Wonderful Women Of The World
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 2nd, 2011
Good morning!
I saw this the other night on 60 minutes. I love what this woman is doing.
Global Medical Relief Fund: One child at a time
How one Staten Island woman has changed over 100 young lives
(CBS News)Of all the tragedies of war, none are greater than those that involve children. Caught in the crossfire or hit by a roadside bomb, children are often wounded but rarely receive the heroic, high tech medical care that our troops depend on.
Recently, we heard about a woman in Staten Island, New York, who has devoted herself to wounded children. Elissa Montanti has little money and no training in humanitarian relief, but against the odds she has changed the fortunes of more than 100 crippled children, one child at a time.
“60 Minutes” and correspondent Scott Pelley wanted to see how she does it, so, for four months we followed Montanti on a journey with one child, a nine year old boy from Iraq named Wa’ad.
Wa’ad arrived in America last April with his mother Waffa. Montanti brought them to the U.S. after an American soldier told her Wa’ad’s story.
“He was walking with his friends and they were kicking a bottle. I think the first child kicked a bottle. And then maybe the second. And then he kicked it and it exploded,” she explained.
What Wa’ad had kicked was a bomb.
The blast shattered his face, tore out his eye, and took away his right arm and left leg. Wa’ad would receive treatment for all those wounds from a network of volunteers and charities that Montanti has recruited one by one over the last 15 years.
How to help: Global Medical Relief Fund
Photos: Rebuilding Wa’ad’s Face and Spirit
Wa’ad first stop was at the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia; Shriners has 22 hospitals that provide free care to burned and crippled children.
Wa’ad pushed through physical therapy to strengthen his muscles, but slowed down long enough to get fitted for a new arm and leg that the Shriners made for him. Then it was a trip to see an ocular specialist, Annette Kirzrot, who also volunteers for Montanti. A prosthetic eye was the first step in improving Wa’ad’s appearance.
But the tougher part would be reconstructing his face. That was the challenge for plastic surgeon Kaveh Alizadeh. He’s with Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and was recruited by Montanti.
Extra: Taking first steps
Extra: Giving Sarah her youth back
“So, there’s this increasing pool of people that get drawn into her world. And if you have, if you’re lucky or unlucky enough to be excited about this stuff, you get pulled in,” Alizadeh explained.
“When you first approach a hospital or a doctor to ask them for potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars in free medical care, what’s your pitch? What do you tell ‘em?” Pelley asked Montanti.
“I tell ‘em this true story. Here’s a child that’s battered. I just tell them the reality. I expect them to help. I’m grateful ’cause they don’t have to help. But I expect that they would, because how could you not?” she asked.
After the earthquake hit in Haiti, she went to the island and brought back three girls who lost limbs. Montanti’s work with crippled children began back in 1996 when a friend asked her to raise money to buy school supplies for kids in war-torn Bosnia. That led to a meeting with the Bosnian ambassador to the U.N.
“And he said to me, ‘You know, quite frankly, we have much stronger needs right now than pencil cases.’ He reached in his drawer. And he handed me this letter that this boy had written to him asking for help, two new arms and a leg. And I saw his picture. And that’s really when my whole life started to change,” she remembered.
She brought that boy to the U.S. for treatment. Kenan Malkic, now 28, helps Montanti run her tiny charity with a mighty name: the “Global Medical Relief Fund.”"Global Medical Relief sounds really big,” Pelley pointed out.
“It’s big in the sense that we reach out to the world. But it’s small in that it’s really me,” Montanti said.
She runs Global Medical Relief out of her home – a 57-year-old single woman with a computer and a phone.
“My office is my former walk-in closet. And I added a window. And it works. And I speak to the world right outta my walk-in closet,” she told Pelley.
Asked where the 112 children she has helped come from, Montanti told Pelley, “Bosnia, El Salvador, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Iraq, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Haiti. Did I say Nepal?”
Asked how she keeps it running, Montanti told Pelley, “On a prayer.”
She simply begs and borrows from doctors and hospitals – whatever it takes. She has traveled to the Middle East, arranging passports, cutting red tape and getting wounded children out one at a time. Word spread among soldiers in Iraq that an American charity called Global Medical Relief is a lifeline.
Now she gets a dozen e-mails a month from the war zone, most of which start with “Dear Sir.”
“How do these letters end?” Pelley asked.
“Please help,” Montanti said.
It was an e-mail like that that started Wa’ad on his journey with Montanti.
Readers: This is a wonderful story. Read on to see how Elissa Montanti, my choice for Wonderful Women of The World today, helped give this boy, Wa’ad a new beginning…a new childhood…a new life.
********
Joyce: You got that right. There are never ending ridiculous reasons.
