Help Coffy [blog]

One year update and many thanks

2011-01-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

One year ago today Haiti suffered an enormous tragedy that shattered the earth. We all watched lives being changed forever, never to be the same, including our own lives. We saw that even though one may not be of the Haitian family, we are ALL part of the HUMAN FAMILY!!!

Those of you who followed our story know that Coffy's mom and dad were transferred to Boston on a humanitarian visa, an operation that that was arranged and sponsored by Partners In Health, to whom we are forever greatful. The Coffys received life-saving treatment, and went through a series of surgeries.
Coffy's mom did not yet recover from her injuries. Although she is receiving great care, her recovery is a very slow process. She is still bed-ridden and will have to receive professional care for the foreseeable future, probably in a nursing home to be paid through charity.
Since the Coffys were denied insurance, we regretfully cannot afford moving her to a nursing facility closer to our own home, as much as we would have wanted to.
Coffy's dad is doing well. He was "adopted" by a church family that has taken him in. This winter was the first time he ever saw snow, and was very excited by it!

The support that was shown to us as Haitians and victims of the earthquake was enormous. We want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all of the donations, kind words, and prayers for our families. Thank you. Without your support we would not have been able to endure this experience.

It is our hope that time, resources, and mostly our love for Haiti will be a part of the solution to Help Haiti and Haitians Help Themselves.

Sincerely,

Jean-Paul Coffy and Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy

Six months

2010-07-12T21:11:00.001-07:00

Six months ago the world's eyes fell upon one of the most catastrophic experiences in our decade, the earth quake in Haiti.
When we heard the news from friends, it didn't seem to hit us. It was only when we saw the images on CNN that the reality took effect. When we actually couldn't make contact with family members the panic set in.
From the very beginning calls from all around the world came in to our home to ask about our family in Haiti. We were surrounded by constant love and concern from friends near and far. The parents in our pre-school never let one day pass by without asking for our family and friends in Haiti. All that seem to be going through my mind is if we lived in Haiti where would I have been during the actual time of the earth quake.

To all of our supporters who helped us during this time. Many thanks we will never forget you. Each and everyone of you made us feel loved and true compassion. We appreciate it very much. Merci.

[posted by keren for Yakini and Coffy]

June 1

2010-06-02T08:21:00.001-07:00

X-rays show that the hip surgery was a 100% success. Zilania can now sit in bed (without screaming in pain). However, she can hardly put any weight on her leg, because of her knee. Physical therapy is going well. On the emotional side, they are both stressed and still suffer from the aftermath of all they have gone through.

The doctors strongly recommended against moving them anywhere, so for now they'll stay put until there's more drastic improvement.

Coffy's mom is doin a little better

2010-05-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

.
Coffy's mom is making progress, one baby step at a time. As you know, she is seeing a psychotherapist, and she is now being treated with anti depressant. The improvement is definitely noticeable. She screams less; her stitches were taken out from her leg; and she is taking part in her recovery. The physical therapy is getting better, and she can do it for longer time. She still needs help getting out of bed - but now one person can do the work that required two people before.
So all in all -- there's progress!

[posted by keren for Yakini on Coffy's blog]

Yakini's update from Boston - May 11, 2010

2010-05-11T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody,

Many of you followed our story during the long weeks that Coffy spent in Haiti. I would like to share with you some of the occurrences of the past month and update you about our current state.

As Coffy's mother arrived to the hospital in Boston, the doctors first of all did an assessment of her hip. They found that her leg was full of infection, which means that she could not have the hip replacement until the infection was gone.
She went through a preliminary surgery in which the surgeon put a spacer in her leg, filled with antibiotics, to hold and prepare the area for a new hip.
At that stage they had to "stretch the bone" - I don't know how you stretch a bone - but she was in excruciating pain, and they told her to anticipate that. She was in the ICU for 3 days after that surgery.
The next surgery was the actual hip replacement.
The operation was successful but when she was in recovery, she felt once again excruciating pain. They did an x-ray right away, and discovered that there was a complication. As part of the hip replacement operation, since her bones are very thin, the surgeons use cement to "glue" the hip in. Unfortunately the cement spilled over into her knee joints. So even though the hip replacement was successful, an hour after the surgery they had to go back and do another surgery and open her back up and pull out all the excess cement from her knee. Her blood pressure was hard to maintain, and she was put back in the ICU.

In the meanwhile, Coffy's dad was supposed to have both hernia and prostate surgery. However, he "failed" the preliminary "stress test": the doctors realized that there's something wrong with his heart. They discovered that he had 99% blockage in one artery. He was literally undergoing a heart attack when he started experiencing stress. He was taken straight out to the ER, where he was put on an EKG machine and they immediately caught it and put in a stent in his chest. They said, "we caught it right in time". He can't have his surgery until that heals, which is 40 days.

By now, Coffy's mom left the hospital and went to an orthopedic recovery rehab center.

Now this phase of the recovery is something that we didn't expect.
We thought Coffy would go over to Haiti, see if they're alive; if they're alive, take care of them, bring them here if he could, get their medical needs met.

But there's a new factor: the mental state. And that is one of the most difficult pieces in this puzzle.
Her spirit literally has been broken. Right now the diagnosis is that she's suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as well as delirium, and it's pretty severe. Sometimes she knows where she is, sometimes she doesn't. She can't disassociate herself from pain. If you just walk past her leg or if you just touch it, she screams. It's a combination of her being in pain with also thinking that she should be in pain.
Her therapist calls it anticipatory anxiety. It brings her blood pressure up, she's screaming... For someone who has been through that earthquake and all the surgery she's gone through... All that pain... When you think of it it's not surprising.

I try to help and be there for her. It helps when I sing to her, and we talk a lot. We're working on a Haitian recipe book - she is an amazing cook!
My kids call her. We have a schedule - they each call every other day, my mother calls every other day, Coffy calls 3 or 4 times a day. So that kinda connects her to a sense of reality. A lot of affection - I comb her hair, do her nails, give her a massage. Just trying to make her remember...
She's probably one of the greatest women i know.
I sometimes think of her as this big tall oak tree who fell. Someone who's wings have been broken. She says "life isn't beautiful anymore, what happened?".
And we're trying to piece the pieces back together, give her a reason to live.

She's out of her elements - everything here is different, the language, people, food, everything. Luckily there are many haitians around among the nursing and staff.

The mental state is going to be a key element in her healing.
She should be in normal "rehab" phase, learning how to move her leg again, walking on a walker, physical therapy, etc. But she's not able to do anything like that yet.
She's supposed to be able to do 2-3 hours a day of "recovery", but can only do 20-45 minutes. Most people stay on this floor 3-6 weeks, but her doctors think that her recovery is going to be 6-8 months because of her mental state - she can't participate in her own healing. It's going to take months and months... Her mental state is very poor, and that's our biggest worry.

We found a haitian psychotherapist that comes once a week. It's going to take a long time for her to be able to separate physical pain in her body from emotional pain - they became one for her.

Coffy's dad is here with me in the rehab place. He's getting dental work done and psychotherapy as well - he's waking up every night with manic dreams that as he says just get worse and worse and worse. As I said, we never thought about that part - the emotional stress.

Considering our family and our business, we've decided that I would be the best person to be here at this time.
What do my days look like? We now live in cambridge, I go between 2 hospitals probably twice a week. I'm taking my father-in-law back and forth to the hospital in boston to continue with his medical care (dental, heart), that's about a 45 minute drive. The other thing is to be with my mother-in-law during her therapy, because there's no interpreter here. They have a lot of haitian employees but overseeing rehabilitation care is critical, it's very different from a hospital - you have to be very active as a patient. So I'm advocating for her, to make sure that she gets the appropriate care. I don't mean to sound negative, but there's a lot involved, and they both have different needs.

One thing that we're trying to figure out, is if they can be transfered to Chicago. Northwestern had previously agreed to take her as an out patient, but she needs to be in a skilled nursing rehab facility, because she cannot do anything by herself. She can eat by herself, she can talk, but she can't go up and down stairs, she's still in a wheel chair, she can't do anything. She needs long term therapy, and Northwestern did not commit to having her in a rehab facility.

The Coffys were granted a 12-month humanitarian visa that qualifies them to get medicade through a federal or some kind of a government grant. They are both ok from that end. We're trying to see whether if she comes to chicago will all of that be covered. So far Massachusetts covered everything. Her medical bills are astronomical - we are so blessed to be getting this help!
I'm going through medical plans to see if Chicago and Illinois will accept them the way that Massachusetts has. Every state manages its healthcare differently, and I have to be very careful in thinking of moving them to make sure that they'll be getting the quality care that they're getting in Boston.

