-Patrick
-----Original Message-----
From: dana tierney
The prunebelly site tends to suck me into side projects. One of these, a
child in the Phillippines who does not seem to have access to medical care
that could make quite a difference for him, has been eating up a fair amount
of time -- but as a parent I just can't walk away fro the fact that his
mother asked me for help. I think I asked here for suggestions, and Doug
pointed out a website, which answered me after a very long delay and
referred me to another email address, which never got back to me. OK, I work
with volunteers a lot, so I understand. Still... this is n't helping the
kid. So I got on the phone and asked an assortment of people in the
Albuquerque phone book for suggestions. The New Age-ish Center for Peace and
Justice was the most useless. Well you know, a lot of kids die over there,
said the twenty-something who answered the phone. Duh. However, this is a
particular child whose mother asked for my particular help. So I soldier on,
presenting the problem as one that I knew the person I was talking to could
not solve, but for which I would very much appreciate a suggestion...
Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, United Way all tell me they have info on
resources for Albuquerque area residents only. Which has to be BS, as these
are national organizations -- the persons I was talking to simply did not
choose to make an effort. I was coming to an end to the listings under
"social" in the phone book, so I tried the Native American domestic violence
shelter. There was a thoughtful pause and the woman on the other end of the
line asked if I have tried UNICEF. Light bulb. Why no, say I. Good idea.
Thank you. Try the Red Cross too, she says. And maybe the airlines will
help. Then, having listened to my problem, she tries me with one of hers, to
which, it turns out, I am able to provide a partial solution. But I digress.
So while googling around on UNICEF and aid and Philippines I come up with a
list of the members of some sort of task force on healthcare in the
Philippines, with email addresses. Shrug. I send them each an email saying
again, I know you deal with organizations not individuals, but do you have
any suggestions for this kid's mother, who is asking me for help.
Fully half of those people answered me, including the Australian and
Japanese Agencies for International Development. With specific suggestions
and questions.
:) It's nice to know that people will still try to help a sick little boy.
By the way, all of these possibilities revolve around getting him to a
doctor in the Philippines. I know a doctor here who will consult with a
doctor there, but it is still possibile that we may have to get him to the
states, so if anyone has any further suggestions on this, my ears are wide
open. I have not talked to the various airlines yet.
Just thought I would share though; I just found the email from the Japanese
and it includes phone numbers and everything :)
Dana
Outbound email scanned for virus'.
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