By JoNel Aleccia, msnbc.com
Schneily Similien still needs a new leg.
The 4-year-old Haitian boy's left calf and foot were crushed when the Jan. 12 earthquake rocked his country and destroyed his house, sending pieces of concrete ceiling crashing down on the child and his family.
For five days, no medical care could be found in the wrecked capital city, Port-au-Prince, and by the time Schneily's parents, Ducarmel, 40, and Darline, 37, got him to a hospital, amputation was the only option.
Msnbc.com first introduced readers to Schneily Similien (also spelled Cimilien) soon after the quake, as prosthetics groups began assessing the staggering need in Haiti and Ducarmel vowed to do anything to get a limb for his boy.
"People tend not to take into account the needs of disabled people and it changes your life," Schneily's father said through a translator. "They don't consider you a whole person."
Two months after the horrible disaster that claimed at least 230,000 lives and left a million people homeless, Schneily remains among an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 amputees left to struggle in a rugged, impoverished land where if you don't work, you don't eat and there's little regard for the disabled.
His greatest hope for a new limb -- and a new life -- may lie at the Hopital Albert Schweitzer, an 80-bed oasis in the rural heart of Haiti, where the American prosthetic firm Hanger Orthopedic Group has set up an amputee rehabilitation center.
The Hanger crew, led by Jay Tew, 38, a volunteer prosthetics expert from Baton Rouge, La., has already fabricated and fit more than 60 limbs for Haitian amputees in the last month.
First though, Schneily has to get there.
The 60-mile trip from Port-au-Prince to the hospital in Deschapelles can take nearly four hours, even on relatively good roads. Schneily and his parents were left homeless by the quake and are now living in a tent in Leogane, a town 20 miles from the capital, aid workers say.
His father is a carpenter, but no one has bought furniture since the quake. His mother is a kindergarten teacher, but her school was destroyed in the disaster. With little money and scarce aid, they've battled hunger along with their fears for Schneily's future.
Msnbc.com is heading to Haiti to track the story of Schneily and other amputees as they work to build new lives. Our crew will arrive in Port-au-Prince today and travel to Deschapelles, where we'll file daily dispatches about the urgent effort.
Along the way, we'll explore the issue of amputation, a growing problem sparked by violence, disaster and disease not just in Haiti, but around the world.
We'll talk to amputee veterans of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan about what it means to live without a limb, and share their advice for amputees in Haiti. We'll reach out to our readers as well, publishing your thoughts on what it takes to recover from tragedy and build a new life worth living.
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You can call me a heartless bastard if you want..
but hello, how many kids and soldiers in the UNITED STATES, have to wait a long time before they get new Arms/Legs.
OHH MYYY GOOOOODDD the kid has had to wait for 2 mths, and his new leg is not here yet.
Take care of our own, BEFORE we go out and take care of the rest of the world.
heartless, there i called you it, and rightfully so. i hope you do not suffer such a horrible experience, bc i doubt people will be jumping to aid you. i agree we have problems here, but are the people here starving and homeless as well? maybe some, but prolly not 6,000 in one city...let me say it again, heartless....
You are a heartless bastard!
Jeremy, the issue I have with your statement resides in that amputees in the United States general exist in a more well-to-do state than those in Haiti. I do not say that this carries universal truth, but it carries general truth, and we must think about this before making statements such as yours.
Respectfully,
Alice Renard
I do not call you heartless. It is very true that there are many people here in the USA who do not get the limbs and aid they need simply because they are not part of a sensational media grabbing event.
HOWEVER, I will say that there is room in this world for helping this poor child and and helping our own citizens. It doesn't have to be an either/or situation.
this is to brian:
Until you have seen more than the podunk town you live in here in the US I would advise you to not make sweeping statements about the specific numbers of people who are starving and homeless. Just due to your statement i can tell you have NEVER been to Los Angeles, CA. Because, trust me there are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY MORE than 6,000 people starving and homeless in that city. And here's another one for you: in Fairbanks, AK 31% of students between kindergarten and the 8th grade are considered homeless. This means that in one of the COLDEST places in AMERICA damn near 1 in 3 children does not have a permanent residence and could at any time find themselves in the maytag hilton (a.k.a. a refigerator box...).
So shut the hell up until you really know what's going on in your country.
If PRIVATE groups want to send aide to Haiti then let them! But our government needs to think of it's people first and the rest of the world second. Period.
The podunk town i am from? Well, before you judge someone you don't know, be very carefull. have you spent ANY time outside the US NOT on vacation? Bc i have, i have been on missions trips, i have been to San Paolo Brazil and build an orphanage for battered childrem that lived on the streets, so, keep siting on your laptop with your Americanized views, visit third world countries and you will understand. And I beleieve you said in your post "to call you heartless"...so i did, whats the preoblem? You asked me to...
