As the sun rises over the mountains of Haiti, Team 5B left for the airport for their trek home. We are left with a manageable workload, heading into the beginning of the week. We were able to do five surgeries yesterday and then headed into the city to pick up patients from the University Hospital. They still have no orthopaedic surgeons but a steady inflow of patients in need of help. The word is that the USNS Comfort is leaving this week and the Miami field hospital is trying to pull out. Although the acute need from the quake is waning, there is no standing/functional medical infrastructure here. As people pull out, the need for help increases. On a positive note, we ran into a team from Boston that has developed a field wound vac, we will be getting five tomorrow on our next trip into Port-au-Prince.
The Hatians are strong people, working tirelessly to put their world back together. We are greeted with smiles by even those who have had the greatest personal loss. The amount of physical damage is staggering and numbing – piles of rubble everywhere that used to be someone’s home or business.
We are blessed with a talented team. All 11 are outstanding and are working hard. The locals and those at other hospitals are continually impressed with the talent and commitment of the teams coming from Grand Rapids. Our sustained commitment is unique and appreciated.
We are all well, but will never be the same.
Dr. Burgess
