notes from Haiti

from Eva Lathrop, MD, MPH:

Dear all of you,

It is hard to describe what a joy it has been to see the love through work of women around the world, in the name of helping women in Haiti and their children survive.  It is such a thrill to watch the faces of traditional birth attendants and laboring women when they see the beautiful gift of a hat for their new baby – they know it will help their baby survive, they know it was made with love, and they know that perhaps, this is the only gift their baby will receive.  It is the generosity of spirit and the kinship of women that is making this project succeed.  Neonatal mortality in Haiti remains high, and one of the causes is newborn hypothermia.  Prevention is often set at a low priority, given the overwhelming burden of other complications and diseases, and through this program primary prevention of neonatal hypothermia can be prioritized and emphasized among women and attendants.  Lives will be saved through your love and kindness, and mothers in Cap Haitien know it…Please continue to stay involved in the lives of the women and children of Cap Haitien by continuing this beautiful work, joining our email blast, or contributing directly to Konbit Sante!

and from Dr. Telemaque in Cap Haitien, Haiti:
 
In the name of all of  the expectant mothers I want to say THANK YOU to the donors of the caps for the babies. They received them like an early Christmas gift. They will never understand how great is that generous gesture. I am deeply touched to know  somewhere in the world, someone is thinking of those poor babies. Thank you, Dr. Telemaque

Konbit Sante - Cap Haitien Health Partnership

Comments

[Jennie C.]

What a wonderful marvellous thing you and your team of sewers around the continent (world?) have done. I can't wait for the next project.

[Holly]

This is beautiful. The letters brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing them.

[grace]

Amanda, thanks for printing this letter for us to read. Heart warming. I loved making the little caps and was glad to get my mother in law participating. Thanks for you hard work and all the hard work of your little hat counters - sounds like the babies are enjoying the caps. Still cannot believe how many were sewn, can you?

[Norma]

I was just here yesterday to see if there was any new projects. Glad to see the update and very happy that it was so successful. Take care.

[Sarah]

Lovely letters. I was glad to read an update. That project took up a lot of my heart, mind, and time last fall. I look forward to the next one.

[Yvonne]

Fantastic work to everyone that helped, and to you Amanda and your family for so much time and love you put into making this beautiful gift of life for those mothers.

[Sadie]

So.... is it time to do this again?? :)

[Brittany]

I see from other comments that I am not the only one for whom this posting brought tears to my eyes. The turn of phrase used, "kinship of women", particularly grabbed me and in my mind captures what this great Mama to Mama venture is all about.

[Emily P.]

I had such a great time working on this hat project with my family last Thanksgiving that we are doing it again! I plan to mail them directly to Konbit Sante, along with receiving blankets and cloth diapers. Even the naysayers from last year who disputed the fact that babies in a tropical region need hats (and were then quickly corrected :) were eager to donate their t-shirts and linens to this year's project. Researching the charity, working together on black friday and seeing the tiny hats on those sweet newborn heads was enough to change their minds (for good, I hope). I know there are others here who are ready to jump into this wonderful project again with me this year and I hope you will send yours along to Konbit Sante, too. Thank you so much for the instruction and inspiration, Amanda! You have made this a family tradition in our house and I'm hoping in others too.

[Rachelle Gauthier]

This is enlightening. It warms my heart to read about these extraordinary things that you've been doing. I am half Haitian and am involved in several Haitian projects. Thank you for caring enough about this small country to make a big difference.

[Sharon]

Hello, just found out about your project, lovely and so needed I am sure especially now.
Is it possible to knit cotton caps?
Please let me know, have lots of cotton yarn available.
Thank you.

[grow taller 4 idiots]

This is beautiful. The letters brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing them.