I've spent the past week and a half visiting family and friends in Charlotte and making some fun side trips to Boone, Yadkin Valley and DC...who would've thought you could fit all three within a week and a half?!?
As usual it's never enough time to visit with everyone, but I got to spend Mother's Day with my mom and attend my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary shindig (60 YEARS!!!).
My trip started off with no less than a redeye flight and then landing on Cinco de Mayo...my sisters and I take this very seriously as I consider us Mexican food connoisseurs (yes, there is such a thing!) and our lovely meal was rounded out with my oldest nephew getting locked in the bathroom at the restaurant...if you've never seen three adults trying to break a bathroom door down, well then, you're really missing out :)
The next day I drove my mom and I to DC for her Mother's Day gift...we pretty much walked all over DC, saw all the monuments, visited Arlington National Cemetery and went on a fun, cheesy tourist bus ride in, oh, about 24 hours...because that's how we roll!
First stop: the white house!
The next day was my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary dinner...my sister took this photo for us. Aren't they so cute?!
Benjamin and I goofing around during dinner...thanks Heidi for the picture :)
Then we went to Jackson's baseball game...I love that he's playing shortstop! :)
In action!
Addison being a super cute supportive younger sister at Jackson's game :)
Me and Benjamin :)
Benj was not too thrilled with me when I caught him flirting underneath the bleachers...
On Mother's Day, my parents and I went wine tasting in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina...last year I went wine tasting in NC with my mom and we had a great time so we decided to try out some new tasting rooms this time. This is at Laurel Gray Vineyards...
This is at Raffaldini Vineyards...
Raffaldini is a gorgeous location for weddings :)
Vineyards at Shadow Spings...this is the last place we visited before heading to Boone to eat at the Dan'l Boone Inn...
My dad and I...still sporting my DC sunburn...whoops!
Happy Mother's Day!
Visiting with Molly on my way to the airport... :)
In other random news, Mike and I will have our 2 year anniversary one month from today--yeah baby!! Have a great weekend everyone!
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As I mentioned in my last post, there is so much more to do in Haiti and I so want to be apart of it. Please think of donating new tents (even used ones-in good condition) and eyeglasses!!
There are so many different things the Haitians need, but after visiting, my feelings are that I want to in the educational area. I feel that if Haitians can continue to go to school and college (which many were destroyed in the earthquake) then they can go on to create a more stable economy and enrich the lives of those in their country.
My current thought is to create a coffee table style photo book and have all proceeds go to charity...for
medical students like Jolius...
and school aged children...
What do you think? If anyone knows a literary agent, let me know :)
Happy Monday!
dottie says:
morning, Whitney...great idea!! you might contact Bill's sister, Betty Jane....she has considerable writing/publishing experience. love you
(04.27.10 @ 04:29 AM)
Katie says:
I have no tips about literary agents but I do think that is a wonderful and generous idea. I'll be cleaning out closets soon and if I locate any of my old glasses I'll be sending them your way!
(04.27.10 @ 07:47 AM)
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You could feel the sadness in the air during our last two days...of course everyone was ready to get back home to family and needless to say, the comforts of life in North America, but having to say goodbye to friends so quickly made was difficult.
On our seventh day in Haiti, we held a mobile clinic in Port au Prince at a church that had partially collapsed during the earthquake.
We held our clinic on the second floor...
This is the view of the neighborhood from the second story of the church...it was a common sight to see smoke and little flames going as the people would often burn their trash since Haiti has no sanitation department or trash pickup...
This is the pastor of the church--he was so helpful and appreciative
This building was recently finished before our arrival...this is where most of the surgeries took place...
On our last working day, three huge trucks pulled up to the mission with rice, canola oil and beans...this was the first time (almost three months after the earthquake) that any food had been distributed in this area...
People waited in line all day clasping onto their tickets which signified if they received food or not...
These guys had "the list" of people and tickets...
The food was from the US and Canada driven in from the Dominican Republic.
These nice tents were actually right behind the mission next to a school. Many of the school children lived here as well as some of our interpreters and their families...
Some of our amazing translators.
Our group. It's still sinking in the fact that I got to go to Haiti, meet all these incredible doctors, nurses and surgeons, photograph them working away at their craft, meeting the selfless Haitians and I can't wait to do it all over again.
So...what's next? I'm still figuring that out myself. After going, I know that I want to/have to/feel the need to return to Haiti.