So where do we go from here? I don't know if Coffy and I can keep doing this back and forth for six months. I guess we could if we have to, but I wish our children did't have to suffer so much, it's becoming very difficult.

Looking back at it, I figured that I was so naive! When we learned that coffy was coming back and his parents are coming, we were going to have a party. It never even cross my mind... I thought that she would, by now, be walking again, with a walker or a cane... She's nowhere close. It's more the fear and depression that holds her back.

I feel like I should be apologizing. Coffy is much better at blogging.. I'm not doing as good a job that he has been... But how do you blog about something like that? About trying to get that woman's mind back?
She's endured so much pain. I don't have an answer for this one. I wish we were in Chicago, because we could ALL help, Spend a little time with her. Now it's just me.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I know that, as a woman and as a mother - she reminds me so much of myself - and I know that. I feel like the universe put us together, and it's very ironic, it's like looking at myself in the mirror, and i know there's a woman inside of her that wants to come out and walk! Her wind got broken by the pain and travel and all the stuff that you and I had just heard stories of, stories that coffy was telling us, but she was living it. When you stand and look at her, this is not a surprise that this is the toll that it took.

Despite the dark picture that I'm drawing here, I feel like there is progress. She'll get there, little by little, one step at a time.

[posted by keren for Yakini]

update - April 2010

2010-04-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

We heard from Coffy that his mom went through a couple of surgeries, to repair her hip and her knee. We all wish her a full recovery and health!

The Survivors

2010-04-16T10:02:00.001-07:00

Joined by her father-in-law Reserve Coffy, Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy attends to her ailing mother-in-law, Zilania Joacquin, who survived the Haitian Earthquake before being airlifted to Boston's Brigham and Womens Hospital.

Ailing Trip from Haiti to Boston

2010-04-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

With their daughter-in-law Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy looking on, earthquake survivor Reserve Coffy attends to his ailing wife, Zilania, after Partners In Health helped airlifted them from Haiti to Boston's Brigham and Womens Hospital.

Never Broken

2010-04-16T09:59:00.001-07:00

Partners In Health founder Dr. Paul Farmer holds the hand of his patient, Haitian Earthquake survivor Reserve Coffy during a luncheon at Harvard recently.

Reserve Coffy, Yakini Ajanaku and Paul Farmer

2010-04-16T09:58:00.001-07:00

Partners In Health founder Dr. Paul Farmer speaks to his patient, Haitian Earthquake survivor Reserve Coffy and his daughter-in-law Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy at a Harvard luncheon where he was guest of honor.

Paul Farmer the Hero

2010-04-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

Partners In Health founder Dr. Paul Farmer speaks at Harvard University about his work in the wake of the recent Haitian Earthquake.

Copyright Clennon L. King 2010

Remembering the tragedy

2010-04-16T09:54:00.001-07:00

Haitian earthquake survivor Reserve Coffy listens to Partners In Health founder Dr. Paul Farmer, along with his daughter-in-law Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy at Harvard University.

Paul Farmer at Harvard University

2010-04-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, speaks on the Haitian earthquake at Harvard University recently as survivor Reserve Coffy and his daughter-in-law, Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy listen.

BWH Article

2010-04-09T14:05:00.001-07:00

This is an article that ran in the Brigham Bulletin in the March 12th edition. It's about a meeting between Coffy, his parents, Dr. Betsy Nabel, and Dr. Paul Farmer, when they were still at the PIH hospital at Cange, Haiti.
Dr. Nabel (MD) is the president of Brigham hospital, where the Coffys are being treated right now.

When treatment isn’t available

2010-04-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

The New York Times - followup article

2010-04-01T09:59:00.001-07:00

NY Times article
By SARAH KRAMER
Published: March 30, 2010

Going back to Chicago

2010-03-31T08:33:00.001-07:00

I'm on my way back to Chicago, to get back to work. Then my wife
Yakini, will replace me here at the Brigham And Women's Hospital, in
Boston. Today mom had a hip aspiration, it is the process of drawing
some liquid from her hip, then analyze it in order to determine if
she's clear of infections left. After that, the doctors will let us
know when the hip replacement operation will take place, if all is
clear.
Further more, dad has an appointment on 3-31-10 for the first time we
got here. I am happy for him. Although I won't be there, an
interpreter will be accompanying him to the doctor's office.
I'll keep you all posted as I know more.

Coffy.

My parents made to Boston

2010-03-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

They're here!!! My parents are at the Brigham Women And Health Hospital in Boston, very soon they'll have the surgeries and will be free of pain all together. I am happy beyond words, thanks to Partners In Health.

Welcome home, from Akin's class

2010-03-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

My heart is torn

2010-03-18T19:04:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

My son Akin participates in a once a year basketball game that takes place at his school. The most recent game took place yesterday, Wednesday the 17h, which is how I ended up back in the United States, back in Illinois, and back in Chicago with my family. I caught a flight to Chicago to make the game.

In the midst of all that was going on at home, I was supposed to leave for Boston, from Haiti, with my mother and father. Unfortunately, their papers hadn’t gone through yet with the state department so in order to make the game, I had to leave without them. But I have recently found out that their papers have gone through and are with the U.S. Embassy in Haiti. Now, though, I am in a bind. I am having a hard time deciding whether to go back to Haiti to travel with my parents to Boston or to spend more time here with my family and meet them in Boston. I am torn.

As a father and a husband, I have to be sure that I am around to support and be there for my family, but I am also a son. And as a son I have to be sure to be around and support my parents also, especially in their utmost time of need. I play many roles, and in each of them I have to take responsibility.

I was so happy to see my family, beyond words, but it was also very heartbreaking to leave my parents, especially with their being so many unresolved issues. Yes, their papers have cleared but they still have to endure the travel. They don’t speak English and I know that being on a flight to the Americas and going through immigration alone would be very hard and exhausting for them, since they have never traveled to the United States before. But I also know that my wife and children have endured a lot of heartache in my absence. Abruptly, they were without a husband, without a father, they were without me and they were hurting. So as I have said before, I am torn. My heart is torn.

We have been so grateful to be helped by an organization called Partners in Health. They have been assisting us since February 26th. With them, we have made tremendous strides. With their sponsorship my parents were approved for a Humanitarian Visa. Another thing that they are also doing that may aid in my decision to stay in Chicago or to go to Haiti is finding a Creole translator to travel with my parents on their journey. It would be not just a language barrier but a culture shock for them to travel alone and Partners in Health understands that. Still, though, it would be a difficult decision for me to make.

But at the moment, I am here. I am here with my family and I am happy to be home. However, I know that there are things that still need to be settled, and when they settle, I will also.

Coffy

An Inward Journey

2010-03-18T13:04:00.000-07:00

Coffy wrote this music while in Haiti, called: "An Inward Journey"

Back in Chicago!

2010-03-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

Akin and Coffy at Midway Airport

I finally made it home after two months.

made it to the game

I did not let my son down, I made it to his basketball game. He not only scored a basket, but his team WON
YEAH FOR AKIN!

(photos at game courtesy of Ms. Pat Foley of the Hyde Park Day School)

He's back!

2010-03-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Coffy is back in Chicago! Yakini and Akin are very excited
to have him back, even though it's not clear what's going
to happen next. PIH are pushing the paperwork through to have
the parents flown over to Boston, and this may happen as soon
as next week -- keeping all fingers crossed. Coffy will surely
update us soon about that and about his trip back.

But for now,
Welcome Home Coffy!

Meeting Paul Farmer

2010-03-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

"Paul Farmer has just been such an aid to us. We met at a Northwestern University lecture on last Friday, March 5th. I am honored to have met him." -Yakini

Reflections from Haiti / Paul Farmer

2010-03-05T08:08:00.001-08:00

-- Today --

Dr. Paul Farmer (see previous post) will be in Chicago tonight (Friday), and will give a presentation at Northwestern University. His talk will be broadcasted live on the internet:

A live webcast at 8:30 pm EST (7:30 CST) on Friday, March 5 for Reflections from Haiti, a keynote address by PIH co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer. The talk will be part of the 2010 GlobeMed Global Health Summit.

Link to the webcast and more details:
http://standwithhaiti.org/haiti/news-entry/reflections-from-haiti/

Post-earthquake trauma

2010-03-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Date: Thursday, March 4

Hi Kini,

There was a chaotic moment at the school in Partners in Health today located in Cange. For The record, there was no earth quake. It was an empty dump truck passing by near the school that sent a trembling sensation to the building and the children though it was an earth quake, and oh my god! The whole school was running out of control and scared, kids were jumping off the balcony, fell on each other and hurt themselves. That goes to show how traumatized everyone is about that earth quake period in Haiti.

Coffy.

