Rebel Heart Distress By MichaelLA PAZ, MEXICO

I just read an alarming news item on Latitude 38's 'Lectronic Latitude site and am spreading the news in case anybody misses it there. This hits close to home and my family and I extend our best wishes for a good outcome. Following is a reprint of the Latitude 38 report, written by Ladonna Buback:

Sick Baby Awaits Mid-Ocean Airlift

April 4, 2014 – Pacific Ocean

A well-known cruising family from San Diego were awaiting evacuation from their boat about 900 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas this morning after their one-year-old daughter Lyra fell ill. Eric and Charlotte Kaufman, 35 and 34, left San Diego in 2012 aboard their Hans Christian 36 Rebel Heart with their young daughter Cora (now 3). The family has spent the last two years cruising Mexico, and along the way, baby Lyra joined the crew. They keep a popular blog at www.therebelheart.com.

 

 

The Kaufmans' plans were to cruise the South Pacific this year before continuing on to New Zealand, and by all accounts, the crew and boat were well-prepared. Rebel Heart left La Cruz on March 20 as part of the Pacific Puddle Jump, but yesterday they called for help when Lyra became critically ill. Four pararescuemen from the National Guard parachuted down to the boat yesterday to provide medical assistance.

 

Details are still sketchy, but initial reports by the medics say that Lyra was suffering from a serious heart ailment and required more medical care than could be provided aboard Rebel Heart. At last word, she was in stable condition. The crew of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is underway today to transport Lyra to a nearby Navy frigate, which will take her the rest of the way to shore. It's unclear whether the entire family will be evacuated.