Blog From the Field: Haiti Feb. 6-Feb. 19
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
Today we had 14 patients who needed more complicated surgeries that were transported to the USNS Comfort. They will be returning to the camp for follow-up care.
Last night it rained for the first time, which means the rainy season is almost here. The majority of the hospital tents stayed pretty dry, fortunately the ones that received some rain inside their tents were the volunteers and not patients.
Several fiber glass latrines are being built as we prepare for the rainy season as well as a large tent that can fit around 50 patients with cleaning facilities inside.
We are working on getting a system to track the patients that need additional surgeries. However it has become a bit complicated given the quantity of patients in the camp.
Our orthopedic surgeon has done an amazing job and is working long days to make sure that all the cases are screened and preparing the ones that need to be transported to other facilities for care.
Today our team performed 6 surgeries, 3 plastic and 3 orthopedic. Tomorrow we have 4 plastic 2 orthopedic scheduled.
- Ana Gabriela Power, Regional Program Manager, team lead in Fond Parisien
- Video by Mark Beers, Senior Program Coordinator
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010
During the last three days our team has done around 20 cases of orthopedic and plastic surgeries. In addition, our anesthesia team leader is doing regional block anesthesia to control pain, which has been better for the patients. We have 6 cases scheduled for tomorrow. Femurs and hip fractures will be sent to our team working on the USNS Comfort hospital ship for more complicated surgeries.
Today our team cleanned both ORs to make sure we have a sterilized environment at all times.
We have been able to create a system of 3 basic orthopedic trays which will allow to efficiently provide care to our patients.
Below are some stats from the camp as of today:
- 11 triage
- 2 admissions
- 30 ex-fixes
- 40 amputees
- Total of 257 patients in the camp
- No outbreaks of dysentary or upper respiratory infections.
Tomorrow, Debi Smith's wound care protocols will be published by the camp and will hopefully help tackle the concern of wound infection.
We are working on organizing our supplies and integrating it with the central warehouse here at the camp. Look to have it finalized integration by Friday.
Today our Italian team, Dr. Scopelliti and Dr. Spallaccia, came to Fond Parisien and met with our team and the leadership of the camp. They traveled to Port-au-Prince and will do a fact find aboard the Italian Navy ship. On the 19th they will meet with Dr. Marie May Louis Fils (Program Manager in Haiti for Operation Smile) to meet with PIH and head of the university in PAP in charge of patient referals. The main focus will be to identify patients and referals for face trauma and face injuries that can be treated on board the Italian ship.
We also have been learning about the stages of the development of a national plan to address the rehabilitation of injured victims in the short and long run, especially working together with the Haitian leadership. I was able to be part of one of the meetings earlier today and will send more detailed notes.
- Ana Gabriela Power, Regional Program Manager, team lead in Fond Parisien
- Video by Mark Beers, Senior Program Coordinator
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010
A note from Diane Sampson, an Operation Smile medical volunteer in Haiti:
Thanks so much for letting me be a part of what Operation Smile is doing in Haiti. I have just returned with lots of great memories and thankful that I could be a small part in helping the Haitians.
One great joy came Friday night when the teenage boy in the picture with me here, found his father. He came to our hospital from Good Samaritan where he had been alone. Two kind women took care of him and the one even went to PAP in search of his father. She came back 2 days later with the father's ID card and the boy's birth certificate. They each thought the other was dead. He had lost his mother in the earthquake. What a joy to reunite father and son!
And then these triplets arrived Saturday as our team was headed out. Their mother was trying to take care of them on the street and they got sick.
This artist in the picture is a patient. I came upon this artist one afternoon when I was doing rounds. He was sitting in his tent with paintings propped up on the canvas walls. Since my daughter is an artist I was intrigued and asked him about his work. He proudly showed me his portfolio, easel and all his art. I asked him when he was going to start painting again. (Thank God he only had a foot injury.) So I helped him set his easel outside and he hobbled over and set up his canvas...and started painting.
It wasn't too long before a crowd gathered. It was beauty in the midst of suffering and it brought so many smiles to patients and staff faces.
Once again thanks,
- Diane Sampson, MD, Pediatrician
Monday, Feb. 15, 2010
We would like to give you a brief update here in Fond Parisien. The third surgical team arrived two days ago and they’ve been working very hard. The surgical need still is very present and our team has been working around the clock to effectively take care of the growing demand.