Hector: Really, I wasn’t sure if your story was a joke or not so I went along for the ride and assumed it was real. So…I am relieved to hear that you wouldn’t force your own children ”to do anything they would not wish to do sexually”. I would HOPE that you wouldn’t even introduce sexual acts to them at such a young age, to even to give them a choice.
Now you say that you were having sex with your sisters when they were underaged too. Why would your mother encourage her children to have sex with each other, at any age? Your mother is one sick bitch. I’m sorry I didn’t say it in my blog yesterday.
And yes, I also said that a man won’t get a hard on unless he wants it, and it’s obvious you wanted it. But c’mon at 7 years old, and with a sexually persuasive mother, probably just a little hot breath on your dick made it hard. Hard as a child not to love it when mommy is making you feel good. And obviously you continued to love it.
And from your statement, “My sisters seem to love the upbringing they received from mother”, evidently your sisters not only loved it from you but demanded it too. I don’t know what to say about that. Thanks to your very persuasive mother, all of you were introduced to sex all very young, and with each other, and yet everyone seems to be okay about it. So I’ll just leave that alone - Obviously this is the best of incest.
Now…your mother…well your mother is another story. I say she is a sick bitch, but hey, I have to question, “What country are you from? Outside the U.S.?” Taboos here aren’t necessarily taboos in other parts of the world. Just curious.
But really, I have gotten in way too deep – your story has interrupted my thoughts quite a few times the past two days. Wish that I didn’t even comment in the first place, except to say to you, “Break away; it is time.” This is beyond me. I don’t even want to ask what you meant by, Some even hint to having helped her hurry some of her husbands “to the hell men deserve.”
And now with sister (?) Lucy chiming in…it seems Lucy thinks you still love the pussy. Haha! This is just too too much. Like I said, the best of incest.
Let me repeat, “real life is stranger than fiction”. And this proves it. I am going to end it here. What more is there to say? I wish you and your family well, although according to you, it seems like you don’t need any well wishing. Break away Hector - that is, if you really want to. :)
On another but similar note….I usually don’t disagree with Doug on many things, but what he said made me want to jump in with both feet…and HOPEfully I won’t land on his neck!
Doug: I know you know what I meant when I was speaking about rape. I am not bringing other men into the picture. I am speaking strictly about Hector’s sexual experiences with his mother and his sisters. Perhaps I need to be clearer. A woman can not rape a man – forcing herself on him for sex. A woman can not rape a man unless he has a hard on. And a hard on says that he wants it – the missionary position or not, does not matter. He needs to be hard.
Women can have a challenging enough time in the bedroom to begin with, why introduce something that is not going to give her pleasure? Perhaps a woman who dons on a strap-on and wants to fuck her man in the ass is doing it for revenge. Maybe she’s getting fucked in the ass, not enjoying it, and wants him to feel what it’s like…to feel the pain. Who knows. Regardless, revenge or what have you, unless he desires it, it isn’t going to happen.
With respect to Lolita, I think Lolita is in the minority when it comes to getting pleasure from strapin’ it on. But I can tell you, most women aren’t doing it for her own sexual pleasure, and she definitely isn’t going to get away with it unless he wants it. Hence, I woman can not rape a man. Period.
I’m with Cass, if I had my druthers, I too would prefer it if men raped men.
Hey ZL: Loved your description of The Donald.
Ireme: The public has just been told. Thank you. I don’t drink milk but I love ice cream. Guess I will be giving up my love of it until further notice. Contaminated cows – what next? We really have no idea just how bad our planet, not to mention our bodies, are going to be polluted by this nuclear disaster in Japan.
I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 2nd, 2011 at 10:15 am
Lolita, You are the exception to the rule. But even your odd ass wouldn’t get off on raping a man.
Also only a fool would confuse the two about radiation. Remember when the tobacco industry used asinine statements like you just made(on both accounts) to confuse the masses into believing that cigarette smoking wasn’t dangerous.
Here you were discussing two serious issues; Men raping women versus women raping men, and the rest of the world being exposed to radiation from Japan.
You chose to make light of both. Humor is very much needed but on those two topics at this time NOT SO.
Women are being raped by men with no hope of justice or having it slow down. This is a type of violence men use that often ruins the quality of life for their victims forever. It does not need humor. Nor does it need a man suggesting any possible amount of equivalence by suggesting men get raped too.
The fact of that matter is, if a man gets raped it is by another man. That is our complaint in the first place as women, MEN WHO RAPE! I can understand Zen Lill rushing in to support a man’s attempt at saving men get raped too. But your rushing in to make like of the fact also with your liking to fuck men with a strap on is frankly silly.
