The love of Christ impels us to manifest His tenderness and love.
Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres
HAITI MEDICAL MISSION
TEN DAYS IN HAITI
Sister Rosaline Charoenchantavit, SPC
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sr. Mary Ann Elizabeth Cruz, SPC from San Francisco, Erika Hoenke, RN from Detroit, and I met at the Miami, Florida Airport at 10 p.m. We did not know one another but we had a common purpose: to help the Haitien people in their urgent need.
When I left Marquette with 5 big valises, filled mostly with surgical and medical supplies donated by the people in Marquette, I was not sure that American Airlines would allow them all on board. But after informing them that I was on my way to Haiti and the contents of the valises were for the people there, they gladly let the baggages go through.
At the Miami Airport, we met the team of doctors, nurses, volunteers from different states of the USA and other countries, numbering around 60. No commercial flights are allowed to enter Haiti, so we flew together via Vision Airlines, the plane used by the United Nations (UN) personnel and the United States (US) military.
Leaving Miami at 10:00 p.m., we arrived at the airport of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, at 1 a.m. the following day. We were met by darkness and only the headlights strapped around our foreheads helped us to see our way as we personally transferred our baggages from the plane to the truck that would bring us to the camp-actually, composed of several big tents used by the medical team of the University of Miami. Although it was all dark, we felt that the roads were rough and we saw how dusty it was. The feelings we had were akin to entering a battlefield, as we passed the UN military personnel and their tanks, with big guns in tow, along the way.
Upon arrival at the camp an hour later, we had a short orientation by the officer-in-charge. We were told to take our rest so as to be ready at 7:30 a.m. for duty. Sr. Mary Ann was assigned to the tent for adults, while Sr. Rosaline and Erika were to report to the Emergency Room. Our duty began at 8 a.m. and could last till past midnight.
Some cases that met us:
1.A newborn baby whose mother died in the rubble.
2.A orphaned boy covered in dust with a big wound on his right foot.
3.People with broken legs, broken arms, back, etc.
4.Malnutrition and infectious wounds.
There was no laboratory to help diagnose the patients’ condition; only cardboard served as splints. With no anesthesia or pain-killers, the doctors just stretched broken bones, inevitably accompanied by the loud cries of the patients.
After two days, a laboratory was set up. The donated medicines were still in boxes. Whenever we needed medicines or supplies, we had to rush to the supply tent and scrounge around for what we needed. There was no order at all.
One of the main problems was language. The doctors and the nurses could not work well without interpreters.
The scorching heat (about 90?F or 34?C) and the swirling dust all day were challenges to the stamina and dedication of the doctors, nurses and volunteers. They had to continue treating patients, many of them life-and-death cases. Each day around 90-130 patients were admitted in the adult, pediatric, and ICU tents. The operating room was open 24 hours a day.
It is not enough to give first aid to these people. Eventually, they have to contend with Tuberculosis, diarrhea, malaria, dengue fever, scabies, broken limbs, etc.
Sister Rosaline Charoenchantavit, SPC
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sr. Mary Ann Elizabeth Cruz, SPC from San Francisco, Erika Hoenke, RN from Detroit, and I met at the Miami, Florida Airport at 10 p.m. We did not know one another but we had a common purpose: to help the Haitien people in their urgent need.
When I left Marquette with 5 big valises, filled mostly with surgical and medical supplies donated by the people in Marquette, I was not sure that American Airlines would allow them all on board. But after informing them that I was on my way to Haiti and the contents of the valises were for the people there, they gladly let the baggages go through.
At the Miami Airport, we met the team of doctors, nurses, volunteers from different states of the USA and other countries, numbering around 60. No commercial flights are allowed to enter Haiti, so we flew together via Vision Airlines, the plane used by the United Nations (UN) personnel and the United States (US) military.
Leaving Miami at 10:00 p.m., we arrived at the airport of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, at 1 a.m. the following day. We were met by darkness and only the headlights strapped around our foreheads helped us to see our way as we personally transferred our baggages from the plane to the truck that would bring us to the camp-actually, composed of several big tents used by the medical team of the University of Miami. Although it was all dark, we felt that the roads were rough and we saw how dusty it was. The feelings we had were akin to entering a battlefield, as we passed the UN military personnel and their tanks, with big guns in tow, along the way.
Upon arrival at the camp an hour later, we had a short orientation by the officer-in-charge. We were told to take our rest so as to be ready at 7:30 a.m. for duty. Sr. Mary Ann was assigned to the tent for adults, while Sr. Rosaline and Erika were to report to the Emergency Room. Our duty began at 8 a.m. and could last till past midnight.
