AAI’s friend Pat Abramson found a huge medical supply warehouse in Dallas that will donate to hospitals in developing countries. Pat recently made a quick trip to Cuba to deliver two 50 lb. bags of supplies. She now has medical supplies to give to GUAYAQUIL ECUADOR… IF WE CAN FIND SOMEONE TO TRANSPORT THEM!
Pat made her humanitarian trip to Cuba in a little over 24 hours! She carried two suitcases, a heavy carry-on and laptop (PHOTO)
Pat planned on delivering a donated wheelchair but found that a US embargo prohibited her from doing so. Luckily her son-in-law who works for Southwest was able to pick it up so it will be available for donating to Ecuador!
Pat met another challenge with her visa for Cuba but eventually solved that dilemma. She then flew from DFW to TPA and on to Cuba.
Upon arrival in Havanna, she took a 30 minute cab ride to the church where she was met by a pastor’s wife who joyfully received the donated medical supplies. PHOTO
The pastor and his wife had prepared a special meal for her — which they all enjoyed
Pat shared some of her impressions of Cuba:
Cuba- A Country of Contrasts
“Unbelievably beautiful old architecture in the beautiful old city of Havana — a beautiful, 5-mile long seawall”- unfortunately surrounded by deterioration.
She drove in a taxi from the church to her hotel — “a very noisy 1956 Mercury (so old it had no seatbelts). The stick-shift had been re-constructed & was about 4′ long!”
“The cabdriver (who works from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m. 6 days a week) told me with the situation they have in Cuba, you can either be depressed, or hope for the best, doing whatever you can to survive.”
Pat stayed at the TERRACE HOTEL (PHOTOS) which she highly recommends as “the loveliest, most unusual, most serene…TERRACE HOTEL.
It’s in a completely different world than the one surrounding it”
After the challenging and tiring day she had, she exclaimed “OMG! I have died & gone to heaven!”
Transporting goods to help others is challenging and often exhausting, BUT the reward of knowing you have been able to bring comfort to those who are sick or injured is well worth the effort.
If you are willing and able to transport medical supplies to Guayaquil, Ecuador please contact Kate Jewell at kate.jewell@airlineamb.org
Gracias.