March 4, Coffy updates from Haiti

2010-03-04T08:26:00.002-08:00

Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hi all,

I am now in Haiti. I've been here since 2/26/10 and today is Thursrday, 3/04/10.
The Hospital is called Zanmi Lasante (Partners In Health), an international organization founded by Dr. Paul E. Farmer. This organization is doing great work here in Haiti, and have been doing so for a long time, I just didn't know about them as many other Haitians don't. It is in the country side in a little town called Cange.
I made a little video as an update.

Jean Paul Coffy.

Hi everybody, I've now been here since February 26th, today is March 4th. And I am at the hospital called Zanmi Lasante which is translated as Partners in Health. It's an international organization which has been helping Haitians here since before the quake and now have been swamped with earthquake victims.
Mom and dad are here and now I've met with the founder of the organization Mr. Paul Farmer. After all diagnosis and consultation they realized that they cannot do the operation here because they don't have the equipment in Haiti in any other hospital - they called several other places, nobody has that kind of equipment to do a hip replacement. And so he said the best thing is to get my parents to Boston where he's affiliated with a hospital called Brigham [and] Women's Health Hospital, and there they've already accepted my parents as inpatients. Now the partners in health organization are working with immigration to see if they can speed up the process to get mom there. After they reviewed the x-rays and all the doctors are worried that the leg might have some infection that can be potentially dangerous and so they're working as quickly as possible with immigration to see if immigration and the US government will allow passage for my parents to get to the US and to get the treatment that they actually need. So we're crossing our fingers and in the meanwhile giving them medicine and infection medicine for the leg, and diabetic medicine and blood pressure medicine to just you know keep them alive until the process is actually been through. OK, I'll keep you all updated. Bye.

[pictures that Coffy sent from his first meeting with Dr. Farmer]

Links:
Partners in Health
Partners in Health - "Stand With Haiti"
Birgham and Women's Hospital in Boston
Zanmi Lasante

2/26 from Santo Domingo, DR -- to Cange, Haiti

2010-03-01T12:02:00.001-08:00

another long trip, that started on an airplane, continued on yet another bumpy road and ended in a hospital after a lot of pain killers.

1. Made it to the airplane

"made it to the airport. WOO HOO!!
we are now at the airport we're leaving to go to Haiti.
To that clinic, which is waiting for us
the doctors are waiting
they have everything in place to take care of mom and dad
i'm just SO happy."

2. On the plane to Haiti

3. A stop in Port Au Prince airport for passport control

"this is the airplane we just landed in Port Au Prince airport and now we're gonna clear immigration and take off
we're gonna fly again to get to Henche small airport
This is Port Au Prince international airport now."

4. Flying to Hinche

Landing in Hinche, after landing on the airstrip.

5. Bumpy road to Cagne

we are in the car a gentleman named Jude is driving us to the hospital. he told me it's about 45 to an hour drive, because the road is not very good, not good at all, and you know he's taking it very slow because of mom's pain and stuff. so here's Jude, i want to present Jude, who's driving us and we're not on our way to the hospital.

more dirt roads! but we're going to get to a hospital this time. "

"She's suffering but we gave her pain medicine and hope that's gonna help a little "

6. At the hospital Zanmi Lasante

"This is the place. we finally made it. we are here. and Cogi who is responsible for receiving us it looking for a room now for us. i'll take better pictures tomorrow because now we got here and there's no sun."

we made it to the hospital, we're inside the room. my parents made it. here's Cogi, he's the one who brought us in here in the room with everybody else"

[link to the BLOG]

2/26 goodbye DR, flying back to Haiti

2010-02-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

Coffy and his parents finally left back to Haiti, not before thanking everybody for their hospitality.

Wantelan, one of the of greatest helper, translator, tour guide and price negotiator, you name it.

The priest and I

The priest and the thank-you cake.

Thanking the priests for their hospitality at Capilla San Jose

On the way to the airport

(* the video is very short, it's not an error)

At the "Las Americas air port"

Just waiting on plane to arrive

videos

2010-02-25T09:27:00.001-08:00

.
[a paper that Akin wrote at school]

Akin
2/23/10

Leaving for Haiti
A time when I had mixed feelings was when my dad went to Haiti. First, there were parts of this experience that were sad. One reason I felt sad was because he left. Another reason I felt sad was because I could not go with him. The last reason I felt sad and let down was because he said he was going to be gone for a long time.
In addition, happiness came upon us because my dad is a hero. One reason I felt good was because he was going to help other people. Another reason I felt good was because he was going to be with his family. The last reason I felt happy and good was because he was going to help his family. I felt high and low during my experience when my dad had to go to Haiti.

Last days in the DR.

2010-02-25T09:24:00.001-08:00

Date: Thursday, February 25

Hi all,

We almost left the DR.
I received an email giving all the details of the flight.
We were suppose to leave here, the Capilla San Jose, at five thirty this morning
to get to the air port at 6:00, two hours prior to the flight which was at 8:00 AM.

Unfortunately, at around 11:25 PM we received a call cancelling the flight for either friday or saturday, or until further notice.
I'll keep you all posted as I get more info.

Coffy.

Update

2010-02-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

if all goes well, Coffy and his parents will board a flight to Haiti tomorrow (2/25) morning.

Letters

2010-02-24T17:33:00.001-08:00

From: Jean Paul Coffy
Subject: BBC interview
To: Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hi Yakini,

I just finished the interview with BBC World news and it was great. They were very pleasant to talk to and seem to care a lot about our troubles during this uncertain time.
However, talking to them made me realized how much we've been through, and are still going through as family. During the interview I had to retell the moment of leaving you guys,especially when you and Akin were crying at the airport in Chicago. It still hurts a lot to this day.

Yakini, I want to thank you again for being with me through out all of this. I thank God for knowing you. I feel as if only you could handle all of this without ever complaining and making me feel any worse than I already do. (leaving to take care of my parents) Instead you gave me strength, strength I didn't know I had. THANK YOU.

LOVE,

Coffy.

From: Yakini
To: Coffy
Date: Wed, Feb 24, 2010
Subject: let to the next step

Hi sweet heart,
Thanks so much for your lovely words of support. Just know that we are soulmates. I SEE YOU!!! I FEEL YOU AND I JUST LOVE THE HELL OUT OF YOU!!!
Remember you are just great in my eyes. Your integrity with yourself and love for family and Haiti is just what is needed now. You are a model man. Hell you are OUR model!!!
Just keep on doing what you do so well LOVE < SELFKIND and continue to radiate that energy for the world to see.
Yakini

BBC interview

2010-02-24T11:05:00.001-08:00

Coffy was interviewed by the BBC!
It went out in today's programme. You will be able to listen to it online from 2200 GMT: www.bbcworldservice.com/outlook

it's online now!!
here's a direct link

To Coffy

2010-02-23T08:34:00.001-08:00

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Hey Dad,
I am at the Chicago Auto Show - check out this cool car! Missing you a lot.
Akin

2/21: Still waiting in the DR

2010-02-23T08:16:00.001-08:00

Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010

Hi all,

I've always considered myself a very patient man but now find waiting very challenging and even frustrating. The worst part in waiting here in the DR is the fact that I don't speak the language and need to find someone to translate anything I need to say, or to take me around to find pharmacies and anything else I might need.

A couple of weeks ago Yakini told me that there are doctors in Haiti now. Although the doctors here at Dario Contreras advised me not to move mom for three months, Yakini and I agreed that I should take my parents back to Haiti to get care which could be much easier for me. But because of their conditions (my parents), especially mom, with her crushed hip, I've asked Yakini to make some calls to those organizations on the ground in Haiti, to find out where they are located and is there a better way of transport then how we came here in the DR. Keep in mind that each question takes a couple of days to get an answer to.

Anyway, Yakini found the where, in a place called Cange near the province of Hinche, Hospital La Sante.

Now I'm waiting to find the answer to the second question, but if there's no response from any of the organizations by Monday the 22nd I'll have to find someone to help me find the right bus and border as there are several ways that bords the Island.

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you all know why am still here in the DR and how things are going.

Coffy

Good news!

2010-02-19T20:50:00.001-08:00

Coffy was about to buy the bus ticket, when Yakini called him with this good news:
Partners In Health contacted her with a name of a clinic that Coffy should be accepted to in Haiti, where his parents can be outpatients and stay until they are better. They (PIH) are also working out the details of transportation to Haiti by a private plane and ambulance. This is great news!

We'll update when we know more. As of today, Cofffy and his parents are still at Santo Domingo waiting for the details of the travel to be finalized.

Back to Haiti

2010-02-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

It's been more than 5 weeks since the earthquake; almost four weeks since the Coffys found temporary refuge in the Dominican Republic. Their visa is about to expire, and their current shelter can only accommodate them for a few more days. Their return to broken Haiti is therefore imminent.

