Red Thread Promise

Christopher is coming home!

2012-01-23T16:16:00.001-05:00

You’ve seen this adorable face for the past two years in numerous blog and FaceBook posts, on our mailers and in our annual report. The Red Thread Promise has been supporting little Christopher over that time, providing medical care and hospitalization during the treatment of his sickle cell anemia since 2009.

Just this week, we received word that Christopher will be traveling to the United States to be united with his forever family at the end of January! But his care by The Red Thread Promise will continue. Christopher will spend about 5 weeks with his new family in Texas before he and his parents travel to New Orleans, LA to meet with a sickle cell specialist. This generous doctor has offered to help us continue his care, running the necessary tests, after which she will meet with Christopher's parents to discuss the test results, as well as a short- and long term treatment plan for his care.

Because of your generous donations, The Red Thread Promise can continue to support his medical care until after the doctor has met with the family and a clear plan of action is set in motion. We will send Christopher home knowing we have done the best we can so he can live a happy and healthy life with as few sickle cell episodes as possible.

A van for St. Vincent's!

2012-01-23T15:30:00.007-05:00

The retired bus

After the devastating earthquake in January 2010, St. Vincent's bus got a real workout, far more than the norm. As the main source of transportation for all 350 kids, the bus carried students—trip after trip—from Port-au-Prince to Montrouis to sleep in tents when the smell of decay in the city became too much to bare. (Read more about how St. Vincent's weathered the earthquake.)

  Upon the children's return to Port-au-Prince weeks later, the bus broke down one final time, too costly and extensive to repair. It sits on St. Vincent's destroyed property to this day, nearly 2 years later, a sad reminder of the outings the children used to enjoy before the earthquake and the brokenness of the country.  

Since the demise of the bus, the children’s exposure to life beyond the walls of St. Vincent’s has been severely limited. Sadly, they have been forced to transport students in the back of open pickup trucks, which proved especially challenging to those in wheelchairs.  

During our February 2011 trip to Haiti, we followed that red thread of destiny to a wonderful lady named Suzanne, chair of the Rhode Island Conference United Church of Christ Haiti Task Force (RICUCC HTF). Our paths crossed while she was touring St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. Tom introduced himself and struck up a conversation that would lead to a beautiful partnership.  

Suzanne was in Haiti on a scouting expedition, looking at three organizations to determine which one would be the recipient of a 16 passenger wheelchair-accessible van with a hydraulic lift that her group wanted to donate. We jumped at the chance to tell her about the children at St. Vincent’s and how a van like this would provide fantastic opportunities to take the students beyond St. Vincent’s walls and experience new things. The Red Thread was already in the process of providing ATW wheelchairs so that students could become more independent. Having a van like this would enrich the children’s lives even more, allowing them further access into their own community.  

We were thrilled to hear the news that RICUCC HTF chose St. Vincent’s for the van! And so the lengthy and complicated process of getting the van from Rhode Island to Port-au-Prince began.

The new van

  The Red Thread Promise spearheaded this operation by providing critical logistics coordination between St. Vincent’s and RICUCC HTF. Arrangements were made to have the van accessed by mechanics, repairs made, and new tires installed prior to shipping.

  Our team capitalized on the ongoing relationships that we have forged over the years to bring this project to fruition. We contacted Physicians for Peace and Childfund with whom we most recently partnered for an amazing week at Camp Jake. As has been our experience in the past, these two organizations understood the need and quickly stepped in with a generous donation to cover the repairs and parts, towing fees (from RI to NJ where the van would be loaded on a ship), export filing and title validation, shipping and port fees. St. James Episcopal (Eureka, AR) also contributed substantially toward the shipping.

Each of the partners played a critical role to complete this project. None of us could have done it without the others. The Red Thread Promise is thankful for RICUCC HTF for securing the van, choosing St. Vincent’s and buying new tires; we are grateful for the continued partnership and financial support of Physicians for Peace and Childfund; we also appreciate the financial assistance of St. James Episcopal in offsetting the shipping expenses. And finally, we are blessed to help provide additional mobility to the children of St. Vincent’s.

As of this post, the van has already docked in Haiti and the paperwork is being processed. The Red Thread Promise and its partners look forward to seeing the van in person during one of our next trips to Haiti.

Baby Xin Xin

2012-01-23T15:24:00.001-05:00

Baby Xin Xin

In December 2011, another bundle of joy joined us on this earth, a baby girl named Xin Xin. A moment that should have brought great wonder, brought a dim future for this little one—she was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull, leading to brain swelling. The name literally means "water on the brain." This buildup of fluid puts pressure on the brain, pushing the brain up against the skull and damaging or destroying brain tissues. Hydrocephalus may start while the baby is growing in the womb. It is commonly present with myelomeningocele (aka spina bifida), a birth defect involving incomplete closure of the spinal column.*

Thankfully, our partners in China are turning Xin Xin's once dim future into a bright one. We learned that she recently received her initial surgery, a great blessing. Her road to recovery is long—it holds numerous post operative medical appointments as well as a follow-up CT scan—but we have great hope for this little one. Thanks to Swallows Nest, she will be in the arms of people who love her and are trained in the care of children with such conditions.

The Red Thread Promise will be supporting Baby Xin Xin’s post surgery care until her adoption. It is estimated that she may be in foster care for two or more years due to the severity of her special needs.

Baby Xin Xin is still very young so we don’t know what other complications she may have. Please keep Xin Xin and her caregivers in your thoughts and prayers and consider helping The Red Thread Promise show this little one how much we care. Donations can be made through PayPal (upper right) or sent via check to the address at the top right.

* Excerpts from the U.S. National Library of Medicine

Things we love about Camp Jake - Sports

2012-01-18T20:11:00.002-05:00

Jean Leonard enjoying some quality air time with a beach ball.

Sports at Camp Jake took on some different forms than those found in a typical American camp, but they were no less fun! Games of soccer, frisbee golf and basketball popped up here and there. Campers learned how to fly kites in the breezes off the ocean. Blind and sighted kids alike played with a 60" inflatable ball that allowed them to really "feel" the game. This huge ball took 1.5 hours to inflate and could literally "bowl you over" if you weren't paying attention when it came your way. Rolling it back and forth in the sand turned into an all-body workout and the participants couldn't have been happier. Those in wheelchairs took turns volleying a smaller inflatable with just as much vigor as those using the oversized counterpart.

The blind students appreciated this very tactile experience.

Danika quickly made friends with the octopus kite!

Lovely honing her jump rope skills at twilight.

Olixus mastering frisbee golf.

Moise, Jeff & Sonya played basketball by moonlight one evening.

Who knows how long we stayed on the court, but we made sure we didn't

leave until Moise had made the basket that he so longed for.

The satisfaction on his face following that one shot made it worth every moment.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Playing games

2012-01-17T19:00:00.002-05:00

Samantha making her move.

When the campers thought it was too cold to get in the pool (cleary the Haitian perspective, not the American!), rousing games of Jenga, checkers and cards popped up everywhere. Jenga was a new one for the campers and they took to it right away, squealing with delight whenever someone toppled the tower of blocks.

A fierce game of poolside Jenga.

Solomon strategizing his next move.

JoJo proved to be the reigning champ of checkers, although Sonya did beat him once. (She confided that she thought he "let" her win...) Even the youngest campers took a shot at it!

Jean Leonard setting up the game for the next match.

JoJo decided how to beat Brandon!

Solomon making his move.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Artwork with Diana

2012-01-17T10:00:00.006-05:00

What a mess we had the day Diana was slated to participate in the art project. A slightly different approach was used that better fit her abilities - she got to paint with her feet! We slathered her toes with yellow and blue and let her happy feet "dance" their way across the canvas. By the time we finished, she was covered in paint (along with us, the floor, and anything else in a 10 ft perimeter!). But what fun she had and a beautiful piece or artwork produced. She is always a joy to work with, smiling, laughing, and, most recently, sticking out her long pink tongue.

Sienna prepping Diana for her painting gig.

Dancing, happy feet!

Things we love about Camp Jake - Artwork with Kenson and Moise

2012-01-16T08:53:00.012-05:00

Icarus (Jazz) by Henri Matisse (1947)

Kenson was one of the older campers. Honestly, he was less than thrilled when asked to participate. However, by the end the afternoon, he was relaxed and proud of his accomplishment. As you can see, he preferred a very Matisse-inspired shade of blue and a much more graphic approach than most. The result is beautiful.

Jabari tracing Kenson.

Moise is quite the artist as well. Both he and Kenson are avid basketball players but their approach to painting couldn't be more different. Rather than hopping out of his wheelchair and painting on the floor, Moise opted to paint at the table in his chair. He chose a style that was a fusion of graphic and realistic, creating something uniquely his own. This young man always has a smile on his face and we a joy to be with all week long.

Moise beginning his painting journey.

Moise's masterpiece.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Artwork with Clairrisian

2012-01-16T08:34:00.005-05:00

(left to right) Genie and Clairrisian

Clairrisian is one of 4 scholarship recipients from St. Vincent's who began university in 2011. Her English is great and we predict she is going to make something important of herself. This dynamic young woman dove right into the art project. She worked for several hours, perfecting her self-portrait right down to the very clothes she was sporting that day!

Her meticulous work began with the white top she was wearing.

Gold was the popular color for skin tone amongst this group of creative folks.

Every detail, even down to the lip and eye color was specifically chosen.

