It has been one hell of a year and I want to thank everyone that made it possible for us to help so many people in Haiti and Ecuador. Unfortunately, we are halting all operations right now since we have run out of funding and our future as humanitarians looks very bleak. It is so hard to write this blog entry as my mind is all over the place. I never thought for a minute that it would be so hard to sustain ourselves and help those in need. I know so many of you have given so much to keep us alive and I am eternally indebted to you. I have had the pleasure and the honor to work with some of the most talented and caring medical professionals available. Together we have been able to save the lives of 1000’s of people.
It is so hard to even consider the thought that I won’t be able to be somewhere in the world helping others. I feel like my guts have been ripped out of me and I am just a hollow shell. I honestly thought that I would be dedicating the rest of my life to serving others. I haven’t been sleeping much lately knowing that my time as a humanitarian would be coming to an end. I’ve been dedicating every minute possible in our little ED here trying to help the local docs and nurses treat our patients.
In the last 15 months I’ve worked in 2 amazing countries, Haiti and Ecuador. My eyes have been opened to the suffering and injustices that occur in this world. My limits have been pushed and I have been challenged to do better. I have learned more about myself and what I am capable of doing than I ever thought possible. All of this is due to the people I have been able to serve and those of you that have been patient in teaching me. Thank you everyone for your patience and love and for not only helping me become a better person, but also for being of service to your fellow man.
Haiti was very hard on me in the end. As many of you know, LP was arrested and it was 18 days of hell on me. Everyday I had to weigh the decisions I would make knowing full well that if I chose wrong he would either me imprisoned longer or punished. Those 18 days that he was imprisoned pushed me over the edge and after he was released I no longer cared about Haiti or its people. I was angry with everyone and everything. I felt betrayed by those we had been serving and saving and had no problems never returning to that island. It has taken some time and some soul searching, but my mind has been changed. Maybe someday I will return to Haiti and help if it is needed. Who knows what the future holds.
In February I had the chance to come to Ecuador with Bridget and Nick to launch a Cleft Lip/Palate surgical outreach program. I thought when we left we would receive a lot of support for this program since it was such an easy way to change the life of a child. Boy was I mistaken. Thankfully, a few of you have kept us alive out here long enough to identify the kids that need help. LEAP has come through in spades and they are handling all of the operations for these wonderful patients. There were 3 of you that donated for the program and we have earmarked those funds and will be ensuring that they are properly used. We are turning everything over to the hospital administration over the next 2 weeks so they can continue the program.
So the question is, what is going to happen to MMRC?
As it stands, we all have to return to the states and will be helping out with all the flooding that is affecting our country. After about 2-3 weeks of assisting I will be returning to AZ to start a photography job. My goal is to have it wrapped up in about 6-9 weeks and take all the money earned to get a team prepped and out to somewhere in the world that needs help. It may be in the USA, Libya or Haiti. Who knows, we will be playing all of this by ear.
I felt the need to tell all of you what is going on with MMRC as we have become a big family. I also have a few favors to ask from everyone who reads this.
1. Please reach out to every company you know and help us get corporate sponsors. We need the funding to keep everything running and if we can get 20 companies to donate $250/month that can keep us going.
2. When I get back to the states, I will need transportation and if anyone has a truck/car/SUV they can lend me for 2-3 months I would greatly appreciate it.
3. I need letters of recommendation that I can send out to potential donors. Can you please email me a letter with stories of what we have done together and a letter stating why someone should donate to us?
I really don’t know what else there is for me to say. I’m trying to keep everything running smoothly here, but it’s been hard with everything going on. I love all of you so much and want to thank you again for everything.
Please don’t give up on us as we may be down but we are definitely not out.
Much love
Paul
