The Third Wave_ A Volunteer Story - Alison Thompson [87]
General Keene and General Trombitas, for excellent command and fatherlike qualities. The U.S. Army 82nd Airborne: Lieutenant Colonel Foster and Lieutenant Colonel McFayden and their men, for excellent leadership and fine gentlemanly qualities. Christine Blood, for her support and inspiring ability to laugh in the darkest of moments. Roshan Waduthantri, my CTEC manager; you are our hero, you never give up in our darkest moments. CTEC officers, my undying support. Jonathan Connors, my dear friend who died in the 9/11 attacks, and all the other people stolen from earth that day. Katie Murphy, my best friend, a constant rock and true support. Hayley Armstrong, for your inspiring hard work, determination, and kind love for others. Sarah Cooley, for the sunshine you bring into everyone’s life. Todd Shea, who has carried his volunteering from 9/11 to the tsunami and has never given up on his work in Pakistan. Peter Demas and Cedar Daniels, for editing the Third Wave film and for their full support. Larry Buck, for his faith and love for humanity. George Papoutsis, my old landlord who has been like a father to me. Samantha Aezen, who kept the “home base” going while we were away. Sato, always kindness. Warren Buffett, who inspires me through his books to look at the bigger picture. Mary Louise Cole Wood, what a broad you are! With a kind soul. And to all my ladies, Deborah, Monika, Maria, and Shauna. Margaret and Ron Simpson, my other family of whom I am very proud. Julie Santos, for stepping forward without fear. I am so, so proud of you, my crazy rocker angel. Cassidy, for watching my back in Haiti. Michael Taylor, for constant support and faith. Savani, the sweetest and purest girl in the tsunami village. Chief, my Sri Lankan grandfather and comrade. Faine, you are love itself. Andrea Lenier, for stepping forward and coming to Haiti. Stefan, the puppet and human master. Helen Gracie, a safe haven in the storm. To Erika, London, Laura, and Lon, thank you. Pastor Cyncre, a fine man of God, a hero and dear friend. Luciani, you gave me wheels, freedom, and love.
Bill Evans, president of Pétionville Club. You are a gentleman and at all times you tried hard to help and please everyone at a great cost to yourself.
To all the volunteers who came and went to all the disasters.
Maria Bello, a sweet, caring, beautiful, intelligent angel, my hero who looked after me in Haiti and continues to do so every day. I love you.
To Sean, you are Haiti’s hero, and I unconditionally love you.
Albert Abelardo Gomez. The man I love. Will you marry me?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALISON THOMPSON was born on the outskirts of Sydney in the Australian bush. The daughter of a preacher, she has lived in over forty countries around the world. A former mathematics theorist, teacher, and medic, she has an ongoing passion for camping under the stars in Africa. In 1990 she moved to New York and became an investment banker on Wall Street, later enrolling at NYU film school. Thompson works as a full-time volunteer and is fondly known in Sri Lanka as the “Angel of Galle.” She runs CTEC, the only tsunami early-warning center in Sri Lanka. In January 2010, Thompson went with actor Sean Penn and ten doctors to Haiti to help with the earthquake aftermath. They ended up running an internally displaced person camp and field hospital for over 65,000 people. With actress Maria Bello and Aleda Frishman, Thompson founded We Advance, an organization that deals with gender-based violence, protecting the brutally raped women and children of Haiti. In 2010 Thompson was awarded the Order of Australia, the highest civilian medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II of England for her volunteer work and her contribution to mankind. Her documentary film about volunteering in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami was screened at the 2008 Cannes film festival. For more information about the film, please visit www.thethirdwavemovie.com.
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