a tragedy

Like all of you, we have been deeply affected by the tragedy in Haiti. All tragedies are horrible, though this one seems more hopeless than others given Haiti's already impoverished state. It is hard to understand why things happen. I certainly can't wrap my mind around this. The below photo, when I saw it three days ago, especially hit home. The little boy and Anders look alike. There's something about their mouths, their round faces, and their expression that is very similar. I could not stop looking at this photo and thinking about my own little one, and where this fellow's parents might be. I just want to hold him. I want him to feel safe and get to lie down in a warm bed listening to a lullaby CD, or have a slice of pizza in the comfort of a cushy high chair, or get to sit in his mom or dad's lap for story time and snuggling. I am filled with despair thinking he may not have these things. All children - and all humans - have a right to feel safe and secure.

If you are looking for a way to give to Haiti, please consider Partners in Health, which was founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, of the book Mountains Beyond Mountains, which was written by Tracy Kidder. Dr. Farmer has been working in Haiti in the medical field for over two decades. He trains Haitians to become doctors and nurses. Here's the website and some info about the organization.

http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti

PIH has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. We urgently need your support to help those affected by the recent earthquake. Partners In Health (PIH) works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for our patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities we serve.