Oh, and my comment was to 6,000 homeless, starving people MISSING a limb, there are way more then 6,000 people starving in my hometown of Chicago, your statement had to do with people missing limbs, being homeless, and starving...show me a city in the US with those figures please
Here's the difference....there are over 700 Hanger P&O patient care centers in the US. In Haiti, there are no such conveniences.
We take care of our own. There is nothing wrong with helping others. If you don't help, you are heartless.
Now saying that...I have to wonder when the last time Jeremy ever helped anyone or volunteered. Usually statements like his are fed from selfishness.
Jeremy-960164 You got my vote. Tell Obama and the Democrats on 2 Nov. How we feel about taking care of the world at taxpayers expense.
it is not just obama - it was every president since Eisenhower and the majority of them have been republicans - both republicans and democrats are in it for whatever they can get and no longer represent the citizens of this country, they represent the f'ing lobbyists and the highest bidder wins and it sure as hell is not us
what irritates me is not so much the comment made but the fact is that the US is more willing to help 3rd world countries when in need when the fact of the matter is, that the UNITED STATES needs a lot of help. yes, we have a HUGE problem with poverty, with kids that do go hungry, elderly who have to decide on whether to pay their electricty this month or pay for the medication; I've seen that first hand. Do you all know how much can be done with the amount of money that is used in other countries? Other countries, that at one point or another, have turned their backs on the US or probably will. a lot more people in the US have had to wait for treatment or go through a bunch of red tape to get what is needed but no one speaks up for them, u don't see a bunch of press or the US hurrying to make it happen. I am not heartless, i feel for this child, it breaks my heart to know that not only him but countless others are hurting and are in need but i think that we should take care of our own. it's like if i were to help the kid down the street while my child was at home crying in pain. how could i leave my kid unattended?
For all the people commenting that they think Jeremy is heartless, I say, let them walk through any one of the Children's Hospitals in the U.S. They will see much need and suffering there. I agree, we should take care of our own and then if there is money left over, we can help those overseas. I will let it be known that I have been to and lived in several third world countries. While it is good to help others in a time of emergency, too much generosity allows these countries to become too dependent. These cultures need to learn to help themselves.
Amen Jeremy ... I agree TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST!
Since I spend every other weekend at Cook Children's Medical Hospital with my 200 lb( and still growing) Mastiff helping to cheer up kids with all forms of cancer and life threatening diseases I would say I can say EXACTLY what I did, and I am not selfish at all.
Hell it took a crap load of training and money just to get my animal certified as a therapy dog to be let into a hospital. When they see Bruno their eyes light up and its the best time they have all week.
I was born missing a hand. I was fitted with my first prothesis at 11 months of age. I got a new one approximately every two years while growing up. These are little kids. This isn't a one-time deal. Who's going to keep getting them new prosthetics as they grow?
woah. I think its awesome that you do that. I truely do.
But if i were a kid, I would FREAK out if i saw a dog the size of myslef galloping towards me. O.o
you are a heartless bastard, and probably a republican.
I don't think your heartless... your right two months is not that long.. besides.. the leg HAS to heal for a while first for the fit to be right... and as for htere not being any people starving and homeless here too!! and if anyone thinks otherwise.. they are living with their head under sand!!
I dont feel like your heartless at all, I do have compassion for this kid, but I have MORE compassion for our own first,
We do have people starving, homeless, amputees, and the government makes them wait and be turned down 3 times for social security medicare benefits as a brother of of an amputee, I know the process, and nine months later, Eddie got to finish his treatment, and get a leg, 9 @!$%#en months, and he paid into our SS and medicare system all his life, but had to fight from a wheelchair to get his benefits,
I agree with Jeremy the US can barley take care of our people, they're making huge cut backs with government funded programs, people are loosing jobs and homes kids are losing their education because there's no money for school. The military has crap insurance and medical care. Yet the US can help other countries by giving them money and supplies yet they have none to give their own people. The US needs to help the US before they can help anyother countries.
Jeremy- I completely agree with you. Sure, it's good to be able to help other countries out when they need it. But, has any other country helped the U.S. lately? We have starving and homeless men, women and children right here in the United States and apparently our government doesn't care about them. We've got people who are unemployed and who have children that they can't feed, but instead of helping them, we are going to rush to other countries who, let's be serious, probably don't want our help. The U.S. is not on everyone's "Best Friend List" and will probably never be. Before we can take care of other countries and provide them with aid, we need to clean up our own backyards and help American citizens who are struggling!
You're not heartless, she's damn lucky she is getting it done now, because if Obamacare goes through, in a few years she would be, you know what out of luck. Why is she coming here, why not Canada, Cuba or the UK, if socialized medicine is so darn great why should she waste her time her? Answer that you ignorant progessives.
Not to be cynical or anything, but I have to suspect that our government does things like this partly out of concern for world opinion. In other words, it makes us look good. Ethically, you DO have an obligation to your own citizens first, but a disaster on this scale changes everything.