She worked and re-worked her eyes until they met her satisfaction.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Artwork with Auguste

2012-01-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

Auguste during the outlining process, loving being out of his wheelchair.

Maggie working with Auguste to hold the paintbrush.

Auguste was obviously pleased with the final painting!

Our guess is that this is the first time he has ever painted in his life.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Art projects

2012-01-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Bousico embarking on his artistic adventure.

Art is one of the beautiful things in life that truly transcends language barriers. Our entire group of nearly 45 people embarked on an artful expedition during Camp Jake and the fact that 4 different languages were spoken didn't slow us down one bit. After much reflection, we shared an aha moment and determined that art is its own language, speaking to everyone in some way.

This past week, Kelly led a fantastic art project with all campers. Even those who adamantly opposed to working on it when the idea was presented were "drawn in" by the end of the week (and, yes, every pun intended!).

Picture this: Each camper had a life size piece of canvas on the floor. They laid down on it in any way they chose or were able and one of our team members traced their outline. Then the real fun began! Paints of all colors were set out and the campers were encouraged to paint whatever they wanted. Many chose a realistic approach, matching skin tones and clothing to what they were wearing that day. Some were more abstract, such as Kenson in his "blue period" who opted for a more simple execution. The paintings are as unique as those who created them.

It was a fantastic experience for everyone and we thank Kelly her tireless work with every camper throughout the week. Who knows? Some of these masterpieces may end up in an art gallery some day. Of course, we'll let you know when that happens.

Creativity in motion.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Making cards

2012-01-11T20:15:00.007-05:00

There is something about art that brings everyone together.

Campers had the opportunity to make personalized name cards for their backpacks. We broke out some markers and crayons and watched the creativity spill over! Regardless of any perceived limitations, everyone picked up a writing utensil of their choice and got down to business. Whether they wrote with their hand, their mouth or their foot, each camper was able to make something uniquely their own.

Danika's vibrant personality was expressed through color.

Dieumene's creativity was channeled through her feet as she drew delicate pictures of birds.

Blanda's intense concentration was infectious!

Things we love about Camp Jake - The beach at sunset

2012-01-10T21:08:00.016-05:00

Sonya, Diana and Olixus.

These images are from our first time taking the kids to the beach. A large group of us traveled down the stairs and across the sand to the water's rocky edge. We stopped along the way to allow the blind students to touch various trees, bushes and stones. When we finally made it to the beach, the blind campers were the first to roll up their pant legs and climb right in. What was going to be just putting their feet in, turned into nearly full-body swimming! Everyone explored the beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunset together. Several of the deaf children commandeered our cameras and began photographing everything under the setting sun.

Heading toward the beach.

Tom and Diana.

Evans, Elisme and Markenson, our 3 blind muskateers, examining a tree with their hands.

Touching various stones and other natural materials was a real treat for the blind students.

Emmanuel, one of the caregivers, and Jimmy, getting ready to get in the water.

Tom and Tiffany helping the first group into the water.

The bank is quite steep, which isn't evident from this photograph.

The stones are smooth and slippery, making the decent

into the water more challenging for the blind students.

Jimmy and Tiffany.

Tom and Diana.

Dieumene, a reserved girl, savoring the view.

Rose and Sonya.

Blanda and Samantha enjoying a friendly moment!

Maggie chatting with Diana.

Diana and Oxilus.

Rose, Jabari and Blanda.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Cleanliness is next to godliness

2012-01-08T07:29:00.025-05:00

Working with the campers on personal hygiene and overall cleanliness will play an important role in each Camp Jake. Before every meal, hands are sanitized. After snacks, all trash is picked up from the ground, something many Haitians are unaccustomed to. Campers shower on a daily basis and wash their hands multiple times each day, especially after using the bathroom.

But we are taking it a step further. A church in central Ohio gathered mountains of personal hygiene products for each camper and a group training lesson was held. Instructions were given in English, Kreyol and sign language so every camper could understand the contents of their care packages and what to do with each item. The blind students received additional attention following the lesson to ensure they could identify each product by shape and size.

Stress was given to:
keeping these items for yourself and not sharing
proper use of each item including when to use it, how many times per day, etc.
and, most importantly, WHY we cleanliness is important: to thwart sickness and disease as well as maintain respect for one-self and your own personal appearance
While a serious subject, there was some comic relief. The most amusing part was Tom's impromptu demonstrations of many products, like a soapy loofah, dental floss and mouth wash. He had everyone in stitches, making the process more enjoyable.

However, the highlight of the training was when Jonas, our Haitian "go-to" man, performed the final demonstration: showing everyone that lip balm was not just for women. We explained that lip balm is not the same as lip gloss or lipstick. Understanding Haitian culture, we knew that a final demonstration was in order, and for it to be effective, the demo person needed to be Haitian. Even Jonas was hesitant to use the lip balm, but he did so graciously, only to be told he was "trè bèl" or "very pretty" in Kreyol. The entire group was in stitches!

(left to right) JoJo translating in sign, Tom demonstrating

how to use the electric toothbrush, Jonas translating into Kreyol, and Maggie.

Everyone listened intently to Tom & Maggie's directions.

Tom showing Busoco how to use dental floss.

Moise looking at the photos of the Brownie troop that donated toothbrushes and candy.

Dieumene showing Elisme how to apply lip balm.

Mouthwash demonstration.

The entire group with their packages.

Jonas helping Marie Carmel out of the lesson with

her bags of hygiene products and homemade trail mix.

Maile and Kelly.

Diana & Auguste.

Marilene and Samantha.

Genie & Clarrisian.

Things we love about Camp Jake - Swimming in the ocean

2012-01-07T16:19:00.022-05:00

Campers and counselors navigating the rocky beach on their way to the water.

Samantha and Dieumene.

Zacharie decided to be our photographer for the morning in lieu of swimming

We took nearly every camper with every type of ability to the beach again today. As time went on, few chose to stay on the rocky beach.

Counselors made a semi-circle in the water in a relatively shallow area allowing the independent swimmers to enjoy some freedom within limits (and under close supervision). Then our team took individual campers in their arms and assisted them into the water to float swim, or simply sit, whatever their comfort level.

The sight-impaired campers loved everything about the beach, from the rocks beneath their feet, to the water itself, to the waves splashing up on them. They stayed in the water longer than anyone else! Some were daring, like Jimmy, who loves to float and swim face down in the water. While others, like Elisme, were content to sit in the water and repeatedly splash their face or dunk their head, grinning from ear-to-ear.

Jabari carrying Auguste to the water.

Brandon and Moise lounging at the water's edge.

(left to right) Tom, Clarissian, Maggie, Genie, Oxilus, and Jabari

Yolen and Lissa enjoying the cool water

Elisme, one of the sight-impaired students, continuously poured water

over his head the entire time and loved every moment.

You may remember our post about losing Elisme's brother, Cebien, back in February.

It was SO good to see this man smiling again!

(left to right) Sienna, Diana, Mauriline, Genie and Lovely

Best friends, Rosaline and Rosana, are inseparable

Matt served as our lifeguard, keeping a watchful eye on Danika and others.

Tom teaching Blanda how to float.

Samantha signing to her friends on the shore

Rosaline and Danika

Maggie, Clarrisian, Tom and Samantha

Matt and Maggie keeping everyone in line

Tom and Evans

Things we love about Camp Jake - Aquatic dance parties

2012-01-07T06:57:00.010-05:00

Jean Leonard

Impromptu dance parties in the pool kept sprouting up every day.

The deaf children are the best dancers at the camp.

Moving to their own internal beats, those kids can M.O.V.E!

Danika

-----------------------------

Danika, Lovely, Brandon, Samantha, Blanda

Check us out on PBS!

2012-01-06T21:45:00.004-05:00

Yep. The Red Thread was featured on PBS today! Since we've been in Haiti, we didn't find out until after the segment ran. Thankfully, you can see it on PBS's website and hopefully below as well. We are posting from Haiti and can't even watch it ourselves to see if the link works. Please let us know!.

Watch Red Thread Promise on PBS. See more from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

If you only read one post about Camp Jake, this should be it

2012-01-05T08:30:00.005-05:00

The past 36 hours has held so many treasured moments that, like an artist staring at a blank canvas, we feel the weight of a blank blog post on our shoulders. It’s challenging to put such an fun and emotional time into sufficient words and even have a clue where to start. So here’s our best effort. Keep in mind that we are sleep and caffeine deprived this morning!

To put it simply, Camp Jake is transforming lives.

Children that we have known for a year who have never uttered a word in our presence were observed having full conversations in Kreyol; an immobile teen picked up her cup, brought the straw to her lips and gave herself a drink, among many other things we had no idea she was capable of; a non-ambulatory child danced with assistance and responded fervently to live music; kids hoisted themselves out of wheelchairs into the pool to splash and roll around in the shallow areas; blind children trusted the counselors to take them swimming, kicking beach balls in the water, grinning from ear-to-ear; we watched deaf children dancing their hearts out to their own silent music; a wheelchair bound child with little use of his hands held an artist’s brush to paint a self-portrait.

These are just a handful of the wonderful experiences that have occurred since the children arrived at the beach Monday afternoon. But it’s not just the kids that are changing. The counselors are being enriched by this experience every moment in many unexpected ways. There are lessons for us in each of the tasks we perform. There is love poured out in every embrace and hug shared with a camper or their caregivers. Our hearts expand in some way with every minute.

