Another Message from the Executive Director of Project Medishare

Dear Friends of Project Medishare,

Family members carried Evans Monsigrace into Project Medishare and University of Miami's Global Institute Hospital in Port-au-Prince Monday night after being pulled from the rubble 27 days after the earthquake. The 28-year-old has been selling rice when the quake destroyed the market where he was working. For four weeks he was trapped in a void of rubble. A large boulder, his only obstacle to freedom. Although trapped, Evans was able to move and gain access to minimal amounts of food and water helping him patiently wait for hopes of rescue.

He arrived at our trauma facility bone-thin and dehydrated, but after a night of fluids and care from the Project Medishare volunteers, he remains in stable condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Evans' story mirrors that of the hope and resilience of the Haitian people, but also demonstrates the ongoing need to continue our relief efforts to those traumatically affected by the January 12 earthquake. Television cameras are beginning to turn their lenses elsewhere, however there is still so much to be done.

Last week, volunteer medical teams lacked an incubator after delivering a premature baby by C-section, but came up with a ingenious warming solution by using MREs to warm the baby. The military's Meals-Ready-to-Eat come with flameless heaters that use a simple chemical reaction to warm food. Project Medishare's volunteer medical team from the University of Miami continue to work creatively like this to provide the best care possible to these earthquake victims, but appropriate equipment and supplies are still needed.

Haiti's Communications Minister, Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue, reported yesterday the death toll from the quake has risen to 230,000. Haiti's Prime Minister reported over 300,000 are still in need of medical attention and over a million are homeless in the capital city.

Smaller clinics who were set up in the earlier days to provide acute care are now closing and referring their patients to other clinics like ours. As promised, we will continue to care for the Haitian people still affected by this humbling tragedy.

We still need funding to continue our efforts and prepare our hospital for the rainy season which is steadfastly approaching. If you have already given, we again thank you for your support. If you can do more, we ask for you to do so at this time.

In solidarity,
Ellen Powers, MPH
Executive Director

Cleveland Area Fundraisers

Help Haiti: Young Professionals Cocktail Event
This Friday, February 12, from 5:30-8:30pm at BarRoom/Cadillac Ranch (200 Euclid Ave), The Graduate Business Student Association of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University is holding a cocktail event to raise funds for MedWish International, a Cleveland-based non-profit. The event aims to unite young professionals of Cleveland to discuss further opportunities to engage in Haiti relief and rebuilding efforts. The event will include free appetizers and drink specials. They are asking for a $10 minimum donation.
For more information, click here or check our their event on Facebook.

Cleveland Hopkins Airport
Cleveland Hopkins Airport is partnering with MedWish International to take donations for Haiti relief. Donations of antibiotic ointment, bandages, rolled gauze, ace bandages, and other supplies will be accepted through Friday between 6am and 9pm. Donation bins will be at the north, center, and south ends of the ticketing level and on baggage claim at the Welcome Center.

Hawken for Haiti
Hawken School in Lyndhurst and Gates Mills has launched a school-wide initiative to support victims of the earthquake, with all funds being donated to MedWish International and Partners in Health, which was co-founded by Todd McCormack, class of '78. To read more about what Hawken has been doing, please click here.

Cleveland Jewish Community
The Jewish Community Federation, Mt. Zion Congregational Church in University Circle, and Star of David BBG have been supporting the relief efforts. To read more about what they have been doing, please click here.

Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA)
Students at the Cleveland Institute of Art are designing creative ways to help raise disaster relief funds. To read more, please click here and continue to check back with their blog for updates.