Rainbow Families Foundation Newsletter - July 2003

July 2003

I am well and have a extra boost of energy. The past 3 days have made all this work worth the hard and grueling effort. The fund raising campaign has been very, very difficult in a country that is so poor, however, the dividends of joy cannot be bought with money. Jose Antonio continues to improve. The radiography test was performed on Thursday and the barium passed through his esophogas. Thursday he drank milk and orange juice for the first time in about 15 months. Friday he had creamed soup and was so looking forward to eating smashed potatoes today. The excitement and joy from him and his mother has made this long journey something to never forget. He is so precious. One of the people that helps me asked why don't I take him. I see that he is the favorite of his mother and father and the other four children seem to be like step-children. I hope that changes when Jose Antonio is healthy and not attached to his mother's hip anymore. I think I told you that the little sister cries when the mother tries to take her. She is cared for by the 8-year old sister. Jose Antonio's mother kept telling him that I am his second mother. I asked that she please not say this to him. When she would say this he would look at me with such deep thought in his eyes. He is only 3 years old and I don't want to confuse him to think that I will always be here for him. She is young and uneducated and I am sure she doesn't understand. I took time yesterday to visit some of the people, businesses and politicans who donated money and update them on Jose Antonio's progress. I was so caught up in emotion that each time I would start crying tears of happiness. I wanted the people to know that Jose Antonio would not have been able to have this operation if it wasn't for their generosity. When I would show the people that their contribution was deposited in the bank they did not even want to see the passbook. They have total faith and confidence in me. Several of them said that I saved his life. I feel that I was only the vehicle that enabled the surgery to happen. It was the good work of the doctor that saved his life. Unfortunately we are still lacking about $1,000 before converting to pesos. I would like to leave enough money in the account for Corina to disburse to Jose Antonio's mother so she can continue the follow-up visits, medical tests, motorconcho, public car, bus, meals, etc. to go to Santo Domingo and then taxi to get around in Santo Domingo for the next 10-12 months. We have come so far, I don't want this to end in a tragedy because she didn't have the money to continue treatment. The meeting with city hall was postponed until Monday. It is on their agenda to approve a donation. Wish me luck. I have learned some other contacts that I must make. Some people simply just don't care when I explain the situation. We'll see what happens. Corina's 62nd birthday was Thursday the 13th and I was just passing making a quick stop at her house and they invited me for her surprise party. The daughters-in-law prepared a wonderful luncheon with a huge cake. Lunch is the big meal of the day and the food was delicious. She tells everybody that I am her daughter and her kids are my brothers and sisters. She is a very special woman, always giving of herself and asking for nothing. I had the opportunity to go with a Dominican friend to Santiago to spend a few days. Her elderly aunt lives in the countryside and her second cousin was in an accident in the public bus. Her left leg was nearly severed. I still have some crutches at Corrina's and was able to bring her a pair of crutches when she is strong enough to walk again (is possible). Her 12 year old daughter has taken over washing the clothes and helping the grandmother with cooking and cleaning. They live at the end of a dirt road with beautiful fruit trees of all kinds. The dirt path then leads to other shacks. The family is as poor as poor can get here. They have an outside toilet, no water in the house, dirt floors. The kitchen is a hut in the back of the living house like we saw in Barrabas. The water is from the cistern (rain water). I was able to help with cooking in the primitive kitchen and washing clothes in tubs in the back yard. It was quite an experience. I was hesitant to eat the food that was prepared with the rain water but fortunately I did not have any problems after the fact. Jose Antonio is doing better as time progresses. We had a checkup in Santo Domingo last week and the doctor ordered blood tests. I have to email the results to the doctor rather than making a trip there. If Dr. Bonet needs to see him again then we will go. From the results as I understand, his iron and blood levels are low. Perhaps he will need some vitamins or oral treatments. His family is very grateful and look to me as a saint. A friend of a friend of the Polanco's asked to meet with me to speak about a girl 11 years old who needs an operation. She was born without a butt. She does not have a father and the mother cannot work because the child needs 24 hour attention. The older daughter works to support the family with miniscule pay. I told the man I could not make any promises but would make some contacts. I know of another case where a baby girl was born the same way and a family in U.S. sponsored the mother and child to come there for surgery. I think it was in Baltimore. I need to investigate more. When I email to Dr. Bonet (the little boy's doctor) I want to ask if this can be done here but I think not. I will email more details as I learn them in the next couple days. I need Jacobo to help me investigate a few things. I cannot spend much time on this though because I want to come home very soon. The weather has been very dry here but the past few days have been very humid and windy. The fruit trees have not been producing much fruit. Finally yesterday we got rain. The peso continues to climb and things here are very difficult for the people. The electricity is a constant problem, everyday se fue (goes away). Time has gone by so fast I cannot believe it. I did not forget on the date. I tried to send an email but the electricity was off. Sounds like Christopher has taken over my job. Glad he is adjusting well. He'll be in for a shock if he is still there in the winter when the snow falls. Glad to hear business is going well for you. You really have a niche for what you do to help our country. I am very proud of you and I am sure the management continues to be pleased with your performance. They are lucky to have you. Being here and meeting people from so many different countries, I am proud to be an American. Jacobo got a job at a hotel west of Puerto Plata. Don't know the name. I will see him and the family tonight. All of them are well. He received settlement from the hotel he worked at before we met him so he was living off that money. Corrina and Andres have gone to Italy to visit their daughter. Their daughter is paying for everything. Jose Antonio's mother lost the baby when she was sick with cysts on her ovaries and kidney infection. Jacobo and I are working with Dr. Nunez to get her scheduled for surgery so she cannot get pregnant again. Strange to say but I think she was relieved in a way that she lost the baby. Red eye has been going around here with many of the people. I hope I do not get it. The son in law of one of my friends is here from Canada. They rushed him to the clinic because it felt a worm of some kind was inbedded in his foot and slowly crawling. Sounds creepy doesn't it. I haven't seen them again since to learn what happened. I saw this morning that a Hurricane is near Jamaica, possibly the reason for rain and high winds yesterday. Today is very humid and overcast. Hopefully it will continue to rain more. Also saw in the news that the Iranian Siamese twins died. I was so surprised because I felt sure they would not have severe complications with today's technology, even though they shared one major artery to the brain. Very unfortunate. My plan is to investigate what I can do in little time to help the ll year old girl who needs surgery. Also, finish with the last appointment we had with Jose Antonio's surgeon. The mother will have to learn to take the bus to Santo Domingo and continue the appointments with Jose Antonio on her own. I plan to return home very soon since my money is nearly depleted. When we last visited Jose Antonio's family he picked chinola fruit and a pineapple and told his mother that "these are for Patricia". When we were went to Santo Dominigo last he was so affectionate and hugged me so much. Then he latched onto Dr. Bonet and hugged him so much too. It's like he knows, at only 3 years old, that his life was saved. Dr. Bonet and I were so touched by this. Dr. Bonet is about 60 years old with a lot of years as a surgeon and professor in the university. It is odd to me that a man with so much experience would still be so sensitive to his patients.