The Hinche team returned this afternoon with Lucas to Santo Domingo and will be flying out tomorrow.
Since yesterday, the camp has a new director and is working on establishing protocols and policies as the camp grows. It is quite impressive how well organized this camp is running. I must say that in the midst of the sadness, there is also great sense of optimism and hope.
Logistically, one of our main goals this week is to fully integrate all the non-OR supplies to the camp's warehouse in addition to work together in credentialing protocols and develop a system for the camp’s new medical volunteers.
Yesterday Operation Smile staffers Lucas, Mark and Dr. Sherman (our Chief Medical Officer) shared some thoughts on the future of our presence in Haiti and specially here in Fond Parisien. Dr. Sherman will be in contact with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative leadership and discuss further. We believe it is important that when we conclude our work here in FP the camp will have time to develop a plan to continue providing the surgical care that is needed
On another note, the Italian team will be flying to Santo Domingo tomorrow and will be traveling to PAP tomorrow to meet with the Italian navy. We are working on connecting them with PIH and the team here and hopefully learn more about the capabilities of the Italian ship and future collaboration.
Hopefully on Wednesday we will be able to sit down and discuss with PIH (Zanmi Lasante) the future of our collaborative Operation Smile mission that it is scheduled for April.
I'm working on compiling all the data of all the patients we have treated.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul Martinez for all his support in this relief effort. He has coordinated every airport pick up and drop off, lodging and logistics in Santo Domingo, as well as helping us trouble shoot with additional needs here at the camp, while carrying out a very successful PALS/ACLS course for Operation Smile Dominica Republic.
- Ana Gabriela Power, Regional Program Manager, team lead in Fond Parisien
Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010
It is difficult to write tonight but I feel that if I don't you will not know the true devastation in this country and people need to know some of the stories that continue. We are operating everyday but conditions are very difficult. Our main word in the Operation Smile vocabulary is "Flexibility" and this team of 17 doctors and nurses exemplify this word.
To begin with, it is hard to describe how poor this town of Hinche is and how these people are surviving. There are dirt roads with rocks that make even walking to the hospital difficult. Once we lose daylight we can barely see the hallways of the hospital which are all outdoors.
The patients have no sheets on the beds or pillows unless they bring them from home. Their families bring them food. Partners in Health, the phenomenal group that we we're partnered with, are now supplying food for the patients, since their recovery is hindered by their malnutrition. We are giving them all of our power bars, especially to the children.
It is very hot here and there are 30 people in each ward with no privacy, no running water, not even a cup of water for them to drink. They don't have much, yet they never beg or ask us for help. They speak French Creole, which is not a written language, so it not easy to translate. We have wonderful translators--young students from Port-au-Prince who can't attend school since their University is destroyed. We are paying them $4.00 per day to help us and we are giving them food.
We have some sad stories that are tearing our hearts out. A little 4-year-old was brought in last night who was burned over 85% of his body from a petrol fire in his shack, I have never seen such severe third degree burns (the worst level) and it happened 3 days ago. He has had no pain meds and nothing to eat or drink. The only area that was not burned was where his underpants were worn. We brought him to the OR , gave him morphine and removed his dressings stuck to his body. The surgeon and I and anesthesiologist and nurse who cared for him soon realized that there was no chance of survival and we needed to help this little boy have the least amount of pain possible.
He is in a ward tonight and our nurses are giving palliative care and hospice. Telling the mom was extremely difficult but as we we all cried and prayed in the OR, we want him to be in a better place. I will always remember the loving care that our surgeon and team gave to this little boy, coating his body with silvadine to ease his pain and wrapping him in soft gauze.
In the U.S., he would be in the best burn care facility ever. Operation Smile did call the USNS Comfort but they do not care for burns on the ship and there is no other hospital that can care for him. It is hard not to find solutions for their suffering, since that is what we are trained to do.
The local people had a memorial today for all of the patients who have died here since the earthquake. Last night we heard crying and chanting at 3:30 a.m. because someone died.
Caring for the Children
We are becoming very attached to some of our young patients and it is heart wrenching to watch them sitting in bed for a month now. Our favorite little boy Jonel left with his grandmother today with his fractured femur. He lost his mom and dad in the earthquake and we don't know how she will be able to raise him.