I fully agree!!!!!
You are heartless.....I just got back from Haiti Sunday after treating 45 amputees and making 12 limbs for children in 3 days. If you have not been there you should not be even assuming what is happening there. In 2 months when the hurricane season starts imagine what will happen to the 1/2 million people living in tents. These people have nothing there daily task is to survive. And the children did not ask for this. They were the unlucky ones to be orphaned in hell.
I am heartless too, because when I first read the title of this article I thought of the same thing. There's people in America that need limbs also and they don't have them, and I don't see anyone jumping to give them limbs.
If America is such a "well to do country" then why are there still homeless people, thousands of orphaned children, millions of people without insurance and millions of people without jobs, money and homes?
I agree!!! My kid needs a college education and a job!! But no such luck in this economy!! We can't even help our own nation and its kids.....so wth???
Amen!
The right of freedom of speech is wasted on some people. It should never be used to display unrestrained ignorance.
I'm just glad to see MSNBC cover the aftermath of the quake - NO OTHER news agency is doing so. How can this be front page news for weeks and then peter out to absolutely nothing. Whatever your politics, it's irresponsible on the media's part.
Incidentally, who cares what Jeremy 960164 has to say - sounds like a dope just trying to get a rise out of everyone.
I read the comments on this, and I am not surprised. Americans are hated globally because of their selfishness and greed. Not all Americans are like this, fact is most are good people, but then you get ones like the jerks who post negative crud on here. The people who say, "help our own, first" yet don't. Never lifted a finger when 9/11 happened, or when Katrina hit. Did they say thank you to those from other countries who stepped up to lend a helping hand? Nope. They just sit back in their double-wides, watching TV while drinking Busch beer, and bitch and complain, while waiting for their welfare or "disability" check to come.
Thank God, thank God, for these wonderful volunteers, who leave their homes, jobs, and families, to go to disaster stricken areas and help others. God bless them!!!
And to all you who do nothing but bitch and complain, for once in your life do something for someone besides yourself. Bring yourself up a level, and quit being such a bottom feeder.
Why don't YOU contribute YOUR paycheck to help OUR OWN as you classify Americans... For a child to RUN and play is a natural thing... and two months is a lifetime to a child. I for one understand the need and why the frustration with the long wait for a prosthesis. It's easy for Americans to get help but none at all for third world countries. Maybe it would be okay to help some amputeed child in France? England? Germany? You probably would have been the first one to step up and contribute there... I think YOUR heart is in the bottom of your feet.
My Brother has been trying for 5 years to get medical insurance and disability to have an operation on his kidneys-He wore a colostomy bag as a child and had a major operations to move the good kidney into a place in his body so that it could be hooked up and he could have a chance at being a normal kid, as before, he could not use -due to these major surgeries,20 in all, and thousands and thousands of dollars later, before the age of 15, now at the age of 44 years old, has worked as a heavy equipment operator for the railroad, and other major companies, all his life, he has been kicked out of the workforce due to high levels of pain medication, which no longer work, except for morphine, and who is going to hire someone on morphine to operate heavy equipment, which is all he knows, he must take to get through the pain-And what company will take on a person who has major pre-existing health issues, even if he was to "get another line of work"--The scar tissue from these surgeries have built up over the years, and are now literally pulling on his internal organs-PAINFUL!!! No one will perform the surgery to fix him, because he doesn't have medical insurance, because he doesn't have a job, because he has to be on pain medication, and -SAD, but true, his taxes can't buy him a place in medicare or disability medical, he's been turned down once already, because HE does have "2 eyes, 2 arms and 2 legs", is 6' tall, and weighs less than 130 pounds, has lost everything he owns, living in my mother's basement, he qualifies for 200.00 a month for foodstamps period... but how about giving, not "helping", because they will never be paid for their services, those kids in Haiti??
Is the wound even healed enough for a prosthesis?
Agreed, this is sad, however, she IS alive. How many American kids need medical assistance and have to wait more than 2 months? Media sensationalization is nauseating. It is unfortunate that the kids suffering are made into media fodder, when there is so much else that is more important to accomplish. Food, clean water and shelter outrank one kid's amputated leg, since hundresd could die if the food, water and shelter are not taken care of first.
I agree with Dan. Why do we feel it necessary to take care of illegals? They are coming to this country by choice. If we went to Mexico would we get cash assistance, free medical and education and a place to live? HELL NO!! Their government would tell us to get our fat ass to work and provide for ourselves. There are no benefits for anyone besides natural born citizens. I full believe that other countries need to be helped BUT the United States can no longer afford to do so. Leave it to the Red Cross and private agencies. We need to stay home, take care of our own affairs and focus on our own people in trouble. Remember government is supposed to be that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.!!! Our government has lost that concept somewhere along the way.
