buried alive for 17 hours

@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
January 18, 2010 1:25pm CST
The following excerpt shows happened to my GF's niece in Haiti during the earthquake. "She had gotten dressed for dinner and decided to put on a light jacket always and glad she did, as it helped protect her for what was to happen… she said the floor literally dropped from underneath her and she went along with it, along with three floors on falling on top of her. Yes, she was in on the second floor of a five story hotel (http://www.htmontana.com/). She was buried alive for 17 hours straight. She ended up on her side and facing partly down in a type of fetal position. She said her being more in a down position prevented her from suffocating from the three feet of debris that was on top of her. She was covered from head to toe of concrete, glass, metal and there was a tiny pocket of air that was formed from the dresser that fell for her nose to breathe from. She said she would breathe calmly, to conserve air and stay calm. She knew it would be getting dark soon and that no one would be looking for them that evening. She could her others “moaning” and calling out for help as well. She had no idea of time or how long she had been there. But she could hear voices and noise and then it would go away and she would get terrified that they wouldn’t return. They would argue and she thought they had given up on the place and were ready to move on. All this time, she talked to God, recited verses from the Bible that she could remember, sang songs and did anything to keep her mind going. FINALLY, the rescue team found her. She doesn’t know how they found HER in all that mess, as she said she fell to the pool level area and it was almost cave-like. She thinks it was a UN/Haitian rescue team, as they did speak English, but French also. They had to cut her hair with a knife to free her up. They put her on a board and carried her out. She saw five of the students whom she had been escorting around. They had been by the open pool area and were unharmed. As she was laid on the ground, some explosions occurred. She thought she made it out of that mess and now she was going to die in an explosion!? There were propane tanks exploding. She was helicoptered over to the Argentinean UN building where a female doctor looked her over. The doctor was concerned she had spinal injuries (which she does not) so that actually was what got her out of the country and over to the Dominican Republic. She waited at the UN for a while and then was flown by plane to Santiago, DR. As she arrived at the hospital – one of the best in the Caribbean -- immediate x-rays and cat scans were preformed. Some wonderful people brought her clothes, underwear, shoes, and money… others went to get her some shampoo, as her hair still had metal, wood, etc in it and she desperately wants it washed out. Her right eye is swollen shut; her right leg is healing slowly, but the good news is that the swelling is on the exterior vs. the interior in her veins. No injuries to her spine but she is swollen from her hip to her foot. She does not want to leave right now, as I think she feels “comfortable” and safe where she is and is scared to move again. She was also very concerned about the group of students from Lynn University whom she was escorting. Looks like 11 of them are safe, but one student and the two faculty members are still missing. She feels horrible about all of that." I do not know that I could remain sane buried 17 hours under rubble. People who are experience tough times may think that they have nothing to give.These people have nothing - not a fork, tin opener of a paper plate. They have nothing. You do not have to give money but can drop off clean used clothing or a packet of disposable plates or something. Nothing is too small. Will you try to give?
9 people like this
17 responses
@AmbiePam (85492)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Wow. Just wow.
2 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
19 Jan 10
No words! I know, and there are so many more telling their tale in the media. or people begging, asking if someone's seen their daughter, sister, niece, cousin.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
Burying over 70,000 in less than a week. Thousands of more bodies rotting on the streets. Horrifying.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Hey cynthiann, That was such a touching story and I am so happy that your girfriend's neice is alive and well after such a horrible ordeal~ It is so awful what has happened to the people in Haiti. I don't even know what to say. When I see all the horrific destruction and the poor people that are there that are trying to get help it is so awfully sad. I know how hard the people here in the US are trying to help these people as fast as they can! There will be benefits to help get more money and there are all kinds of collections going on to send food, money, clothes and whatever other supplies that people can get together and get down to these people as fast as they can! I am going to see what I can do to help too, even if it is just to send some money! I feel so helpless when I see the faces of these people! It is gut wrenching and heart breaking! God Bless the people and help them!
