Letters letters letters.....

The following are my letters to various Government officials in hopes that it will move someone into action to help try to bring my boys home from Haiti....

Letters have been written to the key people involved with Operation Stork:

Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration
kennej@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Communication
ucm_mcu@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca

Right Hon. Stephen Harper
pm@pm.gc.ca

In addition to the people we hope will advocate on our behalves and the behalves of their future Albertans (our sons in Haiti):

Our MP, Mr. Mike Lake, Leduc-Millwoods-Beaumont
LakeM@parl.gc.ca

Our MLA, Mr. George Rogers, Leduc-Beaumont-Devon
Leduc.BeaumontDevon@assembly.ab.ca

and Hon. Yvonne Fritz, Alberta Minister of Children and Youth
cys.minister@gov.ab.ca


#1 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Millwoods-Leduc, Mr. Mike Lake

Oct.21, 2010

To the Honourable Jason Kenney, and to Mike Lake, our MP Edmonton-Millwoods-Beaumont,

I am an adoptive parent of Haitian twins, age 1. You may remember me from my previous correspondence immediately following the earthquake in Haiti in Jan, 2010, and further throughout the year. I recently sent you a thank you for your concern for our Haitian adoption. As I write this letter, my 1 year old boys reside in a temporary shelter in a town called Mirebalais. They remain outside as their orphanage was condemned in the earthquake earlier this year. As they now face the feared and now immediate danger of Cholera, I implore you to consider an attempt to revive and/or extend the efforts of "Operation Stork".

In the village where my sons' orphanage is located, already 14 people have been confirmed dead. This health threat is real and critical, and these soon to be Canadian children require the same kind of quick action applied to the adoptive children preceeding them. There is currently a process in place that is working for the Haitian adoptions that are currently being processed from within Canada for the 203 orphans who were brought home to their prospective Canadian families earlier this year. I plead with you to do everything you can for these future Canadians, in this time of uncertainty, as you did for the orphans who came before them.

I beg you to please help unite us with our children in light of this very real, and urgent threat.

sincerely,

#2 - Minister of Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Beaumont-Leduc-Millwoods, Mr. Mike Lake

Oct.21, 2010

Dear Honourable Jason Kenney, and Mike Lake

Thank you for your time once again. In addition to my previous email, I would just like to highlight how this current health threat is a tragic, ongoing result of the devastating earthquake in Jan of this year. The people of Haiti continue to be victims of the earthquake.

Operation Stork was Canada's Humanitarian evacuation of Haitian orphans in response to the quake. Please consider that these future Canadians are threatened by deadly disease, which is thriving because the post quake conditions have created a ripe environment for disease. Please continue your special immigration measures, do not rule out your continuing and committed post earthquake response to the Haitian-Canadian orphans.

My boys were not orphans created by the earthquake, rather, they have resided at the orphanage since ----, 2009. The Cholera outbreak is very close to their orphanage.

Please, I urge you to continue your admirable post earthquake response.

Sincerely,

#3 - NHQ, Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Oct.22, 2010

Dear ------ National Headquaters, CIC,

Let me begin by thanking you for your massive efforts to date in Operation Stork. I have been able to witness the direct results of your labour as I watch the children of our fellow adoptive parents enjoy their new lives in Canada, safe from the threat of infectious disease. I truly admire your ability to be able to help change and possibly, save lives.

My husband and I are currently in process of adopting 2 Haitian boys, age 1, from Haiti Children's Home in Mirebalais, near the Artibonite river. Due to the continued threat to their well being since the earthquake in Jan of this year, and with the recent Cholera outbreak, which is a direct threat to them, I would like to follow up in regards to Operation Stork.

14 people have already passed in the village where their orphanage resides. A volunteer from our orphanage, who is currently in Haiti, will be doing a phone interview with CNN tomorrow to discuss the effects of this outbreak on the orphanage.

135 people are dead, and 1500 are ill so far. Please help us bring our boys home with special immigration measures through operation stork to help remove them from the threat of this deadly disease.

I have included our information and client ID # below.

We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.

Our boys are ---------, born ----- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ---, 2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.

I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake. Our children currently reside in temporary housing, as their building was condemned in the quake.

Sincerely,

#4 - Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Hon. Jason Kenney

Oct.22, 2010

Dear Honourable Jason Kenney,

I just received word that there are 42 now dead in Mirebalais, where Haiti Children's Home is located. I am praying every minute for my boys and everyone down there. Please us get them home and keep them safe...if there is anything that can be done, I have faith that you will be able to continue the efforts that were made for the same reason earlier this year.