Counselors adapted to significant unanticipated changes from the moment the campers exited the bus when it was discovered that 8 children from the original roster were not coming and 9 new ones had taken their place; team members diligently worked together to move wheelchairs-bound and blind campers into non-compliant buildings, shuffling room assignments to ensure that everyone was satisfied; they filled requests for drinks, snacks, blankets, diapers, baby formula and everything else you can think of in a remote area with no discernable shopping for miles; made 100s of bathroom runs; played games and swam for hours with the kids; served as a group of swift waiters and waitresses at meal times, feeding those that can not feed themselves, serving themselves last; treated a child for pressure sores (similar to bedsores) caused by immobility; actively engaged with those whose muscles have atrophied from years in a wheelchair, working their muscles to loosen them.

The list goes on and on… and this just covers the first day and a half of camp! In the following posts, we will tell the story in photos, highlighting some of our favorite activities that we did with the kids.

Our motley crew

2012-01-04T12:51:00.001-05:00

A little who’s who at Camp Jake.

Prior to meeting up in the Miami airport on Monday, many of our 10 counselors had never seen one another in person. Teleconferencing during the planning process was the closest they had ever come to a handshake. By the end of the week, we predict it will be bear hugs and tears for everyone!

The team represents all parts of the US with greatly varied backgrounds, but one common thread: a soft spot for handicapped children and willingness to do hand-on work.

So who are the people making this camp happen this week? We’d like you to make their acquaintance.

JABARI is a 26-year-old self-proclaimed global citizen originally from New Orleans and a motivational speaker by trade. With a personal mission to uplift and inspire lives across the globe, his experience includes working in Japan for 2 years teaching English as a participant in the JET Programme. A proud Alumni of Howard University, Jabari exudes energy and friendliness, always sporting a huge smile! He dreams of owning and hosting his own internationally-syndicated talk show, as well as traveling the world, the later of which he is well on his way to achieving: Haiti is the 15th country he has visited. He recently launched his “Jabari Inspires” website, www.jabarinspires.com, where he empowers others to step beyond their comfort zone to achieve their dreams.

MATT is a native Californian. He is 23 years old and a student in the Tropical Medicine Department and Peace Corps Master’s International program at Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Most recently Matt has returned from Botswana after working in a vaccine development lab at the University of Botswana. He has also worked extensively at Bwindi Community Hospital in Uganda. To top it off, at the end of 2012 he will begin 27 months of service with the United States Peace Corps. He has a passion for medical care, hoping one day to work as a rural physician, and is glad to be a part of this diverse team.

KELLY is an art therapist and artist from Norfolk, Virginia. She came to The Red Thread through her affiliation with Physicians for Peace (PFP). Kelly is connected to disabilities in multiple ways. She is a below knee amputee herself, having generously donated both a foot and a leg prosthesis to people in Haiti shortly after the earthquake. Another connection is her 3-year-old nephew who was born with Hypoplastic Left Valve Syndrome. He was an active toddler until his 7th surgery that led to blindness and severe brain damage. She craves traveling and has spent time in over ten countries. Kelly is passionate about helping traumatized people through art therapy and has worked across the globe, including working with PFP in the Philippines and volunteering with Cooperative for Education in Guatemala. Kelly is excited about spearheading an art project with St. Vincent’s children this week that we hope turns into a dynamic fundraiser for future sessions of Camp Jake.

TIFFANY is a student at Tulane’s School of Public Health focusing on International Policy and Development and is Tom’s right-hand woman. Originally from Oklahoma, she feels called to open a culturally appropriate clinic in Haiti, focusing on HIV/AIDS and TB. She has been searching for an opportunity to serve in Haiti for several years and has found a perfect match with the Red Thread Promise’s Camp Jake. She was drawn to Haiti after studying medical anthropology and Caribbean cultures during post baccalaureate studies. The need in Haiti was so overwhelming that she felt compelled to do something. After researching Dr. Paul Farmer’s clinics, she knew she had to follow in his footsteps in her own way. We are pleased to offer her the opportunity to work with children in Haiti, taking her leaps and bounds closer to fulfilling her calling. At this time, she is considering taking the role of Assistant Camp Jake Director for the June 2012 session.

MAGGIE is a 32-year-old metal buyer from Tulsa. She is an avid volunteer in the United States. She grew up with Tiffany in Oklahoma and was heart broken by the Haitian earthquake in 2010. Maggie feels blessed to come to Haiti and give her time to the amazing children at this camp. Her sweet spirit is balanced by her “get ‘r done” attitude, a true asset to our group.

PETERA is an altruistic spirit originally from New Orleans. Since middle school, she has work tirelessly for marginalized populations in the US and abroad. Currently a student at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, she is pursuing a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health and Health Education. Petera has worked with Planned Parenthood, LSU Disease Management, volunteered with N.O. AIDS Task Force and traveled abroad to study the health care system of Taiwan and the country’s approach to managing communicable diseases. Beyond graduation, Petera plans to fulfill her innate calling of service to the global community. Volunteering with The Red Thread Promise has offered her the opportunity to develop skills that highlight her passion for community development, strengthening cultural competence, and health education.

BRANDON, a 25-year-old, from Texas is also an avid volunteer. He is a graduate from St. John’s University and currently attends Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is a second year Masters in Public Health candidate with a focus in Environmental Health: Health Policy, and has recently been accepted into the Masters in Health Administration program at Tulane University. He is Cowen Scholar for Tulane University working with O. Perry Walker in New Orleans to develop and enrich the Advanced Placement and college guidance process. Since high school, Brandon has been involved in work for disenfranchised populations; from the HOPE survey in New York City to the AVID program in his hometown of Austin. He has contributed his time to the enrichment of those in need and hopes that the impact goes further than just the time he spends volunteering.

SIENNA is a freshman at Tulane University, studying to become a doctor. She has been traveling to Haiti with a team of medical professionals from her native Tennessee (led by her mother who is also a doctor) since she was 16 years old. This being her 6th trip, she is very familiar with Haitian culture and knows the St. Vincent’s students intimately. Her grasp of the Kreyol language is a huge asset to our team as well as her gentle spirit that the children respond to so well. Sienna hopes to improve her language skills and connect with the students throughout the duration of Camp Jake.

SONYA is a 40-something mother of two who is proud to say that this is also her 6th trip to Haiti. She is the current Vice President of The Red Thread Promise and is responsible for all communications from the organization to all constituents. Her responsibilities are split this week; she will serve as part time counselor, part time photographer, part time social media guru and watchdog of the funds. Sonya adores the children at St. Vincent’s and jokes about moving to Haiti then visiting her family in Ohio on occasion!

TOM, our fearless leader, is the director of Camp Jake as well as the camp’s founder. The inspiration for Camp Jake came from his nephew, Jake, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Uncle and nephew attended a muscular dystrophy camp together and Jake shared that his dream was that ALL handicapped kids could go to a camp like this for a week, regardless of their ability or socio-economic status. With Tom’s vision and guidance, The Red Thread has turned Jake’s dream into reality. And that’s why we are here this week.

In short, we have a dynamic, diverse team ready and eager to embrace the children. We’d like to suggest that ALL of the counselors—Jabari, Matt, Kelly, Maggie, Tiffany, Petera, Brandon, Sienna, Sonya and Tom—are global citizens and we are proud to work with each and every one.

Warming up!

2012-01-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

It's gratifying to see the kids growing more comfortable in their surroundings and with the counselors this morning. They were quiet and reserved last night, exhausted from the long drive from PAP (3+ hours!) and all of the excitement for a new experience. Now that everyone had a good night's sleep and breakfast, they are really warming up.

We are preparing to do art with a small group of kids and sports with the others. This afternoon we will be taking students to the pool, for many of them the first time! So much work balanced by so much fun should be illegal!

Much, much more to come. Just too busy with the kids to finish our posts!

Camp Jake arrival

2012-01-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

Bonjour from Kaliko Beach! The 33 kids we had planned for turned out to be 36—a nice surprise! We quickly adapted to the change: shuffling rooms to accommodate the new campers. Their oohs and aahs were wonderful! We did some artwork together and ate dinner before helping every camper and their luggage to their room. The team was up until the wee hours planning for today, writing blog posts and unwinding. Will do our best to get the posts up quickly! But the children have just arrived for breakfast and it's time to go help them navigate the buffet. Bon appetit!

Camp Jake here we come

2012-01-02T23:11:00.000-05:00

It's been a long and tiring day, but we made it to Haiti. Counselors came from Virginia, Ohio, Oklahoma and Louisiana. We converged in the Miami Dade Airport and were easily recognizable by our bright purple Camp Jake 2012 shirts! A ridiculously long layover gave us the opportunity to get to know each other a bit before hitting the sky for the final leg of our journey. (Author's note: an interesting observation was the size of the plane going in to Haiti. It was substantially smaller than the planes we rode on throughout 2010 and 2011. Wondering if this is due to international aid pulling out? A reduction in NGOs?)

Going through the airport was smooth, surprisingly smooth—a pleasant surprise based on our experience on previous trips. Even traffic was light leaving the airport and heading to the hotel. (Another observation as we drove was the nearly empty tent cities. Areas that had boasted thousands upon thousands of tents some months before were nearly cleared out.) Few people were selling their wares and even fewer walking.

After check in and dinner, we met in one of the rooms to organize the supplies. We were bursting at the seams with suitcases packed with everything you can think of: t-shirts, bathing suits, sneakers, water shoes, goggles, personal hygiene products, balls of every size, shape and color, games, jump ropes, candy (yes, toothbrushes and toothpastes too!), manicure items, art supplies and so on.

