In light of the devastation in Haiti and the suffering of so many people in the aftermath of two hurricanes and two tropical storms, the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare leaders made a decision to offer support.
Two SEIU Healthcare Florida members volunteered to travel to Haiti on a healthcare mission organized with the Haitian American Professionals Association, Unite for Dignity and Harmony of the Divine Life--an organization that will keep us posted on future missions to deliver healthcare in Haiti.
We wanted to share the experiences of the two SEIU Healthcare Florida members - Angel Ruiz and Eliane Joseph - who spent a week providing volunteer healthcare services in Haiti. Their stories are truly inspiring.
(Photos of the Mission to Haiti can be viewed at the Value Care Value Nurses Flickr website.)
From Angel Ruiz, SEIU/University of Miami Hospital
I've always had the luck to have what's necessary, to be able to share with others, and to feel thankful for everything and to give thanks to God.
In early October, I received an email from our Union President, Monica, which spoke about a health mission to Haiti during mid-November.
Read the rest of Angel's post.
From Eliane Joseph, RN, SEIU/Coral Gables Hospital
I'm from Haiti. I hadn't been there in a while. When I heard about this trip I knew I wanted to go to help, but I didn't really know what to expect.My family and my Haitian friends and co-workers could understand wanting to help, but they were worried about my safety. They asked how I felt about traveling with a group of strangers and not knowing what I was going to face when I got there.
Read the rest of Eliane's post.
If after reading this account, you (or, if you're an SEIU member, your Local) are interested in sending volunteers, supplies or donations for the next Healthcare Mission to Haiti in January, please email Valerie.tate@seiu.org.
