Colleen Poulin and Jeff Anderson both of Gardner, MA are two of a group of student interns who accompanied Dr. John Mulqueen and the Forward in Health medical team on a mission to Haiti in 2007. They signed on as seniors in High School and are now college students.

I. Colleen Poulin in Her own Words: “It was my first visit and I am positive it won’t be my last.”

“Dr. Mulqueen and Paula Mulqueen, his wife, belong to the same church that I do and that’s where I first heard about Forward in Health’s (FIH) work in Haiti and about its internship program. Once I heard them talk about FIH’s work in Haiti I was sold. I promised myself that one day I’d go on one of their trips and do what I could to help out. I had been looking forward to the trip for so long, I was surprised when I got there to see how bad the conditions are that Haitians face everyday.

“When I left for Haiti, I expected to work in the clinic and to help people of Les Cayes with medical care. What I did not expect was that I’d bond with people who don’t speak my language and who don’t have the luxuries in life that I have. That week-I realized that we are all the same and that they deserve a fair chance at healthcare and better living-just like Americans do.

“Driving through Haiti and seeing the country was a shock. I had never seen houses like the ones they live in or such extreme poverty. It was life-changing to walk into a home that was no bigger than my living room and where seven people lived. There were rows and rows of houses just like this. I take so much for granted-running water, sewage and sanitation. To paint a clear picture Haitians just don’t have any of that. And yet, they are lively and gracious people

“Not only did our team work in the medical clinic, the student interns sandpapered iron beds in a nursing home and painted them white. We visited an orphanage for disabled and terminally ill children. I held a severely disabled little boy in my arms and he just kept hugging me back. I held him and I rubbed his back; the bones in his back felt like mountains with deep valleys, he was that mangled and twisted. Yet, when I looked into his eyes I could see his smile from within.

My heart broke when we visited the terminally ill children. I could see one little girl in the back of the room that no one had held yet. She was around two years old and looked shy and so lonely. So, I went over to her crib and picked her up. Feeling her hold on to me the way she did will stay with me forever. I would try to hold her up so I could look at her and interact with her. But, she just held on tight letting me know that she just wanted to be held closely and to be loved. I held her like that for a very long time. Eventually she loosened her grip and let me play with her. She would put her forehead close to mine and just stare into my eyes. She was just precious. When I put her down she started to cry but I kissed her and told her it was okay. I waved goodbye to her and she smiled ear-to-ear. I wish that I could have frozen that moment in time-I’ll always remember it.

“I’m amazed at how much we did that week in Haiti; we also got to work with a youth group. They taught us about their culture and we spent one evening, 30 of us in a small room, learning Haitian dances and teaching them American dances. It was so much fun to connect in that way.

“I made many friends on the trip-we all have a special bond that can’t be explained or interpreted. I’ve learned to appreciate everything I have and to not take anything for granted. I also learned that the little things in life are what matter the most. When I talk to people about my experience, I remind them that everyone can do their part to help those people. I think that what Forward in Health is doing in Haiti is extraordinary and any support people can give will most appreciated. Forward in Health offers a glimmer of hope for better living conditions and healthcare; I am lucky to have had a part in that.”

Colleen enrolled in September 2007 as a freshman at Framingham State College.

II. Jeff Anderson Talks about His Experience: “The trip to Haiti was definitely the most amazing and influential experience of my life.”

“Ever since I can remember I’ve wanted to be in the Peace Corps and when I heard Dr. John Mulqueen speak about Forward in Health at my school, I thought going to Haiti with him would be a good start. However, I had to weigh the cost of an internship with FIH against college expenses –because I’d be starting college in the fall. After meeting Dr. Mulqueen a second time I was won over by his passion for helping make a difference in Haiti. I worked hard to raise the $1,250 and got donations from friends, families and businesses that covered almost 95 percent of the trip. Now, I was ready for the experience of a lifetime.

“First came the preparation phase- you don’t just hop a plane and fly off to Haiti with Forward in Health. Dr. Mulqueen and Paula Mulqueen held three informational sessions at their home. They explained the cultural differences, the dangers about the mission-and they basically helped us gear up for the trip.

“Our team stayed at a mission house just outside Les Cayes. It was a three story building with small rooms that slept two people. There were no electrical outlets in our rooms and we all shared just two bathrooms. Compared to Haitian living conditions - we were in the lap of luxury. When we came through the city, I could see open sewers and garbage everywhere. Hygiene is a huge problem. Rural areas are a bit, but not much, cleaner. Houses there are concrete rooms that just manage to keep rain out; in others walls are built out of banana palms and patched with cardboard.

“Haitian people and families literally have nothing-maybe a cup and bowl yet, I was touched by their vitality, their good attitude and the fact they are just happy to be alive. I was blown-away by that.

“The medical clinics were awesome. For three days we saw patients, over 100 children each day from infancy to age 14. We saw a girl with TB and spina bifida, a boy whose brain is not developed and who cannot speak. A young girl walked in to our clinic. Last year she could not even walk because of the pain from arthritis; now, because she received Motrin for pain she was walking again. Think of it-had she been American she would have been diagnosed and treated immediately. In Haiti she was at the mercy of someone-from somewhere to help. If FIH had not been there she might still not be able to walk.

“Our tour guide hooked us up with a Haitian Youth Group. In spite of the language barrier (some speak Creole and others Spanish) we went to a nursing home and together scraped and painted old iron beds for the elderly. Music broke the barrier for us. We all got together and shared our music. We sang, we danced and we laughed. It was fun.

“My most memorable experience came at the orphanage run by nuns. It was also difficult to see. About six nuns care for 100 children whose parents can no longer care for them. Some are mentally retarded others have HIV/AIDS. All are in cribs and the saddest thing is that they lack touch from another human being. I walked around to each and tried to talk to them or rub their arms. One young boy was totally out of it but, if you touched him he lit up and his laugh was just so infectious.

“We visited a long time in the AIDS room. Nancy, a nurse with our team, handed me a little boy. I could only hold him for a short time because he was screaming to go back to Nancy, but holding him was sobering and healing at the same time. I have such a greater appreciation for what I have and I’m convinced that if Americans would only sacrifice even a little it could make a big difference.

“Will I ever go back? Yes. I learned so much from my visit and am thankful to Dr. Mulqueen and Forward in Health. But, I believe the experience should be open to new and more people who hopefully will get a movement going to help out.

“The need is so great in Haiti and the best that I can do now is to get the word out. I’ve started an advocacy club on campus to build awareness of the terrible need and to get funding for the people there.”

Jeff enrolled in September of 2007 as a freshman at Providence College.

III. From the parents of Lauren Dembek who traveled to Haiti with Forward in Health April 2008:

Our daughter Lauren went to Haiti in April with Forward in Health. In preparing we had a cautious anticipation of how a mission to Haiti would change our daughter. In fact Lauren learned that making a commitment going to a poverty stricken country can help you prepare for a life long lesson in helping people. After participating in the trip her enthusiasm became apparent when she decided to join a volunteer club at her college to help the community. Once you have the positive satisfaction of helping others it seems you just can't stop. We knew Haiti was special when you hear her stories or look at pictures of the trip. The Haitian peoples appreciation has given her a reason to get involved and help others that never would have never happened if she had not joined the Forward in Health studenet trip.

Thanks for the successful trip
Keith and Theresa Dembek

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