Haiti Mission Project
Loma Linda University School of Medicine Class of 2010
-
The US Armed Forces at HAH
Posted on January 29th, 2010 No commentsUS Ambassador Thomas Merten sent in the troops today. When the ambassador visited Hopital Adventiste d' Haiti on Wednesday, I asked him for two things a structural inspection of the hospital and bottled water. Well, today just as I was heading to the airport to pick up the Parkridge surgical team, up walked 3 U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to do a full inspection of the facility. While I do not have their final written report, I am happy to report that they say the entire building is safe to occupy and they would allow their own mothers to sleep here in the hospital. This is very encouraging and comforting news.
The USACE Team
While the USACE team was inspecting the building two huge U.S. Marine transport trucks arrived, one full of bottled water and one full of food (MREs). This was a serious boost for our morale as we now have food and water for everyone on the hospital grounds for at least a week.
I said BIG trucks, full of food and water
A long line of volunteer help to move the MREs and water into the hospitalIt's hard to believe that it was only 7 days ago that we were moving our patients out of the hospital for fear of significant structural damage to the southwest wing, what a difference a week makes. By the way, the Parkridge team is here safe and sound and were already in the O.R. doing cases this afternoon. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support of our mission here at Hopital Adventiste d' Haiti.
Parkridge team leaving Ft. Pierce FL for Port-au-Prince HaitiScroll down for pictures of the 6 babies born here at HAH last night. -
1/2 a dozen + babies born last night
Posted on January 29th, 2010 No commentsJust a quick update this morning.
Our volunteer team from the Southeastern Florida conference worked through the night and I am happy to report that we have seven newborn babies this morning. All mothers and babies are healthy and recovering well. I will post pictures of our newest little ones this evening. Please keep us in your prayers today as we have lots of work to do.
Apparently there were 7 but these were the 6 available for pictures this morning. -
Kids, Facilities, and Departures
Posted on January 28th, 2010 No commentsVery busy the last 36 hours but here are a few pics:
Melissa Gregorius Plays with the kids just before departure.
Dr. Mufa shows the wee ones the iPhone
A post-op patient and his family playing cards
Volunteers digging our 8 new latrine ditches
Clearing for our new USAID water treatment plant (visible in the background)
Kay Wilkens (Univ. Texas), The Jobes, Melissa Gregorius on departure day.
The surgical nurse team and Dr. Jesse head home (Myself & Joe Kim LLUSM 2010 on the right)
My roommate who shows himself every once in a while
Again... there are so many people and groups wanting to volunteer their time and skills here at HAH that we have had to setup a management group stateside simply to orchestrate the volunteer groups. We have asked that all volunteers or groups of volunteers wishing to serve here to please contact the LLU Global Health Institute prior to making travel plans. Haiti is going to need volunteer help for a very long time and we will need each of you at some point, just not all at once. Thanks. -
Joe Kim’s Update from Haiti
Posted on January 26th, 2010 No comments“The quakes keep rolling. Well they are more like little tremors that shiver more than shake, but the reaction everyone has is a reminder of how traumatic the memories are. Last nights’ late shift was fortunately calm without incident. That was in strong contrast to the earlier night shift in which we had 4 codes and so much of the group was pushed to emotional and physical limits. So far a more systematic approach to patient care and rounding has led to earlier identification of sicker patients, and the leadership is working hard to address some of the resource limitations that prevented us from being able to save lives earlier.
In other news, our little global village compound has been quite the press joint today, the Hope Channel was here. About half way through the day, a large convoy of trucks complete with VIP blinkers and bodyguards on foot made their way into the hospital and an American and French ambassador stepped out with a small press corp. Apparently we have all been working so well with the French that it has been reminiscent of those old guys, Lafayette and Washington. I don’t want to start any rumors, but we might be getting back together after that whole Iraq quarrel thing. I’ve already started calling freedom fries French fries again in anticipation.
I ended up sleeping away the afternoon after the late shift, but the exciting word for the collaborative operations is that a tent went up for the clinic at the Refugee camp at the University and the set-up for the satellite clinic is complete. There are big plans to continue the outreach spreading out from the hospital, and while there seems to be a steady flux of medical personnel to staff the hospital, with the expanding vision, new places to plug into the patient care are always coming into need. Just the other day as I was helping the team from Texas set up the clinic across from the hospital, we went out to spread the word and found that there were over 50 patients waiting at a refugee camp being seen by a few local nurses who were not capable of handling the suturing, and diagnosis necessary to treat the large gathering crowd. There is definitely a sense of excitement in being able to directly fill a clear need, and the opportunity to do that has only been growing with what to this point has been a great collaboration between Loma Linda, ACTS, the French Pompiers, the hospital administration, and the number of many other sincere volunteers who have been coming to the hospital. I can’t wait to see how our class will fit into this growing aid work, and am sure that we can make a contribution that will have a lasting impact.”
