The poorest children of Haiti, those who live in Warf Jeremie and Cite Solei, are the ones who we treat our hospital and who go to our schools. There are many more people living in the slums than we can provide for, of course, but if we can help just a few of these children, then our work here is justified.

Italian Neurosurgery Team Descends upon St. Damien

Dr. Pellis and Dr. Faggin before the operation

Yesterday I had the privilege to be witness as a team of Italian physicians, Dr. Roberto Faggin (neurosurgeon) and Dr. Tommaso Pellis (anesthesiologist/emergency medicine cardiac specialist), worked in concert with Haitian surgeon Dr. Harry Jeudi to repair the spinal cord of a 10-day old girl suffering from spina bifida. The surgery was likely only the second of its kind ever performed in Haiti, the first being performed by the same team of doctors on Tuesday.

Intubation

Dr. Faggin and Dr. Pellis, through NPH Italy and the coordination of Dr. Roberto Del’Amico St. Damien medical director and Ida Venier NPH Italy volunteer, have both donated their time to come to Haiti and will perform 12 pediatric neurosurgeries over their ten day stay. Because of the severe lack of prenatal care and lack of proper nutrition for pregnant mothers, there is an exceptionally high rate of encephalitis and spina bifida in this country. Aside from our visiting doctors, there are few treatment options for these sick children.

Our mission at St. Damien hospital is not just to provide health care for the impoverished people of Haiti, but to provide the best and most advanced medical treatments. For this reason, we are so grateful to all our supporters in Haiti and abroad who make our work possible. Not only are Dr. Faggin and Dr. Pellis giving us their time and skills, but their respective Italian hospitals in Padova and Pordenone have also donated some of the supplies necessary for the operations. In addition, NPH Italy has raised the money necessary to fund the operating costs of the surgery program.

Our surgery program in Haiti is just getting started and we are wrought with excitement about its future! We foresee many more children, like the little girl below, having life changing operations that will let them live long, healthy lives.

Darlene Wins!

Darlene Milord Nominated in Denmark!

Darlene riding in Haiti

At NPFS Haiti we are very proud to announce that our very own Darlene Milord left Haiti today to travel to Coopenhagen, Denmark. She has been nominated in the Against All Odds category for her achievements in equestrianism at the FEI Awards. The award is given to “a disabled rider of any age who has demonstrated that disability is no hindrance to sporting proficiency.”

“Clare Balding, one of the world’s most respected sports broadcasters, will present the new FEI Awards in Copenhagen…A former champion amateur jockey herself, Clare also evented and show jumped in her youth and has a wide experience and knowledge of equestrian sport.”

“The judges, who represent the global reach of the FEI, are chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya, who herself show jumped at Olympic level.”

Darlene grew up in our orphanage in Kenscoff in the special needs home Kay Christine which is run by Gena Heraty of Ireland. She, along with other children in the Kay Germaine physical therapy program for children with mental and physical disabilities, have been learning to ride horses as a form of therapy for years. In addition to this award, Darlene was also invited to Miami and to Germany this year for equestrian competitions. We e are on the edge of our seat waiting to hear who wins on November 19^th and will be sure to keep you updated as well!

Day of the Dead – Pizza in the Cemetery

All Souls Day, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated in the Catholic Church on November 2 to honor the deceased. Traditionally, believers pray for late relatives to help their souls find peace. Not unlike this tradition, Haitian Voodoo worshipers make sacrifices and hold religious ceremonies on this same day in order to please their departed ancestors.

An offering in a Port-au-Prince cemetery

On the first and second days of November, parades of people can be seen marching down the streets of Port-au-Prince and in cemeteries with white chalk or paint on their faces to represent the ashen face of death. They burn candles over gravestones to give the dead light in the afterlife, and offer rum, coffee and food for sustenance. By honoring the spirits, or gede (pronounced ge-day), the living will be provided with protection and blessings here on earth. On this day and during other religious rituals, the lwa (a general term for gede) can inhabit the body of a living person to deliver a message to a loved one or interact with that person. The ceremonies are truly remarkable to witness, as they are rich with vibrant colors and animated dancing, and are saturated with ancient symbolism.

