Soon!

Just wanted to give a quick update to those of you following my journeys...I am heading out tomorrow on the milk run to Haiti (Edmonton-San Francisco-Miami-Port Au Prince)..Guess that's what you get for flying humanitarian!

But I just wanted to say thank you again to all of you! Because of your generosities I have to pack 3 bags again full of needed supplies! Baby formula, Baby food, Diapers, wipes, vitamins, clothing, games, dictionaries, books, pens, lotions, ng tubes, diaper pins, hair stuff, lrge cooking spoons, fruit bars, presents for the patients at Heartline...

Thanks you those of you who out together packages, those of you who donated me money (I'll have to use some for the baggage fees.."the Earthquake was over 2 months ago" was the reason given to me for not waiving my fees last time!! Thanks American Airlines)!

So it begins and I must say I am so excited to see my friends again! I wish I could take more then 3 bags..I wish I could take a shipping container and fill it..hmmm maybe that's an idea for next time!?

Next blog post from Haiti..hopefully!!

Love Lise

Thank you...

As most of you that know me, know I have always wanted to do this type of work and now that the time is here I just wanted to say Thank You's....


Thank you for.... the encouragement, the emotional support, the financial support, the listening to me talk endlessly support, the providing me with the opportunity support, the near support, the far support....

Thanks you too...

• my family (near and far)
• my friends (old and new, the old that are new again; near and far)
• family and friends who have left and whom I will meet again someday (miss you Matt,Nana,Mom)
• my fellow staff members (who I also count as friends but wanted to single them out here!), fellow colleagues (The Misericordia Wound care team/Erin Kennedy/CONVATEC)
• my patients and their families who are in the midst of their own struggles and have the immense compassion and empathy to see others in need and want to help them! (Thank you Ann and Don!)

I know I am forgetting many (sorry I could not name everyone!) and for that I am sorry! Just please know your love and support keeps me going..spoken and unspoken I feel I can do anything with people like you watching my back!

Love you

Lise

4 more days!!

Pictures!

I thought I would put up a few more pictures! they are mostly of Rose and myself..she's so sweet and I can't wait to see her next week!

There is also a picture of Emmanual post his reconstructive surgery....

Amazing stuff!

Haiti Video 2010 by Brian Leftwich

This is my friend (check that my favorite American friend) Brian's video about the time he spent in Haiti (the same time I was there). I hope you enjoy it!

Heading Back

Hi Everyone,

I know a few of you have expressed concern over my mental well-being after my last few posts.. first let me say "thank you" as it shows me that you care and that you are still listening to me and "hearing" what I am saying. Second, please don't worry about me..yes there are times I do feel helpless and I think that is only natural considering what I saw and experienced while in Haiti. I think that if I didn't feel some sense of sadness surrounding having so much when I saw people have so little it wouldn't be me...



I am happier right now because in one week I will be heading back to Haiti. Hopefully with bags filled with stuff people need..fun stuff for the kids still living at Heartline, clothes for the women and guys (who doesn't love a new outfit) and of course a full heart so excited to hug little Emman and Rosemon and of course Beth. And of course see my sweet little Rose and grandma! I will miss Jen and Barbie tho...but will get to chat with them and they will never be far from my thoughts and heart!

I also want to bring down some supplies for a new group I am hoping to get involved with (new to me but not new to Haiti!). As many of you have heard from my stories one of the things that really affected me when I was down in Haiti the first time was the children who were suffering from malnutrition. Prior to the earthquake 46% of Haitians suffered from malnutrition..BEFORE the quake, I can only imagine the stats now. I have been in contact with a lady who runs a rescue center for malnourished children and I hope to squeeze in a day or two with her while I am down this time. The center on average has about 60 children staying there, suffering from different levels of malnutrition. Check out their website...

http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/

So good things are happening and I am feeling better about it..I don't know what I will be contributing this go round and I guess I will wait and see...

I will try and update this blog like I did last time! So stay tuned. Thanks again for all the support.

Love Lise

a 5 minute video worth watching

Please watch this video...

http://vimeo.com/11674470


thanks...
Lise

Sadness

Tonight I am feeling somewhat helpless and sad. I want to leave the comforts of my warm, dry house where my fridge is stocked and I can turn on the tap for fresh water anytime of the day...I want to immerse myself into a life of servitude and take away the pains and suffering of those hurting..I want to build houses to keep out the rain, I want to build schools so that little children can get educations, I want to give everyone access to the health care they need, I want to feed all the hungry people but most of all I want to make life good and easy and fair for everyone... in a world of so much why are there some that have so little...

Like I said I am a little sad tonight so thanks for listening... sending out love to my sweet friends in Haiti because that's all I have to send right now...


Please Read Sean Penns testimony at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2010/PennTestimony100519a.pdf

Love to all
Lise

Madeline and Me

The following is an article about Madeline, one of our former patients at Heartline. She went "home" the other week walking on both legs..MERLIN is a wonderful organization that we worked closely with and one I would recommend people support if they are looking at supporting an organization but are weary.

http://www.merlin.org.uk/Lists/Feature-Detail.aspx?id=883

I know I have posted a lot on here today I guess I have been quite pensive today... I have been home for almost a month and it seems so hard to believe! I have been thinking a lot lately about the psychological side of the people of Haiti and other countries that face similar struggles..I'm trying to not let it paralyze me or turn me into a cynic (proving to be a lot more difficult then appears) But I know now that this is my calling..what I need to do in this world...Either hands on, on the ground or even from a distance if that is all that can happen...I have yet to figure it out but over the next few months I am going to work hard at making this become a reality for me. I will keep you all informed as to where this journey takes me!


Thank you again for all the support!
Lise

London Times Article

WE had a reporter from the London Times follow our team for a day. They went with us to MERLIN (a UK organization that did a lot of our plastics and ortho stuff), Andrew, seen in the picture with the young girl was a wonderfully empathetic, retired Orthopedic surgeon! I loved the fact that he was still so willing to help in the world at a time in his life when he could have rightfully just focused on himself! He was seen by our team walking around with a teacup and saucer in +33C weather..ahh love those Brits!
The young man in the other picture was a patient of ours (not when I was there) who lost 12 members of his family in the quake..can you imagine losing 12 members of your family in 45 seconds? I can't! Truly remarkable young man!
I love you all and am so grateful to have you in my life! Be safe, take good care!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7082065.ece

Lise

Articles and such..

Here are a few different articles and slide shows etc from different groups working in Haiti. As well as a video of footage during the quake from inside the Palace.
Rainy season is in full bloom in Haiti soon to be followed by Hurricane season..makes me sad and worried for those still there. Our little clinic still has a few patients left and our Dr. Jen asked if I could return for a little while in May. I am looking into it but don't think I can make it work...maybe I should heed the following quote.
"What I’ve experienced is that I can’t know the future. I can’t know if anything that I do will change what happens tomorrow. I can’t know with certainty, but what I do know is if I do nothing, nothing will change.” —James Orbinski (1960-); Former President Of Doctors Without Borders

Hope everyone is well! Thanks for all the support and encouragement over the past few months...


http://msf.ca/features/2010haiti_howtheylive/

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/2010/05/rosemond-his-future.html

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/05/01/four_haitian_children_flown_here_for_treatment_return_with_bittersweet_feelings/?page=1

http://vimeo.com/11086636


Love Lise