Back in Haiti again

Flag Day celebration

Yesterday The Red Thread team embarked on our second trip of the year to visit and work with our friends in Haiti. Following a redeye flight for Kathy and Tom, the two met up in Miami and flew in to Port-au-Prince together. After settling into the hotel, a meeting and dinner, they went their separate ways to rest up and prepare for the busyness of today, when the real work began.

Tom and a St. Vincent's student

First on the agenda was visiting St. Vincent's where we found out that Tom is quite the kid-magnet! Students of all ages were coming out of the woodwork to greet and hug him, happily posing for pictures, especially those from Camp Jake. To our surprise the kids were preparing for Flag Day. Each had made his or her own Haitian flag and was proudly displaying it in the classrooms, around the grounds and during a ceremony in the courtyard which the team happily observed.

Then Kathy and Tom got down to work, meeting with Fr. Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent's, for a long meeting covering a multitude of topics including: 

• the rebuilding of the school
• creation of a much-needed computer lab
• setting up routine All Terrain Wheelchairs (ATWs) maintenance and repair
• computer accessibility in the pharmacy
• the release of the handicap-accessible van from customs
• the soon to be unveiled St. Vincent's logo (designed by TRTP's Vice President, Sonya) 
• the upcoming session of Camp Jake, the campers and the caregivers

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Computer Lab

Fr. Sadoni was very excited to hear that The Red Thread is working to secure 20 computers to be sent to St. Vincent's in order to set up a much-needed computer lab for students! To top it off, we were excited to learn that our main concern—that of consistent power to run the computers—has already been addressed. A new electrical breaker has been installed on the grounds that provides uninterrupted power in the classrooms and offices. A dedicated, secure space will be prepared to set up a fully functioning computer lab in the school. The Red Thread team will then travel to St. Vincent's to help set up the lab and do some of the initial training of lab workers and older students who will mentor the younger ones as they learn to use the computers. What a blessing!

All Terrain Wheelchairs (ATWs)

One of the things that makes The Red Thread stand out from the "drop it and run" relief organizations is our commitment to the people we serve and the supplies that we send. With each trip, we check on those using our wheelchairs as well as the chairs themselves, looking for signs of wear and tear, making sure they are in good working order, talking to the people using the chairs to provide input, always on the lookout for areas of improvement. 

 Kathy surrounded by workers from the prosthetics shop

 Inserting the new tubes

 Testing out the tire pumps

Making sure everything is in good order!

During our trip in January 2012, we noted that some of the tires weren't holding air as well as anticipated. After much research, Kathy secured alternate tubes as well as several different kinds of pumps for the St. Vincent's crew to try. Kathy and Tom worked hand-in-hand with the St. Vincent's team to change out many of the tubes with the new ones and tested all of the air pumps. Scheduled maintenance has been set up and will be done on the chairs every 2 weeks to ensure that they are always in top working order for their owners. After determining if these tubes hold air better than the originals, we will order new tubes for all of the wheelchairs.

Camp Jake

Tomorrow is the big day for Camp Jake. The team will scout 2 new locations to see if there is another facility with better accessibility for those in wheelchairs. They will also be spending time looking for Haitian markets where more of the camp supplies can be purchased in-country, instead of purchasing everything in the US and carrying it in. We are always looking for ways to save money without sacrificing quality.


As details were ironed out and plans discussed for all of these projects, that red thread of destiny was revealed again. Our team felt a spine-tingling connection to the administration, staff and students of St. Vincent's. We know we are in this for the long haul. We hope you are too. Join us during this journey of providing hope and healing to some of Haiti's most vulnerable children. Through your financial support and volunteerism we can and are making a difference in the lives of these kids.

Fr. Sadoni and Tom

A face every Mother will love, on Mother's Day and beyond

Oh, will you look at that face! With plump cheeks, soft spiky hair and a smashing smile, this is the face of a post-surgical child who is thriving! We are so grateful to be a part of her life and care and invite you to honor your own Mother by helping us support Baby XX.


Instead of flowers or candy, why not help us support this darling little girl in Mom's name this Mother's Day? For $125 per month, together we can provide for Baby XX's nanny as well as her medical needs, food and clothing. We'll gladly send a card to Mom explaining how your donation is helping this little girl following her spina bifida surgery. 


If you are interested in supporting Baby XX, donations in any amount can be made online through our PayPal link in the right sidebar or sent via check to:
The Red Thread Promise
20 Brookfield Avenue
Glen Rock, NJ 07452


Be sure to write Mother's Day / Baby XX in the memo line. Provide Mom's name and address and we'll send her a card to commemorate your generosity.


With your help, we can make a difference in the life of this beautiful child and others like her forever.

