Authors: Alison Thompson
The Third Wave (27 page)
You can also volunteer any day of the week within your own community. Volunteering can be for ten minutes or a few hours or a day, and it does make a difference in people’s lives. To volunteer at home, go to your local American Red Cross, Volunteers of America, or Youth With a Mission chapter.
I am thankful to the many loving people in my life who have inspired me to write this book:
Oscar Gubernati, for our journey through the very good and trying times. You are a real hero, a loyal friend, and I will always love you. Bruce French and Donny Paterson, my tsunami partners and loving brothers. Keith, Joan, Lyndall, Geoffrey, and Stephen Thompson, my family, who always show me unconditional love and support (and their wives, Jenny and Annie, and their children: Cal, Jessica, Nick, Jai, and Maddy). Jenny, you are a hero to me.
Chris Murphy, my might in shining karma, for your solid friendship and belief in me. Bill Clinton, for his tireless efforts for the tsunami, Haiti, and mankind. Our paths have crossed many times. The money Bill raised did get to Haiti and trickled down to my small work. Thank you.
Laura Yorke, my literary agent and kind friend. Thank you for your friendship and belief in me, and for your inspiring
amazing recovery. Carol Mann and her agency, for believing in my story. Cindy Spiegel and Julie Grau at Spiegel & Grau, for their kind trust and vision. MeiMei Fox, an incredible woman, who made me look like a better writer than I am, and for her enlightened spirit. Hana Landes, for her honesty and perseverance in editing the book and her beam of light. Anderson Cooper, my hero who inspired me to go to Sri Lanka.
Tom and Sarah Brokaw, for your support and love in action.
Donna Karan, for your belief in me and for your deep caring heart for others.
Marni Lewis, for your constant love and support and uplifting spirit. You have always been there for me and have always said yes to me. Lola Cohen, my mentor and friend, an incredible lady in such a small package. Sonja Nuttall, a true egoless spirit who puts beauty, love, and others first. Petra Nemcova, a true-life angel who has supported me through her
happy-hearts.org
fund and introduced the
Third Wave
film to Sean Penn.
Tony Duke, the original volunteer and founder of Boys and Girls Harbor. David Perez, a shelter from the storm. Connie Tarrant, for her grace and love.
Randy Slavin, my American brother, and his incredible family, my other family.
Skylar Casey, my rock and secret angel. Dr. Novil Wijesekara, a humble soul who strives hard for humankind, making this world a better place, Sri Lanka’s hero and prince.
Doug Kennedy, for his loyalty and volunteerism, never asking for anything in return. Captain Barry, my favorite volunteer and person on planet earth, who shows a constant kindness and positive energy toward others. Aleda Frishman, one tough, sweet
hardworking woman filled with love for women’s rights and everyone. You are a remarkable woman. Morgan Spurlock and Jo Amodei, for funding and supporting the
Third Wave
film and for being great men. Dave Pederson and Richard Belfiore, for recognizing the potential of the story and for showing it to Morgan, Jo, and Jeremy. Kym and Callen Anthony, for constant support and raising the money for a new school in Sri Lanka. David Dibo, who traveled in a snowstorm in Michigan to buy me a plane ticket to Sri Lanka. The Honorable Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and his family, the “godfather” to Peraliya village. A good and honest politician who crossed over from politics to become a volunteer and was later assassinated by a suicide bomber. Aung San Suu Kyi, for her struggle against tyranny for freedom and dignity. Dr. Henry Jarecki and Tony Detre, for constant support and air tickets. Michael Mucci and family, for your love and support. Phil Marber, for constant support and friendship. Judy Shipley and Dr. Connors, for their medical support for my missions. David Magdaela, a wonderful human being. Melinda Roy and Taylor Poarch, my other favorite people in the world. Nicole and Courtney Ross, beautiful angels who flew forward to help us.
General Keene and General Trombitas, for excellent command and fatherlike qualities. The U.S. Army 82nd Airborne: Lieutenant Colonel Foster and Lieutenant Colonel McFayden and their men, for excellent leadership and fine gentlemanly qualities. Christine Blood, for her support and inspiring ability to laugh in the darkest of moments. Roshan Waduthantri, my CTEC manager; you are our hero, you never give up in our darkest moments. CTEC officers, my undying support. Jonathan Connors, my dear friend who died in the 9/11 attacks, and all the
other people stolen from earth that day. Katie Murphy, my best friend, a constant rock and true support. Hayley Armstrong, for your inspiring hard work, determination, and kind love for others. Sarah Cooley, for the sunshine you bring into everyone’s life. Todd Shea, who has carried his volunteering from 9/11 to the tsunami and has never given up on his work in Pakistan. Peter Demas and Cedar Daniels, for editing the
Third Wave
film and for their full support. Larry Buck, for his faith and love for humanity. George Papoutsis, my old landlord who has been like a father to me. Samantha Aezen, who kept the “home base” going while we were away. Sato, always kindness. Warren Buffett, who inspires me through his books to look at the bigger picture. Mary Louise Cole Wood, what a broad you are! With a kind soul. And to all my ladies, Deborah, Monika, Maria, and Shauna. Margaret and Ron Simpson, my other family of whom I am very proud. Julie Santos, for stepping forward without fear. I am so, so proud of you, my crazy rocker angel. Cassidy, for watching my back in Haiti. Michael Taylor, for constant support and faith. Savani, the sweetest and purest girl in the tsunami village. Chief, my Sri Lankan grandfather and comrade. Faine, you are love itself. Andrea Lenier, for stepping forward and coming to Haiti. Stefan, the puppet and human master. Helen Gracie, a safe haven in the storm. To Erika, London, Laura, and Lon, thank you. Pastor Cyncre, a fine man of God, a hero and dear friend. Luciani, you gave me wheels, freedom, and love.
Bill Evans, president of Pétionville Club. You are a gentleman and at all times you tried hard to help and please everyone at a great cost to yourself.
To all the volunteers who came and went to all the disasters.
Maria Bello, a sweet, caring, beautiful, intelligent angel, my hero who looked after me in Haiti and continues to do so every day. I love you.
To Sean, you are Haiti’s hero, and I unconditionally love you.
Albert Abelardo Gomez. The man I love. Will you marry me?
A
LISON
T
HOMPSON
was born on the outskirts of Sydney in the Australian bush. The daughter of a preacher, she has lived in over forty countries around the world. A former mathematics theorist, teacher, and medic, she has an ongoing passion for camping under the stars in Africa. In 1990 she moved to New York and became an investment banker on Wall Street, later enrolling at NYU film school. Thompson works as a full-time volunteer and is fondly known in Sri Lanka as the “Angel of Galle.” She runs CTEC, the only tsunami early-warning center in Sri Lanka. In January 2010, Thompson went with actor Sean Penn and ten doctors to Haiti to help with the earthquake aftermath. They ended up running an internally displaced person camp and field hospital for over 65,000 people. With actress Maria Bello and Aleda Frishman, Thompson founded We Advance, an organization that deals with gender-based violence, protecting
the brutally raped women and children of Haiti. In 2010 Thompson was awarded the Order of Australia, the highest civilian medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II of England for her volunteer work and her contribution to mankind. Her documentary film about volunteering in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami was screened at the 2008 Cannes film festival. For more information about the film, please visit
www.thethirdwavemovie.com
.
