Helping Hands Foundation

Back in late 2009 at one of the Helping Hands Board meetings I began to hear of a bicycle race that would travel across America. Little did I know at the time that I would be intimately involved with a team known as Team Doc2 Doc (see their web site at www.teamdoc2doc.org ).  It was made up of 4 doctors and a support crew who would actually do the race.  As it turned out I learned that 4 doctors, Bill Vickers, Jeff Gelfand, Garth Smith and Rich Hardart had been training hard for this race for some time. The race itself is known as the Race Across America (RAAM) and you can read all about it at their web site www.raceacrossamerica.org.   It is a 3000 mile race from Oceanside CA to Annapolis MD and is billed as the toughest bicycle race in the world.  It started on June 12th and ended when Team Doc2Doc arrived in Annapolis late on June 18th. And of course one of the founders of Helping Hands, our own Dr. Jeff Gelfand was a rider in the race.   

The purpose was not only for the riders to complete the race but also to use the race as a fundraising opportunity and to raise awareness for The Helping Hands Foundation and The Wellness House, two local Annapolis charitable organizations. Helping Hands provides free reconstructive surgery for those in need who otherwise could not afford it while The Wellness Hose (http://annapoliswellnesshouse.com ) is dedicated to providing local cancer patients and their families support while they deal with cancer treatments.

When the Team arrived in Annapolis late on June 18^th, I was glad that it was finished. It was a tough 6 + days for all of the riders and crew; constantly on the move with one of the riders always on the course being supported by the crew.  Our team did well and finished second in our team category; really a wonderful achievement for a group of first time riders and crew.  I’ve been asked would I do it again? If you had asked me that when we arrived in Annapolis it would have been a definite NO.  As we are further removed from the race it looks more appealing. Now it is a Maybe. But one thing is for sure, it was an experience of a lifetime and one that was used to raise money for two worthwhile charities, Helping Hands Foundation of MD and The Wellness House. 

~ Dick Skinner, Board Member, Helping Hands Foundation

This is Encouragement Week at Laila and Jadon’s school. We will be encouraged daily by various entities at the school. That probably is going to be a needed theme for our household this week. I’ve already received one big blessing over the next 10 days – no on call days. Let’s see how I’ll fill all of the “free time” I’ll have.

Today, I left for work early to assist with/teach a colleague an LAVH (Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy.) Simply stated, a surgeon is able to disconnect the uterus and cervix from inside the body through 3 small 1cm incisions on the lower abdomen. Then the surgeon slides the specimen out through the vagina. Kinda cool. It went very well.

Afterwards, I changed my clothes to prepare for an interview with the local newspaper regarding Michel and Regine. I joined the one of the surgeons, 2 Helping Hands volunteers, Regine and Michel in the hospital room to participate with what I thought would be an interesting interview. When we arrived at the room, the first thing I saw was Michel’s very skinny left leg out of the cast with his foot resting up on a pillow. His left knee was bent as he performed exercises pointing and flexing his foot. There was a nice pile of dark dead skin on the pillow where he clearly had been self-grooming, picking off all of the dead skin from his foot since it had been inside a cast for weeks. I had to lighten the situation.

“Dude, do you need a pedicure? You know I can’t send you back to Yole with your feet looking like that,” I said laughing.

Regine translated and the three of us chuckled at our own private joke. I gave both of them a hug just as the journalist walked in startled when her eyes landed on the pleasant pile on the pillow.

The journalist spent 15 minutes asking Michel a series of tidbit questions about his favorite TV shows, favorite American food, favorite basketball team, etc…in an obvious attempt to embellish his story. When she was finished, the surgeon asked very politely, “Now, do you want to hear the real story? It really is amazing how he actually ended up in Annapolis, Maryland from Port au Prince, Haiti.”

