After more than a week of downed phone lines and scarce electricity communication between Haitians in the U.S. and Haiti is gradually being restored.

The news is heartening for Haitians in the U.S. who have found it almost impossible to contact their loved ones.

One woman CBN News spoke with last week, Esther Pierre, was one of the more fortunate ones.

After waiting for days to hear from her father and brother, a phone call confirmed that they were both alive and well.

The quake had destroyed her brother's home, forcing him and his family to sleep outside. That later led to the theft of his cell phone.

However, he eventually found a cyber cafe he could use to call home, resulting in a happy ending for the family.