Back and safe on U.S. soil

Former Central Valley resident and grand-nephew survive Haitian earthquake VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The first comforting telephone call came to former long-time Central Valley resident Mary Lou Coren from her niece, Sharon Foster, nine days ago: Coren’s husband Michael and their grand-nephew Andrew Foster had survived the 7.0 magnitude Haitian earthquake. The second reassuring call came last Tuesday afternoon from Michael Coren himself with the message, “I’m in Florida.” Never did Mary Lou Coren imagine her family would be unexpected participants in the deadly tragedy still unfolding in Haiti. The European Commission, citing Haitian government figures, announced on Tuesday that death toll estimates have risen to 200,000 people, tying this disaster with the 1920 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Haiyuan, Ningxia in China which killed that same amount of people. On Tuesday, the Haitian government also estimated 70,000 bodies were recovered and buried, with 250,000 people injured and 1.5 million homeless. On Wednesday morning, a 5.9 magnitude aftershock rattled Haitians in the early morning. And while Mary Lou Coren mourns for those who died, were injured or are now homeless, she’s thrilled that her husband and grand-nephew are not counted within those statistics. New beginnings in retirement The Corens moved to Virginia Beach last October, ready to enjoy their retirement years close to their family. Michael, who was a dentist for almost 50 years, but had retired from practice five years ago, and Mary Lou, a retired nurse, were looking forward to new beginnings. The pair’s journey to Haiti was intended to be a mix of business and pleasure, offering 13-year-old Andrew an opportunity to have the cultural experience of visiting a tropical land while his 76-year-old great-uncle finalized personal business to sell the Corens’ Haitian vacation home, according to Mary Lou Coren. A highlight of the trip was to have been for Andrew and his great-uncle go scuba diving together to observe Haiti’s undersea world. Years ago, she explained, the Corens vacationed in Haiti, enjoying the sights, people and culture. “It was first for just a vacation when we went down there,” she said. “I was a nurse; he was a practicing dentist. But then one of the missionaries (who knew the couple had medical backgrounds) asked us to bring some medical instruments. We kept coming back for years. We volunteered our time in the clinics. We’d keep coming back and rent. Finally, we said we had fallen in love with this country, why don’t we just buy a house?” Frantic moments For 28 years the Corens’ vacation home, located near St. Mark, gave them a chance to get away from Central Valley while helping those in need. But in time, the Corens chose to move in a new direction in their lives, and the house was put up for sale. Michael Coren traveled to Port-au-Prince last week for its closing. “That was a rough one,” said Mary Lou Coren of their decision to sell. “We made a lot of friends there. We’ve enjoyed every minute of it. We had a lot of people working for us, maintaining the home for us for years. We knew their livelihood was now up in the air.” But, the retired nurse said, the closing never happened. Michael Coren and his grand-nephew had arrived that day, were only miles away from the airport in their rental car and on their way to Port-au-Prince when the quake struck. As the news of the earthquake spread worldwide, Coren turned back to the airport area to figure out a way to let his niece and wife know the two travelers were safe and unharmed. With communications virtually impossible, their family was frantic, said Mary Lou Coren. Andrew’s parents, Robert and Sharon Foster of Virginia Beach, were trying every possible way to get information. Like many others who had family members living in Haiti or visiting the island nation, Robert Foster found himself on CNN’s “Larry King Live” the evening of Jan. 13, telling his story and making pleas for help. Meanwhile, Michael Coren and his grand-nephew had made their way to a hotel near the airport where a television was actually working and broadcasting CNN. They watched in astonishment as Robert Foster asked for help in locating the two. Immediately, Coren called Sharon Foster to tell her they were safe and to let her talk to her son. “I was overwhelmed with joy that he was safe,” Sharon Foster said Tuesday, not finishing her next sentence. “A mother’s favorite word is ‘mom,’ and to hear that voice….” Mary Lou Coren echoed her sentiments: “When that call came through, I just lost it.” The next night, Jan. 14, Robert Foster again found himself on “Larry King Live.” This time, he shared his good news about how his uncle and son actually watched him talk to viewers about trying to locate the pair on King’s show the previous night. Now, Robert Foster told viewers, Coren was trying to figure out a way to get home. Finding a way home And, that was not easy. The initial plan, explained Mary Lou Coren, was that the two would travel with Haitian cargo pilots on a transport flight to Cap-Haïtien on the country’s northern coast. There, they hoped to get on a flight to Nassau in the Bahamas. If that worked, they’d look to get on a flight to Miami, and then back to Virginia Beach. But last Monday, Sharon Foster said, officials closed down access into the airport because of the extreme security issues. Though flights continued, there was rioting around the airport’s perimeter as Haitians tried to get onto airport grounds trying to get the food and water they knew was there. “They’re (Haitians) desperate,” said Andrew’s mother. “I can’t blame them.” “The communications there are almost zilch,” said Mary Lou Coren. “The embassy in Port-au-Prince is impossible to get to. It’s mobbed.” But all that changed Tuesday night with Coren’s call. The U.S. Embassy was successful in getting the pair onto a military cargo flight into Sanford, Fla., with its cargo of 500 U.S. citizens strapped to the floor. Upon arrival, the flight’s passengers took a 45 minute bus ride to the Orlando International Airport, with Coren and his grand-nephew taking a flight home on Wednesday, first to Miami and then onto Norfolk, Va. “The Red Cross did their best to assist them, but there were no rooms anywhere,” said Mary Lou Coren. “They slept on the floor at the airport. Mike said he was a bit cranky.” Although Coren had his car at the airport, his wife and the Fosters met the two at the airport for a joyful reunion. Later, Mary Lou Coren prepared a special meal for both families. “Steak, shrimp and clams - all his favorites,” she said. “This has been really something.” CAN YOU HELP? National efforts American Red Cross: Donate to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 800-733-2767. You can also send a $10 donation by texting “Haiti” to 90999; the amount will be charged to your cell phone bill. Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund: To donate to the relief effort spearheaded by former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, visit: www.clintonbushhaitifund.org. Wyclef Jean: To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Haitian Yele charity, text 501501. The money will be added to your next phone bill. Local efforts Editor’s note: If your local group is also spearheading efforts to help, please e-mail The Photo News at editor.pn@strausnews.com and let us know what your group is doing. United Way: The Orange County United Way says that anyone wanting to donate to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund to help Haiti should visit: volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwwwdisaster/donate/. Bon Secours: Bon Secours Charity Health System - as part of its Bon Secours Mission Fund - is accepting donations for Haiti relief. Bon Secours will match all employee donations up to $100,000. Outside donations should be sent to: Bon Secours Mission Fund, c/o Edward F. Gerardo, Bon Secours Health System Inc., 1505 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, Md., 21104 NAACP: The Middletown Chapter of the NAACP is working with the First Haitian Church of God of Middletown and the Orange-Sullivan Chapter of the American Red Cross on a Haiti Relief Food and Donation Drive. The group is seeking monetary donations, canned foods, clothing in good condition, and women’s personal items and baby products. To donate, call chapter secretary Melissa Carrier at 699-9674. Haitian People’s Support Project: Mail donations to the Haitian People’s Support Project, P.O. Box 496, Woodstock, 12498 or through PayPal at the group’s Web site, www.haitiansupportproject.org. Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County: To donate to aid victims on a nonsectarian basis, visit: wwworangecounty.ujcweb.org.