By Sima Simon, Guest Blogger
Part 2 of a first-hand account of the Israel Flying Aid Delegation to Haiti

Yesterday we arrived back at the base with a list of things needed to be done for the “Orphelina” orphanage and with one of the youngest girls who looked very sick. One of the nuns joined her and didn’t leave her side while the doctors diagnosed her with a serious infection. She is still in the hospital and doing much better but the doctors told us that if we didn’t bring her she might have died.

We woke up this morning and the only thing I didn’t manage to secure completely yesterday evening was the truck to pick up the supply and to distribute it.

By 8:45am, I had a promise from Alex, a local manager, that he will cover the truck issue for me. By 9:30 I had a truck going all over the base and collecting everything we worked on raising last night:

We secured the following from the IDF and other organizations:
• 100 mattresses
• 100 mosquito nets
• 100 blankets
• 5 full sets of kitchen dishes
• 35 Jerry cans
• 500 bars of soap
• Hundreds of rolls toilet paper rolls
• Dish soap
• Cleaning materials
• Lots of medical equipment and medicines
• Diapers
• Baby formula
• 100 baby bottles

The Colombian Medical delegation also provided us with copious amounts of special liquid for hydration, and Albert, a local business man provided a huge tank of water. We collected all this supply and drove to the “Orphelina”. Dr. Amir joined us with two nurses, Limor and Yifat who helped Linoy, our one and only nurse, – and examined and vaccinated all the girls and nuns.

Dr. Amit said that other than two more serious cases, the girls are suffering only from lack of food – a situation we are able to fix. One of the girls has a broken leg. The second case is of 8 year-old Daniella – Dr. Amit didn’t like the sound of her heart. We are trying to schedule her for a heart ECHO tomorrow in order to understand what is wrong. All the girls got a balloon for being brave while receiving 3 injections.

The atmosphere was amazing and what was truly strong was the behavior of the nuns. Yesterday they were in shock, today they were over the moon. It looked like they understand that we are really planning to help them for the long run.

I am leaving back home with David and Haim the day after tomorrow with the IDF delegation. The rest of our delegation will stay until February 3rd. They will join the “Orphelina” and will make sure to provide then with all they need while I will work from Israel on building a strong long-term infrastructure together with Orange Israel.

I do not know what I can write in order to try and provide you with the feeling that I have. 50 girls and 20 nuns are having a healthier and happier life thanks to our mission!

To learn more about Jewish and Israeli projects helping in Haiti – and to support their important work – visit the JGooders Haiti Relief Page.

Tags: emergency, haiti, Israel, Jewish, relief

Something to say? Post a Comment

Do Good. Share this post across the internet! Try it :)