Oh, my heart overflows! So many of you responded to my post about my upcoming trip to Haiti with gifts and the promise of prayers and encouragement! I know I said it already, but it’s as though you’re coming along with me! I can only imagine what it will mean to the staff of MamaBaby when I arrive at their door, laden with your gifts! The staff of MamaBaby work, literally, day and night, around the clock, and around the calendar in service to the at-risk moms and babies of Haiti. To receive such an outpouring of love will certainly lift their weary hearts and show them they’re remembered.
You’ve encouraged me personally as well! I’m excited to go to Haiti, but I’ll be honest, I’m nervous, too. I understand that three weeks of hard and potentially heartrending work lies ahead of me, and, well, at the very least, I’m not twenty anymore! I’m not even thirty! Thanks with all of my heart for your show of support and, more than anything, that you intend to keep me in your prayers.
I thought I’d take a minute and share some photographs of the items that have appeared on my doorstep. If you sent a gift, but find you’ve gone unnamed, please drop me a line! Many of the items came without sender information. Also, the gifts are still rolling in, so this is simply a gallery of those items I’ve already received.
The very first box to come really took my breath away, and is the reason I selected its contents as the cover photograph of this post – a woman named Gail McLean sent twenty-one handmade blankets! Gail also sent 200 umbilical cord clamps!
My former client, former apprentice, and very dear friend, Jammi Pace, sent diapers, gauze, sheets, and needles!
My friend, Amy Young, sent bath towels, ink pens, and syringes!
A young woman named Emily Walker sent a sweet card and gift of funds!
Sent, but unclaimed are five reusable underpads, a case of disposable underpads, Brother toner cartridges, and a huge bottle of Hibiclens!
Gina Gerboth is sending along some cord clamps, bulb syringes, and tape measures!
Karen Strange plans to send two Mercury medical infant resuscitation bags and several masks!
My sister and her husband, Kris and Ron Ratkos, are contributing funds!
And, finally, Jill Roper tells me a siren for the ambulance is on the way!
Again and again and again, abundant thank yous, you many generous souls!
by Kim Woodard Osterholzer, Colorado Springs Homebirth Midwife
Photographs by Kim
Thank you so much for the gift of your time!
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Kim Woodard Osterholzer, Colorado Springs Homebirth Midwife and Author
Books by Kim:
Homebirth: Commonly Asked Questions
A Midwife in Amish Country: Celebrating God’s Gift of Life
Nourish + Thrive: Happy, Healthy Childbearing
One Little Life at a Time: Recommendations + Record Keeping for Aspiring Homebirth Midwives
What do you still need?
Thank you, Beth! Here are links to items still missing from the list:
Acetaminophen: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWSZ3VM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I5QE3HQ0804CD
Tumms: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035U184O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I3GFDTEI925D7D
Clorox wipes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CJVPCO6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I22UW1RRJUXS5O&th=1
Alcohol prep pads: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BUD9YW0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I3K5A3RR1AHAOC&th=1
Trash bags: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015EXPW3W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=IRGYY2UTLQWKY
Liquid hand soap: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0020VJTDG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I325WJMX9DVU1D&th=1
Hand sanitizer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BOWFPSY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1JSH4WKLTPRNF&coliid=I13H96C3X9J89S&psc=1
I have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love that spills out over our living room floor like a wave of aid! Thanks to all of you who have donated!
Praying for you this morning. What are the dates of your trip?? I want to be praying for you.
Thank you, Tanya! I’ll be away from March 10-31.
Happy to be able to help! I have contemplated a trip there myself, so I want to hear all the details when you get back!
Thank you for the gifts, Gina! And I’ll be sure to tell you all about it 🙂
Oh Kim, I had wanted to help you, but I have been so busy helping Hannah I forgot the dates. Besides the most important thing,PRAYERS, which I will be doing for you, could you still use money??!!
Hi, Marigene! Oh, thank you for your prayers and for your desire to help! Yes, actually, I could still use money. Besides the fact that I’ll be paying substantial excess baggage fees in order to bring all the gifts along with me, I’ll need to pay $20.00 per day for an interpreter through the duration of my stay!