One thing I forgot to mention is that it is beyond comprehension that our government gives away billions of dollars to other countries with no hope or expectation of getting it back. Yet their own citizens who are victims of natural disasters (ex: Hurricane Katrina) they make them take out SBA loans to finance repairs. So instead of putting money in for repairs they force their own tax paying citizens to take out 2nd mortgages on their homes (sba) to pay for the repairs and now they are overburdened with 2 mortgages for the next 30 years. I ask you does this sound fair???
No Policegal, it is not fair, we have turned our back on our own, and help those that will not help themselves, it is uncalled for, and this is a huge problem, and it is covered up daily by the politicians of washington, reguardless of what label they have,
Dan your an idiot... no one gets faster treatment based on their nationality here and you know it.. its all based on level of care needed!!!
mcds is correct though... alot of third world and underdeveloped countries start to depend on our aid and never become self-sufficient; then in the long run become corrupt or taken advantage of.
I don't necessarily agree with you BARBARA JONES ... not always a matter of the level of care needed, it's who has the best insurance and or more money! sad but so true!
My God you people make me sick!!! PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, ONE LIFE IS NOT WORTH MORE THAN ANOTHER. This is why Americans are so hated. Maybe you should help your own first, but you never do.
For a nation built on a melting pot of nationalities, you sure suck. Unless you are Native American Indian, you came from somewhere else. You are the spawn of immigrants who came on boats from their native land, to hopefully a better life. I wonder what some of your ancestors would say about your hateful, selfish thinking. And yet your proud to be American, where you hate everyone who doesn't look or think like you.
Keep it up, keep showing the world your true colors.
This comment is just BEAUTIFUL. Seriously, kudos.
People have their heads up their yahoos.
As if this is the only problem we're having right now. Everyone needs help with something. Us, them & everyone else.
Point being... Our soil, there soil. WHO CARES? Why is this up for debate? Would someone just give these people prosthetic limbs already so everyone can go on to b*tch & moan about something else?
what happen to the 150 million raised for them . were did the money go hmmm.
I believe that CBS asked the Red Cross if they used all the money in Haiti and they have held much of it back. They only spent a small per cent of it. They did this for 911 as well and got into trouble for saying they needed the money for other problems around the world.
They should not use donated money for other then what it was donated for. They should be on the ground every day trying to help and using the money to do so. What are they waiting for? Most likely for interest to grow on those millions which they are holding back.
This kind of misappropriation of funds is why I give to Doctors without Borders, not the Red Cross. I'm sure DwB aren't perfect, but they seem to be more above board than most.
pluss the u.s. gov gave 100 million also.
Total agreement! Doctors without Borders is the only one I contribute to. They are the real deal. You cannot help but admire them and the work they do.
Not that Red Cross doesn't help people but holding money back for any reason isn't ok in my book. It's obvious that all the money can be used there so, why hold it back? Does not make sense especially when you see this child so helpless and the Red Cross is sitting on millions of donated money.
Research and you'll find The Red Cross collected $255 million in Haiti donations but only has plans for spending $80 million of that staggering amount. That leaves $175 million that they are not answering questions about or not being asked about very often.
This is not what Americans who donated to Haiti expected them to do! They have done this time and time again for other disasters.
I have stopped donating to the Red Cross, since the 911 mess where they did not distribute all of the money for 911. They are not held accountable for where this money is distributed, so they have lost my contribution, forever. There are MANY organizations who collected for Haiti who distributed 90%+ directly to Haiti. The Red Cross is not one of them.
For them to mislead the donators like that is out and out fraud. I haven't given to the Red Cross for years as there are several better charities out there doing similar work.
The Red Cross takes donations for THE RED CROSS not for whatever specific disaster you're in favor of aiding.
On a side note, to hell with them.
backtobasics, you've completely missed the point. The point is that ONE person is doing what he can to help the situation. He's an orthotist, he fits prostheses for amputees. That's what he's doing. If he was an electrician, maybe he'd be stringing electrical lines. Of course they need food, water, shelter, & other basic supplies. Everything was completely destroyed. Habitat for Humanity is there now, building as fast as they can. It will take years to get everything back. But one person is helping the best way he knows how. Don't be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution.
The Haitians themselves need to be "part of the solution".
backtobasics, you've completely missed the point. The point is that ONE person is doing what he can to help the situation. He's an orthotist, he fits prostheses for amputees
I wonder how many americans he has turned away for the inability to pay, or lack of insurance,
Doing this one thing puts a feather in his hat that will praised world wide, nation wide recognition and a bunch of television time and local area recognition will sure help his practice,
Did everyone forget that Haiti was a 3rd world country to begin with? Why are we now suddenly trying to catch it up with the U.S. by building them homes? My guess is, if the U.S. had a massive earthquake that destroyed everything (similar to Haiti) no other country would be chomping at the bit to help us out. We would have to get up and rebuild things ourself.
