HAITI :: 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 

HAITI :: 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.

CHINA :: Another blessing

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.

CHINA :: 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!

HAITI :: Turning complaints into compassion

Kimmie and some of the items she collected

Recently, The Red Thread Promise met an amazing fourth grader from the midwest. She had an incredible gift to share with us that we, in turn, would like to share with you.

Kimmie is a 9-year-old girl growing up in the suburbs of Ohio. Like others her age, one night she found herself complaining to her parents about all of the things she didn't have. (Haven't we all heard this at one time or another?)

In an effort to enlighten her eldest child about what it means to have nothing, her mother began sharing some of her experiences as an inner city social worker. She told her of a family who had five children. Both parents were unemployed and all utilities had been cut off. As a result, the family was running an extension cord to the neighbor's house in order to operate a small heater to keep them warm. Kimmie was also told of another family whose home was so deplorable that they had actual holes in the kitchen floor. However, both families still managed to be thankful for the four walls and a roof that they had over their heads.

These stories were a far cry from the life that Kimmie was accustomed to. These children didn't have American Girl dolls, MP3 players or bicycles. Yet they were satisfied with what little they had. 

Kimmie wasn't merely moved by these accounts - she was ENERGIZED. 

She told her mother that she wanted to do something to help others. When asked who, she simply stated "the people of Haiti" as if it was the most obvious choice in the world. More than two years had passed since the devastating earthquake which begged the question, "Why Haiti?" Kimmie's answer was right on point: "When a tragedy happens, so many people want to help right away but most people forget about others as time passes." (We couldn't have said it better ourselves.)

Thus, her service project was born, entitled Every Day is Giving Day. With the help of friends and family, Kimmie spread the word that she was collecting everyday items for people in Haiti. She created and passed out flyers, set up collection points and even did the morning announcements at her school to spread the word. In just two months, she collected over 1300 items! From wash cloths to soaps to toothbrushes and underwear, her diligence paid off.

Her next challenge was figuring out how to get the items to the people she wanted to serve. And guess who she found? Kimmie and her family were able to visit with Red Thread Vice President, Sonya, where she was able to see photos and hear stories about the people who would actually receive her gifts.

Knowing that the donations will be used and appreciated by the children of St. Vincent's makes us all smile.

Even greater still is knowing that compassion is alive in our children, a true blessing to The Red Thread Promise.

HAITI :: Disabled vs. Handicapped

Miele and Kelly

Caucasian vs. White, African American vs. Black, Hispanic vs. Latina, Disabled vs. Handicapped; semantics are at the root of this discussion and it is the ‘powers that be’ who decide the vernacular for the masses. In the United States there exists handicap parking as well as the American Disability Act. These words are interchangeable in conversation, however I believe them to mean two very different things.  

While attending the first Camp Jake for disabled children, I brought to the table that I [personally] do not like the word disabled. I am a 37-year-old below knee amputee who holds a full time job, travels the world, creates art, dances, kayaks, gardens, spends time with family and friends and considers herself an able-bodied woman, not disabled. I know I am handicapped because I need my prosthetic to help me walk. If I do not have the prosthetic on, I need the aid of my wheelchair, walker or crutches, each of which entitle me to the label of ‘handicapped’.  

Synonyms for handicap are hinder, impede, or incapacitate. This is true for those that need a device to help them function in daily life. Synonyms for disability are debilitate, disqualify, and ruin. These words, in my opinion, tend to hold a person down more mentally than their needs might hold them down physically. While certain words overlap, and meanings can ebb and flow, personally it boils down to dis = not + ability means Not Able To (insert activity here).  

Not all those who have extra physical challenges agree with my belief, which is why I know this was a personal disclaimer that I made at camp. I have had this discussion with an AKA (above knee amputee) and she prefers the word disabled. I have seen people who are considered ‘disabled’ be ignored or thought of as less than human. 

While working for Camp Jake, I was approached numerous times by Haitians on vacation that said thank you for what you are doing. One man in particular stands out in my head. This man was having breakfast before attending a wedding on the beach. He now lives in the States but is from Haiti. He looked at me over his omelet and said “Thank you, I know what my people do to those you are helping.”

If you see someone in a wheel chair, don’t think they need help being pushed. They are not thinking you need help moving your legs. If you see someone who is different than you, don’t stare, ask questions, strike up a conversation. We are more alike than we are different. The one label we all share is human.  

Always remember, "An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb

~ Kelly Andrews 2012