We Will Miss Hannah !!

This week, with deep melancholy, we have to say goodbye, for now, to our dedicated physiotherapist and Network Support Team leader since last October, Hannah Steadman.  Hannah, who came here last summer to volunteer as on the rehab service with Haiti Hospital Appeal for a few months, decided to stay longer and was fortunately referred to us at the Cap Haitien Health Network.  Unfortunately, as she joined us, the cholera epidemic was just starting, and her and the Team spent several months of working on overdrive to try to keep up with all of the coordination work required as one place after another became affected.  Hannah was very successful at connecting all of our member clinics and organizations far and wide with the new and old organizations that came to help, notably Doctors without Borders, along with MSPP and many of us trying to help from abroad. 

 

Hannah capably led the Network Support Team as it continues to create and deliver a palette of services to the health programs in the region, coordinating receipt of meds, supplies, soap and other hygiene supplies, (and volunteers) from new and old partners and distribution to new and old members of the Network, and fostering collaboration wherever possible.  She also has set up a large consortium of "water" organizations to work on a coordinated effort to assess and improve water purity all around the region.  And managing to keep our original 2001 Kia Sportage still running after 1 very hard year of service! (We still await release any day of a newer better vehicle which customs is trying to make sure she does not get the pleasure of riding in before she leaves.)

 

Along and aside with this, she still was able to help identify and expand the PT and rehab services in the region, identifying patients all around who needed services, providing and connecting them with services, and helping with the continued development of rehab inpatient and outpatient services at Haiti Hospital Appeal and elsewhere.

 

 

4965 emails (before this one) later, always with a smile and endless patience and her British charm, she has demonstrated selfless devotion to helping the poor and sick of northern Haiti while being a wonderful friend to myself and many, many others. Hannah has made a gigantic impact and will be greatly missed.  She promises to come back to us next year and we hope and pray that we should be so lucky for her to be able to do that.  Whatever happens in the future, we know that she will continue to be a blessing and be blessed many times over for her sacrifices.   Au revoir, and safe travels and all the best, please join me in thanking and appreciating Hannah !!