OK Jeremy! When was the last time, (or the first), that you bought a meal for a hungry person who is forced to live on the streets? Or donated your time at a homeless shelter? (community service does not count!) Are YOU helping the people that are in YOUR country? I seriously doubt it!!! People are in need in every country on this planet! OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!
Anyone who has 'EVER" worked and paid taxes has helped to feed people in this country. It is called "WELFARE", and the american worker is constantly being taxed to pay for it.
see 1.15 for your answer....
hahahaha!!! in your face Angel!!! :)
Welfare... is like confetti... sadly.
Oops... "solution", not "situation".
OK, you all have valid points, nevertheless give her the limb. I'll pay for it.
God Bless You Robert! If you can really help this child God will return the Blessing to you in muliple ways.
Hello, MSNBC, are you reading this?
Someone must be reviewing the content of these e mails before they are published.
You have my e mail, contact me.
Robert
You can contact msnbc.com by emailing us at health@msnbc.com. Thank you
YES! THIS IS AWESOME!!! Thanks Robert! You're the man!
Getting fitted for a prosthesis for an amputated leg, it is not the end of the story.
Children need to have them replaced often as they grow. They need physical therapy to learn how to walk with them as well as how to keep the stump in good form so that nothing medical happens down the line.
It's not a Disney story where all any amputee needs to enjoy life is a new prosthesis, it's a long road before them with long term health concerns to be addressed.Unless there is a medical team who will continue to provide for these children over their lifetimes, they will not be able to lead healthy lives.
Your right, but a new leg will get her started.
Yes, but the follow-up has to be in place especially for children because they grow too fast. There needs to be a medical center set up for these children and follow them through-out. There are a lot who lost limbs to warrant a medical facility for them. Loosing a leg presents problems for the entire body and bone structure.
I am pointing this out because it is more serious than just one replacement. It's a lifetime of medical assessment. Many times further amputations occur on the same limb. It's complicated.
Kate, you are so right, but MSNBC just wanted to use what they thought was a good photo op.
As a medical doctor in the US I can attest to the challenges that many of our own citizens face in seeking out health care and having basic needs met. I agree that our focus should be on our citizens first....there truly ARE many persons including adults, seniors, and (in my own opinion) most importantly children who are suffering in poverty. They face a grim future. Many of my patients subsist on meager food stamps and since I have learned the amount typically allocated, I cannot even imagine how they and their family survive. We need to focus on improving the well-being of our supposed "wealthy" nation, strengthen from within. Our nation is far more fractured than the "media" or even Washington will ever acknowledge; we county-based docs see it first hand. It is deplorable.
Yes, you are heartless. You are forgetting one important fact, if he had received proper care in an adequate amount of time, he might not have lost his leg at all. He suffered enormously and will continue to do so. Yes, there are children here that need limbs too, but they have many more options than this poor child. He had no choice but to be born in a country like Haiti where his life has less options even without loosing his leg. Someone has to fight for the less fortunate children because they're unable to do it for themselves. I think you would benefit greatly by visiting a place like Haiti to get your head (and heart) straight. Maybe then you would be less likely to turn you back on ANY child, American or not!
oh my god- are you serious Alex's Mommy? I do not think that anyone who wants to help the U.S. first and foremost is heartless. When terriorist blew up the World Trade Center did any other country come to our aid? Did any other country bring in food and doctors, etc to help those who lost limbs, family members, or for Pete's sake, help rebuild New York? NO, they did! In fact, if I remember correctly, the news kept showing other countries like Pakistan cheering when the World Trade Center Towers fell. Yeah, that's a country I would help... one that cheers with something terrible happens to the U.S. We've got parents here the U.S. who kill their children, don't feed them or provide for them and yet we're going over to other countries to help them out?! I don't think so... let's bring all of our citizens home and take care of our "at home" business first. For example, this "depression" that our current economy is in... yeah, let's take care of that before we start medling in the business of other countries who probably don't want our help anyway!
So you discount the Canadians who gave shelter to the displaced families after 9/11 when the planes weren't flying? You forget that the UK sent specialist rescue workers and thermal imaging equipment that was unavailable in the US? How about the French, who sent special excavation equipment -- that doesn't count either? What about the prayers and good wishes that flooded our country in the aftermath? Whether you want to admit it or not, the US is very rich and in fact didn't need that much outside help, although it was given without qualm.
There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to apply our wealth to fix our own country first, but we are big enough to help ourselves and others.
I think Jeremy and Stephanie have some amazingly vital points. My tax dollars are being spent on things that do not benefit my country, my children, or myself. And I find it highly frustrating to see this. I empathize with this poor child, but really? I haven't traveled overseas, but I see the things alone that my friends and family need and cannot get because the funding is not here for us as a nation. I think Jeremy and Stephanie are realists and it would be nice if some of the others opened their eyes and realized the same thing. And Angel, on more than one occasion, I have bought a meal for a homless person with the last dollar in my pocket. I was ataking care of " my own."
