{"id":246,"date":"2013-03-11T14:20:15","date_gmt":"2013-03-11T18:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?page_id=246"},"modified":"2013-03-11T14:20:15","modified_gmt":"2013-03-11T18:20:15","slug":"personal-stories","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?page_id=246","title":{"rendered":"Personal Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><div class=\"slideshow_container slideshow_container_0\" style=\"width: 0px; height: 200px;\">\r\n\t<div class=\"slideshow_overflow\" style=\"width: 0px; height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"slideshow\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_0\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1260<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_12601.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1260\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_1\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1422<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1422.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1422\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_2\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1448<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1448.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1448\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_3\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1505<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1505.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1505\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_4\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1557<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1557.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1557\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_5\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1571<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1571.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1571\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_6\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1577<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1577.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1577\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_7\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1580<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1580.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1580\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_8\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1614<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1614.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1614\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_9\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1645<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1645.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1645\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_10\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1682<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1682.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1682\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_11\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1725<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1725.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1725\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_12\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1727<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1727.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1727\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_13\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1740<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1740.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1740\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_14\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1811<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1811.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1811\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_15\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1856<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1856.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1856\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slide slide_16\" style=\"height: 200px;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"description transparent\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>IMG_1945<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a  target=\"_self\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1945.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_1945\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"controllers\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"controlPanel transparent\"><ul><li class=\"togglePlay play\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"button previous transparent\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"button next transparent\"><\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"slideshow_plugin_manufacturer\">\r\n\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.stefanboonstra.com\/slideshow\/\">Wordpress Slideshow<\/a>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<!-- WordPress Slideshow Version 2.1.23 -->\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n\t\t\t.slideshow_container_0 { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .slideshow { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 img { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .slide {\r\n\tmargin-right: 2px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .transparent {\r\n\tfilter: alpha(opacity = 50);\r\n\topacity: 0.5;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .transparent:hover {\r\n\tfilter: alpha(opacity = 80);\r\n\topacity: 0.8;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .description {\r\n\tbackground: #000;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .controlPanel {\r\n\twidth: 21px;\r\n\theight: 21px;\r\n\tbackground: #000;\r\n\tborder-radius: 2px;\r\n\t-moz-border-radius: 10px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .controlPanel ul { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .controlPanel ul li {\r\n\tmargin: 3px;\r\n\twidth: 15px;\r\n\theight: 15px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .controlPanel ul li:hover { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .play {\r\n\tbackground: url('https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/slideshow-jquery-image-gallery\/images\/SlideshowPlugin\/light-controlpanel.png') 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .pause {\r\n\tbackground: url('https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/slideshow-jquery-image-gallery\/images\/SlideshowPlugin\/light-controlpanel.png') -15px 0 no-repeat;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .button {\r\n\tmargin-top: -20px;\r\n\theight: 40px;\r\n\twidth: 19px;\r\n\tbackground: url('https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/slideshow-jquery-image-gallery\/images\/SlideshowPlugin\/light-arrows.png') no-repeat;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .previous { }\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 .next {\r\n\tbackground-position: -19px 0;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 h2,\r\n.slideshow_container_0 p,\r\n.slideshow_container_0 a {\r\n\ttext-decoration: none;\r\n\tcolor: #fff;\r\n\ttext-align: center;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 h2 {\r\n\tmargin: 5px;\r\n\tfont-size: 25px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.slideshow_container_0 p {\r\n\tmargin: 7px;\r\n\tfont-size: 15px;\r\n}\t<\/style>\r\n\t<\/div><\/h1>\n<h1>Sophie Torrents<\/h1>\n<p>Sophie Torrents is currently a freshman at University of Florida studying Health Science. \u00a0In 2010, while in high school, she took a trip to Haiti with one of the surgical teams. Sophia has a passion for photography, so while on the trip she took many heartfelt photograpghs. \u00a0After returning, Sophie printed many of the photos and hosted a fundraiser at the Helene Lamarque Gallery in Miami. She raised almost $1500 for our project.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?attachment_id=248\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-248\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-248\" alt=\"IMG_1848\" src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1848-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1848-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1848-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1848-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1848.