-
Diplomats & the Media
Posted on January 26th, 2010 No commentsThe Hopital Adventiste d' Haiti was host to some very distinguished quests today. Both the U.S. and French ambassadors to Haiti visited our hospital. Ambassador Kenneth Merten of the United States and Ambassador Didier Le Bret of France arrived shortly after 10 AM. They were both very approachable men and seemed keenly interested in hearing from the people here at HAH. There was a clear theme during their visit, that the collaborative efforts between the French triage team and the American surgical teams has been a wonderful and successful partnership.Ambassador Merten and I had a number of opportunities to talk as we toured the hospital facility. He expressed his gratitude to all of the volunteer groups here at HAH but especially to Loma Linda University and Adventist Health International for their strategic and long standing relationship with HAH. He indicated that prior to his visit he was already aware of our involvement here and was quite surprised at the success and organization that has been achieved in the two weeks since the disaster. He shared asked if there was anything he could do for us here and offered his direct contact information to facilitate such requests. I've already made contact with him and received back a personalized response and am hopeful that he will help to fulfill some of our critical needs.Of course along with diplomats come the media. There were multiple film crews and reporters here during the Ambassadors visit today including a crew from The Hope Channel. The Hope Channel crew interviewed both ambassadors, Dr. Chris Jobe, Dr. Honore, Dr. Archer, one of our surgical nurses and myself. The segment should air either Wed. 1/27 at 11:00AM EST or the following Wednesday at the same time. Later in the day I was contacted by a San Bernardino Sun reporter wanting to interview myself and one of the LLU surgeons. So for those of you in the Inland Empire, keep your eyes peeled for an interview with Dr. Jobe and yours truly.
L - R Dr. Lesly Archer, Andrew Haglund, U.S. Ambassador Merten, U.S. Secret Service, French Ambassador Le Bret, Dr. Ely Honore
Front Row L - R Dr. Lesly Archer, U.S. Ambassador Merten, Mrs. Emilie Clotaire, Dr. Patrick (head of the French triage team), French Ambassador Le Bret
Dr. Jobe shocks Ambassador Le Bret when he tells him we have teams headed this way for weeks to come.
The Hope Channel interviews Dr. Archer in the Maternal and Child Health clinic.Press: -
Joseph Kim Update from Haiti
Posted on January 26th, 2010 No commentsUpdate from LLU School of Medicine class of 2010 member Joseph Kim on January 25 @ 9:19pmHopital Adventiste d”Haiti now has WIFI! Still some wrinkles to iron out with that, but I am happy to report that the hospital is in good condition and continuing some amazing work in the area. The hospital and university have become major centers for relief work, and for those of you who have been to either, you would hardly recognize the grounds now. The hospital has minimal structural damage but every free space and every sleepable surface seems to have some kind of habitant on it at some point or another whether it be patients and their families, local staff who have lost there homes, or a relief worker. The makeshift sheet shelters sprawled across the grounds are gradually giving way to a tent city, and the chaos that seemed so overwhelming when I first arrived at the hospital is being formed by all the volunteers and staff into something that is serving the victims more effectively day by day. I am amazed everyday by all of the expertise that has come to this part of the world and all of the humility that allows all to function in such a challenging environment. The hospital currently has a contingent of French doctors and firefighters running triage and basic procedures, and a steady stream of doctors, nurses, and relief groups have been fluxing through the hospital from all over the United States, and the world.As I am typing right now, an amazing group of nurses from San Diego are making their way through the camp to see each patient and follow their treatment in the dark of night. ACTS has been providing essential leadership and logistical support and was kind enough to provide the means for me to fly to Haiti. There is a Mexican surgeon who operates during the day, a south African team and a team based out of Taiwan arrived yesterday, a Texas crew is running a small satellite clinic across the street, and of course our very own LLU Ortho surgeons have been operating long hours as they provide key leadership in the OR. The number of resources that have been flowing into this hospital have been a huge blessing, and I know our class’ efforts to make a stand at this Hospital will be rewarded with the possibility of seeing great improvements in the near future. More updates will be coming now that I have easier access to internet, and pictures will follow. There is so much happening here, I’ll try my best to keep the updates rolling.