Some cases that met us:
1.A newborn baby whose mother died in the rubble.
2.A orphaned boy covered in dust with a big wound on his right foot.
3.People with broken legs, broken arms, back, etc.
4.Malnutrition and infectious wounds.
There was no laboratory to help diagnose the patients’ condition; only cardboard served as splints. With no anesthesia or pain-killers, the doctors just stretched broken bones, inevitably accompanied by the loud cries of the patients.
After two days, a laboratory was set up. The donated medicines were still in boxes. Whenever we needed medicines or supplies, we had to rush to the supply tent and scrounge around for what we needed. There was no order at all.
One of the main problems was language. The doctors and the nurses could not work well without interpreters.
The scorching heat (about 90?F or 34?C) and the swirling dust all day were challenges to the stamina and dedication of the doctors, nurses and volunteers. They had to continue treating patients, many of them life-and-death cases. Each day around 90-130 patients were admitted in the adult, pediatric, and ICU tents. The operating room was open 24 hours a day.
It is not enough to give first aid to these people. Eventually, they have to contend with Tuberculosis, diarrhea, malaria, dengue fever, scabies, broken limbs, etc.
HELPING HAITI THROUGH
PROJECT MEDISCHARE
Sister Nenita Leonardo, SPC
I have ambivalent feelings of sadness and gladness to be back home with my sisters in the community. The time spent in Haiti was touching and amazing and deep inside me , I thank God for all the wonderful people who help the sick and the infirm in Haiti through the Project Medishare of University of Miami . The whole tapestry of Haiti experience in Port Au Prince is also enriching meeting people of all walks of life . Somehow this experience allows me to transcend all sorts of comfort. To see a 3 D picture of Hope amidst a “Good Friday Scene”. Beginning in Miami Airport , as we are waiting for all the volunteer passengers for the Vision Airlines ( Chartered plane by University of Miami Health System ) I encountered professionals of different walks of life… dentist, nurses, doctors, physiotherapist, office workers, military , social workers, you can name it , who are there to give their gift of self to this devastated place.
Since, I am early in the airport ,I’ve been ask of the same question , “Is this the line going to Haiti?” sure indeed, I replied with joy and gladness knowing that they are one with me doing such great miracle! A community of Christian believers is formed and this I should say is enriching and amazing, a situation where one is called for to serve the last, the least and the lost . With a huge country, different state in the US are represented by persons gifted with much love and come to a place and learn to give and find support, comfort and love with each other and to the sick Haitians. This became a source of energy when we arrive in the Port Au Prince Airport @ 10 pm on March 1 ,2010, which happened to be the 48th day that Port Au Prince was hit by the 7 magnitude earthquake that happened on January 12 in the afternoon.
The hospital tent is only a 10- minute drive from the airport to the place where we are called to serve. When asked of the duty, I opted for 12 hours Day duty with the PROJECT MEDISHARE which is an organization of UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM . There is no chance to pick up my suit cases upon arrival because I am called to do a Spiritual Care to a critically ill father of 3 daughters . The interpreter in Creole is brilliant and very good and I believe he conveyed my message and prayers very well. I have a chance to visit and comfort the family the next day. There was a tour of duty to the TENTed medical center: places for resting- to look for your own cot , a Medical and Surgical ward, Pediatric Ward which lead you inside with 3 Operating tables, 5 ICU beds ,and a first ever NICU & PICU in the area where I find confident and skilled to serve . In the nicu/picu , you can see 3 blue suit cases modified into an isolette with 2 neonates each inside to keep them warm, A hydrocephalus twin in which their body temperature never goes up due to lack of heat ,thus feeding is through “gavage” .This is a way to provide breastmilk or formula directly to the baby’s stomach who cannot get enough nutrition by bottle or breastfeeding. A tube placed through the baby’s nose (called a Nasogastric or NG tube) carries breast milk/formula to the stomach. . With such miserable conditions , I have to create something that can alleviate comfort in a place where there is nothing.
I found a Styrofoam box and created a comfortable place for Fred (my favorite premature baby who is also a gavage feeding ,but suck well with me) to give space to one of the twin. As I say a way of creation that gives comfort in a place where there is nothing.
For 5 days the flesh is weak but the Spirit is moving and still desires to help some more soul where Christ can be manifested . Went to help the supplies people organized items which are used often, and they are very thankful with my help. After that, Sr. Mary Ann Cruz ( Philippines Missionary to Haiti)and I have the chance to see around the city of Port Au Prince devastated and ruined Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Hospitals, Hotels, Post Office, Universities, Religious Retreat Houses and Seminaries which are miserable including our own Haiti District House and School.