Coffy is very nervous about the idea of having to travel back to Haiti the same way they got out of there. The bumpy ride and having to move his mom in and out of cars to switch buses at the border sounds like a terrible idea. But one that may by unavoidable nevertheless. In Haiti, they would have to find shelter as well - their house is leveled and so is everybody else's.

As time goes by, while Coffy is in the DR caring for his parents, most of the effort to find health-care solutions and housing for the Coffys has shifted back to Chicago.
Yakini is pulling all possible strings to make sure that when they finally arrive back to Haiti they will have an address to go to.

In the few hours a day that Yakini isn't overwhelmingly occupied with running the family-based daycare, she is sending out appeals to senators to help with granting Coffy's parents with a temporary visa; requests for medical help from organizations such as Partners In Health (who are doing outstanding work in Haiti every day); pleas through anyone who knows anyone. We keep thinking positive. One of those will eventually be our answer!

We miss you, Coffy!

2010-02-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Coffy!
"E" is for "Everybody"!
Everybody at daycare misses you so much! we can't wait for you to come back, but we all know that you have a very important job to do right now.
We're sending you this little clip with hopes to cheer you up a little bit.
Love,
The children and staff of La Grande Famille!

Blood test results

2010-02-15T19:01:00.000-08:00

Date: Monday, February 15

I went to the clinic today to pick up dad's whole blood test results. The doctor said that dad has a pocket of grease that's growing in his prostate that can cause all sorts of complications later on and ordered a sonography in order to see the size of it. Additionally, dad's hernia definitely needs to be fixed, said the doctor, but his glicemia is only one point lower. Great news on that level!
No signs of infections in his blood.

I can deal with those for now.

After that, I went to a couple of pharmacies and took a buss home.

Coffy.

so stressed out

2010-02-15T18:53:00.001-08:00

Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010

Yakini,

Yesterday, I was talking about taking my parents back to Haiti in hope to stabilize them, but when I think of the reality of that thought I feel as if my head is about to explode I'm so stressed out.

As time is running out and life is moving along I'll need to get to work soon enough right? I can feel the pressure already. What am I gonna do? How can I leave them and with whom?

Honestly, I really don't see me leaving them anytime but until they're stabilized. If there was ever a time that my parents needed me it is now, because they really cannot take care of themselves, and the person to be with them is me or you. I don't have anyone else.

Oh! And I forgot to tell you that dad has developed a hernia when he was alone with mom, lifting her and stuff. We've just discovered it. The doctor prescribed him some meds and said that dad needs to be operated on right away but is too weak for now. More over, the doctor said that in the mean time dad shouldn't lift anything heavy nor stand up for too long.

Who's going to switch mom from side to side and help her with everything?

Just thinking out loud.
Coffy.

Dad's on his feet again.

2010-02-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

To: yakini
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 4:35 PM

Hi Yakini,

For the first time since the 2/10/10, dad is out the bed. He ate and even went outside to take some air. I am so happy he's back.

Now, I'm thinking about going back to Haiti with them because, as I understand it, all Haitians need to go back home, whatever is left of it, to find care and shelter. But everyone's telling me that she should not be moving around too much and that my best shot is to stay here for the three months given by the doctors and wait for the surgery.

Anyway, I got to take dad for a walk and I'll write later about this.

Coffy.

Coffy's dad isn't feeling well

2010-02-11T08:20:00.001-08:00

Coffy keeps telling us how his dad never complains, all he cares about is his wife's health and comfort. Throughout the whole thing, he never asked for anything for himself.
However now he also is in need for medical care. Yesterday (2/10) he started feeling bad, became disoriented and finally collapsed. Coffy took him to a hospital (he's still there over night) and a blood test showed that his glucose levels are too low.
And although he should be worried about his own health right now, all he asks about is what about mom.

To: Yakini
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 3:12 PM

Hi baby,

this afternoon at around 12:15, dad said that he's not feeling well (felt week as if his legs couldn't hold him any longer and needed to lie down). Then he felt hot and started sweating to the point where his clothes and the bed got soaking wet. Afterwards, he got freezing cold, in matter of minutes.

More over, he couldn't talk, so I immediately called a taxi
and took him to a clinic named "Clinica Altagracia".

Once there, they quickly checked his blood pressure and all, then they said that he's fine and see nothing wrong with him, and that his blood pressure is normal.

Although they said all that, I asked for whole blood test just to be sure that he's really ok.

That gave me a big scare!!!
Anyway, I'll call you later with results.

Coffy.

To: yakini
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 5:02 PM

Hi,

I'm still at the clinic with dad, the line was long for blood test but there are three people ahead of us now.

I'm worried about mom but I've asked one of the guys to keep an eye on her for me. I just called and he said that she's doing fine.

Later

Coffy.

The doctor just told me that it's the glucose level that went very very low.

now dad is back to himself and worried about mom. he's asking if mom knows that he's sick and she's gonna be worried ...
he's not worrying about himself he's worried about mom

He's asleep now

The New York Times

2010-02-10T22:05:00.000-08:00

Follow this link to an article in The New York Times:
(on the front page!!!)

Finding Parents in Haiti's Rubble Was the Easy Part
By SARAH KRAMER

To Coffy

2010-02-10T11:30:00.001-08:00

Coffy,

The days and nights go by and you are still away from us. We miss you so much, and count the minutes to your return, whenever that should be.
You are thousands of miles away from us but our hearts are as close to yours as they have ever been. We feel your pain, Coffy! We feel your heart pulling, yearning to be with us again, hurting with each beat away from your home, your family, your wife, your children.

But Coffy, you need to know this one thing: When you left, you left behind a reservoir of love, to which we tap every time we miss your presence. We draw from it as much as we need each and every day that you're away.
And you know what? That reservoir is HUGE, it's practically endless.

We know it's too much to ask of you to not worry about us.
We know that your heart is torn and if it was anyway possible you would have found a way to be at two places at the same time.
We know you are sad. That's OK.
Coffy, mourn the father that you can't be today, but celebrate the son that you are.
We love you so much.

Yakini, Akin, and Ade.

Hey Dad

2010-02-10T11:27:00.001-08:00

Hey Dad I really really really miss you. Especially when I am sledding. Akin.

The passports have arrived!

2010-02-10T10:04:00.001-08:00

Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
To: yakini

Hi baby,

The embassy called me today to say that the passports have arrived yeah!!! Step one is accomplished, now step two.

I called the US consulate and set an appointment for my parents on 2/11/10. Then I went to a cyber cafe to fill out the visa form. They've asked me to bring all those documents: their passports, birth certificates, act of marriage, ID cards and pictures.

Wish me luck.

Coffy.

Videos troubleshooting

2010-02-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,
It seems like some of the videos don't play on this page. If you're experiencing trouble, here's a simple way to go around it:
Click on the title of the post (for example, the line that says "Today's mom's birthday" in orange below). This will open the individual post, and there the videos seem to be working.

sorry for the inconvenience!

(for those of you following on facebook, this is a reminder that you can see the videos on the blog, here.)

http://helpcoffy.blogspot.com http://helphaitihelpitself.org

Dad taking some air

2010-02-09T11:38:00.001-08:00

Today's mom's birthday

2010-02-08T12:01:00.001-08:00

Monday, February 8, 2010

Hi everyone,

Today, I was given an entry form to fill out for my parents, stating their names, date and place of birth, and the day we came here at the (Capilla De San Jose). Ironically, as I think about their age, I remembered that today is mom's birthday, so we lit a candle and sang her happy birthday. We didn't have a cake but she was very happy, and she's diabetic anyway I don't think a cake would be ideal.

I just wanted to that moment with you all.

Coffy

Weekend updates

2010-02-08T11:02:00.001-08:00

Friday, February 5, 2010, 10:41 AM
Mom's out of the room

They put mom out of the room and back in the hallway, she said that it hurt so much when they moved her and that she feels humiliated and can't stop crying.

However, I'm trying to keep my head up and stay positive. I have to find hotel today, as that's my only option.

Coffy

Saturday, February 6, 2010, 1:40 PM
We've found a place!!!!!

I'm so happy right now! We've found a place for mom and dad. More details later.

ok, today i'm in the hallway again at the hospital. today we're moving my mother out of the hallway! we found a place!

Saturday, February 6, 2010
In the bus leaving the hospital

We are now in the bus and we are going to the place, the Centro Bono. They'll give us a place to stay. And that's where i'm taking mom now. And there she is!
We are out of the hospital! finally. we couldn't rent a place and we found a place called Centro Bono. That's willing to accommodate us for another two weeks.
that's good.
we're gonna stop running for two weeks - Yayy!!