There are other children who are in process with adoptions from our orphanage.

We have completed the part 1 of our immigration application, and a letter of no objection from the province is currently on file in Haiti.

Our boys are ------------- born -------- 2009. They have resided at the orphanage since ----2009. Our adoption has been in process since the end of 2009, well prior to the earthquake, however we were matched with the boys this summer.

I implore to you please consider this matter to its fullest extent and fully explore Canada's ability to continue to help our future Canadian children in the aftermath of this earthquake.

Sincerely,

#5 - The Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Hon. Stephen Harper

Oct.23, 2010

To The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,

My husband and I are adoptive parents to one year old Haitian twin boys named -----------. I am writing to express my gratitude over your concerns for Haiti. I am so happy to read that you are continuing to respond to the needs of the people who are experiencing hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake, as you were you were quoted in the Montreal Gazette:

"Canada is concerned by the loss of life and the risk of this serious medical crisis spreading into further communities," Harper said in a statement.
"Canada will continue to respond to the needs of the people of Haiti who are experiencing tremendous hardships in the aftermath of the earthquake that took place earlier this year."

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Haiti+gets+Canadian+help+after+cholera+outbreak/3717037/story.html#ixzz13Cqp2ODL

I am writing to draw your attention to the fact that there are still adoptive parents in Canada trying to extract their children out of Haiti. We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since last summer. We are adopting from the orphanage Haiti Children's Home. A volunteer from our orphanage will be featured on a CNN interview tomorrow morning.

As adoptive parents, we are so worried about our children as they fare this latest threat of Cholera, which happens to be centralized in the region where the orphanage is located, threatening them directly. Since the earthquake, our children have been living outside of their home in temporary shelters, as their building was condemned; a situation that is not ideal in a country that is already on its knees, and now handling another deadly blow.

There are only a handful of adoptions still being processed by the Haitian government from Canada. I respectfully implore you to please allow the team from the Department of Immigration to continue their efforts in "Operation Stork". I understand that their efforts will be limited to what the Haitian Government will allow, but I beseech you to approach Haiti with your requests before our future Canadian children face the consequences of this too often deadly disease. They are relying on the ability of their soon to be fair and just Government to act swiftly on their behalf to join them with us, their family.

I have attached their pictures.

Thank you for your time,

#6 - Minister of International Cooperation Canada, Hon. Bev Oda

Oct.26, 2010

To the Honourable Bev Oda,

You have recently received a copy of my letter to The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, in regards to our Haitian Adoption and the current situation in Haiti.
I would like to thank you for your quick response in the measure taken for Operation Stork back in Jan of this year. You response was admirable and appreciated for the children being adopted by Canadian families. I have had the please to witness the fruit of your action personally, as some of the children that were evacuated shared their orphanage with my twin boys, ------. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys, because of simple timing remain in the home. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without their parents, and prone to disease.

I want to appeal to you to continue your action on behalf of our children. Operation Stork was a response taken by the Government for the safety and well being of the children who were left reeling in the aftermath of the earthquake in Jan.

As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.

I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.

I have included more pictures of our babies at their orphanage.

Humbly,

#7 - Canadian International Development Agency

CIDA
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0G4
Toll free:
Fax: 819-953-6088

Oct.26, 2010

To whom it may concern,

My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.

Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.

As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.

We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------ 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.

Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.

I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.

I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.

Sincerely,

#8 - Minister of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lawrence Cannon
Department of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 992-6802 Email: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca

Oct.26, 2010

To the Honourable Lawrence Cannon,

My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, --------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.

Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.

As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.

We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since 2009. Our twin boys were born on -----. They have resided in the orphanage since ---. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.

Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.

I humbly implore you to please approach the Haitian government with your concern for our children and request that they be placed with us while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.

I have been in communication with the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority, as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are ready, willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request the Haitian government to extract these future Canadians.

Sincerely,

#9 - Mr. George Rogers, MLA

George Rogers, MLA
#503 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB Canada T5K 2B6
Phone: Fax: leduc.beaumontdevon@assembly.ab.ca

Oct.27, 2010

To Mr. George Rogers,

My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, -----------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.

Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in assisting in whatever ways possible in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.

As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.

We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ----- 2009. Our twin boys were born on ------, 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ----- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.
Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.

I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.

I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.
Sincerely,


#10 - Minister of Children and Youth Alberta, Hon. Yvonne Fritz

Minister of Child and Youth Services
#228 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
tel.780-415-4890 fax: (780) 415-4859, email: cys.minister@gov.ab.ca

Oct.27, 2010

To the Hon. Yvonne Fritz,

My husband and I are in the process of adopting twin 1 year old boys, ------------, from Haiti Children’s Home, Mirebalais, Haiti. At this time, we would like to call on everyone who was involved in the efforts of Operation Stork for one last push to extract the remaining orphans who were left behind.

