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Airman finds inspiration in strength of evacuees' children

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mayra Colon-Santiago
  • 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron
When I first heard the news of the earthquake in Haiti, I wanted to be able to do something. I wished I could go but knew the 621st Contingency Response Wing was the only unit deploying to Haiti for an extended period from this base. Besides, they can't send a pregnant woman for the obvious health reasons. I came in to work on the morning of Jan. 15 and immediately heard the news JB MDL was getting evacuees from Haiti. The first group had already arrived at 4 a.m. I instantly had the urge to help.

I begged my leadership to let me volunteer. I told them I would work the weekend if I had to. They didn't want me to because they didn't think it was good for me (being pregnant and all). So after some convincing, I got the call I would be working Friday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Once I walked in to the McGuire Fitness Center that Friday morning, I looked for something to do. I ended up helping sort through the clothes we were slowly but surely getting more and more of. It was so overwhelming to see the families coming in with little to nothing. Families were coming to us asking for something "anything" to wear. A lot of them only had the clothes on their back which wasn't appropriate for the Jersey weather. We had a lot of clothes but not enough coats and not enough men's clothes at that time, so it was hard telling them we didn't have something for them. I couldn't imagine being in the same situation. I have always been fortunate enough to have clothes on my back, food in my mouth and a nice home to sleep, shower and rest in. The children who were coming to us looking for clothes weren't complaining they didn't like something - or if we didn't have something they were just very appreciative of what we had. After we started getting more help with sorting clothes, I wanted to find something else to do so I walked around a bit until I found just what I was looking for.

There were a lot of children and babies. The mothers were tired, so we wanted to help in whatever way we could. I went to give a break to one of the other volunteer helpers from holding a baby boy and instantly fell in love. It was such a good overwhelming feeling holding that baby. The baby just fell asleep in my arms and I couldn't put him down after that. It was so hard to think about what they had gone through.

Their stories weren't easy to hear without wanting to cry. All of them were telling us how they had been sleeping on the streets since the earthquake because either their house had fallen or it wasn't safe to be in. While I was holding the 10-month-old baby boy I watched a mother be greeted by her family members from New York. They were so excited to see their sibling with her two daughters who had survived the tragedy. They started crying out of happiness and instantly the tears began rolling down my face as well. I didn't want to cry because I didn't want them to think I had pity for them. But I cried because I was just as happy as they were - to see them reunited and able to see a comforting face.

At the end of that day I had to give up the baby (although I could have easily taken him home). When I got in my car and started driving home I began to cry. It wasn't a soft cry, I was literally "boohooing." I just couldn't believe what all these people had been through and how strong they still were after all of it. How amazingly nice they all were to all of us. I really felt for them. I also was a little upset with myself. How dare I pray to God ever again to tell him I don't have enough or that things could be so much better, after seeing what these people have been through?

One thing is for sure though ... next time I'm having a "bad" day or am feeling down for whatever reason, I will remember these days. How good it felt to help these families, all the babies I wished I could adopt, and the smiles on their faces when they knew there was hope for a better tomorrow.

The weekend overall had a huge impact on me. Especially Saturday and Sunday, during which I completely devoted my time to the babies. It was a very rewarding experience bathing, feeding, playing and comforting the little ones. They were all great. From the 6-year-old little boy who wouldn't stop giving me sweet kisses on the cheek, to the 4-month-old baby girl who had lost her mother due to the earthquake and her father is now forced to take care of her on his own.

This weekend taught me not to take life for granted and to be thankful for what I have. I cannot begin to explain how fortunate I am that I had the opportunity to work with the evacuees over the weekend. It was truly and eye-opening experience for me as I'm sure it was for everybody else who worked there.

We currently don't have any more evacuees, but if we get more I would be more than delighted to volunteer my time once again.