Women don’t rape a man with a strap-on. The man is submitting to a pleasure he enjoys whether or not the woman enjoys doing it is irrelevant to him. What may I ask did you think that has to do with MEN RAPING WOMEN?
Today I learned that cows in California have tested positive for radiation in their milk. That prompted me to take keyboard in hand a type this response to you. The governments working hand in hand with the industries they will attempt to protect by not informing the masses of potential radiation danger DON’T need any help from people like you in confusing the masses.
So take a breath and don’t get angry with this advice, just stop with the radiation jokes that make light of its significance or danger to those who may become exposed to it.
Cass
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am
Cass blah blah blah. I didn’t comment about rape. I responded to your ignorant statement that no woman gets sexual pleasure out of porking a guy. I may be the exception to the rule but I own it and I know I’m not the only one. My GF likes it from behind too and I’m happy to give it to her. Dare I say it gives me pleasure to do so? I will add that any man that will go face down for a woman trusts her completely and will do anything for her. Lastly I didn’t crack a joke about radiation. I made a statement of truth. Do some research about the fall out from Chernobyl.
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 am
I understand your point, and mostly agree. My point is getting into broad statements. We all know that there are situations in the world that are beyond the comprehension of some people as to what or how things might happen or not. Perhaps, for some woman, who may have been date raped by someone, pissed off she goes out and acquires GHB, slips it in his or some other guys drink to do some revenge to the person or anyone out of anger and disgust. Then she takes the guy to somewhere where he passes out so as to not give her a struggle…you can see where this is possible. It is very rare, but possible nonetheless. That is my point…
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:37 am
Cass, I was with Lolita in her comment about pleasuring I was not rushing in to comment (or side with anyone) on the ‘rape’ of males, so Cass, whatevs darlin’ go ahead and take my words out of context. As I’ve said before, you all can believe what you’d like to believe about whose side I take on any issue.
…btw, I’ve been reading the archives, it seems that it’s totally OK when you all get wet and creamy over the words of Anonz and proposition the man outright yet I am the one who is seen as the doing the male approval seeking thing, uh-huh and oh please…spare me. All I’ve noticed is that I don’t jump on the ‘off with their heads’ bandwagon, if anyone would (Cass?) would care to point out where I ‘always’ =side= with men please start pointing, other than a few weeks ago re: 11 yr old rape victim, and I gave my disclaimer and my two and my apology for addressing that and teen sexuality on the same day already. (I did notice that I don’t side at all, I just don’t rail on men and maybe that’s the rub for some of you?)
If you all want solidarity you’ve got it but it isn’t advisable to use me as your ‘example’ of a female who ‘always’ does anything, including siding with or caring about what men here think of me.
I’m going to carry on my good mood off-line today, have a great weeekend. Luv – ZL
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:09 pm
A woman cannot rape a man, the girls are right on this one. But then I don’t see how a man could rape a women either (I know it happens all the time), there are a lot of things I can’t see how people could do to each other. But they do them……………….
Al
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Thanks Al. I always like your comments. You have the most sophisticated sense of humor in blogdom.
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Al, you are the best whether it is being serious or just having some fun with the hot topic of the day.
I love to see you wax wise.
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Lolita, I don’t know enough to comment on the rest of your posts but that part about a man must trust a woman who he goes face down for is ridiculous.
Men will do whatever it takes to get the sexual pleasure they are kinky for. Witness the wave of AIDS because gay men continue to do it sans condoms because it feels better without.
My brother is not gay but he will allow any woman to poke him in the ass. I know because when I’m not doing it for him for money, he is paying anyone he can to poke him in the ass.
Recently he had to be rushed to emergence because he allowed some drug addict to do him with a dildo, but the addict decided to try a light bulb which busted up his ass. Ergo the need for an embarrassing hospital visit.
What does he do after he gets out? He calls me and asks me to find him some action.
Men are ruled by their tiny heads.
Vivian
PS: Zen Lill, I’m not one of those who thinks that you always side with men. I don’t always like it when you do. But I think you honestly believe that was the correct call at the time.
I’m a big fan of yours. So is my crazy brother. He as snaps of you in his bed room.
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Michelle:
I wasn’t going to comment on this subject today, but rape is a serious topic and I feel that I must contribute my two cents.
If a person of equal or opposite sex is forced to perform sexual acts against their will, it is Rape.
This can be done by members of the same sex, or opposite sexes. The important words are “Forced” against their will that makes it rape in any court of law.
If a man is aroused and hard during this attack, it is still rape. If a woman is wet and aroused by a Rapist while being raped, it is still rape.
If a person says “NO” and is forced to perform sexual acts, it is Rape — plain and simple. It does not matter by who — be it coercive by a Mother, Sister or brother, it is Rape and Incest.
