Monday night, I was watching the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams when a piece came on about the ongoing relief operations in Haiti. This particular part of the newscast centered around a hospital ship anchored off the coast of Haiti that was giving 24 hour medical care and emergency operations to those injured in the earthquake.

The report was very emotional, and it gave you a glimpse of just a small part of the effort for the people of Haiti. During the report, a spotlight was placed on a special woman that is no stranger to the Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park, West Hempstead and North Valley Stream communities. That person was my good friend Magaly Polo who served as President of “HAFALI”- the Haitian American Families of Long Island.

Updated: Wednesday, 27 Jan 2010, 8:56 AM EST
Published : Wednesday, 27 Jan 2010, 8:56 AM EST

A mother from Long Island left Haiti the day before a devastating earthquake rocked the nation. Her son stayed behind. Elsy and Mao Guibert spoke with Good Day NY about their ordeal.

"When the earthquake came I was in my grandmother's building watching TV. I was trying to figure out what was going on. I ran outside. My grandmother was on the ground. I got her up," said Mao.