To the gentleman who thinks we should share our wealth....Um.. what wealth? Have you not noticed our unemployment rate? I live in VA and our electric company hiked our bills to an obnoxious amount. My mother's actual electric usage was $82.00. Her total bill was $214.00. Her monthly income is $998.00. Out of that has to come groceries, gas, utilities, etc. etc. She has no luxuries such as cable , internet or a house phone. She has a cell plan that is on my contract and is at minimal cost to her so that we can all saty in touch with her. All her children help her, not her government who has turned her down for state aid. So, pardon me, but what wealth are you referring to?
I don't normally comment on these boards but to Stephanie 1691180 perhaps you should open your eyes long enough to quit making uneducated comments regarding 9/11. You are right that people in many countries cheered which is absolutely terrible but for you to say than no one from any other country came to the aide of the US during the terrible time of 9/11 is pure and utter &*%%^&^!!!!!!!! To start with, every single plane that had to land in Canada was welcomed. People were welcomed in to residences and give everything they needed while there. Hundred if not thousands of Canadian rescue workers went and helped in the aftermath, and asked for nothing in return. I am deeply offended by the shortsightedness of many people who have commented here, especially you Stephanie. You are right we have problems in every country including the US and a big parts of this is directly related to people who can't see outside our own front doors.
We are all human beings......we all deserve to have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food to eat......no matter where we live. You are also right that if a disaster of this nature hit here there would be less people coming to our aid......but lets be realistic........we have done it to ourselves. We self proclaim to be the best place in the world and look down our nose at other countries that are not as developed as us. It is like the rich kid in school. They have no problems because they are rich so nobody thinks they need help.
Homelessness, no matter where, needs to be addressed and the reality is that alot of the people in Haiti were not homeless a few months ago, they were contributing members in thier society. Why should they not have a little help and if all of the money that was donated went to where it was intended to go they would probably be way better off.
I think compassion, no matter when or where would make the world a better place, it is easy to whine and cry about where the money is being spent and to say it shoudn't be spent outside our country but come on...............human is human............
Stephanie, do some research before posting. You look stupid and ignorant. Maybe after you research 9/11 and Katrina, you should thank all the people from other nations who were there to lend your fellow Americans a helping hand.
And to Tammy, thank you for the wonderful post. :)
Ok Jeremy!!
When was the last time, ( or the first), that you bought a meal for a hungry person who is forced to live on the streets?
Or donated your time at a homeless shelter? (Community service does not count!)
How many times have YOU helped the people that live in YOUR country?? My guess is NEVER! There are people suffering in every country on this planet. OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!!!!
Then they need to get a job and not take handouts. I am told that some ofthe beggars in New Your City make over $60,000.00 a year. Not bad for just sticking your hand out.
How many times are you going to put this same copy/paste on the vine there Angel?
Like I said before, see above for your answer.. Id be willing to bet that I do a lot more then you ever thought about doing.
If you believe that, foxy, why don't you quit your job and just beg on the streets of NYC? I'm sure it's easier work than whatever you're doing now.
Hahaha! What do you want, Capt. America, a gold star?
For all those who want to help Americans first, go ahead. No one's stopping you. I believe the Amputee Coalition helps people in the US as well as Haiti. They also sponsor Youth Camps.
So why not make a check for Haiti AND for a child here in the US?
While we're at it, I'd like to make a check for Iraq's Amputees as. Do you know how many people lost limbs under our bombing Iraq?
Everyone needs our help.
While you're at it, why not write me a check, too?? I need it too!
Geez, you people! So willing to send off your money to every third world country and yet you balk at helping those here at home. Do ANY of you realize that there are people here in America who don't have heat? OR running water? Who sometimes go for days without food? People who risk their lives because they cannot afford the meds they need? (and while there ARE some programs that can help, they can't help everyone, including myself!)
Let the rest of the world help these people, while we do better about helping our own poor!
Yes, there are poor people like that in W. Va. but (their) Sen. Byrd has taken a total of 3 billion in pork (taxpayers money) so far and he uses some of it to build statues of HIMSELF in and around the state so everyone will know who he is!
So, if that isn't mindless greed then I don't know what is. And NO ONE in Washington stands up to this man! They all know he is the biggest porker on the Hill but mums the word.
So, excuse people if they want to send money to Haiti to help a little boy walk! Go ask Senator Byrd if he wants to do something more productive than build statues glorifying himself with taxpayers money.
Haitians may not use birth control but I'd rather have dinner with some of them then crooks like Byrd who'd steal from them if he could-- to build more statues of himself.
Everyone who has a mean comment should put themselves in this child's place. If a stranger would step up and help this child I am sure the child and her family would be eternally grateful. We can only be just if we can put ourselves in their place.
I have no problem at all in being just and say my money stays home!!!
