Poor Haiti: When Will This Island get a Break?

It was bound to happen – an epidemic of national proportions was just a matter of time in this country.  After the January 12, 2010 earthquake many predicted that the poor handling of dead bodies and the conditions in the tent cities around the capital, Port-Au-Prince would result in serious health problems. By September 2010, conditions were not much better. Approximately 1 million people were still calling tents their homes. 

As such it comes as no major surprise that the island has been hit by a cholera outbreak. News reports from the Haitian government reveal that over 2000 persons now have the diseases. Based on the infrastructure and poverty in the country there is no doubt this number will climb. The number of dead officially reported to be over 200, but who knows how many others have died so far.

Many countries have offered aid after the earthquake, but obvious much more still needs to be done. The current economic climate is not helping as donations are down in many quarters. What is clear is that Haitians will have to take their situation in hand and start working together to make this once proud country proud again.

It is sad to see the plight of the first black republic. Sadly, much of the poverty the country faces is in no small part due to political corruption over the years. Hopefully, the current government and succeeding ones will work to take Haiti out of its continuing crisis. It can be done – but it is not the responsibility of the international community alone. The main responsibility must rest with the Haitians themselves – both those at home and abroad. 

They must be true to and help fulfill Toussaint L’ouverture's vision for his country:  “Toussaint’s vision for Haiti projected a society embracing equal opportunity for all with social leveling through education and hard work.”

Aging as a Dirty Word

These days I find it scary the way aging seems to be moving into the terrain of becoming a dirty word. Seriously, I hear it around me more and more where someone is referred to as old, “he’s getting old” or  “Wow, she looks old” and many other variations in between.

It’s no wonder so many celebrities and even regular everyday people are risking their lives to go under the knife. While I can appreciate that aging is a bit scary, it shouldn’t become such a dirty word. Life after all is a cycle. Interestingly, I recently overheard someone in their mid-thirties referred to someone a few years older as being old’ in a disdainful manner.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when many 20-somethings and 30-somethings move into the next decade of their lives. I can remember one woman becoming hysterical at work the day she hit 30. It was so dramatic, she wept and she couldn’t eat. A few months ago, someone else, on reaching 40 declared that she was now so old – life was over.

Seriously, I find it a tad amusing how much focus we place on the aging process. So many of us are so taken with the dread of getting older that we forget to live and enjoy our lives. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, so why worry about something that may never happen. You may never live to be 30 or 40 or 50…enjoy what you have now.

I remember at 18 that a 40-year old seemed positively ancient, but now I look around and realize that aging isn’t to be feared so much if you live life to the fullest. I look at a blooming Halle Berry, the beautiful Jaime Lee Curtis, a fresh-looking Michelle Obama, and of course Dame Helen Mirren to name just a few and realize that beautify and vitality defy age.

Even among my family members, friends and peers it is amazing to see how beautiful those who love life are. Their looks and actions defy aging. I recently told a colleague who was pointing out a retiree to me, that time is moving so fast, people don’t have so much time to look older.  How else to explain how a 65 year old looked like a 45 year old?

Aging itself isn’t to be feared so much as to be embraced. We must accept that unless we die young it is a road we will all walk. Only then will aging no longer be a bad word. My issues with getting older are with not attempting the things I want to do – I want to climb the Eiffel Tower and go skydiving. Guess I better start seriously looking at ways to make some money so that I can live my dreams.

My Tribute to Women Who Have Survived Breast Cancer

This month being breast cancer awareness month, I wanted to salute those women, their loved ones, the medical community and other groups who have joined together to overcome this disease. 

The first time I met someone who had breast cancer was many years ago. She was a vibrant woman, who didn’t let the loss of a breast and chemo stopped her living her life. Back then it was a scary thing to know someone who was affected. Treatment was not as good as it is now and reconstruction surgery was almost unheard of in Jamaica. While I still find it a scary illness, there is comfort in knowing that many women now beat the disease. Over the years the number of persons I know personally who have battled breast cancer and survived has grown. 

The first person who comes to mind is my wonderful friend Connie Curry. Connie not only survived, but she did so with grace and humor in true Connie style. While dealing with her own cancer she befriended others and offered support and comfort. To top it off, this wonderful woman wrote a great book about living with breast cancer. The book, Give Me Back my Glory is fun, inspirational and informative. You can visit Connie’s website to buy the book or just learn more about this gifted writer and breast cancer survivor.

A close friend’s wife was diagnosed earlier this year. She is doing fine and is definitely on the mend. Through it all she remained strong and determined to beat breast cancer. I also dedicate this to my sister’s good friend, Sarah, who also had to battle this sickness and has survived. 

There are countless other women who have survived the scare of a breast cancer diagnosis. They will tell any woman or man that they should know their bodies. Most importantly they should practice breast self examination and not to ignore any changes they observe. While a lump is the most obvious sign of breast cancer, other changes in the breast shouldn’t be ignored. A doctor’s visit is always recommended just to be sure of what is happening. 

An early diagnosis is the best way to have a positive outcome so as to become a survivor of breast cancer. Let us remind those closest and dearest to us of the importance of self examination, medical check-ups and mammograms.