Saturday, February 6, 2010
To: Yakini

I finally find someone who knows someone. Hantz, who work at Haitian Embassy, was sent by the vice consul Mr. Madsen Cherubin, to assist us in our search for place to stay two days ago. Hantz made a phone call to someone he'd helped in the past whom he remembered worked for a non for profit organization called Centro Bono. That organization then sent us to place called Capilla de San Jose where they took us in and gave us a room to stay. We are so thankful for that room. Mom prayed and thank god for tonight, cause she thought that she was going to sleep in the hallway hospital again.

Yakini, thank you for being there with me every step of the way and to remind me to stay positive. And thanks to all of you following my story and for all your positive energy.

Coffy.

Moving in

I am in church. I'm in church. Just to pray for a day.

Hanns

2010-02-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

Date: Friday, February 5, 2010
Hanns drove me around looking for hotel

OK Hi everybody I'm here with Hanns
He's the guy, he works at the consulate, he's the one who's been running around with me trying to look for a hotel for my mother...
They put her out of the room at the hospital and they're gonna put her outside actually.
And everywhere we go they're basically full or there are several flights of stairs
He's the man, driving me around
He's been a great real help

ups and downs

2010-02-04T09:07:00.001-08:00

The search for proper housing continues.
It seems like almost every time there's a little hope, there comes another difficulty.
The house Coffy was hoping to rent didn't work out. The owner wouldn't rent it to a non-Dominican. (If he wasn't going to rent it to a Haitian, why did he waste Coffy's time?!? nobody knows).
Now that Coffy's mother is out of the hospital, she has to stay somewhere. Knowing that moving her from one place to another is a bad idea, Coffy is eager to find a more solid solution. But for now it has to be some hotel.
The motel that Coffy and his dad were staying at wasn't going to work out because of the stairs. These are two of several hotels he looked at today.

Getting closer a solution about a house

2010-02-03T09:32:00.001-08:00

Date: Tuesday, February 2

Remember that house I sent a picture of yesterday? Well we've decided to rent it today, but when we went to pay for it one of the realty agent told me that I need a business name and a local number in order to rent a house here in Santo Domingo. So I called Ambalina, Ade's friend's aunt, and she said that tomorrow she'll be able to assist me in this matter.
It's good to know somebody!

I really feel she can help and that I'm getting closer a solution about this.
Also, I've been looking for a bed, a table and chairs for the house, and found a place where they make box spring mattresses. Yeah!

I think tomorrow I'll be able to take mom out of the hospital to a house somewhere.

Coffy.

House hunt continues

2010-02-02T11:31:00.001-08:00

Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hi,
The doctors said that we really need to move mom out today because
they need the bed for new arrivals at the hospital, but I still don't
have house yet.
We have a meeting with a lawyer today at five PM in an attempt to rent
a two bedroom house for 6500 pesos hopefully that will fall through.
Later.

Coffy

How the day went by

2010-02-01T15:59:00.001-08:00

To: yakini
Date: Monday, February 1, 2010

I went to the American consulate again this morning to see how or if
they can help with a temporary entry to the US. I finally learned that
the pin that I purchased last week wasn't working because I was using
my cell phone and needed to use a land line instead. However, that
info was not in the form given to me when I bought the pin at Banco
Popular.
Anyway, I used a public phone and got through, then the operator asked
for my parents' passport number which are lost in Haiti, I explained.
Then I learned that she cannot give us rendezvous without the passport
numbers.
So I went to the Haitian embassy to make them (passports). Thankfully,
a friend knew someone inside who made the process very easy for me.
The Haitian consul was very nice and helpful.

Unfortunately, the passports will be ready no earlier then two weeks
because they're made in Washington DC, and then sent to the Haitian
consulate in Santo Domingo. However, I am grateful for it could've
been even longer given the circumstances.

After that, I went to look for houses for my parents to stay because
the doctors released mom today and the hotel where I'm staying is too
expensive and has too many stairs and no elevator. (I've sent a
picture of the house) however mom will stay at the hospital a little
more cause the deal did not fall through yet and I'll try again
tomorrow.

Coffy

Day after day

2010-01-31T18:50:00.001-08:00

Zilania is still in the hospital and still in a lot of pain. Her husband is by her bed trying to comfort her when she cries in pain.

I'm so sad to see mommy like this day after day... I know that I need to be strong right now but this is getting to me.

The room is small and crowded, shared by several patients and their family members who tend them.
It seems like having means makes a big difference. As mentioned before, Coffy goes out and buys food for his mom. Today he also bought food and water for the other people in the room, just trying to help a little bit. He can't relieve his mom's pain, but he has to do something, help with whatever he can.

Hallway (2)

2010-01-29T19:27:00.001-08:00

Day 3 at the hospital. Coffy's mom was hospitalized in the hallway with many other patients, many of them in a lot of pain. They constantly cry and moan in pain.

This is the kind of sound you hear all day over here. One can never get used to this.

Finally she was moved out of the hallway to a hospital room:

They just move my mother to a room today, but like the doctor said "be careful! 'Cause the place is prone to infections".

Coffy spent some time helping other patients, giving them water and offering support.

Some of the stories of people in the hallway are truly amazing:

Amazing story: A two storey building fell while he was inside and he didn't break one bone, amazing!

Because of her diabetes, Coffy's mother needs to be on a low-sugar diet. However the hospital cannot accommodate this need and she is offered the same food as everybody else, high-sugar food that is bad for her health. Coffy goes out every day and buys her food that's appropriate for her condition. It is very important to get her diabetes back on track and make her stronger. And she is, getting stronger, just a little bit every day.

Hallway

2010-01-29T08:27:00.001-08:00

The hallway looks better this morning there are less patients, and I see some doctors and nurses checking on them. However, it's still crowded in here, as you can see there are at least ten patients including my mother in the hallway cause all the rooms are packed already.

Anyway, what's important is that there are doctors here. I'll send some videos later.

Coffy

Yakini this is a very different theme this morning. I see a lot of doctors in the hallway, a lot of nurses, and patients, they are looking at the reports
that's my mother, she's still here, she's laying down

Thank you...

2010-01-28T19:24:00.001-08:00

For those of you with whom we share a warm relationship; for those of you with whom we share a mere acquaintance; for those of you who discovered us through a friend or our website...we just want to say thank you

We CANNOT EXPRESS the gratitude that we feel for all of your love and support. EVERYONE extended their hand in comfort without hesitation. We just want to let you know that it was all taken in and none of it went to waste. All the kind and encouraging words made this unimaginable journey a little more bearable. With all of the support, we were able to follow through with our plan to locate Coffy's family and for us (Yakini, Ade, and Akin) to deal with Coffy's absence during this terrible crisis. We must say, it would have been IMPOSSIBLE to do, and bear, if it was not for you.

We have been so blessed to have ALL OF YOU in our lives. Your support has been that of financial and emotional, but we can and shall not underestimate the spiritual support that you have bestowed upon us. Your kind words and gestures stay with our family, and are ESPECIALLY with us when this crisis becomes difficult to deal with. We are never alone because we know that you all are with us, spiritually.

We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many good people and we can only hope that we will be able to support you as rapidly and as fully as you have supported us.

Fw: Some news

2010-01-28T10:17:00.001-08:00

The world is one big family. As it happens, Ade's roommate Bianca has relatives in the Dominican Republic, who met Coffy and helped him and his parents in Santo Domingo.
This is an email he sent just now to update:

Subject: Some news
To: yakini
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 11:32 AM

Yakini,
The lady named Ambalina, was a good help. Thanks to her the director
of the hospital came and let us in. Inside, we met the doctor who saw
mom and she said that they would need three months before they can
operate on her because the leg is infected inside and is in very bad
condition and would need care prior to the surgery. Further more, the
doctor said that the hospital cannot accommodate mom for that long and
would not recommend keeping her there for the place is prone to
infections and mom as well. Then I explained that I'm not from
here (Santo Domingo) that my parents' house in Haiti is destroyed and
that I live in Chicago, and that I'm staying in a motel here if
there's anyway they can help me. They said that they could
give me a letter to go the US embassy and see if they can help me out
since I live in the US.
However, the papers will possibly be ready tomorrow or Saturday, but
I'll try and to the embassy without them today anyway just to at least
get a contact.
Later.
Coffy.

At the hospital

2010-01-28T10:16:00.001-08:00

Coffy sent us some video messages telling about the conditions at the hospital and the treatment that his mother is receiving. However due to the graphical nature of these videos we wish to edit them prior to uploading them to the internet, out of respect to other people who may appear in these videos.
We appreciate your patience. Please check here later for the edited videos.