Tennis shoes of every size and color lined the walls.

Everything was separated by category (i.e. sports, games, water activities) and large care packages were created for each child. All of this made for poor photo opps but we think you'll get the idea!

Various board games filled several bags.

Boxes of clothing were spread out on both beds from end to end.

Finally, we discussed the next day's schedule and then headed to our rooms to catch some sleep. We had all been up since anywhere between 3am - 4am and we wanted to get a good night's sleep before heading to the camp site tomorrow.

So we wish you reve dous (sweet dreams) for tonight.

The hotel was still decorated for Christmas as well as

Haitian independence day which is celebrated on January 1st

of every year. It was quite lovely.

Camp Jake care packages

2011-12-29T18:20:00.001-05:00

Only 4 days until the Red Thread team rolls out the first annual Camp Jake for students at St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children in Haiti! Amazing how time flies. Seems like only yesterday that Tom and Jake had the idea for the camp and now it is almost here.

Bags are being packed and re-packed to fill every nook and cranny with supplies for the camp. Then each is weighed and items are shuffled from suitcase to suitcase to ensure compliance with the strict airline codes. Two 50 lb bags per person, 1 carryon and 1 personal items - no exceptions!

Today's project was organizing stacks and stacks of personal hygiene products. In Ohio, a make-shift assembly line was set up and four friends turned those piles into personal hygiene kits. Each of the 33 campers will receive a full kit and be taught how to use the items.

Organizing the supplies

The assembly line

Each kit contains:

vibrating toothbrush
toothpaste
mouthwash
dental floss
shampoo
conditioner
body wash
face wash
sunblock
nail clippers
nail file
bag of Qtips
deodorant

The packages for the older kids also have:

razor
can of shaving lotion

Completed kits

Many thanks to the women of Peace United Methodist Church for donating all of the supplies needed to fill the packages!

As we get closer to our departure date, please keep the Red Thread team in your thoughts and prayers for a successful camp. Also keep in mind the many campers who will enjoy new experiences, taste new foods and go to new places. We so look forward to working with these kids!

As always, we will post to the blog and Facebook frequently during the week of the camp. Electricity and internet connections are often shaky in Haiti, but we'll keep you in the loop as much as possible during camp and the weeks that follow.

Thank you for your continued support!

Raffle winners

2011-12-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the following folks who won the raffle items from our hearing aid fundraiser:

Raffle 1: Betty from Metairie, LA

Raffle 2: Brittany from Luling, LA

Raffle 3: Jeanne from New Orleans, LA

Raffle 4: Mary from New Orleans, LA

Raffle 5: Amber from New Orleans, LA

Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets to support hearing impaired children in Haiti! Due to your generosity, we are able to purchase new digital hearing aids for children at St. Vincent's.

New Orleans youth takes fundraiser for the hearing impaired to new heights

2011-12-26T16:51:00.000-05:00

Marigny and Kathy, Red Thread President,

preparing for the fundraiser

Remember Marigny, the high school senior from Louisiana who took on a large philanthropic project for The Red Thread Promise as part of her requirement for graduation? Well, we wanted to share her success and offer the opportunity to continue supporting her efforts of bringing new digital hearing aids to the children of St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children.

On December 2nd, 2011, Marigny teamed with Modern Market, a lifestyle boutique in New Orleans, to host a fundraiser benefitting hearing impaired children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Raffle tickets were sold for five dynamic prizes and, on the day of the event, Modern Market donated 10% of all sales to the project.

On the street, directing people inside

Marigny (left) and friends who helped throughout the evening

Her original goal was $2,500, quite an undertaking for a single high school student. Following the fundraiser and sales at Modern Market, donations reached $3,700. Rather than simply basking in the satisfaction of a successful fundraiser, this ambitious teen increased her goal and kept right on going!

As of this post, Marigny has doubled her original goal, bringing in over $5,000! And still she keeps going with a passion, our little red Energizer bunny, extending the timeframe for fundraising to January 10, 2012 and increasing her goal yet again.

Marigny has done an incredible job and we couldn’t be more proud of her. The Red Thread team LOVES getting youth involved in philanthropy! We are equally excited to be able to purchase 16 brand new digital hearing aids for the children at St. Vincent’s due to the efforts of a single high school student. Imagine what we could do if we were each so passionate!

Marigny has jump-started this fundraising campaign and we invite you to be a part of it. Many more hearing aids are needed to provide for all of St. Vincent’s children. The goal of the campaign is to purchase 75 hearing aids by February 2012 and a whopping 500 aids by the end of December 2012. Each hearing aid costs $300, a small price to pay to make a huge improvement in the life of a hearing-impaired child.

A note from Marigny: As an American teenager, this project has made me realize that life is not about the materialistic possessions we may have or wish to have, but about the people who are a part of our lives. In the midst of everything, we need to consider those who are less fortunate. This project has certainly made me look at my own life in a completely different way. In the future, I plan to travel to Haiti with The Red Thread Promise to see the children who will benefit from your generosity. This is a perfect way for me to become a global citizen and help those who do not have the means to help themselves. By coming together as a community of caring individuals, we are able to make a tremendous impact on the lives of the deaf orphans of St. Vincent's. We did this together!

If you are interested in joining The Red Thread Promise to give the gift of hearing to these precious children, please contact Kathy@redthreadpromise.org. Donations can be made by PayPal (link at top right) or by sending a check to the address at top right.

Marigny (far right) and the Modern Market team

12 Angels - Day 12

2011-12-24T16:30:00.000-05:00

Angel #12

Meet Pierr. Doesn't he have the most spectacular eyes?

12 Angels - Day 11

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Angel #11

Truly the face of an angel!

12 Angels - Day 10

2011-12-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

Angel #10

Meet Sylvie, boasting another beautiful St. Vincent's smile!

12 Angels - Day 9

2011-12-21T11:56:00.000-05:00

Angel #9

What's not to love about that smile?!

Camp Jake packing

2011-12-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

Suitcase after suitcase is being packed full of supplies for Camp Jake. Games, clothes, personal hygiene products... you name it, we've probably got it in one of the (20) 50 lb. suitcases ready to board that plane to Port-au-Prince. Only 13 days till we hit the ground running in Haiti. Please keep the team in your thoughts and prayers.

12 Angels - Day 8

2011-12-20T20:09:00.000-05:00

Angel #8

A sideways glance from this girl will melt your heart!

12 Angels - Day 7

2011-12-18T23:03:00.000-05:00

Angel #7

This hearing impaired young lady

has a personality as beautiful as her smile!

12 Angels - Day 6

2011-12-18T17:21:00.000-05:00

Angel #6

Meet Elion, one of the spunky teenagers at St. Vincent's

12 Angels - Day 5

2011-12-17T15:43:00.001-05:00

Angel #5

Couldn't you just squeeze this little one?

12 Angels - Day 4

2011-12-16T10:40:00.001-05:00

Angel #4

If that isn't the face of joyful learning,

we don't know what is!

12 Angels - Day 3

2011-12-15T12:52:00.000-05:00

Angel #3

This young man's smile is infectious!

12 Angels - Day 2

2011-12-14T00:24:00.000-05:00

Angel #2

This beautiful child shares the Haitian knack for looking somber for the photo,

but smiling widely as soon as the camera turns away!

12 Angels - Day 1

2011-12-14T00:19:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of the holidays, we'd like to introduce you to some

of the angels we've met at St. Vincent's in 2011.

Angel #1

This handsome young man is hearing impaired

but such a HAM in front of the camera!

A gift to unwrap now

2011-12-12T13:58:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season of love, hope and miracles.

Here's a gift that has them all.

Help us unwrap our very special gift from Be Productions,

then please share it with your friends, family and colleagues.

Occupy McKenna Farms (part 2)

2011-12-05T08:49:00.000-05:00

Bernie and Glenna, Jacob Beachy's grandparents

(front, left to right) Yiwen, Jaden, Wilma, Glenna, Elyse, Margie, Hana

(back row) Sonya, Doug, Bernie, Ted

Now we know what that old southern phrase, wouldn’t trade you for a farm in Georgia, is all about. What a gorgeous area—a place where one savors every moment.

From the crack of dawn, our senses became alive on our second day at the farm:

Seeing the sunshine igniting brilliant fall colors in the trees.
Hearing the occasional whinny of a horse.
Smelling the rich aroma of fresh-brewed coffee.
Tasting a variety of decadent fresh doughnuts.
Feeling the bitter chill in the air that November morning.

The five senses were the focus of our energies that entire day as the team mobilized to work on the Jacob Beachy Sensory Trail, a critical therapy area of the farm. Spanning a 5 acre area, the wide trail winds around a circle of 9 stations, each designed to increase sensory awareness. The trail then meanders through the woods to a cool, clear stream and back to the sensory stations.

Before our work began, we visited the barn to greet the horses, helping to feed and brush them. Like children, each horse is unique, not only in color and size, but in personality as well: Hershey (a Appaloosa) may nip you; Tank (a percheron) is a gentle giant; and Major (a Arabian) has the even temperment of the ideal hippotherapy horse. Each horse is specially trained to accommodate the young, often unstable riders. We found it difficult to tear ourselves away from these huge animals with whom the children of McKenna Farms form a bond of trust and confidence however socializing with the horses was not our weekend task (although it certainly was a perk!).

