The beginning of my life with HCM...

On May 21st I was fortunate enough to join a short term medical trip to Haitian Christian Mission. We were able to mobilize a team of 18 skilled and dedicated medical volunteers to Haiti, to provide specialized medical care and health education to struggling Haitian men, women and children in their time of need. The objective of our efforts in Haiti is to help the Haitian people meet their long term health care needs and transition from relief to self-reliance.

All of our volunteers returned back home safely without getting sick or injured. We worked mainly in a small town of about 20,000 people close to the Dominican Republic border called Fonds Parisien. As a group, we saw over 1100 patients- everything from typhoid, tetanus, malaria, HIV infections, TB, hypertension to scabies and intestinal worms. We performed 16 life-saving operations and delivered more than $10,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment.

We also provided cardiology opinions and medical education to the Haitian Staff at the main university hospital in down-town Port-au-Prince. We saw two special cardiology cases- one was a 23 year old nursing student with critical mitral valve stenosis and the second, a five month-old baby with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD), that we plan to bring to the U.S for surgery. In particular, the baby will live a normal life if he receives an operation in the 1st year of life. Otherwise, his health will slowly decline until death.

We also coordinated with local medical staff to set up and open a new neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit (NICU/PICU) at the university hospital in Port-au-Prince. This achievement marked a big milestone, since all the babies hospitalized there were being treated in tents under 95+ degree weather and could be transferred to the much cooler and comfortable building where the unit is located.

We were welcomed by the Haitian people into their homeland with open arms and they trusted us to take care of them the best we could. What seemed like little gestures for us were so appreciated by all those we touched.To see the abject poverty, and the way the people live with almost nothing, and yet, maintain their spirituality and family dynamics was unforgettable. I am forever grateful for everything they have taught me. They definitely gave me more than I gave them! I will forever love the Haitian people, especially HCM!