And amazing it is. I stayed briefly to explain our role as host family given Ricardo’s Haitian background, but I had to leave to get to office hours. As I drove to the office, I was engrossed in thoughts of how the series of events that landed Michel and Regine in Maryland occurred with few bumps in the road. I also thought of how plans for assistance here in Maryland always seem to follow through – no matter what. Could it be possible that the favor I felt in my core particularly on those first couple of days of their arrival, was actually not favor for me, but instead favor for Michel? Could we simply have been just a checkbox on God’s to-do list as He prepared this international project? I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when that planning committee met… 

God: “Ok, everyone. This project is big. We only have 5 days to finalize these plans. I have a severely injured son in Port au Prince, Haiti who needs to get to the United States for medical care to save his legs. He loves me. His family loves me. I’m thinking Annapolis, Maryland would work well. There is a missionary family from that area already in Port au Prince and they have connections with organizations called ‘Samaritans Purse’ and ‘Helping Hands.’ The home base for Helping Hands is in Annapolis, MD. I need someone to contact them and their affiliated hospital to see if they would agree to perform his medical care. I want competent, well-trained surgeons and ancillary staff taking care of Michel. I will pay them.”

Angel #1:  “Done. They all agreed.”

God: “Great. I need someone to inform the Helping Hands board about the process of medical parole so Michel can leave Haiti without a Visa, and I need Regine’s Visa extended immediately.”

Angel #2: “Done. They both have clearance to stay in the U.S. for up to one year. The only problem is that with medical parole, Michel has to leave Haiti within 5 days of approval.”

God: “No problem. They need a flight to get out of Haiti ASAP. Commercial flights haven’t started up yet. I will be sure the first one begins on Friday 2/26/10 since they have to be out of there by Saturday. I’ve secured the final 2 seats on that flight to be sure they make it out of there before the deadline. Next, we need to make sure there is a host family available to house Regine and Michel during their stay in Maryland. It needs to be a Christian home - preferably one with a Haitian background to help Michel get adjusted to the U.S. since he only speaks Creole. I’m thinking perhaps a Haitian- American home with a medical background to help with translating the medical issues as he prepares for major surgeries. They need to have a bedroom on the main floor of their house. I have a family in mind. I’ve been putting them through some very rigorous testing over the past 6 months and they have come out fighting, keeping me in the center of their home.”

Angel #3: “I know exactly who you have in mind. I had someone send them an email about the situation and they volunteered without even be asked. They had some doubts initially and there were people around them expressing concern about inviting strangers into their home to live with them. However, after a very brief discussion together and after speaking with one of the surgeons planning to do the surgery, they stepped out on faith.”

God: “Perfect. We also need a backup family just in case. That family must also be Christian. They do not need to have a Haitian background. By that time, Regine and Michel may be motivated to have complete immersion in an English-speaking home to help with mastering the language.”

Angel #4:  “Done.”

God: “Next, I need some of my children on the ground to be available to help in any way they can. The Helping Hands organization and the host family need to be encircled by an abundance of people who know me. I need cheerleaders – people who will continue to keep them encouraged, and motivated to do my work. They can keep them covered in prayer and do little things like give hugs or drop off special items for Regine and Michel. They can send encouragement with cards, phone calls, donations, emails, texts, money – anything to help keep these volunteers on task. This is big people. Lives will be changed forever.”

Angel #5:  “Done. We’ve got lots of them.”

God: “Wonderful. Finally, we need assistance with transportation and food. There needs to be volunteers directly assisting Michel with his travel to the U.S. on the plane and in the airports. When Suleika gets to her house for the first time with Michel and Regine, Ricardo will not be available to help get Michel into the house. I have already arranged for her next door neighbor to be home that Saturday instead of playing golf, so he can get Michel inside. After Michel has his surgery 1 week later, we’ll need a number of volunteers to transport Regine to and from the hospital daily while Michel is admitted.”

Angel #6 (surely a Mommy): “Got it covered. I know that the host family will need major assistance with meals given their busy schedule. I’ve made arrangements for Mr. Michel’s mother to be there to cook when Regine and Michel arrive. She will stay until Michel has his first surgery then will return at some point when he is discharged from the hospital. I’ve also made sure that they have people around them who will be able to drop off ready-made meals. Dr. Michel’s mother will also be brought to their home safely to assist with that matter as well.”

God: “Fantastic. All of the tasks in my major checkboxes seem to be completed. I will handle the multiple minor details that are left to make this happen as seamlessly as possible. All those involved will be blessed exceedingly and abundantly above anything they could ever ask. Nice work team.”

Wow. I missed my exit.

I called my office and told them I would be a few minutes later than expected.