(Coffy in his email: I thought she was going to a room and ended up in a hallway, but some help is better then no help at all.)

Coffy's mom is at a hospital

2010-01-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

I just got the word that Coffy's mother was finally admitted to a hospital, she's finally in a room in a hospital (Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud? I'm not sure -- but it's in Santo Domingo. The hospital on the border that Coffy was considering is, as it turns out, a tent camp with poor conditions)*.

There are currently 200 Haitians in that hospital, and Coffy's mother was given high priority.
All I know for now, is that they put a cast on her leg to stabilize her;
She is still too weak for an operation, but definitely needs one.

I hope to update more later as i hear more from Yakini.

(-keren)

* the name of the hospital is Hospital Dr. Darío Contreras in Santo Domingo.
She's not really in a room, she was placed in the corridor with many other patients.
The hospital is equipped to treat 40 patients, and they now have more than 200. the hospital staff is doing all they can to help everybody, but the conditions are of course not optimal.

Search for medicine

2010-01-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

.
1/26/10 Coffy on camera on his way to buy medicine for his mother. (sorry for the poor quality and noise level)

Yakini I am in Santo Domingo
I'm now going to a pharmacy cause her glycemia medicine and her blood pressure medicines are finished
and I've been to a couple of pharmacies and they don't have exactly what she needs so I'm going somewhere else
and I've just been to the hospital to get her Xrays
they're not ready yet
they told me that I should come back tomorrow
because the doctor who supposed to do the reports is not there
he his father who just died
so I'll come back tomorrow for the Xray and the report
but i have her blood test results
so that's a good thing that I was able to accomplish today
I'll call back later

Claude Nady frère de Tuoco Bouzi (found)

2010-01-27T11:32:00.000-08:00

.
From: Marie Nady
To: Yakini Ajanaku
Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 11:52 AM

Friday night while at work, I decided to try and stop worrying about my father. Instead I decided to try to hold positive thoughts about him As soon as I made that decision, I heard a small voice say 'google him'. I heard it and thought 'that's a good idea maybe later'. Then I heard it again, more insistently, 'GOOGLE HIM'.

So I did. I had to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen before I saw his name. But there it was, HIS NAME. I clicked on the website and started trying to read it. It was written mostly in French. I started getting frustrated as I don’t read French very well. But I kept trying. And then I saw this:

Claude Nady frère de Tuoco Bouzi (found)

I couldn’t believe it. It had to be him, because I remember Tuoco (my very very handsome uncle who was a well-known drummer in Haiti). OMG! So, I called a number from the website and reached a woman who happened to be a state representative. Because it was late at night, she asked me to email her the next day with my info. When I got home from work the next morning, I could barely sleep. I woke up (after only 3 hours of sleep) and found a message from her stating that she had forwarded my info to the people from the website. They in turn got in touch with my uncle Touco. Then Touco called me. He told me

that my father is fine. He is living with his sister and that they are both absolutely fine. This happened on Friday. It took another two days to get through and finally speak with my father. It was so good to finally hear his voice. He was able to get out of his apartment when the first quake hit. His apartment was damaged but not destroyed, but of course it is uninhabitable. As most people in Haiti, he's been sleeping outside. I can't imagine having to live through that.

Thank you for all of your prayers and good thoughts.

Marie

One more attempt to find help

2010-01-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

To: yakini
Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 6:50 AM

1/27/10
Hi cherie,

This morning we're on our way to Cure International, an organization here in Santo Domingo, to try and see if they have the means to help mom with the surgery. Hopefully they can. After that we might try to go back to the Jamani border, a six hours drive, which the previous doctor disagreed with and warned us about moving too much because of her condition. I feel we might not have choice if the Cure International can't help us.

Anyway, wish us luck.
Coffy

Coffy and his parents are now staying in a motel in Santo Domingo.

Unfortunately Cure International would not treat her, and now Yakini is in touch with "Partners in Health organization" to arrange for a ride to the border.
In a parallel effort, it may be possible that she will be accepted at a hospital in Santo Domingo called Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud. It's a big general hospital that has been taking Haitian patients.

.

1/20: Rain and aftershock - note from Coffy

2010-01-26T19:54:00.000-08:00

(Coffy wrote this note on Jan 20, 2010 but managed to send it only today, Jan 26.)

Last night was a challenge because it rained. Since the earthquake everyone's been living outside, but we didn't have a tent and it started raining so I picked my mother up and carried her inside to a corner of the house that wasn't damaged to wait for the rain to pass. The rain did stop for a moment then started pouring again, so we laid on the floor and fell asleep only to be awakened by another earthquake of the magnitude of 6.1, that rocked the house like a boat on the ocean at around five Am. though smaller then the previous quake of 7.6.

I was scared out of my width. I jumped off ran out back with my mom, and dad was right behind me. Then as quick as it came the earthquake stopped.

This is a feeling I'll never forget. The solid ground as you know it becomes unstable as if you were on water on a piece of cardboard or something.
Anyhow, we're still here. All is well. Thankfully there was no more rain and even if there was I'd rather get wet then go in that house again.

Coffy's videos from the road

2010-01-25T21:23:00.001-08:00

Coffy sent home some short videos that he's been taking with his phone. In these movies you can see Coffy and his parents on the Tap Tap on the way to the border, a few days ago.

Yakini unfortunately I
just left the ??? hill
in Haiti
and we are coming here
in this area called ???
and now in the flat area
now
only now I remember I have the camera
I've been so scared
I forgot I had a camera to take pictures
or anything like that
but anyway
I'm now down the hills

As you can see Yakini
I am not sad
I'm very happy that I found them
and that they're OK
and I'm getting them to the Dominican Republic
where they can get medical help
because in Haiti right now there is no hospital
and ah
where the help is
all the way downtown is very hectic
and she's going to Santo Domingo to live with my sister and get medical care
which I'm very happy for that

We are still here
we are now still traveling towards the border
on the dirt road
and my mother's hanging pretty well
she's hanging pretty well
we are ??? in the taptap
but the dust is unbelievable

http://helpcoffyblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/coffys-videos-from-road.html

Kanval 2008 Mete Men

2010-01-25T10:52:00.001-08:00

We're still waiting for more news from Coffy. in the meanwhile, enjoy this video clip from 2008, featuring Coffy, Yakini, Ade, Akin and others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhVvwooB3YE

Louis Fanon

2010-01-24T16:55:00.001-08:00

The nicest guy I've ever met, a true brother who everyday goes out of his way to help us in every way he can in those difficult times here in Santo Domingo, while helping others in Haiti as well, especially children.

Louis is a Chicagoan, who took some time off from work and went down to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to help. He's helping Coffy with translation and everything else.

sharing a bed

2010-01-24T16:52:00.001-08:00

Coffy and his father shared a bunk bed at the private hospital, Clinica Rodriguez Santos.

Reserve Coffy told Yakini on the phone today: "of all the parents whose kids are musicians I feel we are the luckiest ones"

Update

2010-01-24T12:14:00.001-08:00

Coffy and his parents made it to the Dominican Republic. This is the good news.

The bad news is that his mother isn't doing well at all.

Coffy tried to check her into a hospital, but they were not taking any more Haitians. The second hospital turned them down saying the same thing. They finally had her checked into a private hospital, where she went through a complete evaluation: her leg is fractured; her blood glucose is through the roof (400 - where normal glucose levels fall between 70 and 150 mg); her organs are shutting down slowly because of that; she has other complications because of a surgery that she went through before the earthquake, that apparently was badly executed.

The bottom line, the doctors say, is that she needs to have a complete hip replacement surgery. However, she cannot go through the surgery before her diabetes is back on track, a recovery process that will take about three months. Even then, the surgery would cost $1200.

Due to the high rate of $390 per night of hospitalization (American $), Coffy had to take her out of the hospital and is now looking for suitable housing for her.
She cannot survive a trip back to Haiti in Tap-Tap.
She cannot afford to be hospitalized in a private hospital.
She cannot stay with Coffy's sister, who lives on the 8th floor with no elevator.

But WE cannot afford to do nothing. We did not come all this way to watch her die.

We need to get Reserve and Zilania to the US, so that Zilania receives the high quality treatment that she needs but can't afford.

Again we're asking for your help.

Leave a message

2010-01-23T20:26:00.001-08:00

If you'd like to contact us or leave a message please use the "comments" or "post a comment" links below.

(if you follow us on facebook you may follow this link to see this
page on the blog: http://helpcoffyblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/leave-message.html)

Getting to the border

2010-01-22T16:46:00.001-08:00

The day started at 5AM for Coffy and his parents. Early in the morning
he rented a "Tap Tap" vehicle to take them all from their family home
to the border. We got his phone call when they were 5-7 hr into the trip,
and had about 5 hours more to go.

