9 Different Vantage Points on Haiti.

Early Saturday, January 30th, 2 planes departed two different Dallas area airports—both bound for Haiti. Aboard were medical personnel (surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists) a journalist, and LEAP staff — all volunteers for LEAP's third trip to Haiti to work in two hospitals arranged by Dr. Ale Mitchell, who has been in Haiti since January 21. Upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, the teams split and head to two Hospitals HCH (Haiti Community Hospital) and CDTI. Below you can read each person's unique experience.

Thoughts from Sherry Colburn, Director of Missions, LEAP

Dr. Hobar has asked us to write a story or give our thoughts on our experience in Haiti this week. I wish I had a story or a thought—but not my own. I want their stories. Our team split into two teams when we arrived in Port Au Prince. Our group went to CDTI a hospital about a a half hour from the airport. We saw crushed buildings on the the drive to the hospital—and crushed bodies when we arrived. One of our patients was a young woman probably 25 years old and pregnant. We were asked to clean and and re-suture a large wound in her forehead. This woman had a crushed femur and had already undergone a massive surgery to repair her leg. Dr. Tim numbed her forehead and started to repair her wound. She started screaming and asking "why?". Over and over, unconsolable, just asking why. The repair of her head was not painful as she was numb, but she just kept screaming. Who of us can even imagine the horror this woman had experienced. Maybe she had lost her family, maybe she had lost her home. We fix people, but I want to know their stories. This woman who had endured so much pain and so much horror—looked up at us when we were finished and simply said, "Thank you. God sent you to me." She was transferred back down to the patient tents and we never saw her again. What was her story? I'll never really know—but I do know one thing—she was right—God sent us to Haiti and will send us back—to get their stories and to help heal their bodies.

Thoughts from Jackie Reed, RN

How can you begin to describe the devastation and chaos we saw in Port Au Prince? It's impossible to put in words, but I'll try. As we traveled from the airport, one saw lines of people waiting for food and water. Tempers were flaring, pushing and shoving, loud angry voices, mothers and crying children—the looks on their faces: shock, disbelief, uncertainty and fear. I'll never forget!! I was assigned to CDTI hospital. I've been involved with mission work since 1994, but nothing prepared me for what we encountered. Teams from all over the world coming together under one roof to help, not strangers, but human beings in whatever way we could. It was truly amazing. We shared everything from supplies and equipment to food, clothes, and lodging. The hours were long but the results were rewarding. I'm privileged to have been given this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the injured. However healing their hearts and souls will take much longer.

A View from Gay Smith LVN's Journal Entry

It's amazing, we are flying over such beautiful skies, gorgeous clouds... when you look down awesome colors of the ocean. Then I think of what we are flying into....all on mission and have wonderful, faithful hearts—God's love is certainly felt. Praying for our strength, safety and compassion.

Driving through the city—totally unimaginable...buildings destroyed, in pieces or complete rubble. Tents & makeshift shelters everywhere, people everywhere...crazy busy!!! Port of Prince as the Haitians knew it has changed forever.

I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of the world...supplies, workers, human kindness at its best!!

Felt really good about a hard days work... touched by one lady, Alvina. She was so traumatized it took all I had to keep her somewhat calm for a procedure. The soothing nature of the human touch and voice is incredible—I will not forget her face.

I feel we were all very privileged to be called to help.

Haiti trip 2/1/10: From the Perspective of Krishna (Bob) Rao, MD

I was very grateful for the opportunity to help in a tangible way after the terrible earthquake in Haiti. To show the love of Christ in a tangible way is a privilege and to serve with LEAP is an honor for me. I have several impressions of my trip to Haiti.

Firstly, I was impressed with the human tragedy of the earthquake. Haiti was already one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite its scenic beauty and lush vegetation, it is my understanding that the country has suffered from poverty and corruption. In addition to that sad situation, the horrible reality of a devastating earthquake occurred with the epicenter essentially at the country’s largest city. This has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dead, homeless, hurt, and hungry. We worked at a hospital which we simply called CDTI. When I first walked into the courtyard which is the entry of the hospital, I was ‘blown away’ by tent after tent of the injured and hurt waiting for help. It was hot and humid. Flies were everywhere. There was a bad smell in the air. You can not help but wonder why I am so blessed in so many ways while the people of Haiti suffer so much. I know that it is not deserved, and I have to imagine that severe suffering can affect any of us at anytime. The only way to face life for me is to rest on the hope found in Christ.

Secondly, I was impressed with the resulting chaos. As Haitians try to recover from the tragedy there is a large outpouring of aid from all over the world. The US, especially, has perhaps thousands of volunteers from various organizations in addition to US government and military help. The mixing of all of these people with the hundreds of thousands displaced and needy Haitians has created a chaotic situation. Who should be in charge, the possibly inept Haitian government, the French, the UN, the US? At one street corner, there was a UN force of Nepalese on one corner in an armored truck across the street from a US force in a Humvee. How does order occur? It leads me to think that the God of the Bible is a God of ‘order.’I would like to believe that when God is in charge, chaos dissipates and order occurs.

Thirdly, I was impressed by the generosity of the US. Now there are many positives of eastern cultures versus western cultures. However, as one who grew up with the influence of an eastern culture, it was amazing to see so many planes arriving with teams of people willing to give their time and energy to help. In the hospital I worked, there were teams from Colorado and Chicago in addition to our team from Dallas. I am blown away by the wonderful generosity of this country. I believe this is direct result of the Christian heritage of this country. I wonder as our country slowly transitions to a ‘post Christian’ environment if the generosity of individuals will continue (I hope so). As believers in Jesus, should we not show the love of Christ in a tangible manner? But should we also not neglect to share the love of Christ in the gospel of our Lord? We should seek a way to do both in a way that is respectful, not too pushy, not too offensive, that allows one to freely choose to believe or not believe.