But even then, Hope is there as it is seen within our surroundings tents to those neighbors who have lost their properties with their tents built within our District compound. I have the chance to sleep one night with our own 6 Haitian Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres in Port Au Prince and 2 aspirants who’s been spared from any physical disaster, and also in Thomasin 25 where I heard the Sunday Mass. I am thankful and grateful to a dear God for such a beautiful and wonderful experience. With all these events, my week experience in Haiti will ever be in my heart. It is evident that anyone with personal experience of a catastrophe like this can ever be immune to its effects.
PROJECT MEDISCHARE
Sister Nenita Leonardo, SPC
I have ambivalent feelings of sadness and gladness to be back home with my sisters in the community. The time spent in Haiti was touching and amazing and deep inside me , I thank God for all the wonderful people who help the sick and the infirm in Haiti through the Project Medishare of University of Miami . The whole tapestry of Haiti experience in Port Au Prince is also enriching meeting people of all walks of life . Somehow this experience allows me to transcend all sorts of comfort. To see a 3 D picture of Hope amidst a “Good Friday Scene”. Beginning in Miami Airport , as we are waiting for all the volunteer passengers for the Vision Airlines ( Chartered plane by University of Miami Health System ) I encountered professionals of different walks of life… dentist, nurses, doctors, physiotherapist, office workers, military , social workers, you can name it , who are there to give their gift of self to this devastated place.
Since, I am early in the airport ,I’ve been ask of the same question , “Is this the line going to Haiti?” sure indeed, I replied with joy and gladness knowing that they are one with me doing such great miracle! A community of Christian believers is formed and this I should say is enriching and amazing, a situation where one is called for to serve the last, the least and the lost . With a huge country, different state in the US are represented by persons gifted with much love and come to a place and learn to give and find support, comfort and love with each other and to the sick Haitians. This became a source of energy when we arrive in the Port Au Prince Airport @ 10 pm on March 1 ,2010, which happened to be the 48th day that Port Au Prince was hit by the 7 magnitude earthquake that happened on January 12 in the afternoon.
The hospital tent is only a 10- minute drive from the airport to the place where we are called to serve. When asked of the duty, I opted for 12 hours Day duty with the PROJECT MEDISHARE which is an organization of UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM . There is no chance to pick up my suit cases upon arrival because I am called to do a Spiritual Care to a critically ill father of 3 daughters . The interpreter in Creole is brilliant and very good and I believe he conveyed my message and prayers very well. I have a chance to visit and comfort the family the next day. There was a tour of duty to the TENTed medical center: places for resting- to look for your own cot , a Medical and Surgical ward, Pediatric Ward which lead you inside with 3 Operating tables, 5 ICU beds ,and a first ever NICU & PICU in the area where I find confident and skilled to serve . In the nicu/picu , you can see 3 blue suit cases modified into an isolette with 2 neonates each inside to keep them warm, A hydrocephalus twin in which their body temperature never goes up due to lack of heat ,thus feeding is through “gavage” .This is a way to provide breastmilk or formula directly to the baby’s stomach who cannot get enough nutrition by bottle or breastfeeding. A tube placed through the baby’s nose (called a Nasogastric or NG tube) carries breast milk/formula to the stomach. . With such miserable conditions , I have to create something that can alleviate comfort in a place where there is nothing.
I found a Styrofoam box and created a comfortable place for Fred (my favorite premature baby who is also a gavage feeding ,but suck well with me) to give space to one of the twin. As I say a way of creation that gives comfort in a place where there is nothing.
For 5 days the flesh is weak but the Spirit is moving and still desires to help some more soul where Christ can be manifested . Went to help the supplies people organized items which are used often, and they are very thankful with my help. After that, Sr. Mary Ann Cruz ( Philippines Missionary to Haiti)and I have the chance to see around the city of Port Au Prince devastated and ruined Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Hospitals, Hotels, Post Office, Universities, Religious Retreat Houses and Seminaries which are miserable including our own Haiti District House and School.
But even then, Hope is there as it is seen within our surroundings tents to those neighbors who have lost their properties with their tents built within our District compound. I have the chance to sleep one night with our own 6 Haitian Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres in Port Au Prince and 2 aspirants who’s been spared from any physical disaster, and also in Thomasin 25 where I heard the Sunday Mass. I am thankful and grateful to a dear God for such a beautiful and wonderful experience. With all these events, my week experience in Haiti will ever be in my heart. It is evident that anyone with personal experience of a catastrophe like this can ever be immune to its effects.
In English