Please don't forget that their are still millions of Haitians that are homeless...please email me if you have a tent to donate or eyeglasses (near or far sighted)!!!! whitney [at] whitneyelizabehtphoto [dot] com
I'm working on a fundraising project for students...please check back Monday for more details as I work the whole thing out. Thank you so much for checking in to follow my Haiti story...I know most of you visit for wedding photographs. Happy weekend everyone :)
dottie says:
Whitney...wow and more wow! You did an awesome thing, and it continues through your photos! I am grateful for your sharing with all of us who love you.
(04.23.10 @ 02:16 PM)
Chris and Doug Giffin says:
Whitney, your pictures are inspiring. We don't realize what is still going on unless we see it through you great photos! Thanks for sharing!
Chris and Doug
Elizabeth Bean says:
Thanks for the postcard. I really enjoyed all the photos!
(04.26.10 @ 09:58 AM)
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I had so many opportunities bestowed upon me in Haiti-one of them being the chance to photograph live surgeries. Watching these surgeries was like an out-of-body experience...I couldn't believe what my eyes were witnessing. It's actually quite incredible to watch...it's an art form. The surgeons and nurses and anesthesiologist work together in perfect motion to create a new masterpiece...a better body, if you will.
**WARNING: There is a shot below from a mastectomy that I documented-it's a bit shocking so don't say that I didn't warn you! This particular surgery was by far the most emotional for me to watch but I was thrilled to know that she has a better chance of now surviving.
This is the little boy I mentioned in my most recent haiti post-he had walked over hot coals and we brought him back to the clinic with us...
At the end of day five, I went by one of our mobile clinics for just a bit. This one was held at a local tent city.
And this begins day two of photographing surgeries. Our surgical team worked all week long to accommodate as many patients as they could while they were in Haiti. I am so impressed with our entire group that went to Haiti...everyone worked so hard and sometimes through the night to help with the patients that would start lining up at the clinic at 5:30am each morning...
After my second day of documenting surgeries, I went to visit Gibson's family who lives just down the road. Gibson is a sweet boy who hangs out around the mission...even though we couldn't speak the same language as his family, it was nice to just sit and enjoy each other's company...I mean, how often do people do that anymore??
A few snapshots on the way back to the mission...
Carol says:
Whitney - Thank you for continuing to share your journey with us. These photos are absolutely breathtaking.......
(04.20.10 @ 06:20 PM)
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On our fourth day in Haiti, we held a mobile clinic in a rural mountain village. This village was not necessarily affected by the earthquake, but they still had dire needs. Most of the folks in this village had never seen a doctor or had any type of medical care in their life.
It was a beautiful and short drive up to their village and we held the clinic in their church. We found that this particular village seemed, in general, much more happy and less stressed than those we served in tent cities in and nearby Port au Prince.
Nina (middle) going over scabies symptoms and diagnosis with Darren and Frani before we left for our mobile clinic. Pretty much every single kid in this village had scabies (which is like lice for the skin)...
While the group was packing up, I took a few quick snapshots of our sleeping arrangements on the porch...
I just love our interpreters...
On the way up to the mountain village, I saw this little boy playing with a toy truck made out of cardboard pulled by a string...he was just as happy as he could be.
This clinic was a bit easier to manage because we had great "crowd control." It was a bit overwhelming for everyone when we would set up camp and the crowd would surge for medicine and whatever they could get. The leader of this community helped us keep a steady flow of people, with one entry and one exit, and there was less confusion this way.
This poor child had walked over hot coals and his foot was badly burned. We ended taking him back to the clinic with us so he could have surgery.
It was very dusty on this non-paved, pebble road...
dottie says:
Whitney, your photos simply blow me away! we love ya!
(04.15.10 @ 03:28 PM)
Carol says:
Whitney - these photographs are so beautiful......they make me feel as if I were right there alongside you for the journey. Thank you for continuing to update us on each day of your trip.
(04.15.10 @ 04:06 PM)
Bryan says:
More great shots; thanks. Viewing these reminds me of my frustration at those that say that Americans don't do anything to help in the world. Really?
I'm proud of you - great work!
(04.15.10 @ 09:23 PM)
Justine Ungaro says:
Whitney, I'm so enjoying your journey. Makes me miss Haiti so badly!
(04.16.10 @ 12:28 PM)
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what awesome photos as usual whit! and i just looooove getting to see your mama!!! your family seems alot like mine. so happy you got to spend a great mother's day and trip together.
(05.14.10 @ 03:25 PM)So glad to see you Whitney! :) Can't wait to see you again at the beach! Love you!
(05.14.10 @ 04:39 PM)