Everybody is a little bit better, he said. His mom is upset - but his dad is
positive.

The drive on poor back roads is physically painful. His mom is still not
feeling well. She is in better spirits, but in a lot of pain - despite the pain
pills that Coffy gave her. To make her a little more comfortable, Coffy
had her lay on a mat that he put on himself, so that to use his own body
as a shock absorbent and protect her, even a little bit, from the bumpy road.

After they reach the border the plan is to continue by bus to the Dominican
Republic where Coffy's sister lives. Coffy reserved the bus tickets in advance,
and bought two rows of seats at the back of the bus with hopes that the little
extra space would make the long trip more bearable for his parents.

Missing: Claude Nady

2010-01-22T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yakini, pls post this. As you know I am still awaiting word on my father. I have not been able to reach anyone that knows anything. I know Coffy's hands are full with his family and I know that he will do what he can to help find my father but in the meantime if you could post this, maybe someone out there has seen him or at least knows something. Claude Nady is 73 years old, his D.O.B is 10/6/36. His last known address is on Rue Nazon, but he recently moved in with his sister. I don't have her name, but maybe Nady is still her last name. If you have any information re Claude or anyone else with the last name of Nady, pls let us know.

Thank you
Marie Nady

1/24 update: Marie's father was found and is OK as far as we know, we are still waiting for the details

1/27 update: yes, he's OK! more details here

On the streets

2010-01-22T09:14:00.000-08:00

" I am now in Haiti
and I'm looking at all the disaster that
actually happened here
just really
terrible terrible

it's even worse when you look at it
than what you look
what you look on tv -- it's just not the same"

"Yakini this is where Gamo used to work
that's Gamo's work right here
and there's Gamo he's lucky enough he wasn't there
a friend called him outside
he just stepped outside to talk with a friend
and it just happened
just powerful
that's his work he's standing here in disbelief he can't even believe it
everything just collapsed
just in a few seconds
about seven seconds
the whole building crumbles"

"Yakini this is the palace
i've been seeing it on tv but this is really devastating
completely broken
...
it's really truly unbelievable
unbelievable
i can't even believe it
everything around you is broken
unfortunately i don't have anything to help them with
i just hope i can..
if you can send everything you can send
anything
chocolate cereal boxes
most impotently money so we can get things to eat and water"

What next?

2010-01-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

Coffy found his parents at the back yard of their family home. They had only survived because their roof was made of tin and not concrete.
They survived, but when he found them they were in bad shape - dehydrated and starved.
You can see in the pictures... they look like a sad shadow of themselves.

His mom Zilania is very ill. She is a diabetic, and needless to say that she did not receive her insulin shots while she was stranded.

Right now Coffy is trying to get them out of Haiti to get medical treatment.
The travel is physically challenging and he is very worried for her ability to go through it.

A thank you from Reserve Coffy

2010-01-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

Reserve Coffy thanks Yakini for supporting Coffy and allowing him to leave his home and family behind and go search and rescue him and his wife. He says to Yakini that she is no longer his daughter-in-law, instead she is now his daughter.

Coffy:

"that was my father
i am with him now
he's doing well
and i am so happy
he is thanking my family for supporting me in coming here and help him"

Akin:

2010-01-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

"When the Earth Moved,
	We Moved"

-Akin

A moving moment in history…

2010-01-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

On January 20th, in the midst of a broken city and his broken home, Coffy found his parents in the corner of their backyard in Port-Au-Prince, sitting under a tree.

His mother, Zilania Joassaint, was sitting in a wheelchair with a broken leg. His father, Reserve Coffy, was standing over her. It was a dark night and the only light that Coffy had was a candle.

His mother cried out in Haitian Creole, “God, you are so mean to me. Why are you so mean; to make me think this is my son who came for me.” “But it is me who came,” Coffy said, “Bend down, let me see if it is really you,” she went to recognize his scent. And then she wept and wept, she recognized that it he had truly come for her. “Everyone left and you came,” she said.

"mom and dad"

They are of poor health; very frail and extremely dehydrated. His mother has a grayish tone and they had both become very thin. But they are alive.

To sustain themselves, they had been sharing and eating one to two crackers a day. They had little to no fluids. Coffy was a hero in disguise. He came with water and food, enough to help lead them from their frail state.

"i found them"

"back of the house"

"oh my god!"

"mom's hurt, but alive!"

1/20/10: Rain and aftershocks

(note: Coffy managed to send this note that he wrote on 1/20 only on 1/26)

Last night was a challenge because it rained. Since the earthquake everyone's been living outside, but we didn't have a tent and it started raining so I picked my mother up and carried her inside to a corner of the house that wasn't damaged to wait for the rain to pass. The rain did stop for a moment then started pouring again, so we laid on the floor and fell asleep only to be awakened by another earthquake of the magnitude of 6.1, that rocked the house like a boat on the ocean at around five Am. though smaller then the previous quake of 7.6.

I was scared out of my width. I jumped off ran out back with my mom, and dad was right behind me. Then as quick as it came the earthquake stopped.

This is a feeling I'll never forget. The solid ground as you know it becomes unstable as if you were on water on a piece of cardboard or something.
Anyhow, we're still here. All is well. Thankfully there was no more rain and even if there was I'd rather get wet then go in that house again.

Yakini, i am here

2010-01-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

Yakini, I am here, I just got in the house, as you can see it's a candle-lit time, there's no light nothing
and i'm walking in the outside
pitch black
but i made it

[this video was sent to Yakini on Jan 20]

To Dad from Akin

2010-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

To Dad from Akin
If you are reading this letter I just want to ask how are you? How is your mom and dad ?Are they OK? Anyway back here is fine. I am back in school and now taking my reading test. Wish me luck. I don't think I will need it though. Back at home Mom is working double over time because she is doing her shift and yours. While your'e gone,promise me that you won't worry about us. I have to go so by.

(Tuesday January 19,2010 Akin at school)

[in the picture: the Ajanaku-Coffy family. from left to right: Akin, Coffy, Ade and Yakini. the picture was taken in Haiti a few years ago.]

Journey to Port-Au-Prince

2010-01-20T19:31:00.001-08:00

Getting on the bus to Port-Au-Prince…

To board the bus to Port-Au-Prince you must have the
following: eight days worth of water and protein drinks, water
purification tablets, a flashlight, and a portable tent. If
you do not have or are lacking just a few of these items, you
are not welcome on the bus. You are considered a liability,
and therefore a burden to the crisis in Haiti, if you cannot
provide for yourself. The bus depart was delayed due to so
many people lacking supplies, including Coffy.

Coffy bought the things he lacked and boarded the bus.

Who is on the bus?

Chip the videographer
Five American doctors
Two Haitian Americans
Jean Paul Coffy

Chip the videographer is headed to Haiti to document the
tragic stories that are in abundance and the unreal miracles
that lack in happenstance.
Out of everyone on the bus, Chip recognized Coffy.
Coffy was once the musical director of a roots music group
called Boukman Eksperyans. Their group toured all over the
world and acquired a massive fan base. Chip the videographer
was a fan.

Five American doctors had just left an expedition in
Indonesia. The 7.0 earthquake occurred in Haiti and almost
immediately after, they journeyed to Haiti to give as much aid
as they can. What are the odds?

Two Haitian Americans with a saddening presence. Noticeably
miserable, Coffy made conversation. They are from New York and
Miami and seem to be traveling to Port-Au-Prince for the same
reason as Coffy, to see if their loved ones are alive and
well.

Coffy…(in a recent phone call to Yakini) lets her know that
there is absolutely no electricity in the capital of Port-Au-
Prince. Confirming both of their beliefs that contact will be
at a minimum for some time, if any at all; but letting her
know that he loves her and that while he is away, his family
and his friends are in his heart.

On the bus…

The trip, by bus, from Santo Domingo is normally eight to ten
hours. Due to the debris, the broken roads, alternate routes,
and any unexpected circumstances, the trip will be longer.

In the same phone call to Yakini Coffy states that he does not
know what to expect when he gets there. But so far, he has no
regrets. He is actually glad that he went. He expresses his
gratitude to everyone who has been there for him both morally
and financially, stating "without their support, I couldn't
go." He wants everyone to know that he is well and that he
knows that this experience will change EVERYONE'S life, but
most of all, he is thankful.

Brittany Law

how are you??

2010-01-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

This is an email correspondence between Yakini and a close friend, Regine.
We feel it will give you direct insight into what's going on in Haiti.
these very personal words are publish here with Regine's consent.