Brushing STAR

Learning the details of feeding horses

As soon as the horses were fed and ready to be released into the pasture, we walked down the lane to the sensory trail and surveyed the work that needed to be done. Tall grass lined the trail and late-summer weeds had grown up around the stations. The unstained wood appeared dull and lackluster. A wooden bridge had been overturned and was in dire need of repair. Planters were full of dead annuals. Plastic buckets and containers used for therapy were worn and cracked due to exposure to the elements. And so our work began!

Our workplace for the weekend

Doug and Jaden tackled the open areas with a mower and weed whacker while the rest of the team pulled weeds in the more inaccessible nooks and crannies. When the dust settled, the messy fun began. Armed with rollers, brushes, and 5 gallon drums of stain, we tackled the uprights, roofs and any other exposed wood of the sensory stations as well as the planters, birdhouses and bird feeders scattered along the trail. And so the transformation of the area continued as we traveled—station to station—cleaning, staining, and repairing.

Every boy's dream - operating a lawn mower!

Each sensory station is carefully designed to focus on and develop one or more of the senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight. The materials look like giant's toys—oversized objects that allow children whose fine motor skills are underdeveloped and who cannot manipulate small typical shape and color toys—to work with both while on foot or on the back of a horse.

These colorful bars with over-sized shaped cutouts develop the child’s sense of sight and touch and aid them in the development of visual discrimination. Since many of us had never experienced this type of therapy, a lesson was in order!

Jessie shared that a child typically rides up to the station on their horse. Then, based on the child's individual needs and ability, the therapist guides them in an activity. For a child who may be lacking core strength or doesn't know where their body is in space, the therapist may request that he or she, while holding the reins in one hand, reach across their body with their free hand to receive a stuffed toy from the therapist. The child would then take the toy and locate the particular colored bar and shape specified by the therapist and put the toy through the hole. A seemingly simple activity such as this engages different parts of the mind and muscles in the body simultaneously, involves motor planning and cognitive abilities, which creates many opportunities for development and refinement of skills.

As the child progresses, the level of complexity of the activities increase. The therapist may offer an entire bucket full of toys, directing the child to find a particular one in the mix, adding another level of difficulty to the exercise. The child must now bend over and reach into the bucket to locate the correct toy all while controlling both their body and the horse. Then, depending on which colored bar is required, reach up, over, out, or down to place the toy in the correct opening. The therapist names colors, shapes, and other pertinent words and has the child repeat them during the exercise, increasing their vocabulary during the session.

We were amazed to see and hear how a very complex therapy session could be tailored for each child through these outwardly basic activities. Jessie shared similar therapy strategies were shared as we worked our way along the trail, learning about the stations and their purpose as we went.

We were puzzled to find a few team members chewing leaves from a planter. As we approached, it became clear – they had discovered the herb garden. The air was scented with rosemary and mint at a station where a therapist guides a child in exercises to help them develop their sense of smell.

Staining the chimes structure

The entire team couldn’t resist the chimes! Using large drumsticks, we ran the sticks across the chimes repeatedly, listening to the different tones made by each size chime. As each person passed at varying heights, different tunes were created. Suddenly, we were aware of how much we delight in these sounds and how critical our sense of hearing is in life.

Flipping the wooden bridge

Following a lunch break and with renewed energy, Doug, Ted and Jessie's husband Will began the plans to reposition and repair a large wooden bridge that had been part of the entrance to the trail. The bridge, which had previously been moved and flipped on its back to allow access to the rear of the barn, needed to be turned right-side-up and placed in its original position at the entrance of the sensory trail. The men repaired and replaced loose wooden planks before they tackled the much larger job of turning it over. With clever planning, teamwork and just the right touch with the front end-loader, the job was successfully completed in a few hours.

Glad that the staining is almost finished!

Then we all went back to staining the wood, which took us through the end of a very long, but extremely productive day at the farm. The team was exhausted but satisfied with our accomplishments. Only a few details remained for the next morning before we each went our separate ways, tired and sore, but with huge smiles on our faces.

Gifts that change a life

2011-11-20T22:37:00.000-05:00

2011 - Red & Blue Candycane - 16 available

There is a fantastic artist in historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania who has been making limited edition hand-blown glass ornaments for The Red Thread Promise for the past 8 years. Every year, Despina—owner of Kalargyros Gallery and glass artist—creates a new design just for us. Since these beauties are hand-blown, no two ornaments are alike.

Many of you may already have one of these treasures in your collection. For those who don't, now is your chance. This is the first year that we have offered these ornaments online. They make great gifts for the holidays or a treat for yourself. If you are like Kathy, TRTP president, you hang them in front of a bright window for year round enjoyment!

Each one is $32 (+ $10 shipping) and comes in a gift box, ready for delivery to someone special. Each measures approximately 2 - 3" in diameter. Quantities are limited. Please email kathy@redthreadpromise.org if you would like to place an order. Please specify which style you would like in your email.

Proceeds from the sale will be used toward our various medical programs, benefitting children in China, Haiti and the United States. What better way to honor a loved one this holiday season?

2010 - Scarlet Orbs - SOLD OUT

2009 - Scarlet Fields Forever - 23 available

2008 - Scarlet Swirls - 3 available

2007 - Scarlet & White Drops - 25 available

(the blue is a reflection - spots are clear!)

2006 - Scarlet & Gold Flair - SOLD OUT

2005 - Scarlet Spiral - SOLD OUT

2004 - Scarlet & Green Wind - SOLD OUT

New Orleans youth takes philanthropy to heart

2011-11-15T10:14:00.000-05:00

Fr. Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent's, and Marigny, Hahnville High School senior

We trust by now you all know how much The Red Thread Promise values youth participation in our programs. One of our goals is to get young people involved in our work on a daily basis: youth helping youth, learning to value the lives of others as much as their own. In New Orleans, Marigny, a 12th grade student at Hahnville High School, has really taken this to heart.

As part of her requirement for graduation, Marigny must complete a senior project on a topic of her choice. Given her intent to make philanthropy a major part of her adult life, Marigny selected a philanthropic project that would benefit others in need. She chose to support The Red Thread Promise because she has seen its accomplishments firsthand. Her brother, Tom, is an active board member of The Red Thread and Camp Jake Director who has traveled to Haiti on missions trips several times over the past two years.

On December 2, 2011, Marigny is partnering with Modern Market* to co-host a fundraising event on behalf of hearing impaired children at St. Vincent’s in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. All funds raised will be used to purchase digital hearing aids for the children. The event will be held at Modern Market's location in the heart of the Lower Garden District from 6-9 PM.

As part of the celebration for its one-year anniversary, Modern Market will donate 10% of each sale on that day to The Red Thread Promise. Participants will enjoy wine and cookies as they shop and will view the raffle prizes in person.

$10 raffle tickets will be sold for 2 pieces of art by JoJo, the talented artist that we introduced you to back in February.
$5 raffle tickets will also be available for 4 unique pieces of Jewelry by Nelson + Little, a New Orleans based Jewelry collective that merges architecture & couture into one-of-a kind pieces.
The drawings will be held at 8:30 pm on December 2. Need not be present to win.
For those who would like to offer their support but are unable to be there in person, raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at both Modern Market and Tiger Town Gifts in New Orleans or through our PayPal option (top right of the blog). If purchasing through PayPal, please clearly state which raffle number(s) in the memo line (i.e. Raffle 1).

RAFFLE 1 ~ value $325

Vintage chain, labradorite stone with black crystal rhinestone chain by Nelson + Little

$5 per raffle ticket

RAFFLE 2 ~ value $275

Vintage black matte glass beads on oxidized chain of varying lengths by Nelson + Little

$5 per raffle ticket

RAFFLE 3 ~ value $250

Sliced agate pendant with asymmetrical jade bead by Nelson + Little

$5 per raffle ticket

RAFFLE 4 ~ value $175

Sterling silver roll chair with charms by Nelson + Little

$5 per raffle ticket

RAFFLE 5 ~ value $400

Original painting of Haiti's earthquake by JoJo (vertical)

$10 per raffle ticket

We are so excited to see this 18 year old enthusiastically supporting the hearing impaired children at St. Vincent's. For any local folks reading this blog, we encourage you to join us at Modern Market for this fun evening.

*Modern Market is a lifestyle boutique in the heart of the Lower Garden District that supports emerging product designers at affordable prices. Modern Market is located at 3138 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115.

Ready for Chinese winters

2011-11-13T22:57:00.001-05:00

With winter just around the corner, we are ramping up our fundraising efforts so we are ready to support our next special needs child in China as soon as he or she walks through that proverbial door.

Why is winter such a concern? Hand-in-hand with the harsh temperatures of November through March often comes pneumonia, one of the greatest health concerns for these already at-risk infants. The little ones that we serve already have severly compromised health when they are brought to our attention and become "Red Thread kids".

Babies with serious birth defects such as myelomeningocele (the most severe form of spina bifida when the spinal cord is exposed through an opening in the spine) and other critical conditions need surgery within days of birth. These procedures leave their tiny bodies weakened and extremely susceptible to pneumonia and other secondary complications that are often as life-threatening as the original abnormality.

We take winters in China seriously and make every effort to have the funds available so that when a child needs swift intervention, they can get the treatment necessary and are in an environment that keeps them warm and safe, thus reducing their risk of complications. When even one baby dies from a birth defect or complications from surgery, it is one too many.

With your help, we can and will be ready to tackle winter head-on and make a difference in as many children's lives as possible. Thank you for your support.

