Heartache and Hope in Haiti: The Britney Gengel Story: Making Our Daughter's Last Wish Come True - Tapa blanda

When the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Lynn University college student Britney Gengel was among the five lives from the university lost in the rubble of the Hotel Montana. Britney was in Haiti with an organization affiliated with the university, Journey of Hope, volunteering at an orphanage. Just hours before the earthquake hit, Britney sent this text message to her mother: ”They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.” The story begins on the day Britney was killed and brings readers full circle as her parents, Len and Cherylann Gengel, navigate their way through bureaucratic red tape on their often frustrating and always painful journey to recover their daughter s body and fulfill her last wish. The Gengels' unimaginable loss transcends into a powerful story of love and resilience, allowing readers a rare window into the inner circle of the heartache and pain of parents who have lost their child and in turn choose to fulfill their lives with meaning and purpose. 100% of the profits of this book will benefit The Be Like Brit Orphanage in Grand Goâve, Haiti.

Len and Cherylann Gengel have been married for over 24 years and for most of those years worked together to raise their beautiful family, daughter Britney and sons Bernie and Richie. Len, who started C & S Builders when he was in college and then received the state of Massachusetts Homebuilder of the Year Award in 1995, and Cherylann, a stay-at-home mom, had no idea their lives would be forever changed on January 12, 2010, when the Haiti Earthquake decimated and destroyed most of Haiti, burying their daughter Britney in the rubble of the Hotel Montana. Both Len and Cherylann have redirected their lives to making their daughter s last wish of building an orphanage in Haiti a reality, and are currently building an orphanage in Grand Goâve, Haiti. The Be Like Brit Orphanage is designed in the shape of the letter B and can be viewed at BeLikeBrit.org. Len, Cherylann and their family are committed to dedicating the rest of their lives to helping the children of Haiti. Len and Cherylann currently reside in Massachusetts and are avid Boston Red Sox fans. They have hosted many events at their restaurant, The Grand Slam Cafe for Red Sox players and one of Len s most cherished memories is watching the Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years on his birthday in 2004!