As the afternoon of patients flew by, I received an email on my phone offering a complementary dinner from the “Davis Kitchen.”  Thinking that this perhaps was a little known food franchise or something like the Country Buffet, I was very hesitant to respond. Regine and Michel are very picky about what they eat. If it is not palatable, so much for hurting a chef’s feelings – they just won’t eat it. After pulling up the email on my computer, I realized that the “Davis kitchen” was actually my friend’s home, and since I know Jamaican homes can cook, I welcomed the invitation.  She dropped off 2 pans of lasagna before I even got home. One pan was finished that night.

After dinner Jadon said, “Mommy, we need to call Mrs. Davis and thank her for real!

And thank her he did. It was delicious.

Jadon later caught my attention, “Mommy, guess what?”

“What babe?”

“I finished my spelling words so I don’t have to do them on Sunday when I’m tired.”

We high-fived the accomplishment. “Nice job!” Love it.

My nanny took Jadon with her to Laila’s swim practice and Ricardo picked them up on the way home from work. I had a few minutes to hang out at home with Regine before a volunteer came to pick her up to go back to the hospital. We laughed about silly things as usual.

That evening I received a Thank You Card from Mrs. Michel for all we’re doing to help Regine and Michel. She feels like we’re helping the entire Haitian community. Maybe we are.

I called my mom to arrange babysitting coverage for the Spring Break Holiday coming up soon then Ricardo and I had our date night to watch the series “24.”

Before I went to bed, I called a friend who had been on my mind. We met only 2 years ago on my first Girl Scout overnight camping excursion, but it feels like we’ve known each other for much longer. Her positive energy is absolutely contagious. During our conversation about our children, I laughed until I cried.

I thought about what Regine told me before, “It’s good to laugh before you go to sleep. It makes you sleep well.” In that case, I’m gonna sleep really well. Sweet dreams- here I come.

   --- Suleika Just-Buddy Michel, MD

“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

It all started with a phone call to a local family member of a Missionary serving with the Baptist Haiti Mission. We were then given a phone number that we could call and talk with the missionary’s father and mother. They had arrived in Haiti to help at the Mission only days before the earth quake. We wanted them to know who the Helping Hands Foundation is and our willingness to provide surgical help for someone injured by the quake.  Dr. Gelfand and Dr. Harries (Helping Hands) would gather a team of physicians. The Anne Arundel Medical Center would donate hospital facilities for the surgery. Helping Hands would provide for airline transportation, find host families and other volunteers to provide local transportation for appointments here in Annapolis.

Things then began to move quickly. Adele Lieb, who is the mother of the Baptist Missionary, became our regular contact.  We discovered that the Baptist Haiti Mission had a hospital which was somewhat removed from Port Au Prince, and that many people were being moved there for treatment. We also discovered that Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian organization headed by Franklin Graham, was on the scene rotating physicians and logistics personnel. Before long Dr. Yezerski (Samaritan’s Purse) was in contact with Dr. Gelfand and Dr. Harries about a candidate to bring to the states. He had injuries to both legs but the right leg was injured beyond their treatment capabilities. It would have to be amputated unless more comprehensive treatment was brought to bear. His name is Michel. He is 29 years old. He also has a cousin, Regine.  She is 31 years old and would travel with him. Regine would not only help to care for him but also act as a translator.

There were obstacles to overcome. Regine had a Haitian passport, but it was due to expire in a few months and would need to be extended. Michel had no passport. However we learned from one of our Board members that our government was allowing Haitians to come to the states for treatment under provisions called a “Medical Parole.”  

Through the efforts largely of Dr Gettles (Samaritan’s Purse) and supporting documentation provided by Helping Hands, the travel documents were obtained. Regine received her passport extension.  On February 22 we got the word.  Michel and Regine could travel to the states but had to leave no later than 26 February. Two sealed envelopes were given to Michel. One was to be given to Haitian officials which allowed him to leave the country. The other envelope was presented to our Customs officials in Ft Lauderdale and would allow Michel to stay in the states for up to a year to receive medical treatment. We ended up using commercial airline transportation and got the last two seats on the American Airlines flight leaving Haiti on February 26th. 

