Another alumna in Miami after being pulled from rubble
By Andy Matarrese
Two days after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti, friends and family members still wait for news about 2009 UP alumna Molly Hightower, who was a volunteer working with orphans and disabled children.
According to Molly's father, Mike Hightower, Molly was on the fifth floor of the seven-story building where she worked when the earthquake hit, causing the building to collapse.
"The only good thing we have right now is that two volunteers on floors below Molly were recovered alive," Mike Hightower told The Beacon this morning.
He has been giving Molly's picture and name to journalists, aid groups and politicians bound for Haiti, with the hope they can relay more information about Molly.
In the meantime, news has been slow to trickle in.
"All you can do at this point is sit and wait," Mike Hightower said.
Molly has been volunteering in Haiti with Friends of the Orphans, and chronicling her experiences on her blog, http://mollyinhaiti.blogspot.com/.
Another 2009 UP alumna and friend of Molly's, Rachel Prusynski, was caught on the seventh floor of the same building when the quake struck.
According to posts on Rachel's Facebook from her mother, Linda Prusynski, Rachel suffered a broken arm and a strained clavicle when the building came down.
Oregonlive.com reported this morning that Rachel, after rescuers pulled her from the rubble, was flown to Guantamo Bay for further medical attention, then to Miami.
Prayers have been offered for the two alumnae at Mass and informal prayer gatherings on campus. In addition, Fr. John Donato, C.S.C., is organizing campus-wide fundraising efforts for earthquake relief.
