Newsletter, September 2001

“I can see clearly the circle of all the people I have known who have shown me kindness. That is a lot of people and members of The Healing Hands Project, you are on top of the list.” – Carol

LATEBREAKING GREAT NEWS! While the newsletter was at the printer, we received word that The Healing Hands Project was given an unrestricted grant from the Weingart Foundation (mentioned herein).

Dear Friends of The Healing Hands Project,

It has been just six months since our last Board Meeting. We have been completely involved with Saundra, our latest client, as well as administrative work and what has become our #1 survival effort – Fund Raising. In addition, we must face the flood of pleas for help. Every letter, photo and email evokes an intense desire to help each person in the way that we have helped Carol and Saundra.

Mark, a brilliant, gentle man and highly gifted artist, who was the victim of a horribly botched facial surgery, writes:

I am without even the most basic and necessary oral function, can’t shut my mouth for even a second without a real struggle, drool constantly and bear pain so excruciating that I often want to scream; virtually every moment is a struggle to outrun it. My goals are to get to a point where I can live without the homemade apparatus that allows me to speak somewhat audibly, to get rid of most of my pain and to interact with people in a relatively normal way. I’m in such severe pain that I just can’t take it much longer…

Catherine, viciously attacked by a man who nearly destroyed her face with boiling antifreeze, writes:

I’m writing to you praying that your organization may help me unlock the doors to the prison I have been in for five years…my own home, where I have become a hermit. The only thing the hospital was able to save was my eyesight. Sometimes I wish they would have let my sight go. I know that sounds terrible, but when I look in the mirror and am reminded by scars on a daily basis, it’s usually easier to look away. But I know that my daughter, at age 13, still remembers witnessing that nightmare and every day she looks at me, even with those memories, and tells me it’s okay because I am still ‘Mom.’

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In the wake of the horrific attack on this country of September 11 resulting in such devastating loss of life, as well as in thousands of injuries, we know we will soon be deluged with so many more urgent appeals for help. While we as a nation watch and pray for the valiant firefighters, rescue workers, extra ordinary citizens and victims, who may soon end up at our doors, we as an organization follow the progress of our courageous clients, Carol and Saundra. Each time we facilitate one of their enormous steps, our passion for what we are trying to do is rekindled.

Carol

Carol is currently in Boston until late September. In June, she wrote to update us:

Last week, my doctor said to me, “The cells that were implanted in your eye are alive and looking spectacular. Also, the pressure in the eye is now under control.” Have you ever struck matches? Well, I am experiencing light reflection like that in my eye. The light that should be shining through my eye is trapped under the cloud that is formed by the glaucoma. There are a lot of short light activities taking place within my eye each day. This gives me some hope because I know the eye is alive.

Today, three months later, Carol tells us that she is seeing little improvement, though her spirits are still high. She is now faced with another battle due to the anti-rejection medication necessitated by her latest surgery. She is anemic and her blood count is low because of this medication; the doctors will not allow her to return home until it stabilizes. With Carol’s characteristic strength and perseverance, she reminds us, “In my heart, in the deepest part of my bones and in my soul, I believe that I am going to see again. I am focusing on this everyday.”

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Saundra

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so the following photos should speak volumes. The first photo is of Saundra prior to her surgeries; the second is the most recent picture of her. Dr. Kinney removed the massive lump from her neck, raised her lower left eyelid and we are seeing more symmetry in her beautiful face.

Saundra still has a long road ahead of her. She needs at least one more major surgery to realign and heal her mouth. When that is accomplished we will finally be able to close the open tracheotomy which has plagued her for so long. She is in counseling and parenting classes, her children are doing very well and she will soon be getting her own apartment. The Healing Hands Project received a grant from Partners in Care to finance Saundra’s vocational training. Saundra tells us:

My life was at a standstill. Then The Healing Hands Project stepped in and offered to help when no one else would. The surgeries have improved my outlook and the people have given me care that cannot have come from anywhere but the heart.

We have a great sense of pride in what we have all been able to accomplish with very little money.

Our Work

In addition to the expenses incurred with each client, The Healing Hands Project has used a portion of our financial reserve to pay a Grant Writer. We have applied for and received the $15,000 grant from Partners in Care, as well as $4,500 from the Tenet Foundation. We have also applied for grants from the Ahmanson Foundation (pending), but unfortunately were turned down for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant and a couple of others for which we were not yet “big enough.” We are very encouraged by our relationship with the prestigious Weingart Foundation, and, again, a sizable grant is pending. We have also made strong in-roads into the United Nations Fund – a marvelous opportunity. Our limited financial resources have prevented us from applying to more foundations; however, there are hundreds that we have not yet tapped.

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We have received nearly 8,000 web site hits, over 100 requests for help and dozens of valuable leads.

Our Assets

The Healing Hands Project has many priceless assets. Our stellar Medical Board of Advisors, led by Dr. Brian Kinney, provides reconstructive surgery at low or no cost. Century City Hospital donated its facilities and services in the past, and it is possible that they will be able to help us in the future. Every few weeks, surgeons from across the country offer their services. We have already had offers from Texas, Florida and New Hampshire. AngelFlight America has volunteered to transport clients from various U.S. locations to our doctors. Helen Hunt’s television appearances and feature in Biography magazine have brought a number of donations and much attention to our cause. Ms. Hunt also donated two new computers and a printer, which were put to use immediately!

Our Future

Our goal has been to help four additional clients in the year 2001. That having been said, our future fund-raising events include:

- a strong continued campaign of Grant Writing

- a mass-mailing of brochures

- a formal “fun”-raising event

- further exploration of online charity resources

- a “Speaker’s Bureau” to attract attention and donations to our cause

- creation of strong alliances with additional hospitals

“It’s usually easier to look away,” but don’t…

The Healing Hands Project is at a crossroads. Over the last six months, out of necessity, we have worked without remuneration. We have amazing resources, but in order to continue the valuable work we do, we desperately need your help. We need other hospitals to get on board and provide facilities and services. We need funding and fund-raising ideas. We need sizable contributions from private donors. As you have read, The Healing Hands Project receives request from individuals with facial disfigurement every day. To take on a new client, to give another person a chance to ‘move out of the shadows and into the light,’ we need you. Many of you have made a significant difference in the lives of Carol, Saundra, their loved ones and countless others for whom we have provided counseling, referrals and sometimes just that precious gift of loving human contact. We want you to remember that you and your loved ones have the ability to do this for so many more!

As promised, we will continue to update you on the progress of our clients and activities, and we are counting on your strong participation. We hope that this newsletter will spark ideas from you for our continued success and that you will remember the following words from our remarkably courageous clients:

“With the help of people, we can always begin again.” - Carol

“I pray that The Healing Hands Project will continue to be able to help myself and many others who need its help.” – Saundra

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Jane Hunt and Colleen Hunt

We have enclosed a page of information as a reminder of ways in which both you and your friends can help. Our donation process has been streamlined and you will find everything you will need on the next page.