself at severe risk of identity theft. The internet is not a friendly place. Instead of posting your information for everyone to see, why not advertise to PM you for your contact information. :/

Glad to Help Turtle - But as Bauteri said below. EDIT YOUR POST NOW> In order to survive your trip you are going to need to be very open to advice (Even when you don't see the point. Turst Bauteri - I felt compelled once I read his post to ask you9 again.... so trust him.). Go change your post and any other infor you can find on line and make it harder for internet identity thieves to find you, ok? ANd if u have any trouble editing your post or if it ends up being quoted send email to Tom and he will fix.

Thank you Missbumble and Bautieri. You are absolutely right about the taking advice part. I will really get myself in some pickles if I don't listen to people. I have made the edit.

You really should go with a sponsoring group that can provide some semblance of security. I am a former marine and have friends on the ground there. From what I have been told, it is not a safe place for a lone, unarmed, woman to be. Be careful.

Thank you so much for your concern. But I'm not just flying off down there by myself. I'm going with Heart to Heart Int'l which already has people on the ground in Haiti.

Is there no place here in the USA were you can be helpful?

gsurko, I hope I am helpful here in the USA in lots of ways. When there's a major calamity somewhere you have to mobilize a little bit extra help. Are you helpful here in the USA, gsurko?

Yes I am.

Your heart's in the right place but unless you are prior military, seals, ranger or special forces, I'd steer clear of Haiti. Civil war is imminent and if you're not traveling with your own armed security detail, you will have problems. Dr. Sanjay Gupta makes it look easy on TV, but real life is different than TV. Stay home, you don't want to be in Haiti when the S**t hits the fan.

You know, maybe civil war is imminent, maybe it's not. We don't know. That's the bottom line. I'm not a "bleeding heart liberal". Well, maybe I am but that's a different discussion. I'm not trying to emulate Sanjay Gupta. I'm not trying to be a hero. I'm just an old nurse who wants to do a simple thing. Enough with the negativity. Maybe I'll be hacked to death by a machete wielding fiend. So be it. I've had it with the naysayers. Maybe I'm just too stupid to listen to reason. If you think I'm absolutely doing the wrong thing just understand that I know the risks and keep it to yourself.

Suddenly I find you intensely attractive. I love your "in your face" style. PM me and let's get this relationship started. You rock!

I don't appreciate your sarcasm. This is very important to me. I won't be responding to any of your future post.

Welcome to the wonders of the internet.

LOL. :lol::lol::lol: Just chill out, your not going to Haiti or anywhere else. Don't be so grumpy!