He laughed heartily when I showed him to Harrison Ford and Harrison just tickled him and showed such compassion to all of the patients. Harrison Ford is a true hero for helping Operation Smile and did not want any press whatsoever.
On the other hand, we have NO crutches or walkers for the children and adults who have fractures and amputations, so they lay in bed every day. We sit every night after we finish in the OR and just talk about what we need and how we can improvise.
We have bonded beyond belief and we will stay friends for life because of what we have seen. These people need long term relief such as the help of one of our teammates who is a physical therapist who is helping get them out of bed to walk again. She is having some men make crutches out of old junk, broken chairs and anything else she can get her hands on.
No one has gotten sick because we are not really eating very much. We have a small breakfast in the morning made by a local woman. Yesterday we had spaghetti with a strange sauce. Then we get our main meal at 2:30 p.m. which is very different every day. Yesterday we had rice, beets and potatoes and goat. Today we had sandwiches for breakfast with cheese, ham and a pink mayonnaise mixture.
We get a thick soupy pot of something at 8 p.m.--but we sneak it over to our little patients. Now that we know that we only get one meal a day, we make sure we eat everything at 3 p.m. I bought 4 large jars of peanut butter and 4 boxes of Ritz crackers and that is our evening meal.
I just pray every day that we can continue to help these people and make a difference. I feel honored to be a part of this relief effort and I thank Operation Smile for allowing being here. After 32 missions, this is the one that will stay with me and remind me of how much I have to be thankful for every day in my life!
- Norrie Oelkers, Clinical Coordinator in Hinche
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
A sincere thank you to our medical volunteers
After spending nearly 4 weeks in Fond Parisien and Hinche, Haiti, at our surgical sites, I'm headed back to Operation Smile headquarters. I've finally had a moment to reflect on our work in Haiti and this experience, and am grateful to each and every volunteer who has given of their time to assist our relief efforts.
To our medical volunteers:
Despite logistical challenges, incredible conditions, and in the face of nearly every single thing that could possibly hold us back, you did it – you made a difference, saving and changing lives.
In the past week, you have performed dozens of surgeries in a setting where nearly all of these would have been impossible without you. You saved the lives of two 5 year old boys, who would have died without the proper skin graft surgically provided by you. You set and re-set bones. Gave patients the ability to walk and function despite disability and amputation.
Supported an overworked hospital system in a time of severe stress. For another boy, who had third degree burns covering over 80% of his body, who we could not save, you eased his passing for him and his family with medication, constant care, and infinite compassion.
You provided top level medical care, in all regards– surgery, nursing, obstetrics, physical therapy, but more than anything else, you provided compassionate care in a time when it was needed the most.
Most of our patients had lost everything, but you have given them hope - physically through the ability to walk or through life or by just knowing that we are standing with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
It’s been a wild run, from flying with Harrison Ford to deliver teams and supplies, to emergency deliveries - you really did it. I thank you on behalf of Operation Smile and repeat the “Merci” that you have heard from your patients time and time again.
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator in Hinche
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010
Another great day of busy activity. It was beyond hot yesterday, but we had wind today, which brought some much needed reprieve to the team and patients. We amputated the legs of a few patients yesterday – including a woman who is 6 months pregnant. The kids and patients in general continue to surprise me with their optimism and smiles. As someone who has spent a lot of time in this country, it feels really strange to say, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many so happy (or felt so happy myself).
Who would have thought after a tragedy on this scale. But people continue to laugh and sing – they are not drowning in misery. The nurses I feel really help with that. They tell their patients to get up, get outside (even when they don’t want to). I can also imagine that there is a certain gratitude for simply being alive, and there is mutual understanding amongst all the people here who are in similar conditions.
I have been really impressed with the general NGO response to the crisis. While things have been incredibly chaotic, especially in Port-au-Prince, the powers that be at this camp have done their best to coordinate efforts, take care of unaccompanied minors, and plan for long-term rehabilitation. It has given me a lot of faith in the power of planning, organization, collaboration, will, funding, and most importantly, care.
As a final thought, one of my favorite stories from here comes via a nurse, who had a conversation with one of our translators. He is around 18-years-old, and she asked him if he would ever consider dating a girl with an amputated leg. He took in the question, thought for a moment, looked up at the sky, then looked her in the face and said definitively: “It’s up to Jesus.” A lot of things are these days, but it was heartwarming to hear that stigma may not prevent this new population from finding meaningful partners and lives.
Hugs from Haiti,
- Tory Di Carlo, Operation Smile Team Leader in Fond Parisien
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010
We began our last night here with a 4.3 aftershock...and we are told that it WILL rain today. Nothing like experiencing EVERTHING while we are here!
It is with very mixed emotions that I write my last note from the field, but I am happy to end with very good news! John Holmes, the British assistant secretary to the UN and a hoard of press are coming today. It looks as if they are going to give this camp $5 million dollars to continue for the next 6 months in recognition of all of the good work that has been done here since the quake. It does my heart good to know that all of the patients and family members I have come to know and love will have continued hope and care.
The Haitian government has declared today and the weekend a National Holiday and there has been music in the camp since 0600 to honor all of the medical teams, all we are doing for them, and to ask for our strength in continuing.
The Haitians are having a huge church service under the tree today that is really inspirational. It makes me cry because the gift has truly been mine!
I am so very much looking forward to the comforts of home: a hot shower, a private non coed toilet, and food that does not contain tuna fish. Nonetheless. I will be home on Sunday night God willing, but the Haitians have before them a much longer and more treacherous road to get there.
I pray for their grace in finding their way, for their rehabilitation, and for their deliverance. I thank them for the honor of helping them, falling in love with their culture, and for the opportunity to touch their hearts.
- Jeanne Going, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Volunteer in Fond Parisien
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010
It is now 11:45 p.m. and we have been sitting in our dorm all night talking about our experiences this week and we have all shed some tears. It is impossible to convey the suffering these people have been through.
The President of Haiti announced yesterday that today would be a national day of prayer since it was one month today that the earthquake struck. At first our hearts sank because that meant that we would close the OR and could not perform surgery. We have three very serious cases, all children --one who had his hand smashed in his home and had his finger amputated. We have taken him to the OR on Monday and Wednesday to debride and dress his wounds and today was going to be the big skin graft.
His name is Ronaldo Joseph, 10 years old and his familly brought him here last Sunday and left him here alone. He lost his father and his mother is somewhere, very sick with her other children. There is no one to feed him and he has one hand in a huge dressing and the other hand has an IV for antibiotics so he tries to hold a cup with his bandages. One other mother has helped to feed him and we give her hugs.
Our nurses on the wards have some of the toughest jobs ever--dressing changes, cleaning bed sores and helping the amputees sit up. We have a wonderful professor, Gail, from Old Dominion who has a PhD and is a physical therapist who worked for an hour today to get a 30 year-old woman to sit on the edge of the bed and bend her stumps.
Her compassion was beyond belief and we all cried with the woman's family at her accomplishment. In fact we have not stopped crying this week.
You have to see our amazing plastic surgeon from Newport Beach, Ca., who was Dr. Magee’s resident 20 years ago and went on a mission to Liberia. This is his second mission and he is the doctor to the stars, but he has been transformed since last week.
We waited four days for blood to arrive from Ganges since there is no blood in Port-au- Prince. The two little boys both had Hemoglobin’s of 6.9 and 7.1, where the normal is 12 to 15. Those two units of blood were like gold and enabled us to perform surgery.
We could not do this mission without the local nurses and they are so grateful to us. Today they all came to work but asked us if they could turn on the radio to listen to the Pastors sermon during the memorial services. We sometimes forget that a lot of these people lost their family members and are still grieving.
Our medical director in Haiti, Dr. Mary May, lost her sister, yet she is working with us 16 hours a day. Of course we all listened with them and they sang along, but all of a sudden a song came on that we all know---"Every little thing's gonna be all right" and we all joined in--more tears.
We are leaving here on Sunday and going to Port-au-Prince, then on to Fond Parisien where our other Operation Smile team is doing surgery. I will never complain about simple things again, and I will count my blessings every day. Please keep these people in your prayers.
- Norrie Oellkers, Clinical Coordinator in Hinche
Oh, I hope some of you saw E! Entertainment tonight. It was about Harrison Ford and our team in Haiti. We are all still in awe that we had him with us for 3 days. And he is absolutely gorgeous---and kind and caring and compassionate. As we all said, "He got it" about Operation Smile! He thanked me for going to see his movie last week, and I must say, I was ALMOST speechless!
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010
Every day brings a new adventure! Just when you think you have witnessed the most intense heat of your life, the world turns around and shows you differently. It was SO hot yesterday that the surgeons were sweating buckets and needing frequent gown changes; however we are VERY low on gowns.
The rains have hit Port-au-Prince today, two weeks ahead of schedule. Trust me - this is not a good thing. I had hoped I might be spared that bit of fun here, but it looks as if the powers that be want me to be able to play all I can! I can smell it and feel it in the air. I hear that they are torrential!
At least it may be a relief from the heat, but I know that the rains will bring all kinds of new issues to the camp and if I am worried about them only for a few days, I feel for the people who cannot escape.
We had a one month baby come in last night with pneumonia who may have needed ventilating and who we had to put an interosseous IV in. A big meeting was held as to whether or not we should intubate if need be because without a ventilator we can only bag.
It amazes me how very different things are out in the field. Things we don't think twice about at home are dilemmas here. I wish each of you were here to witness what we are living, what these people are living, and how far they have to go. Keep them in your hearts!
- Jeanne Going, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Volunteer in Fond Parisien
Our surgical camp in Fond Parisien, Haiti, at the Love a Child Orphanage.
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010
Our team in Hinche was just joined by Dr. Marie May Louis Fils, our Operation Smile Program coordinator, who also works with Zanmi Lasante (Partners In Health). She has been helping out with coordination in Hinche and also in the ORs as a general surgeon. We are so happy to have her on our team and to have the opportunity to work with such compassionate people.
We also had a patient show up yesterday 80% covered in 3rd degree burns.
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator in Hinche
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010
We are anxiously awaiting more OR supplies due any day now. The USNS Comfort is bringing another load of patients today and we are desperately trying to discharge patients, but we cannot because many are unaccompanied minors whose parents have died and many have no place to go.
This really gives perspective to our bed control meetings!
We are doing 3 amputations in a row today as well as a lot of broken bones. Our plastic surgeon actually fixed a broken mandible yesterday and it turned out beautiful. Our surgeons are incredible and people all over Haiti are hearing about them and coming here.
Two of our AKA's today were friends and trapped together after the quake. The problem is that many of these people developed compartment syndrome and by the time they reached help, faciotomies won’t help, their limbs are dead, and amputation is the only option.
We are also taking off the dominant arm of a policeman today. He has a large family and has been refusing surgery, but after seeing his wounds and getting sicker and sicker, he knows it is his only choice. It is breaking my heart.
I am actually becoming quite good at circulating. I have circulated a ton of ortho and plastic cases while at the same time being clinical coordinator and chief cook and bottle washer.
As it is in all difficulties, it is the children who keep our lives in perspective. They continue to play, to smile, to laugh, and to find joy wherever they can find it. “Out of the mouths of babes." I continue to grow and to learn from the beautiful people here!
- Jeanne Going, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Volunteer in Fond Parisien
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010
We had a full day of surgeries today here in Fond Parisien, including a complicated mandible fracture that we were able to address. Everything ran smoothly, and the operating rooms (tents) were even a little bit cooler today. One of the OR tents still got into the ninety degree range, but the other was much more bearable.
Our surgical load, which is always very unpredictable, has escalated these last few days and we have to prioritize patients with the more critical needs.
Our plastic surgeon pointed out that we are probably moving into a second phase of amputations in this disaster. We are receiving patients who have received care for their injured limbs already, but it was too late.
Now we are having to tell them that the initial care came too late to save their injured limb and now we must amputate. It is very sad.
We have 20-year-old men refusing amputation of an arm, even though refusing it puts their life in jeopardy, and a young woman wailing in the middle of the camp, distraught at the news that she would lose her foot.
On a brighter note, Tory (former Operation Smile staffer) arrived safely today and is already putting me to shame with her Creole and French language skills. I think it will be a seamless hand-off as I leave tomorrow afternoon.
Our plastic surgeon, David Fitz, will likely go to the USNS Comfort tomorrow with the transport helicopter that is bringing us post-op patients regularly. He is going to represent not only Operation Smile, but our whole camp, and hopefully also get a few dermatome blades to last us until the cargo arrives.
We are also expecting 2 C-ARMS, (X-ray image intensifiers), sometime in the next few days, which has our orthopods very excited. Harvard Humanitarian Initiative put out the request and found someone to donate these two machines. This will allow for much better orthopedic care.
I will be back in Norfolk in another two days and I look forward to debriefing more at that time.
- Mark Beers, Senior Program Coordinator in Fond Parisien
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
Actor and Operation Smile supporter Harrison Ford visits the hospital in Hinche where Operation Smile is providing surgical care for earthquake victims.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
So, we are now operating in Hinche! They were doing local cases for the first day but Mark (Operation Smile staffer) packed up one table of equipment and supplies from Fond Parisien for Hinche, which I brought here by truck today at noon. This means that for the next team, we will most likely not have to send more supplies and equipment (except for specialized orthopedics).
Everything is going well here though and we are starting to get into a flow.
Also, everyone agreed that things went perfectly with Harrison Ford and Dr. Sherman – good times had by all.
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator in Hinche
Monday, Feb. 8, 2010
Actor Harrison Ford was able to lend a hand yesterday and today by flying our medical volunteers and supplies in three separate trips from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, into Hinche, Haiti, where our team is providing surgery for earthquake victims.
First, we sent the surgical team members across the border with Mr. Ford, so they could immediately hit the ground running. We sent a total of 14 volunteers in two trips yesterday, and at 8 a.m. today we sent our last 6 volunteers with Mr. Ford on his Cessna 208 Caravan that he piloted.
Our team will be able to get a full day of surgery in today and additional supplies are on the way.
Thanks to Mr. Ford, we were able to get our volunteers and supplies safely into Hinche much more quickly to begin our collaboration with Partners in Health and help the patients who are still in dire need for urgent medical care.
Much appreciation and thanks to Mr. Ford for his support of Operation Smile!
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator in Hinche
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| Actor Harrison Ford and Operation Smile medical volunteers are surrounded by Haitian children when Ford's plane lands with supplies and volunteers in Hinche, Haiti. |
Monday, Feb. 8, 2010
Children at our surgical camp in Fond Parisien, Haiti, dance and sing with medical volunteers and other victims of the earthquake.
- Video by Mark Beers, Senior Program Coordinator in Fond Parisien
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010
Where to begin. Late yesterday a news team from the HHI, the Harvard Health Initiative showed up and they are here to write and publish something about this camp. They brought a photographer who has enormous cameras that can either double as x-ray machines or steal your soul!
The HHI is running this camp and doing a fantastic job. I have never been so thankful for all that disaster FEMA stuff in my life. Nonetheless, in our leadership team meeting last night they told us that we now have to take more sanity precautions because we have almost reached this camps capacity and it is becoming infested with rats. I thought spiders were bad! Everything in perspective.
The other big discussion at the meeting last night was a huge debate of how to deal with all the DVTs (deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in a deep vein) we are seeing. We had another 18-year-old develop one yesterday. They are saying that this will be the largest population ever post disaster of DVTs. The doctors are trying to come up with a collective position on treating them but we have very limited lovenox, children cannot take ASA, and many of our patients are returning frequently for surgery. Nothing is easy.
Neither is the antibiotic regimen we have these people on. The antibiotics we use are every 8 hours but there is no electricity and crawling in and out of tents in the middle of the night is wicked hard and takes hours.
Church was today. It changed the mood of the camp. Lots of Creole music. It was out under a tree...very gospel like and loud. I started bawling when the whole crowd of patients in wheelchairs who have lost everything, their homes, their loved ones, their parents, and even their body parts sang Amazing Grace at the top of their lungs. It just goes to show how little material things mean. You can take everything from a person, but you cannot take their faith.
I am learning so much from these people. On a personal note, tuna fish is still tasting good. Enjoy your Super Bowl parties tonight and carry us in your hearts.
- Jeanne Going, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Volunteer in Fond Parisien
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
All is well on the Comfort! We have spent the last two shifts orienting. We also starting to not get lost on this monster hospital ship anymore and settling in to Navy protocols.
We’re mostly doing surgeries now and all the Operation Smile team is very happy to be here to help. The Navy is treating us wonderfully.
Total patients now in the 200’s and 22 surgeries are scheduled for today. This experience has been amazing. Haitians now know we are here so we are now treating some non-earthquake patients who need medical care as well.
- Mary Ellen Honeyfield, Nurse, Medical Volunteer on the USNS Comfort
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
Harrison Ford landed in Santo Domingo today and was met by the team in the airport. They had flown all day to get here and unfortunately by the time they arrived we were not going to be able to make a trip to Hinche with the first group of volunteers. We are not going to let this hold us up though - we have arranged to leave first thing in the morning and have equipment and supplies available to begin surgery immediately, especially for a few patients in dire need.
The team is very much looking forward to getting to work to help the Haitians and Partners in Health (PIH) is eager to meet us.
We also met with a team from Russ Reid today who will join the first group flying into Hinche in order to document the incredible story of this journey to the Haiti.
We are optimistic that cargo will arrive and clear customs tomorrow. We plan to arrange a cargo truck to bring this to Hinche immediately so we will have everything in place to begin fully operating on Monday.
Also, a special thanks to Operation Smile Dominican Republic and Paul Martinez for being extremely resourceful and accommodating throughout this entire mission - they have been amazing here on the ground.
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator
(See more pictures in the slideshow below)
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| Actor Harrison Ford arrives in Santo Domingo to help Operation Smile's relief efforts in Haiti by ferrying our cargo and team members in his plane from Santo Domingo, DR, to Hinche, Haiti, where the team will treat earthquake victims. |
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
Operation Smile supporter and actor Harrison Ford flew his Cessna 208 here to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, late this afternoon to help airlift a new team of Operation Smile medical volunteers and supplies to Hinche, Haiti, where they will be providing much-needed surgery and treatment to earthquake victims.
It was a challenging trip for Mr. Ford and his co-pilot, Terry Bender, who had to take a few detours to avert the weather that is devastating much of the United States. Our team of 15 American, Canadian and Danish Operation Smile medical professionals includes plastic surgeons, an orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologists, eight nurses and other seasoned veterans – all chomping at the bit to sweep into action in Hinche, where children and families have been waiting for weeks to receive treatment.
Mr. Ford will begin shuttling the team – along with critically needed supplies and medicines from Santa Domingo to Hinche – saving the team a rigorous and exhausting drive that could take two days.
"It is an amazing feeling to be a part of a special team to help these disaster victims," Norrie Oelkers, our clinical coordinator said. "We are so anxious to get started. Patients are waiting right now for life-changing surgery."
Operation Smile has been asked by Partners in Health to help manage the tremendous patient load at their clinic in Hinche. Since Partners in Heath is not a surgical entity, they have asked our team of skilled surgeons to perform the much needed surgeries.
Our team is having a little dinner tonight in Santa Domingo – and we are so anxious to get to work tomorrow. But we are not nearly as anxious as those patients in Hinche who are waiting for the help our teams can provide.
Team leader Dr. Craig Merrell, a plastic surgeon from Suffolk, Virginia, has assured us that the first team in tomorrow morning will go to work immediately.
"It's such a blessing to go there so we can treat people who are suffering from infections, burns, and other injuries from the earthquake and other causes. Right now, this clinic lacks some essential equipment needed to treat these patients. They are literally waiting for us to get there tomorrow to save lives. First up is a 6 year-old burn victim who is critically ill."
Operation Smile still has a team in Font Parisian doing work in what many are calling "war zone" conditions, as well as a team of 10 Operation Smile volunteers on the USNS Comfort. The number of teams and the scope of the work will continue to expand.
Mr. Ford's Cessna's wheels go up at 7:15 tomorrow morning. We'll be in surgery by noon.
- Lois Ephraim, Operation Smile Supporter
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010
A couple days ago, another doctor and I decided to put together a baseball game for some of the kids in the camp. We made bases out of cardboard boxes and helped bring over 15 or 20 kids to play with us – some in wheelchairs or crutches, some amputees, and a couple just visiting family in the camp.
One of the older girls with his full leg in a cast managed to figure out a way to prop himself up on a crutch and still pitch. Another young boy in a wheelchair was still able to hit the ball with the bat and then his friend wheeled him around the bases. The youngest ones just ran around chasing the ball. It was a blast.
One five-year-old boy with a green cast on his right arm stayed by my side the entire time. He tried to mimic my every pose or stance. Towards the end I picked him up and started throwing him up into the air again and again.
When the game was over we were walking back to the camp and I said “Good-bye” because I needed to meet back with the team. He started grabbing at my shirt, getting very upset and yelling “Pa pah, Pa pah.”
Some of the Haitians came over to pull him away and back over to his tent. I asked the translator what happened and what he was saying. Two weeks ago, when the earthquake hit, that same five-year-old boy lost his father. He was saying "Papa," dad.
- Lucas Carlson, Program Coordinator