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Comments from Sophia Torrent<\/h1>\n<p>&#8220;As I carried a twenty-pound Haitian child suffering from hydrocephalus into what we had recently made into an operating room, I didn\u2019t know what to expect. I checked to make sure that my mask was securely placed over my mouth, and that my hair net kept every stray hair from my face and in its rightful place. I settled in a closet-sized space with the best view I could find. I was nervous at what I was about to see but exhilarated at what I would learn. The little boy that had been in my arms five minutes earlier now lay on a table to have his skull drilled into.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?attachment_id=252\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-252\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-252\" alt=\"IMG_2071\" src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_2071-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_2071-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_2071-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_2071-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_2071.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>When I was 16 I had the opportunity to take the trip that changed my life forever. I had never seen a place so poverty stricken and world where antibiotics were hard to come by. The moment I walked into the waiting room and saw 22 enlarged heads and big brown eyes I knew something had changed inside me. I wanted to soak everything in. As I offered a helping hand anywhere possible, I took the time to walk around take pictures of everything I saw. Photography, for me was the way to capture my feelings and emotions.<\/p>\n<p>I quickly learned that Hydrocephalus affects so many young children in Haiti. It\u2019s a phenomenon that not many people know about, yet it is extremely saddening. I could tell the difference between one patient\u2019s head, that was bigger than another\u2019s; he was less aware and not able to respond to hand movements and gestures. For many children if their condition worsens to a point that doctors cannot operate they are left with no hope.<\/p>\n<p>I watched as the mothers of these children carried their very heavy infants around the<a href=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?attachment_id=253\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-253\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-253\" alt=\"IMG_1260\" src=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1260-300x225.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1260-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1260-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1260-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/IMG_1260.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> waiting room, feeding them anything they could get their hands on and hoping that their babies will soon be better.<\/p>\n<p>Those four days in Haiti taught me more about the importance of healthcare, knowledge and compassion than any person, school, or lesson could have. Although the language barriers made speech difficult to comprehend, there was no shortage of understanding that I felt towards the people I had met.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<h1>Comments from Board Member Dr. John Ragheb:<\/h1>\n<p>My father always said \u201cGod gives each of us something.\u00a0\u00a0 Your challenge is to figure out what.\u201d\u00a0 I think that once you\u2019ve found your calling, that your purpose in life should be to use that skill for the benefit of others.\u00a0 After my first trip to Haiti in 2003 with Project Medishare\u00a0it was clear that the Haitians needed help treating children with hydrocephalus.\u00a0 Having traveled and worked with medical missions in Africa, Central and South America and Cuba, I was overwhelmed by the need for pediatric neurosurgery care that I saw in Haiti. \u00a0Haiti had few formally trained neurosurgeons with limited access to equipment and resources and no formal neurosurgical training program.\u00a0 With the help of Project Medishare and the University of Miami Department of Neurosurgery, the hydrocephalus project began not only to provide care for the children but also to ultimately create a training and educational program for Haitian surgeons.<\/p>\n<p>Since the program\u2019s inception, we have worked steadily toward the goals of providing care for the children while trying to develop a training program for Haitian neurosurgeons.\u00a0 Over a thousand children have been assessed and hundreds treated at no cost to the children or families. My hope is that we can create a model for care and education that other pediatric specialty programs can follow as we develop a Haitian tertiary care system for children.<\/p>\n<h1>Comments from Board Member\u00a0Carolyn Domina:<\/h1>\n<p>&#8220;I have been a part of the Neurosurgical team going to Haiti since 2003. This was my first experience as a volunteer to a third world country and I have never looked back. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I have ever felt.\u00a0 There is nothing like helping children and families who have so very little. When I first started going to Haiti it was hard to believe the poverty that I saw and then I knew this was something I wanted to do for as long as possible.\u00a0 Presently I go twice a year and it is remarkable how far we have come from our initial visits. We have trained nurses to help with Neurosurgery especially with the Hydrocephalus Program \u00a0and we are now working with the Anesthesiologist \u00a0in Haiti.\u00a0 \u00a0I am so impressed with the care that the families provide to their children with Hydrocephalus. It is amazing. It is hard to share in words.<\/p>\n<p>Join us in Haiti Healthy Kids, Inc. so that you can make a difference to the children and families in Haiti.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h1>Comments from Board Member\u00a0Ann McNeil:<\/h1>\n<p>I have always loved kids&#8211; wanted a dozen of my own ( settled on 4) &#8211;and count each and every one of these as special- Haitian children of my heart.<\/p>\n<p>I signed up for the first trip in 2003 and by default became the note-taker, ward-monitor and liaison with the Haitian team. Over the years I have been lucky enough to travel at least once a year and with new teams as they were recruited.\u00a0Of late, I am more of\u00a0a trip-\u00a0coordinator by virtue of working in Miami with the original group. The skills I need to improve include being able to speak Creole.<\/p>\n<p>Volunteering has made it impossible to STOP volunteering. I see the profound need in Haiti for the skills of the team. Operations enable children, who might otherwise have enormous heads and profound disabilities, to have their chance at a better life. I am honored to be able to give of my time, together with the rest of the team, to care for these children and teach the Haitian professionals.\u00a0We are at the point where there is a hospital to work in and there are\u00a0Haitian professionals to provide anesthesia coverage and to\u00a0scrub in to assist the neurosurgeons. I hope to coordinate\u00a0ongoing education and collaboration with colleagues in the States. When this program sustains itself I will NOT be involved. This is our goal! I will come back as a tourist to Haiti and stop in to say Bonjour.<\/p>\n<p>Those who diagnose or have children with hydrocephalus in Haiti now know who to call. They know they can refer or bring the child to PAP for care. Families of children who have had surgery know who to contact if they have concerns \u00a0whether it is immediately post op or a year later. \u00a0We have to sustain the program and the access to care.<\/p>\n<p>Join us in the effort by making a donation to the project.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sophie Torrents Sophie Torrents is currently a freshman at University of Florida studying Health Science. \u00a0In 2010, while in high school, she took a trip to Haiti with one of the surgical teams. Sophia has a passion for photography, so &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/?page_id=246\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/246"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=246"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":300,"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/246\/revisions\/300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/haitihealthykids.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}