Society of Young Black Professionals fundraises for The Red Thread!

Petera and Brandon, two of our counselors from the January session of Camp Jake, are both active members of The Society of Young Black Public Health Professionals in New Orleans. Following their work with our team in Haiti, they wanted to do more for the kids they met from St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children. 

Petera with Danika, a hearing impaired girl

 Brandon with the blind guys

Since so many of St. Vincent's students are hearing impaired, Petera and Brandon decided to support our efforts to provide 500 digital hearing aids for the hearing clinic. This would provide enough hearing aids for every child as well as stock the clinic to provide for others in the community where hearing aids are a priceless gift. 


If you are in the New Orleans area, please come out and support The Society of Young Black Public Health Professionals, The Red Thread Promise and the beautiful children of St. Vincent's.

An Evening In Haiti

Saturday, April 28th from 7 - 10pm

1834 Club • $5 cover • Cocktail attire suggested

Enjoy an evening of delectable hors d'oeuvres, door prizes, 50/50 raffle and the rhythmic sounds of the BRASS-A-HOLICS as they vibrate through the 1834 Club on the second floor of the Laven-Berick Center. 

All proceeds go directly to The Red Thread Promise and their efforts in Haiti. Please read below for more information about this amazing organization and their effort. 

The Red Thread Promise (TRTP) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to bringing hope and healing to needy and orphaned children. TRTP has taken on the challenge of raising funds and awareness for new digital hearing aids and establishment of distribution of hearing aids in a permanent hearing aid clinic for St. Vincent’s children. Previous to this venture, children at St. Vincent’s were tested and given refurbished analog hearing aids. 

The Society of Young Black Public Health Professionals, along with your support, would allow TRTP to provide the children of St. Vincent’s and the surrounding community to receive new digital hearing aids.  

Sponsored by The Society of Young Public Health Professionals.

For any questions or concerns please contact: Brandon Darrington bdarring@tulane.edu 

Hear us on Rotary Club Radio!

Big thanks to Rotary Club Radio for the wonderful podcast that was released this week featuring an interview with Kathy and Sonya of TRTP! The podcast covers our beginnings in China and our current work in Haiti. When you have a few moments, give it a listen. 

ROTARY RADIO INTERVIEW

The play button is directly under the graphic 
pictured above on the RCR website.

We've already teamed with Rotary of Edina (MN) to bring wheelchairs to the Dominican Republic and would love the opportunity to work with other service-oriented organizations and Rotary Clubs that share our vision.

Another blessing from China

Baby JH in May, 2011

Meet Baby JH. This little guy came to Swallow's Nest in May of 2011 with Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome—a condition closely linked to spina bifida—a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column (from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Again, Swallow's Nest was able to provide swift surgery for JH and the prognosis is good!


Lili, Baby JH's caregiver, says that he is a shy boy but is beginning to crawl and stand alone. He gets along with the other children and is a good eater. (And might we add that he is adorable?!)

Lili holding JH, March 2012

The Red Thread Promise is sponsoring Baby JH's care until he is matched with his forever family. His file is currently being prepared for adoption. $175 per month will cover his nanny and foster care, clothing, food and some medical care. 


If you are interested in supporting JH during his time in China or would like more information about his adoption, please contact kathy@redthreadpromise.org.

New strides for Baby XX

April 2012

January 2012

Baby XX is growing up and, as you can see from this photo, as cute as can be! Her life has drastically changed for the better thanks to the support of people like you. 


We met this little one in December 2011. A moment that should have brought great wonder instead brought a dim future—she was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus—and her parents left her in the care of an orphanage. Thankfully, XX has already received her initial surgery and a follow-up CT scan, great steps toward her recovery. Since then, XX has been cuddled, loved and cared for by the specially trained nannies at Swallows Nest during her recovery and is doing well.


The Red Thread Promise is committed to supporting Baby XX’s post surgical care until she is matched with her forever family. It is estimated that she may be in foster care for two or more years due to the severity of her special needs. 


For $125 per month, together we can provide for her nanny as well as her medical needs, food and clothing. If you would like to help XX, please consider donating toward her care. One-time and monthly gifts are welcome in any size. Donations can be made through PayPal (link in the right sidebar) or sent via check to the address at the top right.


Once again, this is a perfect example of how your generous hearts are helping special needs children in China.

Temporary mailing address

The Red Thread Promise has a new (temporary) mailing address while Kathy is in New Jersey caring for a family member. All of our mail is forwarding to the address below for the time being. Both the email and phone number remain the same.


The Red Thread Promise
20 Brookfield Avenue

Glen Rock, NJ 07452
kathy@redthreadpromise.org
817.320.6522

Thank you for your understanding!