It's unfortuante, but why do the poor keep having the kids they cannot support. I am tired of my tax money going out of country to third world areas that will need it continually. Sorry the kid has a bad leg, but let some other country pay for it. I am sick and tired of all my money going there. Fix all the problems here and then see if anything is left for third world countries
Fyi -- he doesnt have a bad leg.. he has NO leg.. just incase you didnt already know...
If you are going to call someone a moron, it might be a good idea to learn how to spell it. Here, let me assist you. M-O-R-O-N.
There, got it? Good. Now go eat some lamb.
"It's unfortuante, but why do the poor keep having the kids they cannot support." Wow.
If they can't even make enough $$ to buy two sticks to rub together, how on G-d's green earth are they supposed to be able to afford contraceptives too? (I am assuming that the people in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, don't have health insurance. Or a Rite-Aid still standing!)
I state this because you, me and everyone knows that one can't expect married people to remain celibate. That's absurd!
Perhaps you should be writing to your Senators And Congressmen about this issue, instead of blathering your opinions all over this or any other blog. Wouldn't that be more productive?
you know what- if the poor can't afford contraceptives, then they should keep their legs closed and their pants on. That's part of the problem- you should not have children if you can't contribute to society and pay for the children that you have. I work too hard for my tax dollars to go a mom who has 5 kids by 5 different men and refuses to get a job and stop having child. People like that need to be sterlized
I've lived with many people from third world countries and trust me, they are NOT having kids because they like sex but can't afford contraceptives. For the most part they simply value having children more than we do. An infertile person, particularly a woman, is greatly pitied; her husband may even leave her. Everybody in the world has the right to have a child or two. It's just plain instinct. It's also rational, in that children in such societies are expected to look after their parents in their old age. When you say they shouldn't have kids because they are too poor (read, "inferior") you start to sound like Hitler. I do agree with you about the five kids by five different men. but don't the men bear some responsibility in those cases?
this is an endless debate ---in my opinion --- our tax money is being spent they way the gov. wants it spent.. you can cry and complain all you want -- that wont change anything.. --- nothing-- zip, nada!
As for Schneily Similien, he's only four -- he's still a lil baby -- seriously - if i could i would seriously give him my own leg.. My daughters 3 years old,, and i could never imagine -- not even close to imagining how that childs life is going to change, and for the worse if he doesnt get that leg... ... Poor baby
Will someone please tell us where we can donate $$ to help this child and others like him? And somehow confirm that the money will actually go to this cause?
It seems like an awful waste of time for people to haggle over who should be helped - stop "talking" and help someone, whoever your heart leads you to!
i agree leechie, everyone is arguing about who should get what and no one is gonna change anyone else's mind, so let people donate time/money/food etc, to whomever they want to help. everyone has a right to their own opinion regardless if anyone else agrees with it.
spent the way*
from what i understand, haiti is rich with uranium. they may build themselves up yet.
... wished the boy best of his luck to get what he needed. If he did, then he'd be some of the luckiest boys among possibly thousands of kids around the world who are in the same situation, who, are not been reported in the news and, not getting the attention people here are giving to this Haitian boy...
A Little History on Haiti (very interesting).....
In the 1700’s what is now Haiti was called the “Jewel of the Caribbean,” and supplied about 40% of the world’s sugar.
In 1791 the government of France passed legislation to phase out slavery in its Caribbean colonies and grant the former Negro slaves citizenship. Rather than becoming citizens, Haiti’s Negro population
mass murdered all whites and Mulattoes who could not flee the Island in time.
In 1804 only full blooded Negros remained and Haiti became the first Negro ruled nation. TheHaitian revolution dominated
America’s debate over slavery. While both the north and the south agreed that slavery should be ended, southerners and a large
percentage of northerners universally opposed having a large population of freed slaves living in their midst.. The Haitian “Revolution” was fresh in every one’s mind.*
Flash forward to 1915. The “Jewel of the Caribbean” is now a desolate cesspool, that is exporting almost no sugar. The United States decides to “take up the white man’s burden” and send the US Marine Corps to rebuild Haiti’s infrastructure and feed it’s starving population.*
The United States gave huge amounts of money to Haiti and over-saw the building of 1,000 miles of road, telephone lines, modernized its port, and helped Haiti to start exporting sugar once again. The US
also put an end to the thousands of bandits along Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic. The US left in 1934 at the request of the then stabliized and very ungrateful Haitian government.
Haiti immediately sank straight back into total desolation strife.
In 1973 the United State once again began playing a huge role in Haiti, giving the Island huge sums of money in handouts each year.
In 1994 the Clinton administration once again sent the US military to Haiti to rebuild the Island’s infrastructure.
In 1995 the Peace Corps went to Haiti in large numbers to train the Haitians in job skills. The US government spent almost one Billion providing food and job training to the Haitians between 95 and 99.
So when Obama says that Haiti has our “full, unwavering, support,” they have already had our full support since 1915.
When will we learn: You can't make "chicken salad" out of "chicken s**t!"