For a culture that believes so strongly in honoring the dead and respecting the spirits in the afterlife, it is especially tragic that a vast percentage of the population cannot afford to give their loved ones a respectful burial. In turn, the city morgue in Port-au-Prince is overrun with unclaimed dead. Father Rick, upon learning of this degradation, began burying these bodies and offering his blessing during mass funerals every Thursday in a graveyard that overlooks the Caribbean and is far from the chaos of the city. The beauty of the cemetery is a stunning homage to the otherwise forgotten dead.

On November 2, this past Monday, to observe All Soul’s Day in the Catholic tradition, Father Rick visited the city morgue to lead a prayer and give a blessing to the unfortunate souls in its two refrigerated chambers. Then, alongside fellow priest Father Aupont, he led mass in the aforementioned graveyard. After the ceremony ended, as the traditional Haitian funeral band played, every person in attendance placed a flower over one of the graves marked with a simple wooden or metal cross.

Polento carefully arranges his flower

In stark contrast to the horrors of the city morgue, the peacefulness of this moment was therapeutic and uplifting. Personally, I find the ceremony to be a reflection of my work and experience in Haiti. Living amid the abundance of poverty, death and misery of this country is emotionally draining. But I am inspired and re-energized by the moments of beauty which are often a direct result of our work here; for example a malnourished child nursed back to health and taking her first steps, or an orphaned child graduating from school and attending university.

Coinciding with All Souls Day was the trial run for the Francisville bakery (see post below). So, after all the graves had been adorned with flowers, we gathered once again for a picnic of fresh pizza and bread. One might consider a picnic in a graveyard to be unconventional, but I have learned to not be surprised by such events in Haiti. The occasion, in fact, was an opportune time to promote our products to the other NGOs in attendance and if we are to learn any lesson from our dead ancestors it would be to enjoy life’s simple pleasures whenever, and wherever, possible.

Augusnel delivers pizza to the masses

Bread in Francisville – A taste of Italy

 

 

Francisville is NPFS Haiti’s latest effort to help give Haitian people the resources necessary for societal development. It is a three-structure educational campus located just east of St. Damien Hospital that by the end of 2010, will house an industrial vocational school, a professional school and a secondary school with merits equivalent to the best schools in the United States and Europe. The center has already begun to offer jobs and training for the poorest citizens of the country, especially those graduating from St. Helene orphanage and St. Luc street schools, who would not otherwise have a chance at such an opportunity.

The first phase of the project, the industrial vocational school, will one day soon house a mechanic shop, a pasta and bread bakery, a print shop, a soap factory, a leather shop and a brick masonry which is already internally producing all the bricks necessary to complete construction on the site. On November 3, 2009, while construction continued on the rest of the building, the bakery’s five apprentices produced their first batches of vitamin fortified, delicious Italian bread and cookies under the guidance of Mario Randon, an Italian baker and owner of the Richmont Club based in Mantova, Italy. Guilene, Darline, Vanessa, Omita, and Clanette are all graduates from St. Helene orphanage and/or St. Helene School and are the first official Francisville bakers. In addition, Francky and Joseph, both from St. Helen orphanage and educated in a mechanical and electrical technical school, have been trained by Stephano Bocci to maintain and repair the new baking equipment.

Day -1 test pizzas

When the bakery is up and running to its full potential, it will produce 4,000 pieces of bread for the children of the NPFS street schools and St. Helene orphanage in addition to sliced loaves of bread to sell to other local NGO’s and markets in order to help offset the cost of operating the facility. Already, our bakers are hard at working under the tutelage of Mr. Rando learning proper baking and efficiency techniques in order to produce such a large quantity of bread.

Those of us in Haiti enjoying the pleasant scent of freshly baked bread, owe special thanks to NPH Italy for managing, alongside St. Luc, the construction of the project as well as the many other supporters who have made, and continue to make, Francisville a reality. Ellys Randon, daughter of Mr. Randon, has also come to Haiti to analyze cost effectiveness, designate suppliers and help determine the most nutritious and logical ingredients to use. Ms. Randon and her father already helped to establish a bakery in Togo, Africa and their expertise and hard work are greatly appreciated here in Haiti.

