PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Barbara Walker and Joe Hurston formed a circle with their team of missionaries on Friday, and they prayed.
Then they walked through a crowd of hundreds of frustrated Haitians and Americans who were desperate to leave Haiti and were clamoring to get into the American Embassy for their exit papers.
Walker, who runs the Ruuska Village orphanage and arranges adoptions for children left there, was praying for the miracle. She wanted to get three emergency visas to evacuate some of her injured children.
Hurston and his crew from Airmobile Ministries, who arrived in Haiti on Wednesday with much-needed water purifying equipment, were poised to fly the children to safety this weekend.
“I think we have a real shot at getting these kids out of here on a pure humanitarian basis,” said Hurston.In Melbourne, Dr. Stephen Badolato is preparing for the children Walker is trying to get out.
“It is going to be hard, but we are excited to be able to help these children,” he said, noting that he has stocked up on food and antibiotics. “We already have their basic medical history and description of the injuries.”
Several families in Brevard have agreed to help care of the children, he said.
Concerned about kids
Walker started Ruuska Village 20 years ago with a $20,000 donation. Over the years, the 65-year-old former school bus driver has built 15 buildings to care for battered women and orphans. She named it Ruuska Village after the family that made the initial donation.
About 75 percent of the village’s buildings were damaged by the Tuesday quake., and most of the residents now sleep outdoors for fear of another tremor.
“I almost feel selfish trying to get my kids out of here while there are so many Haitians suffering and in need,” said Walker. “But one more earthquake and I could lose all my kids.”
Since the quake struck, at least five mothers have dropped or off merely abandoned babies at Ruuska Village — including a one-month-old and another who was burned in a fire. The village is busting now with 50 children and 20 to 30 adults.
With food, water and fuel getting more scarce, Walker is anxious to get as many away to safety as possible.
One child was well enough to walk, barely. Charley Schumacher, 11, who has already been adopted by a Michigan family, is in pain and walks very slowly. A wall fell on him during the earthquake, landing on his hip and belly.
American nurse Carol Smith, a volunteer at Ruuska Village, has barely left his side. American military doctors examined Charley and found no immediate danger signs. They are concerned, however, he may have a perforated colon and could be hemorrhaging slowly.
Payoff for long wait
At the crowded embassy, Walker turned in documents on the three injured children, as well as another 13 children who have been adopted but whose visas may be lost forever since just about every Haitian government building has been destroyed.
The team waited and waited. They were ushered into a foyer, then to a courtyard where they waited some more.
Dozens of injured people were carried past them by medical personnel. Helicopters were evacuating some of the injured from the embassy to waiting planes at the nearby airport.
Five hours passed while Walker and Hurston waited for their answer.
But in the end, it was worth it.
The embassy issued 12 visas to get children out of the country — including one for Charley Schumacher — and they promised to grant an additional 12 next week.
“This is so much more than I hoped for,” said an elated Walker, tears in her eyes. “Many of these kids would not survive if they stayed.”
Hurston, too, shed tears of joy.
“This is nothing short of a miracle,” he said, going from tears to laughter. “Twelve visas in one day? You’ve got to be kidding.”
Unfortunately, one child in desperate need of evacuation – Moses Ruch – did not get a visa because he has no passport. He may get one next week.
His caregiver, Sue Witt, argued that he has broken legs and she will soon be out of his seizure medication.
“He is adopted, but they won’t issue a passport because he was abandoned in a sugar cane field and there is no birth certificate,” she said. “I was sure we would be able to take him out. We’ll just have to keep trying.”
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