So many stories
It seems petty to write about anything else with all that's going on in Haiti. Amid the thousands of news reports and stories, I stumbled upon the following story that has stuck with me.
It's about a group of orphans and their American caregivers. The orphans were on the verge of being adopted.
And then the earthquake struck.
What happened next is best told by Pittsburg blogger Virginia Montanez, who through her blog That's Church, has been organizing what has turned into a global effort to help the orphans and their caregivers.
"Jamie McMutrie, 30 and her sister Ali McMutrie, 21, are Americans that run the BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti," she writes.
"Their orphanage is crumbling down. They have 150 children to feed and no water or food. They are sleeping in their yard. They do not feel safe and they will not abandon the children."
The caregivers could have sought protection through the U.S. Embassy. But they refuse to leave the children.
"I want to make sure evryone understands," wrote Jamie McMutrie, from a borrowed Blackberry, "we cant stay in haiti and the kids will not live if they stay. Riots will start within two days."
A Facebook page, "Let's Help Get Them Out of Haiti," also has been created to spread word, especially to politicians and others who can help. Right now, a plane large enough to fly the entire group out of Haiti is sought.
I don't know the women personally or any of the families awaiting word on the children they had hoped to adopt. But this story likely touches anyone who's ever worried about a child, loved a child or anyone, really.
It certainly puts the day's worries into perspective and makes you want to hug your kids a little tighter.
As already published in the newspaper, here are a couple general ways to help in Haiti:
• InterAction is a coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations and has a Web site with a list of agencies responding to Haiti and how to donate to them. www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.
• Or donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. Donations also are being accepted through its International Response Fund. For details, see www.redcross.org.
