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Escambia Mom Reunited With Daughter From Haiti
January 24, 2010
(Updated) An Escambia mom originally from Haiti was reunited with her 7-year old daughter late Saturday night thanks to the efforts of several people, including two state representatives.
Rachelle Boyd, 38, moved to Escambia County in June, leaving behind her daughter with family in Haiti. Rachelle’s daughter, Rose Angy Lee Kah Alessandra Hilarion, was to move to Pensacola soon, following Rachelle’s Christmas Day wedding to Lester Boyd, 58.
Their plans ended when the earthquake hit.
Hour after hour, Rachelle was on the phone trying to find out what had happened to Rose and the rest of her family back in Haiti. Three days later, she learned that Rose was fine. But not all of the news was good — 12 other family members died in the massive earthquake.
Rose wanted to get her daughter out of Haiti and to Pensacola, but her family was unable to find a way — until Saturday morning. They were presented with the opportunity to put Rose on a military plane headed to Fort Lauderdale.
But the Boyds had no transportation to Fort Lauderdale to meet their daughter as she arrived in the United States. So they decided to try a couple of politicians for help. They called Congressman Jeff Miller of Chumuckla and state Rep. Dave Murzin of Pensacola for help.
Murzin went to work. He called Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a guardian ad litem and a personal friend in the Fort Lauderdale area. Bogdanoff volunteered to meet Rose at the airport and help get her through U.S. Customs. Problem one was solved.
Problem two was getting the Boyds to Fort Lauderdale to get their daughter. Murzin turned to Jon Johnson, who he described as “a lobbyist friend and a good Christian man with a heart of gold”. Johnson provided a private plane and pilot to get the mom to Fort Lauderdale.
Lester was unable to make the trip, but Rachelle flew out of the Pensacola airport about 8 p.m. Saturday to meet Rose in Fort Lauderdale. They were to spend the night and fly to Pensacola sometime around midday Sunday.
However, due to weather, the plane was forced to land in Tallahassee. Lester then drove to Tallahassee to pickup the reunited mom and daughter.
Pictured above: Rachelle Boyd (left) and Lester Boyd just before Rachelle boarded private plan to Fort Lauderdale to reunite with her daughter with Haiti. Submitted photo by Dave Murzin for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “Escambia Mom Reunited With Daughter From Haiti”
I’m glad that your daughter is safe. May God continue to bless all the families in Haiti. What happen there could have very well happen here. My prayers are with all the families. This is the time that we should look beyond everything else and do something to help someone in need. Will you give a helping hand??
Great story!
great story..so glad things worked the way they did, to get the child back w/her mom…the very best in people seems to have come out, in the midsts of such insurmountable human tragedy…