Posts in General Update

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2 Weeks and Counting to Haiti 2017 (1st Edition)

We just had a very successful packing party with more medications than I think we have ever loaded up. We got to meet 4 of our new members – Emma, Bethanie, Carla and Michael and we reunited with a returning member- Sarah G. For those wondering, her foot has fully healed and she is ready to go!! Some familiar faces were present too – Jenny, Carey, Lindsay and Melila. We cannot wait to reunite with Rachel B. for this trip – it has been too too long. We have another new member in Charlottesville – Sarah B., who will be packing with Kiki this week and I’m sure Kiki will have her ready to go like a seasoned veteran before they ever leave “Wahooville”. Chelsea, in the “Great White Northeast”, will be getting her supplies loaded up as usual and we will meet her in Miami. Kitty and Tom had grandbaby duty this weekend, but as usual Kitty is attempting to load a shipping container’s worth of supplies into 4-6 large duffel bags….my money is on “Big Chief Black Cloud”. Read More

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Exciting Times for our Project

I am thrilled to report that last night we had a very exciting Skype call with our friends Steve and Scott in Buffalo, NY. They recently returned from their trip to Ile a Vache, having surveyed the properties we looked at in March…and we are in agreement on the location. They presented an initial plan for the clinic and the upstairs guesthouse and will be creating a more formal architectural rendering once the plan has been tweaked just a bit more to accommodate the most important needs. Read More

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Team 2016 – Ready for Action

My regrets for the long hiatus between posts.  Rest assured, we have been working hard towards our goal and are now ready to report on our progress.  This coming March, we will be taking a new journey and exploring previously uncharted territory for our group.  In fact we will be going by land, air and sea and will be expanding our network yet again.  From our last trip’s blog entries, it should come as no surprise that the purpose of our upcoming journey is to perform the necessary fact-finding duties and due diligence as we seek to establish a more permanent and sustainable medical presence where it is needed most.

To that end, our good friend Vanessa Carpenter at Angel Missions Haiti helped connect us with Mrs. Nora Leon with the Caribbean Children’s Foundation, and for that we are very thankful. Nora’s organization operates a mission on the small island of Ile a Vache, which is located off the southwest coast of mainland Haiti and the city of Les Cayes. Interestingly, it was once a haven for pirates in the 1600’s, including the infamous Captain Henry Morgan.  As you can imagine, being such a small island off the mainland, the degree of poverty and lack of access to services is even greater.  Read More

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A Great Loss Suffered

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You all may recall an entry from February 2014 calling for prayers in support of Dr. Peter Whitehead.   It saddens me greatly to inform you that after a yearlong courageous battle with cancer, Peter’s struggle ended Tuesday night, January 13th. He was surrounded by family and close friends and passed very peacefully. I am certain Peter is now resting comfortably in the embrace of his Heavenly Father. Peter Whitehead was a gift to this world. We will truly miss him, but his spirit lives on in all those he touched.   He represented the best of us and had a way of inspiring the best IN us.

He made his first mission trips to India and then joined Project Starfish Haiti in 2011. I believe he found a new passion for the work in Haiti in 2013 when he saw the impact the trip had on his oldest child, son Caleb.   I know he wanted to share the same experience with all his children and I hope we will be able to provide that experience for them some day.

Project Starfish Haiti is an organization still in its infancy, however our hope is to some day be able to honor Dr. Whitehead’s memory in a way that commemorates his passion for providing compassionate care to those in the greatest need.

In Sadness and Hope,

Adam

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Team 2015 -Ready for Action

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That’s right, we are now assembled and counting the days until we return to our oasis in the Caribbean . This will make our 6th trip, but our first as Project Starfish Haiti (non-profit), officially. We again have some return members in Dr Kitty (lovingly known as “Big Chief Black Cloud” as you may recall), Carey – NP extraordinaire and  daughter Lindsay (It was touch and go for a short time, but it just wouldn’t be the same without “Smiley” so I am relieved she will be with us again.); we also have 3 of the best nurses in 2 countries returning to their “second job” – Kiki, Chelsea and Sarah (we are so blessed with their compassion and spirit of giving).

We will be dearly missing some previous team members and hope for their return soon (you know who you are!), but once again we grow our team with new members – Dr. Kitty will be introducing her  daughter Ches to our “home away” (yeah…best way to spend a college Spring Break!); she will also bring good friend Tom Sparhawk (With Tom, we add a sociologist to our team – I believe this will be invaluable as we attempt to establish a permanent presence within a new culture….very exciting!). We add 2 more nurses to our corps this year as well – Heather Miller, another from the ranks of Radford University (can’t say enough about our Radford and JMU contingents – I believe it speaks volumes for the character of the individuals being educated at these fine Virginia institutions….also makes me feel even better personally since these are my daughter’s top 2 choices for next year!); finally, I am very excited to introduce Melila Hunter, a nurse who has lived in the US for many years but is a native from Haiti and has returned yearly to care for her fellow Haitians. We are so lucky she has chosen to return with our group this year (and hopefully we will all learn a little more Creole from her and her brother before we travel).

I am very excited about this coming trip, as Project Starfish Haiti begins to explore options to establish a permanent presence in the land we have come to love. We started this journey nearly 5 yrs ago hoping to assist in a crisis and it has evolved to a deep seated desire to help provide a system of lasting health care to those in such incredible need. We have met so many wonderful people along the way, both in this tiny country as well as right here at home…our family grows with each passing year and we are so much the better for it.

I know I have grown personally in so many ways through this commitment….it can’t be avoided when surrounded by so many outstanding people….they are the best of the best. It is such a privilege to work along side them and count them as my friends. I am sad to say we will be missing one of the very best of us again this year, as Dr Peter continues his courageous battle against cancer. I know he will be with us all as we travel, as we are with him for every step of his fight. I pray for his speedy recovery and am hopeful that he will be able to  return with us someday to see our new destination in Leogane….hopefully the site of Project Starfish Haiti’s permanent roots in the country.

“Hopefully” yes….but not possible without support. This goal cannot be achieved with just the yearly journey of a single medical team, but rather, will require regular trips to explore possibilities, build necessary relationships within the community, determine the best possible location, assist in construction, recruit and train local health workers and establish a reliable process to regularly provision such an operation.

Whew! I am certain there are many more steps/details required to accomplish our goal and again, we NEED your help! As you read above, we are now designated as a 501(c)3 non profit and donations can be made directly to our organization. They are fully tax deductible. Please visit the Donate section of this site to see how easy this is. Thank you all for your support in the past and thank you in advance for any continued support towards reaching our goal.

From all of us at Project Starfish Haiti, have a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Blessed Holiday Season!

Love to All,

Adam