Occupy McKenna Farms (part 1)

2011-11-13T21:33:00.000-05:00

Eleven volunteers from Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio converged on McKenna Farms for a working weekend at the therapy center The Red Thread has supported through Jacob's Fund over the past several years. What a remarkable experience!

Within minutes of arrival, the team took a tour of the original residence that now houses the administrative offices, waiting room and multiple clinical therapy rooms. In the yard outside the waiting room is a playground and homey seating area against a beautiful wooded backdrop, a space enjoyed by siblings and parents as they wait for their child’s therapy to be complete.

The original farmhouse now used as office and therapy space

Outdoor waiting area and playground

McKenna Farms director, Jessie

While we toured, Jessie, the director, shared some interesting facts about the farm and gave us a rather indepth lesson on hippotherapy, therapeutic riding and how these forms of treatment greatly benefit people with disabilities. Several hours was devoted to these discussions so we’ll do our best to summarize what we learned.

McKenna Farms is a 150-year-old historic site northwest of Atlanta in Paulding County near the famous Pickett's Run battlefield. The original farmhouse was used as a Civil War hospital and later restored back to a residence. Jessie was able to purchase the property in 2006—naming it after her beloved horse, McKenna—and began the lengthy process of converting it into a therapy farm that has been growing steadily ever since.

Currently, the facility serves approximately 200 clients, aged birth through 21, with varying neurological and physical disabilities (including Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Autism, PDD, and various genetic disorders that cause developmental delays). Three occupational therapists, two physical therapists, one COTA (certified occupational therapist assistant), eight speech pathologists and 30 to 40 horse handlers provide hippotherapy, therapeutic riding and clinical therapy five days a week.

McKenna Farms has twelve full size therapy and four mini horses who occupy 15 acres. Many of their animals are rescues or have been acquired from people looking for a good home for a horse. All horses are hand selected by professionals since their work requires strong healthy animals that are able to carry unbalanced weight.

Some of the therapy horses

A 2,000 lb percheron appropriately named, TANK

Glenna getting up close and personal with STAR

One of the mini horses

This year, the farm was able to add an 80 x 120' indoor riding arena so children can continue their treatment with the horses year-round. The converted farmhouse includes multiple indoor therapy rooms with a variety of traditional therapy implements.

The new indoor riding arena

So exactly what is hippotherapy?

Derived from the Greek "hippos"—horse—hippotherapy literally means treatment or therapy with the aid of a horse. Not to be confused with riding lessons or therapeutic riding, hippotherapy is the process of administering physical, speech and occupational therapy to the patient by a trained therapist, utilizing the movements of a horse to directly influence the rider. Hippotherapy is best known to improve neurological function and sensory processing.

McKenna Farms patient during a therapeutic riding session

How does hippotherapy differ from therapeutic riding?

Therapeutic riding is often the next step when patients “graduate” from hippotherapy. It is a more independent style of riding that includes various therapeutic exercises and activities, allowing the rider more advanced physical, psychological and social development.

Therapeutic riding teaches riding skills to people with disabilities. Riders must learn to balance in the saddle, equally distribute their weight in each stirrup in order to sit properly during the horses' different gaits, and to use rein and leg aids correctly to communicate with the horse. Strength and endurance is gained by increasing the length of riding time and through the effective use of aides, i.e. hands, voice, legs and seat.

Therapeutic riding's greatest benefit is the gift of freedom. Riding is a freedom often taken for granted by able-bodied riders. To a person with a disability, it takes them from the confines of assorted assistive devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs. Riders become aware they can be mobile and independent of other people and mechanical aids: they are able to show their skills and abilities, leaving behind many of their personal limitations. This type of riding improves attention span and listening skills, enhancing the person's ability to integrate socially. A sense of pride can develop as horse skills increase, leading to greater self-esteem and self-confidence.

Now the more pressing question:

Why are these forms of treatment so effective?

Here are a few key factors that will help answer this question:

When a person sits on the back of a moving horse, human pelvic movements are duplicated naturally, without effort on the rider's part, a great benefit for a person who cannot walk. As riders adjust to the changes in the horse’s gait and stride (as well as the uneven ground), these distinct movements help the rider improve his or her strength, balance, coordination and muscle control, while improving posture, range of motion, and stimulating the vestibular nervous and circulatory systems. In addition, the patient improves their sensory integration and organization as well.
Hippotherapy and therapeutic riding are very efficient because all systems of the patient’s body can be engaged and "worked" simultaneously. For instance, all of the following activities are happening concurrently in a child’s body during a typical therapy session: the body is stabilizing itself on the horse; the ears are listening to the instructions from the therapist; the brain is processing, organizing and correctly recalling all instructions; the brain sends messages to the body to fulfill these instructions; the mouth forms the words necessary to guide the horse throughout the activity; and so on.
Unlike more traditional forms of therapy in a clinical setting, children don't realize how hard their muscles and senses are working during the therapy because they are enjoying their time on the horse. They often experience reduced levels of anxiety when coming to the farm as opposed to a therapist’s office.

After the team got up to speed on McKenna Farms' therapy services, we got down to work.

Sources: American Hippotherapy Association,The Saddle Delight Center, HATS Niagara

Excitement mounts for Camp Jake!

2011-11-01T23:37:00.000-04:00

Tom (left), Shawn (right) and Jake (center), namesake for Camp Jake

Trying to find the right words to describe last week's Camp Jake reception in New Orleans has proven to be considerably more difficult than anticipated! The event was more than a great evening, more than camaraderie, more than fun.

It was an emotional high!

Tom—Camp Jake director and Red Thread board member—and Shawn graciously hosted the event in their loft, a beautiful space that more than accommodated the 50+ people who came to show their support of The Red Thread Promise. Every detail was meticulously ironed out, from the tabletop clean-burning fireplace to the sea salt organic dark chocolate truffles to the rooftop space overlooking the brilliantly lit Superdome. A continuous loop of photographs from Haiti and St. Vincent's played in the media room while people mingled, ate and laughed. The vibe was a refreshing blend of sophistication and Southern hospitality with a modern twist.

While wonderful, all of these things aren't what made the evening so memorable. It was the people, gathered to meet our guest of honor, 14-year-old Jake Richard.

Even with the serious health challenges that his muscular dystrophy continually poses, his parents, René and Stephanie, drove him from Houston to New Orleans to spend the evening with us. What a dynamic and inspiring young man!

As Jake maneuvered his motorized wheelchair from the elevator into the loft, he certainly made a brilliant first impression. Having been apprised of his love for all things orange, he boldly sported the brightest orange sneakers in current history and an orange checkered button down shirt atop the first Camp Jake t-shirt with his name ablaze in—you guessed it—orange.

With impeccable manners, he greeted each new face, graciously answered everyone's questions and spent as much time as necessary with each guest. As we spoke with him, his positive outlook on life was apparent. He posed for photos for anyone wielding a camera and we were able to capture his signature smile time and time again with different guests.

After enjoying hors 'devours and mingling, Tom shared the brief story about the inspiration for Camp Jake. While attending a summer camp for children with muscular dystrophy with Jake years ago, Tom felt his heart begin to change. The experience was so profound that he embraced that change and, on New Year's Eve of the same year, decided to stop just writing checks to charities. He made a promise to himself to take a hands on approach to his philanthropy and never looked back. He and Jake shared a dream to provide a similar experience to other children with disabilities, specifically those who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

Following several mission trips to Haiti with The Red Thread, the students at St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children emerged as the perfect fit for the concept. Soon after, the idea had a name and a face: Camp Jake.

René, Jake's father, also shared a few words on his son's behalf. He told how, at a young age, Jake had been able to do nearly everything that his two older brothers could do: run, play, and all things "boy". As he grew, they knew that something wasn't right and Jake was eventually diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare and progressive disease that involves rapid degeneration of the muscles with a life expectancy in the late teens.

Tom, Stephanie (Jake's mother) and Jake

Jake's wish has always been to make a difference in the lives of other people who may have lost hope due to a disability. He has taken his wish to heart by working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a Goodwill Ambassador, attending fundraisers and media events, and being featured on the national MDA Telethon. He and his mother run 5k, 10k and half marathons together, evoking the spirit of their motto “Always look on the bright side of life.”

It is with this tenacious spirit that seven volunteer counselors will join 35 disabled orphans at St. Vincent's in January 2012, providing each child with an opportunity to wholly experience the motto that the camp's namesake, Jake Richard, lives by each day of his life.

This beautiful and inspirational evening will remain in our memory for years to come.

Hands-On at the Jacob Beachy Sensory Trail

2011-10-25T07:56:00.000-04:00

Since 2008, Jacob's Fund, the U.S. program of The Red Thread Promise, has been giving disabled kids hippotherapy at McKenna Farms in Dallas, Georgia. Now, on our first mission trip to the farm, we'll get physical with our efforts. Individuals and families will travel from several states to the farm in Georgia to work the weekend of November 4, 5, and 6.

The original farmhouse, which normally houses McKenna Farm's offices and therapy rooms, will be transformed again, this time into temporary sleeping quarters for the individuals and families who'll mend broken fences and care for the Jacob Beachy Sensory Trail.

Part of the sensory trail

This sensory trail consists of multiple stations, each of which stimulates one of the child's senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Children ride their therapy horses from one station to the next around the circuit, interacting with brightly colored shapes, chimes, natural textures, and other stimuli.