At NPFS we, and our taste buds, are very excited that this project is finally coming to fruition and we cannot wait until the industrial center is completely up and running.

Marco with his aprentices

Stephano with the men

Fr. Rick Frechette’s Work is Celebrated by Hollywood

Fr. Rick Backstage with Maria Bello and Jimmy Jean Louis

LOS ANGELES, Beverly Hilton Hotel, 26^TH OCTOBER 2009. In the presence of many Hollywood stars, at the 13^th Hollywood Award Gala Ceremony in Los Angeles, Father Richard Frechette received the Hollywood Humanitarian Award, for his dedication to fighting injustices and creating social change for the improvement of humanity, and in particular for his work in favour of the children of the fourth world country of Haiti.

Past editions of the Award had been bestowed on other relevant people such as the Nobel Prize winners Jody Williams and Dr. José Ramos Horta. The event, which is considered to be a sort of a preview, and a kick off to the race to the Academy Awards, was attended by some of the brightest stars of the Hollywood community, from Steven Spielberg to Robert De Niro, from Charlize Theron to Hillary Swank, from Morgan Freeman to Sandra Bullock.

The Award was given to Father Rick by the actress Maria Bello, who personally witnessed his work in a humanitarian trip to Haiti last December together with a group of friends including Josh Brolin, Diane Lane, Madeleine Stowe lead by the 2 time Academy Award-winner film director and screenwriter Paul Haggis.

Haggis visited Haiti twice together with the volunteers of Fondazione Francesca Rava – N.P.H. Italia Onlus and having visited the total destitution of the country and the dramatical conditions of the children, decided to found Artists for Peace and Justice, a foundation committed to help Haiti and support Father Rick’s work. The prize winners of his special night, including Julianne Moore  – best actress in a supporting role – actors, film directors and all the community have expressed their total support to Haggis and Father Rick.

Fondazione Francesca Rava – N.P.H. Italia Onlus

Viale Caldara 43, 20122 Milano, Tel 0254122917, info@nphitalia.org www.nphitalia.org

Father Rick’s speech at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony

“I sincerely thank you all at the Hollywood film festival for this generous recognition which is for me also a recognition of you concern for our neighbours in distress off our shores and of your desire to help enable the children of Haiti to enter into a future that is more just, more peaceful, and of more opportunity.

I especially thank Paul Haggis, my good friend, who is not here because of filming in Pittsburgh and the amazing foundation that he has created, Artists for Peace and Justice

(http://www.artistsforpeaceandjustice.com)

Through this foundation, Paul is linking Hollywood to Haiti and linking the creative power of your art and profession – the crafting of images that can mirror, transform and lead society – with the creative dreams of the children of Haiti whose imaginings and yearnings for a better future are often shattered by the sad realities of poverty, ignorance and death.

This link which we are forging will strengthen the children for their march into a better life.

Already, Artists for Peace and Justice are assuring for 5000 children clean water, nutritious food and good medicines to strengthen their bodies; education and the stimulation of imagination to strengthen their minds; and friendship and solidarity to strengthen their hearts.

Artists for Peace and Justice is made up entirely of people of good will, volunteers, which enables 100% of each donation made to go directly for projects for the children in Haiti.

And, many artists, like Maria Bello here at my side, come to Haiti with Paul to work along with us and the children in concrete acts of justice.

Works of justice are works of peace.

I salute the Haitians present here: Ambassador Geri Benoit, Jean Nebez Augustin who does all the hard work on the ground in Haiti,his sisters Drelene Augustin, and actor Jimmy Jean Louis.

We join forces with them  in trying to lead Haiti into a more prosperous communion with the world of nations

God bless you.

God bless the people of Haiti.

God bless the people of America.

Thank you again and good night!”

Fr. Rick with Jean Nebez Augustin and his sister Drelene Augustin

 

The award winner with a stunning Mariavittoria Rava from NPH Italia

 

 

Debbie Haggis and Maria Bello with Father Rick

Manise is Discharged!