The last line is my fav!!!! hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
I have a weird sense of humour. Like hmmmm, I like the last line from shawn
Nice post. They need to start helping themselves. I am all for helping children but it seems US aid is taken for granted and is not helping them in the long run.
The problem is much bigger than just this one child or the other 5999 amputees getting "a leg." Prosthetics for growing children will need to be replaced at least every year due to growth. Adults generally need a new prosthesis, or at least a new socket, every two to five years. There are also numerous supplies that an amputee requires just to keep the socket properly fitting. A one time effort to fit these folks with limbs falls far short of what will be needed in the future. What Haiti needs is to have their people trained in how to measure, fit, align, and fabricate their own prosthetics.
I also have to agree slightly with "heartless bastard" in that two months is not that long to wait for a prosthesis in a third world country. I am trying to find insurance coverage for a 30 something single mom that works as a medical receptionist whose insurance only covers 50% for her prosthetics. She has been in need of a new socket for 2 years.
[[What Haiti needs is to have their people trained in how to measure, fit, align, and fabricate their own prosthetics.]]
If they get skilled enough at it, that could even be a major industry for them. After all, the cost of labor is far cheaper in Haiti, and it wouldn't be a big deal to ship the prosthetics all over the Western hemisphere if not the world.
you are not heartless you are american. Godbless you! I believe you do not ever care or like any none americans my entire family has fought in every war,conflict, and operation since we first landed on this continent. To help other counties why are country is crumbling is unamerican and treason. People who do this should by tried, convicted, and shot before a firing squad.
then you and jeremy should move to another country...oh wait while you BASH America you forget you live in the most developed, technologically advanced, and most cared for nation in the western hems....
Bryan-fl - I am a professional social worker but at this point u and all the rest of your cohorts have me so angry that the only thing postable that I can say is BITE ME! Jeremy was the first one to have the courage to step UP FOR AMERICA and say where is our help when we have ENTIRE FAMILIES, homeless and hungry, without medical care, NO FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS for our amputees and just so ya know, Medicare and Medicad do not COVER THEM nor do they cover hearing aids, dental work, eye glasses and exams(medicaid covers only a small portion of those needs, Medicare - NONE
Jeremy volunteers - so do I and my entire family - including my children who have volunteered since my youngest was 4 years old - what do you do ? Have you ever bought a meal for a hungry person - and NOT YOUR FRIENDS AT LUNCHTIME? I mean a REAL hungy person? Where are our fundraisers for our food banks? For our Salvation Army offices who help with more than food? If you haven't - tri it sometime - go help serve a meal at a soup kitchen, go help at a homeless shelter for one day - meet those people, hear their stories - cuz if the economy doesn't change soon u could be in need of their services yourself soon!!!
With healthcare missing for alomost 50 million Americans.
It's a bit misleading to say that "healthcare" is missing for 50 million Americans. There may be that many uninsured people, but that doesn't mean they all go without healthcare. I can remember paying for my own doctors visits out of pocket when I was in college--as recently as the 1980s. An office visit cost between $20 and $30, or the cost of a night out at Pizza Hut with your friends--what happened to make it go up so much faster than inflation? (Could tort reform change things?) Many cities and counties have free clinics available. Sometimes people don't get care because they aren't aware of the existence of the clinics. (This happened to me during my first pregnancy.) I'm not saying there's no problem with access to health care, but let's not make things out to be worse than they are.
Hey Bryan!!! Grow a pair!!!!!!
Am crying.....that poor boy, he looks so sad. I have a son that age and this just breaks my heart to see. I know there are people here in the US that need legs too, but our support system is so much greater here than over there in Haiti. They have nothing! I hope that sweet little boy gets his leg soon =( I just want to hug him....
this is americia not Haiti's. You feel sorry go live there. You wont feel sorry for very long.
What is so wrong with feeling sorry for them??? I feel terrible for them!! I cry all the time for them and what they are going through. Why is that wrong??? The children are rarely smiling and that is heartbreaking. Speaking of hearts, did you lose yours somewhere along the way?? Sure seems like it....
no, we haven't lost our hearts, we're just tired of opening our checkbooks to people who are enternally ungrateful
money before love......it's sickening!!!!!!!!! You all are backwards!!! That poor child has done nothing!! It's not his fault he was born there!! He has feelings just like your child or mine. I am so sick of you people and your friggin "checkbooks"!! Is that ALL that matters to you??? So many of those people are innocent people just trying to live, while all of us (well you) are busy worrying about the next computer, or cell phone and whine about this and whine about that......I hope you lose your "checkbook" and see what matters then!!!!
Are you for friggin' real? NOT EVERYONE who is homeless gets welfare, or gets the help they need.
not to mention a LARGE amount of the homeless are VETERAN's. Men who put their lives on the line to make ours better. They don't always get the help they need, deserve and most of all EARNED!!