The Dorcolet family has been waiting weeks for a way to communicate with their loved ones back in Haiti.
In the days and long nights since the earthquake there was no way for them to speak or see each other.
Sunday they finally got that chance, sharing their first words to them in Creole, words of love, care and concern.
The Dorcolets were just one of the families at the Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church able to communicate with those close to them yesterday.
"It's very nice because I know there's a whole bunch of people who haven't been able to see their family and there's a whole bunch of people who are worried about the situation in Haiti," said Jessica Cola, whose family is in Haiti. "So this is a great opportunity for them to talk to their family and have peace of mind."
It's all thanks to the video conference system set up by the Haiti Relief Fund community service project, the Miami Dolphins, Project Medishare from the University of Miami and NBC 6.
"They say the most important thing in the world is communication whether it's a marriage or it's between nations," said Dr. Barth Green, with UM's Project Medishare. "You can imagine the nuclear family in a country like Haiti where family means everything, if they've been broken up into little pieces, you can imagine what this effort means to them."
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This is just the beginning of the video conversations. All this week, residents of Little Haiti can sign up for a specific time at the church to speak to their relatives who are at the hospital Project Medishare has established at the airport in Port-au-Prince.
"Today we are here to celebrate this telepresence," said Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. "I have been shown how the family can interact, it's great."
While they were waiting for their turn Sunday, there was music by Flo Rida, and some of the Dolphins players came out too.
For further information on the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium Haiti Relief Fund or to make a donation, visit www.SunLifeStadium.com or www.MiamiDolphins.com. For further information on University of Miami Global Institute/Project Medishare, visit www.ProjectMedishare.org.