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
Many people argue that they have poor in their own countries - and every country is in recession and has their poor homeless people. Jamaica is sliding into a fourth world country but i have been amazed at the outpouring of things for the Haitians. A poor mother of five gave me a couple of spoons to give and I fought back tears as when I get food at church I always make sure she gets even a few rounds of rice. The UN disaster people (150) lost their lives and so ther is no one to coordinate and now the disease plus chldren still dying on the street is getting to everyone. Can you imagine a country burying 70,000 in less than a week?
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I am glad that she seems to be ok. I can imagine that she is really shook up. I hope that the rest of her group turns out to be ok too. I cannot imagine being buried that long.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Jan 10
Neither can I. Imagine hearing peopl eand then they walk away. What mental agony she must have endured.
2 people like this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I am so glad your friends niece survived all of this. I don't know that I would have survived. I think I would have panicked and run out of air. I applaud her for being so brave in such a hard time.
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
18 Jan 10
BLESS HER HEART, what a miracle she survived. I'm so glad she did. It is such a terrible thing for everybody concerned. I haven't heard about anything being collected here but that doesn't mean they are not. I just don't hear about things since i am not working & out & about w/people like i was. The only thing i have heard is that u can use ur cellphone to give a donation to the red cross but my cell is a pay as u go & i don't know if that would work on it or not. I'm about out of minutes & need to get me another card. I very seldom use it. do you have the girl's address where she is now?
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
19 Jan 10
i KNOW ALL THIS cYNTHI, I WATCH THE NEWS EVERY DAY. I would just like to help someone personally. I know when katrina hit new orleans it showed supplies that were sent thrown in a building never distributed to the people, That really bothered me. I hope that doesn't happen in haiti.the usa is too generous in my opinion sometime. They don't take care of their own like they should.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
18 Jan 10
I can't imagine what these poor people are going thru. I'm so happy that your GF's niece is doing better. I have given a small money donation and I plan on sending a box of stuff that I would normally sell at a garage sell to the people of Haiti. I'm sure I can find blankets, clothes, can foods, shoes, etc... I keep reading where people are stating why do we have to help everyone while people right here in the states need help. I feel if it happened to us I would want everyone to pitch in and help us too. We are all in this together and I only wish more people felt that way. Unfortunately alot of people don't see it that way for some reason or other.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Jan 10
The USA has always helped in disaster relief in a mega way but then so has the whole world. I live in a third world poor country that is in an awful economic bind but even the poorest are giving something simple like a used T shirt or an outgrown child's dress.The gardeners where I work, came with 2 bundles of clothes for me to drop off that they had collected from their village. Most countries have poor just like the USA, and the poor in our own countries have to be cared for too. The number of street people has increased.I do understand why people think this way and some are saying it in my country too but these people have nothing but the clothes on heir back. Absolutely nothing. And we are our brother's keeper.Has anyone in a first world country ever buried 70,000 people in less than a week? I grew up in the U.K. and I do not know that this ever happened, do you?
2 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
19 Jan 10
I can't fathom what they went through....can't imagine losing everything...or being buried alive! The good news though is that finally they are making advances to help the people there! Too bad it always takes so long...I am glad she is okay!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
They have to make a decision to ckear the rubble but I exect they were hoping to retrieve the bodies. But the roads have to be cleared.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Jan 10
hi I am so glad your friend was found and is now recovering from those 17 hours of being buried alive. I doubt if I could have remained calm as she did, what a story, and how brave. I hope that all of us mylotters can find time to donate whatever we can as they will need everything. a great discussion and hope it helps a lot.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
Hatley I do not personally know her but I am great friends with her aunt. She does have a great faith I am told and I am sure this helped her. I do not know if I could have remained calm
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Wow I am sure I would be terribly frightened, and to be honest most likely would need psychiatric help after that as I would surely drive myself crazy thinking about what could happen, what DID happen, and if it would EVER happen again. When the explosion occurred, I'd most likely have a heart attack. I wanted to stop by and say your Gf's niece is very brave and smart to have kept herself calm, and told the tale of it! [b] Now, I'd also like to mention that while their are a lot of legit charities, the best bet is to check them out with the bbb or the equivalent in everyone's countries. There are some already out that are "fakes"![/b]
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
In Jamaica, we are giving everything we can. Collecting clothing and bedding. Many of us cannot give food but the supermarkets etc have already sent a boat load of food. I d agree that we have to be careful of who we give money too.
@jilshi (271)
• Malaysia
19 Jan 10
cynthiann, congratulations to your girlfriend's niece that GOD had saved her life as well as others. I am glad to hear that the rescue team done the job well and external people who brought clothes and food. FATHER ALMIGHTY, we love you
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
Blessed be His name
@lindiebiz (1006)
• Canada
19 Jan 10
Very touching story but I am glad she is alright. I can't imagine such happening to me, one could die from the trauma. An appeal to my lotters, nothing is too small to give to help Haitians. It is really terrible
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
A poor mother of 5 - single parent gave me a few spoons this morning. I had to fight back my tears
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
20 Jan 10
That story absolutely gave me the chills. I am hoping that one of the charities that is local to us will take up a drive of items to send to the people in Haiti because I have a lot of stuff I've been collecting to send to a resale store, but in light of the earthquake and destruction down there I would much rather send my things to the people there that will actually be using them. I'm very happy to hear that your friend's niece is okay.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jan 10
OMG that poor person! I feel so bad for her. I couldn't of done what she did... i would have ended up freaking out or something. Talk about scary... i cant think of anything more scary than that! Im so glad shes ok... god must of be matching out for her :)
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
She works for a religious organisation and has a great faith and yes, I also believe that God was watching out for her and heard her cry for help
• Singapore
19 Jan 10
Wow!She really is lucky!I'm claustrophobic and if I was in her state,I would be in shock!Wow!I've donated some $$ thru facebook games!^.^
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
I am also a bit claustrophobic- so I would be panicking too.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Jan 10
My goodness what a brave woman! Being buried so tightly for so many hours would have been agonising! I can’t even imagine her relief when rescuers found her! I have no idea how I would have coped, certainly not as well as she did, that’s for sure! I have no words for what the poor people of Haiti are going through. I am in Australia and we can donate cash but I don’t know about blankets and clothing. My husband and I don’t have much but we will look into helping out in any way we can no matter how small. We will be sending big prayers though. Thank you for this thought provoking discussion.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Jan 10
Thank you so much. Perhaps there are relief agencies that will transport stuff free. Even a packet of disposable cups and plate scan help or a few tins of sausages. It is in 6 months that the crunch will really come- they have enough supplies to feed them now but not then. check out the Red Cross or some government agency or church. The Australian peole are known throughout the world for their generous spirit so I am sure that someone is doing something. Here in Jamaica felt the shocks from-an earthquake of the Islands in Cayman. They are closer to us than Haiti and it was so scary. Blessings
1 person likes this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
19 Jan 10
Thank you so much for sharing this story with us, cynthiann! I'm just glad that your friend's niece is alive and doing better. It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like to be stuck under all that rubble for seventeen hours! It's good that she was able to recite verses from the bible and sing songs. I bet that's what helped her more than anything. She was keeping her mind active, in other words. I'm just glad she didn't panic. I was taught not to panic in situations like this. It's hard not to, I know. Kathy.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Jan 10
She works for a religious organisation ans was taking students from the USA to see where their donations had gone.Her faith in God is great and after this, I know that her faith would be stronger. She suffered her own hell and I dread to think how many more were buried alive.
@jkcokley (265)
• United States
30 Jan 10
Praise the Lord for her safety in a crisis that is overwhelming. Gave.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 Jan 10
She is now back home in Florida and doing O.K. Her hair was caught under a steel bar and they had to cut off her hair to get her out - but she is alive. She said that this was a life-changing experience and thanks God for saving her life. she is even more dedicated to doing His work.
@jkcokley (265)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I'm glad to hear that she is back home. I am sure that her renewed commitment will serve her and god well. It truly is amazing the stories coming out of haiti. I have to be honest and say - I'm really glad I wasn't there and that their disaster has made my problems seem meaningless.