As always, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of what had happened in Haiti until it became personal.  On the 15th of January, I got word from my husband that our dear friend, and Jonathan’s long-time mentor, Walt Rattermann, had been missing at the Hotel Montana since January 12th.  We were both heartbroken, and followed his Facebook page obsessively (I even set it up to get text messages when they updated information).  I had heard that Walt had gone 40 days without food before, and had traveled the world doing emergency relief work for the last twenty years, so I thought of all people, Walt could survive.

I posted something about Walt on Facebook one day, and a friend wrote that she knew someone with a heartrate detection monitor going down to Haiti – the same one that found that elderly woman alive under the church. I told Walt’s contacts in Haiti, and they put me on bloodhound duty of finding who this person was and where they could find him.  For three days I frantically called and emailed everyone I could, even speaking with a coal mining executive at the company where the guy worked to try and track him down.  No luck.  During my frantic search, I read. And the more I read the more I realized the devastation that had hit in Haiti; This earthquake killed over 250,000 people (just under 3,000 people were killed on 9/11/01), and I saw the images of the buildings… they looked like cement pancakes. I couldn’t even fathom the search strategy, much less if it would be fast enough to reach survivors before dehydration kicked in.

Last week Gretchen came to me and said she wanted to donate all of her tips in February to Mercy Corps for the relief effort in Haiti… The next day, Libby said she did too.  And from there, more and more staff and customers have been motivated to do what they can, no matter how big or small, to help in Haiti.  I know being far from places where these disasters occur, it can be hard for it to really hit home for us, myself included.  We’re numb to bad news; We hear about natural disasters all over the world all the time and barely blink.  I’m amazed that our staff are so eager and willing to help how they can, and thought maybe some of you reading this are wondering what you can do. Below is some information on what Mercy Corps is focusing on with their relief work right now in Haiti. Feel free to read it and do with the information what you will…

In recent days, we received the sad news that Walt’s remains were found in the lobby of the Hotel Montana.  While we, and so many others, are devastated to have lost such an incredible man that so wonderfully influenced our lives, I also know that Walt lived one of the fullest lives I could possibly imagine, and died doing the work he loved.  I dedicate this note, and any money raised, to Walt and his wonderful wife, Jeanne, and children Briana and Shane.

Jessie

Haiti Fact Sheet 2-2-10

Posted in Blog