This was a great experience and one made possible by a lot of people working together to help someone in need. I would like to acknowledge the following organizations and individuals who worked with the Helping Hands Foundation:

• Baptist Haiti Mission http://www.bhm.org/bhm/lang-en/home.html
• Samaritan’s Purse  http://www.samaritanspurse.org
• Rio Vista Community Church (Ft. Lauderdale, FL.)  http://www.riovistachurch.com
• Anne Arundel Medical Center http://www.aahs.org
• Host families and other volunteers helping to support Michel and Regine
• Helping Hands Board members

On Friday, March 5th, Michel Thomelus had surgery at the Anne Arundel Medical Center. A team of doctors, all donating their time, worked for 11 long hours to begin the reconstructive process.  A special thank you to Drs. Gelfand, Harries, Peeler, Holt, Morganti, and Corddry.

Humanitarian Efforts Teach Us That Language Is Not a Barrier

 In August 2006, our family opened its doors to host an 11 year old Bolivian boy and his father.  Sponsored by the Helping Hands Foundation, Luis was flown to Annapolis, Maryland to have reconstructive surgery on both of his hands.  He was born with a deformity called Ollier’s Disease, where normal bones are replaced by cartilaginous tumors that impaired his ability to use his hands. The goal of the surgery was to remove the tumors and rebuild Luis’s fingers, restoring the functionality of his hands.  Luis and his father spoke no English.  My husband and I spoke high school level Spanish while our three children spoke no Spanish.  ‘How will we talk with them?” asked my ever practical daughter, Lily.

 It didn’t take long to find out the answer!  The children and Luis developed a language all there own.  Gestures, smiles and laughter replaced a need for words.  By day two the children sat side by side on the couch watching cartoons together.  They played tag, rode bikes and went fishing.  No words were needed to convey acceptance and friendship!

 Six weeks after the hand surgery was successfully completed with rehabilitation underway, Luis and his father returned to Bolivia.  The Helping Hands medical mission had brought hope to the life of an 11 year old boy and taught us all that the language of caring and friendship is one we all can share!

 - Denise O'Neill

 [You can read more about Luis on our 'Success Stories' page]

The Helping Hands foundation has been gearing up to assist in the management of the victims of the recent Haitian disaster. We have been in contact with 3 separate NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are established on the ground in Haiti. These groups were providing care prior to the recent earthquake and are in Haiti for the long haul. We have had most contact with Len Leib at Mission Baptist Hospital. Fortunately they were not damaged and have acted as a clearing center for other damaged hospitals.

I get the impression that their role is changing to more follow-up of previously treated patients. That is a daunting task as I read of the estimate that 150,000 Haitians were killed and another 150,000 sustained orthopaedic injuries. Many of these patients received minimal care and will need reconstructive surgery.

We are positioned to help by providing pro-bono care and travel expenses for some of those who need specialized care here in the USA. Our goal has always been to do 3 cases a year but given the overwhelming need,  we need to look at expanding that number or providing the specialized care in Haiti.

The federal government announced on Monday that it would reimburse American hospitals who treat Haitian earthquake victims with life-threatening injuries, making it possible for more hospitals in states outside Florida to consider taking those patients. A statement jointly issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and USAID, the agency coordinating the American response, said both agencies had activated a program that allows American hospitals to take patients with injuries too grave to be treated in the devastation of Haiti and be repaid by the federal government at 110 percent of the rates paid for Medicare patients. Can we participate?

Dr. Ed Holt, a foot and ankle specialist, has teamed up with HH to allow us to treat children with complex injuries of the lower extremity in addition to hand and upper extremity trauma.

I have heard from a Navy orthopaedic surgeon aboard the USS comfort:

"I would love to write about my experiences, especially when I was the only Orthopaedist on board for the first 36 hours of receiving the earthquake victims, but for now I have to focus on the present surgical needs here." 

"This truly has been, and is, an incredible experience that has no signs of slowing.   The need and severity, at the present time, is incalculable. "

I think it is obvious that the Haitian crisis will occupy us for the foreseeable future. I want to thank our board and volunteers who have positioned us and Anne Arundel Hospital to play a significant role in meeting this need.

- Dr. Thomas Harries

Welcome to the Helping Hands Foundation blog. Thanks for visiting -- we'll begin blogging soon!