From: yakini
Subject: how are you??
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 9:55 AM

Regine
You are in my thoughts and I just want to know if you and your family are alive and ok.
Please let me know.
Yakini and Family

From: regine
Subject: Re: how are you??
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010, 7:00 PM

Dear Yakini

We're alive in the midst of so much death, confusion, pain and sorrow. The destruction is beyond description, I've wondered about Roudy's parents and Gameau. W'eve lost Magalie Marcelin and Myriam among others. Kou a fe nou mal!
Thanks for writing
Love to all

Regine

From: yakini
Date: Friday, January 15, 2010, 9:49 AM

Let us know what you need. I am so sorry for all of our losess.
Yakini

From: regine
Date: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 6:33 PM

Yakini
I just don't know what to tell you. right now there is so much uncertainty. we have food and water but Lord knows what the next step will be. everyone agrees this is the time for a new way of living, at once simpler and more harmonious. but what that looks like I have no clue.
thank you for your offer, Yakini. I'll let you know when things get more clear.
I spoke to Manze earlier today and Lolo stopped by my house to check on us. they're fine though we're all in shock.
Any news of Roudy's family?

Regine

From: yakini
Date: Monday, January 18, 2010, 1:03 PM

Regine
Hello I hope you are getting better and better each day. Coffy could not bear it any longer. He left for Haiti last night via Dominican Republic to arrive in Haiti tonight. Let us pray for him that no news was infact good news.
Also how is Lou Lou holding up?
I cannot even Imagine what you are feeling now.
Please share if you can.
Thinking of you.
Yakini

From: regine
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 9:08 AM

Yakini

By now, Rudy must have arrived here. I pray dearly for him as well that he does find his loved ones. Tell him not to get discouraged though, if he doesn't find them right away. So many have had to abandon their home for camping grounds nearby or further away. He can contact me at xxx-xxxx, my cell number. Cell communication also requires patience as the system is not yet fully operative.
Loulou is holding on, apparently fine, but we know like all of us, the impact of this event is far-reaching. He's seen dead bodies and horrific destruction. There's one positive aspect to all this though. For the past three or four days, Ronald and his brothers have been operating their treatment plants and distributing purified water to all for free., Loulou, Gaetan and some of their schoolmates have been helping, filling people's jugs all day. At the end of their first day, we had a debriefing session so they could express their feelings and thoughts about the event and their involvement with relief efforts. They shared some profound thoughts about feeling sadness and sharing people's pain, becoming aware of the impermanence of things in life and the importance of cherishing those we love beyond anything, as well as thoughts about nature's might and the need to adapt ourselves to its rythm.
As for myself, it's hard to describe all I feel. There's a mixture of disbelief at the apocalyptic scope of the event (beyond anything imaginable). All references -personal/historical/cultural/political - gone: the National Palace, the Legislative Palace, the Justice Palace, the Palais des Ministeres (health, finances,interior, public works, "planification"), Contributions - gone. The Cathedrale de Port-au-Prince, l'eglise du Sacre-Coeur. St-Louis Roi-de-France, Sainte-Trinite, l'Archeveche de Port-au-Prince, etc..,- gone. The Banque Nationale de Credit and others, Hospitals like SODEC and others,- gone. Schools like les Soeurs du Sacre-Coeur (where I went to school for 14 years), Gerard Gourge, and dozens of others - gone. Supermarkets like Twins, Carribean, and others - gone. Whole neighborhoods, people, GONE in 35 seconds, long enough for a commercial jingle.
Everywhere concrete slabs, collapsed roofs and walls, broken bodies, broken lives. Whole houses, just plain gone (Jean-claude's (Zo), and others no longer visible from my terraces, unfamiliar vistas everywhere. Utter uncertainty. Living in the present moment, one breath at a time, or at least feeling like it. No project. Fuzzines about the future.
Every instant is at once sublime and tragic. A chapter is definitiveley over, for Ayiti and each and every one of us here. There's at times waves of sadness that threatens to engulf me before the suffering of thousands- orphans, widows and widowers, who've lost family, limbs, homes and hope. There's sadness before the sudden departures of dear friends and perplexity at the apparent randomness of deaths and survivals (who handpicked who?), and also at this peculiar destiny of ours - us, the haitian people.
Paradoxically there's a sweetness to living simply outdoors, back to bare essentials: cooking, eating, bathing outside, sleeping together under the stars, like we're back to the time of Taino Indians. People are living in the streets and in most neighborhoods, the sense of solidarity is strong, as people are sharing news, stories, tears, laughter, food and water. I thoroughly savor it - except there's the tragic circumstances around it all. As we are all survivors of a momentous event, we all wonder about possible meaning and implications for us.
I watch my mother's shrieking frame lying in her bed in the front yard, knowing she would have preferred to not be a part of this (read: alive), and I watch Mario's daughter, being her palyful, cheerful, bundle-of-joy self, celebrating her seventh anniversary today, running about the grounds in front of the house that we all must stay away from for now. I watch Bos Candio and his courageous wife who has a broken ankle, camping with us for two days and nights, before finally getting her leg amputated this afternoon at a nearby hospital, all with a serene smile on her face.
I am truly in the midst of a mystery, Yakini.
What I know for sure, my old life is gone and I have no regrets. I cannot go back to doing things the same, especially professionally. All those dead bodies under concrete slabs, the real killer rather than the actual quake.

I'll write another time about how I think you all could assist most efficiently.

Much Love to you all

Regine.

Haiti update from Coffy

2010-01-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

I apologize for my absence last week. Yakini has shared all of your kind words with me. It is nice to know that in my absence, I have your support. However, after unbearably waiting for responses from our family in Haiti, we as a family have decided that there is a need for me to go and locate our loved ones. Sitting, constantly watching the tragedy play out on the news was very painful for us. I just needed to go, for the sake of our loved ones, to get some conclusive answers.

I left yesterday, on a flight that put me in Santo Domingo, due to Haiti’s border being closed. It is my hope to arrive, by bus, in Port-Au-Prince tomorrow afternoon. I know that it is my responsibility to keep the people that I have left behind informed. Electricity may be down and there may be a lack of communication due to cell phone signals being down, but I will be sure to do my best to keep everyone informed. I have asked Yakini to compile notes for me on my whereabouts and experiences through information that I provide to her.

There is a dire need for supplies in Haiti and any help toward the cause would be appreciated. At this moment, the support of cash would be most helpful. Supplies need to be bought and I am sure that I will be able to get them directly to the people. Yakini will be accepting cash donations on my behalf that will Western Unioned to me, eventually setting up a Pay Pal account to make the transactions easier. Thank you in advance not only for your donations but for your support.

I would like to take this time out to say that despite this unexpected and unimaginable hardship, the daycare will still continue to function in the loving way that it always has. Although I will be in absence, Yakini and the rest of the daycare staff will be sure to continue to give the quality care to the children and the families. Thank you in advance once again to the parents and the staff for being so sensitive and understanding in this time of great remorse. My absence will only be temporarily. Thank you especially to the staff for the good work and effort that I know will be put into the day care while I am gone.

Lastly, I humbly ask the parents of La Grande Famille to watch over my family while I am away. This is a critical time for Yakini, Ade, and Akin and I will be too far away to comfort and console them when they need me most, although I will do my best from the distance that I am at. I know that you have a genuine care and concern for my family and they also feel the same for you. I just ask that you are there.

I am unable to express my words as well as I would like at the time. I hope that everything was clearly stated. However if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me or Yakini at any time.

The first link below is an ad that I put out in order to find the location of my parents. No responses yet. The second link is a newspaper article from the tribune. Yakini and I were featured briefly. I just want to share with you an experience that helped me make the decision to go to Haiti.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-390967

see last three paragraphs: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-local-haitians-helpjan15,0,5783459.story

Sincerely,

Jean Paul Coffy

The Ajanaku-Coffy Family and the Haiti Crisis

2010-01-19T19:20:00.001-08:00

Jan 14, 2010

Dear parents of La Grande Famille,

As many of you may know, the recent tragedy in Haiti has hit us directly. We have very close family members in Haiti (Coffy’s parents, brothers, and extended family) that we have not been able to locate. This is a very difficult time for us and our children.

However, we still intend to give the best care we can to the children of La Grande Famille. We know that as parents, the care of your child is very important to you. We wanted to share this with you because you are an extension of our family. We pray that we hear something positive and as circumstances change, we will be sure to keep you up-to-date.

Our daughter Ade has such fond memories of her childhood in Haiti in which we lived for six years. She has asked us to help her create an organization called Help Haiti Help Itself. For those of you who would love to help us in any way, you will be able to donate to our organization as soon as everything is set in place. Thank you in advance.

Thank you sincerely for your concern and sensitivity toward this matter,
Yakini and Jean Paul Coffy