Let me start by first expressing my gratitude for your efforts to date in executing Operation Stork, and extracting 203 Haitian orphans to their waiting adoptive families. Some of those children shared their orphanage with my baby boys. While their “brothers and sisters” were lucky enough to be removed to their waiting family, my boys remain in the orphanage, or shall I say, outside of the orphanage. As a loving a comforting home awaits, they remain outside, in temporary plywood shelter, without us, their parents, and prone to disease.

As our children continue to face the consequences of this disaster, including now Cholera, we, their adoptive parents, fear for their health and safety. We have advocated from the beginning of the year that Operation Stork continue for the parents who have been processing their adoptions since prior to the quake, with the knowledge that our children would be facing the same reality of those who were lucky enough to be rescued into the loving arms of their families.

We have been in the process of adopting from Haiti since ---2009. Our twin boys were born on ---- 2009. They have resided in the orphanage since ---- 2009. This is not a case of a new adoption of orphans created by the quake; this is a case of a family who has been trying to adopt their children since 2009, and orphans who have been waiting just as long for their family. I have attached pictures of our boys, their orphanage and our family. Please, as you review these images, think about the lives of the children who will live with the consequences of your decisions.

Please, Operation Stork is not over. There are only a handful of Canadian families with adoptions in motion remaining. Our children live in the reality that you rescued their fellow orphans from.

I humbly implore you to please assist and encourage in whatever way you can, that the team assembled for Operation Stork approach the Haitian government with concern for our children and request that they be placed with their families while their adoption is finalized from within Canada, as was the case with the 203 children who were evacuated via Operation Stork.

I have been in communication with some of the key people who would help execute the details of this task: our provincial adoption authority in Alberta as well as our orphanage director. Both indicate that they are willing and able to assist the higher authorities and work with our family to execute the appropriate steps should a decision be made at the federal level to go ahead and request to extract these children.

Sincerely,

message from HCH

Monday, October 25, 2010
Reverse Isolation

We were successful in isolating the orphanage over the weekend. Several of our staff graciously agreed to stay around the clock in a lock down situation for at least a month and longer if needed. We had to hire some temporary staff as not enough of our employees were able to stay to make a full staff on-site with the children; we are grateful to all those who helped make the reverse isolation happen.

It took about 24 hours to actually get the compound ready, find the staff and get enough supplies to make it all happen but everyone worked together and made it happen. Lunto went to get bulk supplies on Friday, Mathieu went to employees homes, made phone calls and then arranged a meeting with those in place for the isolation. On Saturday, Shae and Melissa went to Port-au-Prince for one last grocery shopping trip to buy food, extra water jugs, air mattresses for the staff and hand sanitizer (they couldn't get any of this) before locking down. When they got home they set up mattresses and made sleeping arrangements for about 12 helpers who joined them in the already overcrowded sleeping quarters. Then they initiated the isolation officially.
So far no children and no staff from HCH have been effected by cholera. We do have a few children with mild illness but no one with symptoms of cholera. We thank God for this and we pray that he will continue to cover them.
We are still in need of a nurse or two. We need someone who is proficient at starting IV's and is willing to administer the daily medications and treatments. If you or someone you know is interested in helping in this way please contact Melinda Ulysse by phone at or 772-209-2527 or e-mail at hchkids@yahoo.com

Please continue to help us pray for the country of Haiti and HCH as everyone tried to recover from the earthquake earlier this year and now the cholera outbreak. HCH is in need of funding to help cover the extra expenses incurred due to the cholera outbreak if you would like to help financially please see our website http://www.haitichildrenshome.com/

...more mountains...

there has been an outbreak of cholera in Haiti. here is another mountain to surpass. rather than dwell on how bad this could be, i will choose to be thankful for the following:

for an orphanage that is organized and prepared to respond to this new threat.
for the wonderful caregivers who are loving up my boys for me.
for pictures and video that are capturing precious memories for my babies.
for family and friends who are taking the time to advocate on behalf of our family.
for a government that i choose to believe will do the right thing and act swiftly to remove my children from danger; it is in their power to try.
for my little ones that are within my grasp; that i can hold and protect with my own hands. family.
for faith.
for hope.
for love.

...While watching "How to Train Your Dragon"....

Sugarbear to Dee: "Dragon's are extinct."

Dee to Sugarbear: "Dragon's breath stinks."