Student’s relief plane to evacuate 150

Global Links employees packed up the newest shipment until 2:30 in the morning Tuesday night, even shrink-wrapping packages to the exact dimensions under each seat to maximize the plane’s capacity.

The medical supplies will go to a Puerto Rican cancer center, three municipalities in the Puerto Rican countryside and to the island of Vieques.

All of the patients who are being evacuated have family who are able to pick them up in Miami and care for them. A chart that Ms. Guernica uses hints at the desperation of those unable to leave Puerto Rico. “Aggressive Liver Cancer Oncologist just diagnosed said go get treated in FL,” reads one entry. “Attempted suicide ... Psychiatrist suggests to get him somewhere safe. Living in leaky basement with many other people,” reads one more. Yet another: “Elderly and alone on PR still no water or power. All children are in MIAMI readyto receive them.”

Unlike her first flight, which was coordinated throughfriends of friends, Ms. Guernica is now partnering with larger foundations, from Global Links to the Stefano Foundation in Puerto Rico. Hector Casiano-Pagan, a Puerto Rican native and an anesthesiologist with UPMC, alsowill be on the plane to providemedical care if needed.

She is certain that this will be her last relief flight. Although she doubts that the island will be able to meet the medical needs of its residents anytime soon, she is confident that air travel will soon recover to the point where it will be more efficient to evacuate patients via commercial airlines.

She hopes that others take fromher story that one person can indeed make a difference. “A lot of people called me crazy and said, ‘Why are you doing this? This isn’t your place,’” she said. “The truth is, I’m a capable person surrounded by resources. I hope moving forward other people wantto do the same thing.”

She is eager to get back to her life as a student — even if that life doesn’t include the internship at IBM that she was hoping to do in New York this summer (they denied her). Her priorities have changed, she said, and she wants to stay in Pittsburgh this summer in the community that so generously supportedher missions.

She pointed to a $5,000 donation from the Clemente Foundation, a $5,000 check from Brother’s Brother Foundation, countless local individual donations, and support from CMU and the hospital systems. “There’s a lot of love in Pittsburgh for Puerto Rico,” she said. “Really, the response from the Pittsburgh community has been crazy.”

Those wishing to donate can do so at https:// www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricanemariainpuertorico