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Haiti: Going back
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In the last of this 3-part series, members of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society share their experience working with Health Volunteers Overseas to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Look for more articles on orthopedists volunteering efforts in Haiti and other countries in upcoming issues of Orthopedics Today.
My nurse, Susan Roby, and I had 9 days in March 2010 to prepare for our first trip to Pierre Payen, a small clinic/hospital about 30 miles north of Port Au Prince. We were last minute add-ons to Haiti Team 10, replacing a surgeon who could not go for medical reasons. I called Susan from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting and asked, “What would you think if we headed to Haiti next Friday?”
Her response was instantaneous. “I will start calling patients right now.”
Within hours, our flights were arranged. Susan and I went the long way compared to the other members of the team who all flew from Miami. We overnighted in San Juan and flew to Haiti at 16,000 feet seeing amazing topography and flying over Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake, and into Port au Prince arriving 4 hours before the rest of the group.
The extent of the earthquake destruction was amazing and the quantity of goods sitting around the airport was incredible. The arrival terminal was a converted American Airlines warehouse. After several hours we obtained our bags and, with them piled high on a rented cart, we cleared customs and were outside being pushed toward the iron gates. Fortunately for us, Big came to our aide. We told him we had a 4-hour wait until the rest of our team arrived. He told us to stand by the side of the passageway. We felt like zoo animals as the teeming masses pushed their faces against the fence trying to get in. Susan ventured into the very open-air latrine after several hours. We joined an amazing group of individuals from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Washington, and Arkansas.
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Images: Shields NN |
The team arrived and we were swept out into pure and utter chaos. Eventually we met Steve Mossberg, the missionary who had driven an open cattle truck down to get us. As we loaded our bags, Haitians came up with hands outstretched, asking for food or money. Others offered to sell us things.
Tent cities
We loaded our gear and assumed positions either sprawled on bags or standing holding onto the rails for the 2 and-a-half hour ride to cover 30 miles. Driving from the airport, we passed tent cities and an amazing monument with hands clasped together that had not fallen down with the earthquake. We drove slowly from Port Au Prince, clicking our cameras and wondering what we would see next. My sunscreen was buried and I thought I would arrive a lobster .
We passed piles of rubble, many tents and people walking — some with and some without purpose. Local transportation called “tap taps” passed us by. Some were loaded to the gills with people and all were colorful. There was a crack from the earthquake running down the center of the road. We came to a T intersection and turned left heading north on the “main road.” Tents were visible on the hillside as well as shacks of cardboard many of which have not survived the recent hurricane.
Working conditions
As we rode north along the main coastal road, we passed old vehicles and buses left at the side of the road, abandoned resorts and many small shacks selling what they had. There were few animal-drawn vehicles, few scooters and many tap taps. It seems you either have the money for a vehicle or you take a tap tap.
We arrived at our destination with our quarters on the west side of the main road and the clinic on the east. Crossing was best done by carefully double-checking. We carted our supplies to the clinic and looked over the waiting patients. We were the tenth team to arrive in 10 weeks. Supplies had been crammed into the supply room. The cooks for the mission were local woman who literally had been working for 7 days straight for 10 weeks, having Friday evening off. Translators from the local orphanage willingly assisted us — young men and woman 18 to 22 years-old, with dreams of becoming pilots, engineers, nurses, etc. Annie, a self-described “bipolar Mother Theresa,” came to pray for our patients and surgical skills. She and her husband run an orphanage 10 minutes away. They concentrate on the amputees and children no one else will take. Working with a local Haitian, they are funding a school for diesel mechanics. They have adopted a Haitian boy with no arms.
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Why am I going back?
Our week in March vanished in a flash. We had adventure, created the BAR (be all room) in the air-conditioned operating room, delivered a baby and at least four people are currently alive because we were there. For more details, read our blog at http://haititeam10.blogspot.com.
So, the big questions: Why am I going back? What about the cholera epidemic? I am going back because there is need and I can. The Wall Street Journal and others have had articles about nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), corruption within the Haitian government and the disempowerment of the Haitian people. I have no doubt this is all true, but we met people and made a difference in many lives — some whom I hope to see again. If we can provide small rays of sunshine and make a difference, one person at a time, empowering Haitians to do what they have the capability to do, we have succeeded.
This time, I am leading the team. The responsibility is great. I e-mailed everyone concerning the cholera epidemic, which began not far from where we are going. Everyone is still in. My main concern is the social unrest and violence, which is breaking out.
1-year anniversary
Without planning it, we are going back on the 1-year anniversary of the earthquake. Our team currently has eight doctors — two orthopedists, one orthopedic resident, two anesthesiologists, one general surgeon/trauma, one family practitioner born in Port Au Prince who came to America at age 14, one physical therapist (providing a desperately needed service), and six nurses.. This is the ideal team to cover everything that will come our way.
Five members of the team were there in March and agreed to return without hesitation. Leann, a nurse, said to me, “I am very excited to return, hopefully to follow up with patients I would have never thought I would see again and see what a difference we, as a team, made in their lives. As a nurse, I had never thought I would have been a PACU, OR, ER, L&D, NICU or lactation consultant, housekeeper, critical care transporter, peds, gero and physical and occupational therapist all in a 2-week period; but I did it there and it definitely made me a better RN.”
We are fundraising, contacting various organizations and trying to make this much bigger than us. We are obtaining supplies for the orphanage and GED training books for a construction worker, Don, who spent 6 weeks in February and March, went back to his home town and is now spending a year teaching construction skills during the day and GED education at night. The husband of one of my patients came to the office yesterday with a check for $1,000!
I could go on. I will ask you this question: What have you done lately that you feel good about — locally or internationally? What are you willing to do? If you cannot go, will you help others that can? The Haitians are great people who have suffered for years and unfortunately will suffer for many more.
Reference:
- Naomi N. Shields, MD, can be reached at Advanced Orthopaedic Associates, 2778 N. Webb Road, Wichita, KS 67226; 316-631-1600; e-mail: nshields@pol.net.
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