I want to share with you a life changing and eye opening experience after my recent visit to Haiti. I was asked to join Living Hope Haiti ( co-founded by Calvin Babcock Chairman of Baptist Healthcare Systems) partnering with Baptist/South Miami Hospitals.


Our medical team consisting of surgeons, nurses and myself provided surgery and urgent care through the Double Harvest Mission which has one of the few well functioning small hospitals with 2 operating rooms for local Haitians just outside Port-au-Prince.


I would like to share the following letter I sent to the wonderful contributors which briefly summarizes the trip. Plans are in the works to provide ongoing prosthetic and orthotic care with a number of my colleagues so I will keep you posted.

UPDATE: I am still trying to grasp the magnitude and reality of the situation. Unless this country and the Haitian people receive long-term outside assistance, I don't think there is any possible way it will overcome its current condition.


Obviously the medical needs of these people are extensive. We saw everything from severe fractures, burns, open wounds, upper and lower extremity amputations, infections, malaria to emergency deliveries. Many kids lost one or both parents, some patients were sole survivors. One of our Haitian clinic staff still came to work to assist those in need after he lost his wife and one year old daughter.


The majority lost their homes. Make shift tents are everywhere. Not sure how they will cope with this once hurricane season starts. One of the highlights of the trip was our flight home aboard a US Airforce C-17 to Orlando and we were bussed back to Miami. Flights in and out of Port-au-Prince are limited and on a first come, first serve basis.

 

As difficult as it was to see all the devastation to the land and the people, overall it was a great experience personally and professionally. I feel like we only made a small dent in a huge problem, but I guess every little bit helps. I hope to go back in the future and want to thank everyone who donated for your generosity and immediate response when called upon.