-
Friends and Fuel Trucks – A Pictorial
Posted on January 25th, 2010 No commentsWe've had another set of remarkable days here at Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti. Arrivals, departures, and a drive across town in the daylight, have provided a few pictures that tell some of the story...
Chris Vannucci and Mike Fishell head home in the box truck, the 1st of the LLU team to leave. (not quite the luxury we flew down in)
The 1000 bed, 50 O.R. USS Comfort has arrived and is anchored in the bay off Port-au-Prince. We have been able to transfer several of our most critical patients to the ship.
Total collapse
Much needed fuel has arrived in Haiti.
Destruction
More destruction
Sugar cane for sale above the dump/river.(the cane was swarming with flys)
The beautiful Haitian children riding the bus.
My friend goes home. Dr. Nelson headed home to the Dominican for a few days of much needed rest but plans to return here to HAH this weekend.A quick note about our fund raising effort. While I do not have accurate figures to share, I understand that the LLU Haiti Relief fund is doing extremely well. Thank you all so much and please continue to give. The ongoing and long term needs of this facility are great and your monies will help this community immensely.Lastly, there are so many people and groups wanting to volunteer their time and skills here at HAH that we have had to setup a management group stateside simply to orchestrate the volunteer groups. We have asked that all volunteers or groups of volunteers wishing to serve here to please contact the LLU Global Health Institute prior to making travel plans. Haiti is going to need volunteer help for a very long time and we will need each of you at some point, just not all at once. Thanks. -
Sabbath at the Hopital
Posted on January 23rd, 2010 No commentsWe have had an amazing day here at Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti. Sabbath here was rather like a Sabbath at an Adventist campmeeting. Morning services were held and hymns (albeit slightly distorted) were broadcast over our sea of patients in their tents.
We were blessed with the arrival of Dr. Lew Zirkle of Sign foundation an innovator in orthopedic implants for the developing world. With Dr. Zirkle’s assistance and equipment the surgical team tackled our pending femur fracture patients.
Dr. Lew Zirkle and his assistant Jeanne Dillner
Fractured FemursWe were also excited to have the LLU Public Health Assessment team here at the hospital, with special thanks to the ongoing work of Dr. Ryan Sinclair on our water treatment system. This team is working feverishly to improve the emerging public health crisis at the Seventh-day Adventist university up the street from us where there are approximately 30,000 refugees camped out. (picture of the team in the post below)
Last but not least one of the highlights of the day was the arrival of a Field Operating Room from GlobalMedic of Canada. This inflatable structure combined with the field O.R. Equipment donated by the U.S. military last night, provides us a contingency plan should our in-hospital O.R.s be compromised by future seismic instability. This structure may also be used for a post-op ward at some point. (pictures of the new facility in the post below) -
Some pictures from the week
Posted on January 23rd, 2010 No comments
Wave two of the LLU team arrives (Dr. Chris Jobe far right)
An amputation patient in post op
Our new Sterilizer
Dr. Brad Walter provides post-op carefor an external fixation patient
A day in the O.R.
The U.N. Health cluster meeting
The 8:00AM ACTS volunteer meeting
The LLU Public Health Assessment TeamL - R Walleska Bliss, Dr. Ryan Sinclair, Jesse Bliss
Tiery Osais, Andrea Champlin
Dr. Duwayne Carlson and Dr. Scott Nelson insert a femur pin
Our new inflatable outdoor O.R. tent (thank you GlobalMedic)
A field O.R. kit in pelican cases courtesy of the US Armed Forces -
We are staying with our mission
Posted on January 22nd, 2010 No commentsThe executive team of Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti met late on Friday night to decide on a course of action for the hospital. We have had a number of mild to moderate aftershocks and earthquakes in our region and there is mixed information about an increase in seismic activity over the next 36 hours. After careful consideration it was decided to continue on our current course but for the safety of the patients we would move all of them outside the hospital. This actually only affected our pacu and post-op patients from today's late surgeries. These two services were offered in the south west wing of the hospital, the only area of the hospital that was determined by a qualified structural engineer as a potential hazard. Additionally it was recommended but not required that the staff sleep outside. We volunteered to serve these people and we're not going to abandon them in their time of need.
Moving the last of the patients out of the hospital just before midnight
I know I keep promising more pictures and I do have them but I've gotta go to bed. Maybe tomorrow...
In the News
- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
Videos
