Rendell, speaking at a news conference here, said he agreed on Friday to accompany a Pittsburgh group heading to the devastated country after Haiti's ambassador to the United States said his help might be needed to cut through any red tape on the orphans' behalf.
"The ambassador said, 'If problems crop up, you are the only one to get it done,' " said Rendell. "To some extent, that proved true."
Rendell said it was touch-and-go at first, as authorities said only some of the orphans would be permitted to leave. When it appeared clear that some of the children would have to stay behind, the operators of the orphanage - sisters Alison and Jamie McMutrie of suburban Pittsburgh - said all children would go or none would go.
With Rendell's help, all the children were finally permitted to leave, but the processing took more than six hours. The group was stranded briefly after the plane was forced to depart to make room for other flights, Rendell said.
No matter, he said. The group caught a ride back to the United States aboard a military transport plane.
The last orphan - 2-year-old Emma - was in Florida last night with Jamie McMutrie, who got off the military plane just before it left the Port-au-Prince tarmac when she realized a child was missing. Emma was found a short time later in the U.S. Embassy, and McMutrie and the toddler got on a later flight. They are expected to arrive in Pittsburgh today, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Accompanying Rendell on the trip to Haiti were his wife, Marjorie; U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D., Pa.); and members of the McMutrie family and medical teams.
Also aboard their flight were 21/2 tons of medical supplies donated by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for a hospital in Haiti.
"We had two goals: Get the goods down, and bring the kids back," said Rendell. "Happily, we accomplished both."