During our visit, we'll begin planning a future mission blitz: erecting a viewing room along one end of the covered arena. The viewing room will be equipped with a one-way window that will allow parents to observe their child while undergoing hippotherapy, avoiding any distractions that may interfere with the child's session. The Red Thread Promise recently donated the funds so that the foundation for the room can be poured in preparation for the building project. McKenna Farms is actively raising the additional capital needed to purchase the supplies that our team will need to complete the structure, which is targeted for spring 2012.

Ready for winter!

2011-10-24T21:25:00.000-04:00

With winter just around the corner, we are ramping up our fundraising efforts so we are ready to support our next special needs child in China as soon as he or she "walks" through that proverbial door.

With your help, we can and will be ready to tackle winter head-on and make a difference in as many children's lives as possible. Thank you for your support.

Providing fresh water

2011-10-19T17:10:00.000-04:00

During our many visits to Haiti since 2009, we have taken a long, hard look at some basic necessities that, while abundant in many parts of the world, are at a premium in Haiti. One of those critical necessities is potable water.

Potable water is pure enough to drink with a low risk of harm, both immediate and long-term. In Haiti, thousands upon thousands of people have inadequate access to potable water. Water sources are often severly contaminated, as most recently demonstrated in the cholera outbreak which plagues the country to this day. (For the latest in the cholera epidemic, please see this article published yesterday.)

A similar water filtration system in Haiti

The Red Thread Promise is working with several other agencies to install a large water filtration system at St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children in downtown Port-au-Prince. Those agencies include Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, Friends of St. Vincent's, Rotary Club of Lunenburg and West Tennessee Haiti Partnership. As you know from our many posts, St. Vincent's serves children with a variety of disabilities (including hearing impairment, sight impairment, loss of limbs, etc), providing an education, medical services and home for students and orphans in their care. During the months at the height of the cholera epidemic, the Center's Director had to make critical choices with St. Vincent's limited funds: provide a meal or fresh water for the students. Naturally, water was the choice. Students went with little to no food for some time as funds were constantly being used to purchase expensive clean water.

Working together, our team is currently fundraising and planning for the installation of a water filtration system so that the Center's Director no longer has to make this critical choice. Once in place, a constant source of potable water will be available for the Center, staff and students. Extra water will be sold to the public for a nominal fee in order to generate enough income for the filtration system to be self-sustaining. Routine maintenance will keep the filtration system in operating condition constantly so no child has to go without water.

Thank you for your supporting The Red Thread's efforts to provide clean drinking water to orphans and students at St. Vincent's as well as the people in the surrounding area.

First ATW to Nicaragua!

2011-10-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read the title correctly. We have sent our first wheelchair to Nicaragua.

Juan, a librarian in El Lagartillo, Nicaragua

In the community of El Lagartillo, Achuapa, lives a 42 year old man named Juan, who spends his days in a wheelchair as a result of a congenital birth defect. He has overcome many challenges in his life. He lives in a rustic mountain community with no paved roads, a challenge even for those with two strong legs. The majority of transportation is by foot, horse, ox cart, bicycle and rural bus one half mile away. Community members share a single truck for special events and emergencies.

Old ...

... and new!

Juan sporting his new ATW

An attack by contras in 1984 killed six people in his village, including his uncle, cousin and two school friends. Juan survived the brutal onslaught hidden in a trench, and many others were able to escape thanks to the bravery of the villagers who stayed to defend the community.

Juan is a member of a local community association, Hijos del Maiz, and recently became a librarian in El Lagartillo. He is considered an oral historian of the community due to his remarkable ability to remember events and conversations with accuracy and great detail. He keeps up with international news and listens to daily radio broadcasts.

Test driving the chair in daily living spaces

The Red Thread Promise is proud to partner with a small non-profit—Acción Esperanza / Partnership for Hope (based in Ashland, Oregon)—to provide Juan with a hearty wheelchair that could navigate the rugged dirt roads and paths, replacing the mountain of hand-me-down wheelchairs that he has received in the past.

A single ATW was hand-carried from the states to Nicaragua by representatives from Partnership for Hope who have known and worked with Juan and his community for the past 25 years. We were thrilled to see the smile on his face and hope that this chair serves him well for years to come.

New All Terrain Wheelchair video

2011-10-08T20:38:00.000-04:00

Remember those beautiful bright red All Terrain Wheelchairs that we delivered in June / July, 2011? We've put together a video that tells a bit of the story and shows some of the distribution.

For more details about the assembly and distribution of the chairs, check out:

Back in Haiti again (June 2011)

The gift of mobility (July 2011)

Please share this link with friends and family and let them know what The Red Thread Promise is doing in Haiti and other countries!

Camp Jake approaching fast!

2011-10-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

“Fast and furious” adequately sums up Camp Jake Director Tom’s trip to Haiti last week. Not unlike our wheelchair assembly and distribution in June / July 2011, he arrived on Saturday afternoon and left on Tuesday morning, packing in numerous meetings in and around Port-au-Prince. Considering the first and last days were exclusively for travel, in the remaining two days Tom was able to finalize many details in preparation for the first session of Camp Jake and we'd like to share some of the highlights with you.

One day was spent visiting Kaliko Beach, the location for the first camp. The hotel has managed to capture some of the former beauty of Haiti, known as the “Pearl of the Carribbean” in the 15th and 16th centuries. Beautiful rocky beaches, blue water, and palm trees create an ambiance that one would think impossible only 1.5 hours away from the dusty, trash-strewn streets of the capital city. What a beautiful change this will be for the students!

The view from the hotel where Camp Jake will be held

At the hotel, Tom secured the sleeping quarters for all campers, counselors and St. Vincent’s staff as well as the other facilities that we will be utilizing for our programs. He evaluated areas for wheelchair accessibility and ensured that the grounds are well secured. Different areas of the facility were mapped out to house various activities for the campers based on their individual abilities and strengths.

St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children

Many hours were spent with Fr. Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent’s, discussing the list of attending children and their physical challenges, transportation to and from the beach and other logistics. Conversation covered camp activities, that will include sports, creative arts and social experiences. We are thrilled that Fr. Sadoni shares The Red Thread’s excitement for the camp. He has been most gracious to us, giving us his time and any assistance we need in cementing the final plans for Camp Jake.

Physicians for Peace

Tom was also able to meet with Mary K from Physicians for Peace who was also in Haiti visiting St. Vincent’s at the same time (small world!). They spoke at length about the upcoming camp as well as The Red Thread’s long-term vision for Camp Jake, which includes extending the camp’s reach beyond fun and recreation to incorporate vocational training into the programming. We look forward to years of partnering with this great organization!

Reconstruction

Last, but not least, Tom was able to spend time with Mike, a long-time friend of St. Vincent’s and veteran of providing assistance in Haiti. They reviewed preliminary drawings for the rebuilding of St. Vincent’s and discussed the challenges of the project, including utilizing better quality materials as well as providing a more accessible space to better accommodate the children and their various physical handicaps. We are blessed to be a part of this process.

All-in-all, it was a great trip, successful on so many levels. We are excited to offer these exceptional students a new experience in another part of their home country. January 2012 is right around the corner!

The Red Thread receives $21,000 from Physicians For Peace

2011-09-08T14:49:00.000-04:00

We are ecstatic to share the following news about our partnership with Physicians for Peace and their support for Camp Jake!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathy Korge Albergate

The Red Thread Promise

Kathy@redthreadpromise.org

817.320.6522

Summer Camp Gives Haitian Children

the Chance to Play, Learn and Heal 

Camp will serve orphans with disabilities from Port-au-Prince

New Orleans, LA – Sept. 8, 2011 – During a unique camp this January, dozens of Haitian children with disabilities will play, explore and receive proper care for their physical and emotional needs, thanks to the collaborative efforts of a group of nonprofits based in the U.S. and Haiti.

The Red Thread Promise was recently awarded $21,000 by Physicians for Peace and ChildFund to support Camp Jake Richard, a camp for orphans from St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince. The camp removes physical and emotional barriers, giving participating children the chance to engage in creative arts, as well as physical and social activities under the supervision of a team of volunteer counselors, artists, musicians, mentors and healthcare professionals.

"The concept for Camp Jake was inspired by my 13-year-old nephew, Jacob Richard, who suffers from Duschesne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative terminal illness,” said Tom Landry II, director of Camp Jake and a member of The Red Thread board. “Our camp will bring Jacob's selfless, energetic spirit to the orphaned children of St. Vincent's. We believe every child deserves the most life has to offer, regardless of disability, class, race or circumstance. Camp Jake will assure that physical limitations are left behind and replaced with endless opportunities for emotional and physical development in a fun-filled atmosphere."

More than 30 children are expected to participate in the camp, which is scheduled to run Jan. 3-8,2012, in Kaliko Beach, about 1.5 hours north of Port-au-Prince.

“Physicians for Peace is thrilled to work with our partners to ensure that these children receive the care and fun-filled experience they deserve and need to lead healthier, happier lives,” said Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.). “Camp Jake Richard will be a life-changing experience.”

Read more about The Red Thread Promise’s work in Haiti at http://redthreadpromise.org/, keyword: Haiti.

ABOUT THE RED THREAD PROMISE 

The Red Thread Promise (TRTP) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide hope and healing for needy and orphaned children—children who have no one to advocate for them and cannot advocate for themselves. Our program exists to improve the quality of life for these children. We provide them with the treatment they need so that they can each lead a life with dignity, health and hope. Find us online at www.redthreadpromise.org. Follow us on Facebook: The Red Thread Promise or on Twitter: Red Thread Promise.