This is not only my opinion, it is easily found in any dictionary. Forced or Coerced.
COERCED: (force somebody: to make somebody do something against his or her will by using force or threats)
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Sorry people, but Doug is correct. How could he not be?
HOWIE
April 2nd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Howie and Doug: Of course it is tecnically possible for women to rape men. If one or more women overpowered a man and shoved a baseball bat up his ass. That couldddd happen
But even if that did happen it would not be a wide spread problem like men raping women is. I mean “that men getting raped by women just don’t happen”; that men have fear women and be afraid. Damn any fucking thing is possible. If I was a hermaphrodite I could rape myself.
And even though I can still fuck myself, it wouldn’t be rape because it would have to be consentual. It may happen that a female could knock a guy out and molest him, we don’t ever hear of it happening though. It could ,but it don’t.
Would you admit you got raped by your wife and you were afraid and she hurt you as well. Fuck no. Of course not, but it could happen under some wierd circumstance, but it don’t happen, and even if it did, it still wouldn’t be much of a problem. I don’t care how vulernable the man could be, he doesn’t have to worry that some woman will come up to him and hurt him, women get assualted and beat up, and raped all the TIME. And it’s not by other women.
Is there one man on this BLOG who can say that he has been raped by a woman, and didn’t dig it? I mean there are some pretty aggresive woman out there. But that’s just our good luck. We don’t get raped.
Al
April 2nd, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Vivian I stand corrected. Altho I don’t think my comment was ridiculous it was overly broad. Unlike you i dont Fk my family. I’ve had mostly positive relationships with men. I managed to establish trust before i popped those cherries by creating a safe place for a straight man to explore his sexuality in a nonjudgemental way. Before you go thinking I was being manipulated or used know that I was always the initiator.
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Lolita, i need to join your circle or discover how you find men who are willing to prostate themselves for a woman to dildo their asses.
You are incorrect i do not fuck my family. I jammed a dildo up my brother ‘s ass because he caught me fucking his wife and threatened to blackmail us with it unless we did him. We had to do what he wanted so after M did it I had to do it.
I don’t even get off on men. I certainly wouldn’t allow one to fuck me. My husband knows that I would cut his dick off if he ever tried to come near me with it.
But after listing to the apparent glee you seem to get punishing men’s asses, I could be down for some of that action. My best friend is a straight black woman who I have been in love with since 7th grade. She says that if I will agree to a menage a trois with her and her husband she will fuck me alone just her and me.
If I must I could get a strap-on and fuck him silly. Just thinking about being alone in bed with M is too much for this girl to handle. I could use some advice. How do I make it good for her husband so she will be mine for a night.
April 3rd, 2011 at 8:58 am
Librarian:
John Conroy was the father of Queen Victoria. Many attempts were made by the royal house of England to taint jC with embezzlement, abuse of the princess and scheming to control the crown.
Victoria herself was told that if she did not remove him from the court she and her ancestors would lose any claim on the throne because she was suspected of being the bastard child of JC and not a true descendent from the House of Hanover. She set in motion a set of actions still in place today to remove any doubt about her heritage.
AS for your reference to Jessie James, it was also true that England was involved in the plot to divide the nation into Civil and Union. France informed Lincoln of the plot, but Lincoln decided to keep it secrete to prevent giving more heart to the confederates and their supporters.
The british were behind the original organization of some of the most brutal an racist organizations. They organized bands of highwaymen to terrorize the landscape using the format they used to terrorize the seas when they went to war against Spain.
Guerrilla tactics used to instill terror and fear in the hearts of the Union by raping, burning, robbing, maiming and killing everyone the guerillas encountered.
They took many names to disguise their intentions and they formed many secret organizations to continue their influence in the “Colonies.”
AH
April 3rd, 2011 at 9:01 am
Travel Bargains
Gretchen Rubin
The tough economy has resulted in some great travel bargains here and abroad…
Las Vegas. Thousands of new hotel rooms mean cut-rate prices on accommodations.
Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Bargain-priced travel packages abound because of publicity about violence elsewhere in Mexico, far from Cancun. Also: The US dollar is very strong now in Mexico.
Caribbean cruises. Competition among the many new cruise ships has lowered prices significantly.
Guatemala. A family of four can eat out for $12, and airfares from the US are low. Costa Rica and Panama are good deals as well.
Iceland. The exchange rate is favorable to US visitors. Icelandair also offers great deals on air/hotel packages.
Ireland. Hit hard by the financial crisis, Ireland is the greatest travel value in western Europe now.
Personal interviewed Pauline Frommer, award-winning creator of Pauline Frommer Guides (Wiley), Hoboken, New Jersey, and daughter of the legendary travel bargain expert Arthur Frommer. http://www.Frommers.com/pauline
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