Manise plays with Ron and Ronni before being discharged from the Hospital

On October 15, Manise in good spirits and health, was discharged from the hospital to begin her recovery by the beach with Ron and Ronni Pruhs. We are so pleased that the smiling girl above will have a second chance at life thanks to the Sunrise Rotary Club of Marco Island Florida and their participation in the Rotary Club International’s Gift of Life Program. In addition to Manise, the club has sponsored seven other children for life-saving surgeries and has provided them with scholarships for school once they return(ed) to Haiti.

In just a few short weeks, Manise should be well enough to return home to her family who are anxiously awaiting her arrival.

Thank you to everyone who has come together to care for this little girl!

Manise Update

Beautiful Girl!

With the physical therapy team

Ronnie update 10/15/09:

Manise is out of intensive care, on the pediatric floor and is doing VERY well. The people who cared for her in the CICU and before continue to be amazed. So are we. We are developing a good rapport and affection for her. She is a charmer for sure.

We are discovering a few things. She threw a tantrum yesterday because she believes she can’t walk. She might have surprised herself because she cried and yelled and didn’t collapse or have a seizure. One of the doctors and I explained to her that there is nothing wrong with her legs, and that the doctor repaired her heart. She walks with Ron and me, but she’s not always happy about it. Some of it may be pain related, but she really has very little pain, and it is alleviated by Tylenol.

The cardiologists are saying she could be released by the end of the week.  We went to Longboat Key yesterday and checked out the condo. It’s a really nice place with lots of room.  The only thing between us and the Gulf of Mexico is the swimming pool.

An update from Ronni:

Today we had a consult with physical and occupational therapies.  Because Manise hasn’t been active for most of her life, we are helping her muscles to be worked and stretched.  The attatched picture is of the PT-OT “team”.  They gave us some hints about activities for her. The projection is for her to be in the hospital for another week, if all continues to go well.

Manise has Surgery

Manise with caregivers Ron and Ronni

Manise after Surgery

Today we have been blessed with such wonderful news!  Manise, our little cardiac surgical patient, sat up for two hours, drank some apple juice, ate Cheerios, and was aware enough to complain about the cold American air conditioning. And according to Ronni Pruhs, one of her generous surrogate caregivers, “She has had a few visitors and has more bubbles and stuffed toys than she’ll ever need.”

To give you a little history, Manise is an 8-year-old girl who first came to St. Damien one year ago. She was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect that required her to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, this meant that she could not leave the hospital until a life saving surgery could be performed. The necessary operation is complicated and could only be performed outside of Haiti. Earlier this summer, through the help of Sister Judy Dohner, St. Damien’s surgical director, Manise was accepted as a Gift of Life Child through the Marco Island Florida Rotary Club and was scheduled to have surgery on October 1^st. Little Manise has been blessed by so many generous organizations and individuals who have stepped up to donate what they could. St. Joseph Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida where the operation was performed, has donated all their services related to the surgery. The Ronald McDonald House, which is such a strong support system for families all around the US, is hosting Ron and Ronni free of charge while Manise is in the hospital and the condo where Manise will recover has been donated by an anonymous samaritan from Wisconsin. In addition, American Airlines, Naples Oxygen Company and the Miami fire department have all worked together to ensure that Manise has oxygen through her flight and on her way to the hospital.

Unfortunately, the day before the surgery, Manise coded once during the insertion of a cardiac catheter then a second time later that evening. The doctors feared that she would not survive the surgery so she was kept in a medically induced coma to save the little strength her heart had left.

Manise did have surgery as scheduled and her heart was fully repaired; however she remained in critical condition for many days afterward. Wednesday, we received the good news that Manise was breathing on her own and her heart was strong! She improves every day and could be discharged from the hospital as soon as Monday. She will then stay for four to six weeks in a condo on Marco Island Florida with the St. Damien dental team, Ron and Ronni Pruhs. Ron and Ronni have been coming to Haiti from their home in Wisconsin for over 15 years extracting teeth and filling cavities and have are now generously donating their time to care for Manise while she recovers from the operation.

We are so grateful that this little girl will finally have a chance at a healthy life. It is only through many generous people, however, that the surgery was a success. St. Damien Hospital and Manise’s family extend our sincere gratitude to everyone mentioned above as well as the dozens of other contributors who made this operation a success.