###

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

2011-08-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

Well, not quite... But breakfast with Physicians for Peace was, in our opinion, much better!

TRTP Vice President, Sonya, met with Mary K and Mary W from Physicians for Peace (PFP) on Wednesday morning in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, at a cafe around the corner from PFP’s home office. Over sausage and eggs, the three shared information about their respective organizations and their various global projects. However, much of the conversation landed on the work of both groups in Haiti and the inaugural Camp Jake this coming winter.

Mary W (Physicians for Peace Public Relations & Communications Manager),

Sonya (TRTP Vice President) and Mary K (Physicians for Peace

Senior Director, Global Health Programs)

During the discussion, it didn't take long to identify the shared vision and philosophy between The Red Thread Promise and Physicians for Peace. Both organizations value building relationships with their in-country partners and those they serve, getting to know the people and culture in their respective work areas. They each work hand-in-hand to provide education to local professionals, ensuring that host country healthcare professionals and others can continue the work long after the volunteer teams have gone. Both respect the cultures in which they work and only provide services and supplies that align with the needs and requests of their in-country partners.

As these similarities were laid on the table, it was clear to see that this is the beginning of a fruitful partnership. We are so thankful for the opportunity to meet these ladies and get a better understanding of Physicians for Peace.

Hundreds, probably thousands, of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are currently working in Haiti. The more we can team together to provide exceptional care in an efficient manner, pulling our resources (whether financial, medical or educational in nature), the more we can help Haitians help themselves.

If there are others that would like to have Breakfast with The Red Thread Promise to share ideas and build relationships, please let us know!

Vote for us!

2011-08-10T15:15:00.001-04:00

For those of our blog readers who don't follow us on Facebook, we encourage you to do so! That is simply the best way to get up to the minute news on The Red Thread Promise's work.

That being said, the blog is a few hours behind Facebook in sharing some GREAT news.

Recently, we entered some photographs from our May/June trip to Haiti into several international photo contests. We received word yesterday that we are one of 75 finalists in a contest sponsored by GlobalGiving.org!

Our category, GIVE SUPPORT, has 15 photos. All photos listed in this category are from projects focused on micro-finance, humanitarian assistance and children.

Voting began today at noon EST (August 10) and ends at noon EST on August 17. Winners will be announced August 19.

You can vote by first liking the GlobalGiving Facebook page and then clicking “Like” under each photo you want to vote for. Of course, we'd love it if you would vote for our photograph of JoJo (pictured at left), who you've met previously in many blog posts (see links below for additional info on JoJo).

You can only vote for each photo once. The winning photo from each category will be be featured on the GlobalGiving homepage and GlobalGiving social media. One overall winner will be awarded $1000!

Please help The Red Thread Promise extend its work by voting today! Consider sharing this link with your family and friends as well. It is a great way to generate interest for our programs and the prize money would go directly to our programs. A quick, easy and FREE way to show your support.

Thank you!

~ The Red Thread Team

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 4

2011-08-10T02:53:00.000-04:00

What’s it like when you show up at the orphanage right before feeding time? You roll up your sleeves, grab a bowl of noodles and begin feeding the hungry birds! The babies were lined up in a row, buckled into high chairs, swings and bouncy seats, waiting, every eye on the adults with the food. Some were quiet while others were vocal and demanding. Spoonful after spoonful, wiping food off of tiny chins, one after the other. While we fed the youngest ones, the older kids showed us their skills with a fork and bowl of noodles. What a blessing to be a part of that day!

The "hungry birds"

Waiting patiently

Kathy's turn to feed a little one

Old enough to feed themselves

Enjoying lunch

All smiles

Camp Jake update

2011-08-04T09:39:00.000-04:00

Over the last few months, we have been blogging with excitement about the creation of The Red Thread Promise’s Camp Jake, a unique and wonderful retreat for the orphans at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Our camp director, Tom, and volunteers have spent an amazing amount of time and energy planning, fundraising and recruiting volunteers to make this an incredibly memorable experience for the 33 kids who will attend.

Sometimes, the best laid plans get detoured. The planning, fundraising and excitement for Camp Jake continue at a remarkable pace, however the inaugural Camp will now be held in December 2011 instead of August as anticipated.

In addition to negotiating a maze of red tape, our camp director has received news that some close family members have serious health issues that must be given his complete attention. And so, in the last few days, we have come to understand the need to delay opening the Camp for a few months. The decision was difficult, but it is imperative to The Red Thread Promise Board of Trustees and everyone involved, that Camp Jake be a resounding success.

While December seems far away, it is only a few short months that will be filled with additional planning and fundraising, collecting supplies, firming up volunteers, booking flights, securing hotels and so on. We plan to deliver the best possible camp to these extraordinary children who deserve only the best!

We are so grateful to everyone’s hard work and hope you will understand and not be discouraged by this slight delay. Please continue your efforts to make Camp Jake the most wonderful experience for the kids of Haiti!

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 3

2011-07-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

On one occasion in February, we ventured out for a walk around Tabarre with an American who spent over nine years in Haiti. Fluent in Kreyol and everything Haitian, Joe gave us our first opportunity to shop in an open-air market and eat our first street food: lambi (raw conch). The vendor carried a large white paint bucket from which he scooped the raw sea snail into a plastic cup for us. He drenched the lambi in hot sauce, handed us some toothpicks and we tentatively tasted it. Not bad!

Sonya and Joe sharing a cup of lambi

Be prepared to share your space with lizards and many other 4, 6 and 8-legged creatures no matter where you are in Haiti. We have yet to identify some of the creatures that shared our beds at the guesthouse during the night and, frankly, we would not like to visit them again. It has become a running joke to see who among us is the “tastiest”!

Hana enjoying the advances of a very young man!

Does blonde hair attract attention? Absolutely. The tiny fingers of the babies and toddlers at the orphanage wrap around the light strands and run their fingers through it. People walking past on the street and stare. Young men blow kisses while some even work up the nerve to greet a “blanc” teenage girl and ask if she has a boyfriend (while simultaneously refusing to make eye contact with her mother standing by her side...!). A dark bandana or hat helps thwart such attention.

Nuggets from Haiti - 2011, part 2

2011-07-31T17:47:00.000-04:00

A treasured memory is from a visit to the dormitory for St. Vincent’s youngest residents while lunch was served. Those able to reach the table on their own sat down and began to eat while the non-ambulatory kids were fed in their wheelchairs. After Yolen finished eating and the worker cleaned up, Sonya took a wet wipe from her bag and began to clean Yolen’s mouth of excess rice.

Diana eating in her wheelchair

Lunchtime, eating beans and rice, a Haitian staple

Yolen

One of the deaf boys noticed, came over, and pointed to the wipes. Thinking she understood, Sonya pulled one out and tried to give it to him only to be refused. He simply pointed to his mouth and pointed his chin toward her, wordlessly requesting that his mouth be wiped too. This began a chain reaction of face wiping for every child in the dorm!

Everyone "needed" a wipe!

Good for wiping all parts of the face!

Everyone wanted their photo taken with a wipe.

Poses were struck! Smiles abounded!

It was wonderful to be able to provide this very simple pleasure for these sweet children but equally heartbreaking to know how much each child craves a mother’s touch even in the most practical ways. It is due to these types of experiences that we spend as much time with the children as possible when we visit, offering these moments that both the kids and our team cherish for a lifetime.

Why Haiti?

2011-07-24T16:30:00.001-04:00

Ariel of Haiti not long after take-off from Port-au-Prince

(While we usually write our posts from the perspective of our group as a whole, this one comes directly from TRTP Vice President, Sonya. This was written on her flight out of Haiti on her last trip at the beginning of July, 2011.)

With the last peak of the Haitian mountains barely visible from my window, my heart is heavy as I leave this little island in the Caribbean. The clouds break momentarily and the winding dirt roads through the twisting mountains become visible for a few precious seconds. My typing stops, my eyes close and I silently wish my plane were bound for Haiti, not departing.

People ask why I work in Haiti—why my eyes sparkle when I share about my experiences there. A single clear answer to such a complex question is difficult to give.

But of this I am certain: it is truly the people that draw me back, that red thread of destiny that connects me to them and them to me.

These are my brothers and sisters, my extended family. Just as I spend time with my friends and family in the states, there is an increasing urge to do the same in Haiti. And just as I would help my family if they were in need, I want to do the same for these beautiful people. Even though my skin is a different color, I feel as though I belong there.

Possibly the best answer to the question “why Haiti?” is given by offering an invitation: come with us sometime.

Volunteer.

Experience life in Haiti.

Meet people.

Word side-by-side.

Get to really know them, not just on the surface.

Laugh, cry and everything in between.

Build lifelong relationships.

When that first child reaches for your hand or asks when you are coming back…

When people recognize you as you walk through the gate…

When you go from person to person, hugging and kissing brown cheeks…

Then maybe, just maybe, you’ll know my answer to that question.

It is a feeling, too strong for words, too difficult to explain.

As my personal monologue comes to a close, we have traveled far from Hispanola. Visible now is the beautiful coastline of another island. The beach is white and the water next to the coast an inviting light blue green, stretching out into a deep blue. It is unmarred by trash, debris and the telltale blue tarps of makeshift tents, truly the stereotypical tropical paradise.

While gorgeous, it isn’t nearly as beautiful as Haiti in my eyes. And I cannot wait to go back again.