John Thorne, MD 's take

I am honored to have been able to be a part of this medical relief effort in Haiti. I was part of the HCH team. I was expecting much worse hospital conditions than we encountered (not that they were great). Everyone did an awesome job getting the OR organized and set up to start doing cases that first evening. Unexpectedly, the last case Saturday night was an emergency surgery with the general surgeon from St. Thomas. Speaking of that first night, hats off to Robyn Fitzgerald who volunteered to work in the ICU all night. When all the excitement settled some of us set up cots on the roof of the hospital. We then managed to get some chow with a military delicacy, the MRE. I slept next to my new colleague and friend C-J. I didn't sleep too much with the dogs barking, roosters crowing, and the occasional gun shot. All in all, I feel we did an awesome job. We made some new friends from Mississippi who are there now continuing the mission we set to do. I am physically and emotionally drained. I hope to have an opportuniy to return to do whatever is needed. I despise typing so this is it. I give thanks to God, LEAP, and my familly for making it possible for me to have made this short but necessary trip.

A Reflection from Robyn Fitzgerald, RN

I am blessed to be a part of the LEAP relief in Haiti. Every time I go on a surgical mission with the LEAP team I feel as if I grow, emotionally and spiritually. It is difficult to describe the satisfaction that comes with being able to use my nursing skills to provide care, comfort and relief to those with medical needs.

My experience in Haiti was different from other LEAP missions, though. I had mixed emotions this time. I felt a sense of accomplishment in the care we were able to provide, but I also felt a sense of loss as I left the hospital. It was extremely difficult to leave the country when there are so many more desperate people who need immediate medical attention.

I also had mixed emotions as I went to the roof of the hospital to sleep Sunday night. I stood at the edge of the roof and looked down at the hundreds of people living in tents outside the walls of the hospital. I heard cries of pain and loss. As I stepped away from the edge I looked at the mountains in the distance, and then looked up at the sky. The stars and moon appeared close enough to touch. At that moment I realized the great pain and beauty that coexists in Haiti at this time.

A Reflection from Travis Hardy, Creative Communications for LEAP

It wasn’t long after I stepped off the plane in Port-au-Prince that the existentialist question that plagues me at home confronted me, offered to me by our unassuming Haitian guide: “So, what do you do?”

Perhaps my inferiority complex was exacerbated by the fact that I was traveling with highly trained medical personnel, but my own initial thoughts as breathed in the warm dust-filled Haitian air were nearly the same queries that were proposed to me, by not only this person, but by nearly everyone I met: what do I do and why am I here? I’m not a relief worker. I’m not a specialist in Search and Rescue. I’m not a doctor, a surgeon, a nurse, or an anesthesiologist. I don’t have food or water for the masses. I’m just a story-teller. I tell stories with words sometimes, but mostly images—some images I capture, others I create with Adobe or Final Cut or a pencil. So what good am I to the people of Haiti? What is it I do? And why am I here?

It did not take long, as we departed the airport swarming with military and aid groups from all over the world, to realize why we were all there—we were all there to stand next to a fellow human created in God’s image in a time of great hurt. While I can’t fix their wounds, I can join the many voices telling their story. Yet, the story of the Haitian people cannot be summed up in 250 words or 1000 images or 15 days of Anderson Cooper’s reporting. Each person has a valuable story and struggle that is ongoing—everyone I met had lost a limb, a family member, their home, or all of the aforementioned. There is tremendous loss everywhere. There is no quick fix to this place or to the hearts of these people. Yet there is hope. Hope that together we can connect our stories with their stories and walk through these trials together—something I know LEAP is already doing and planning to do for much longer.

A Reflection from Steven Garren, MD

In a world so full of violence and hate, instantly one sees the outpouring of compassion and generosity—planes from Brazil, Canada, Russia, USA—and then leaving the airport for the hospitals, the surreal scene of a once city of three million reduced to rubble. The technical college with bodies with outstretched limbs...not quite making it away from the collapsing floors above them. The little blind woman sitting perplexedly on the sidewalk. No family left. What will she do tonight? Tomorrow? At the hospital are people who are instant friends; Janine, Mark, Karl, Peggy...probably never to be seen again, yet what a gift to work with people that so graciously give and care. A translator, Big Mack, took me to his house—it wasn't there. ONly a scattered deck of playing cards, sitting on rubble, with aces and twos up.

"Where will you stay tonight?"

"On the street."

"And if it rains?"

"I have an umbrella."

And then Camille does a C-Section—a healthy baby. People applaud. People will continually help, and hope and faith will prevail.

A Glimpse of Haiti from Wendy Yeater, RN

LEAP has afforded me opportunities to practice nursing in developing countries across the world; but nothing could have prepared me for Haiti. Television and media provided a snap shot of the destruction of the physical landscapes and buildings impacted by the Mother Nature’s earthquake. Pictures of the people made the news but it did not identify the real tragedy due to the ‘graphic’ nature of the content. It was only in person that I witnessed the impact on the human body both physically and emotionally. Where buildings and structures can be rebuilt it is the human body that suffers the brunt and long term effects of this nightmare that may never get repaired.

Judeline is a 15 year old young lady that was studying at home when the earth shook and the roof collapsed in on her. She did not only lose her Father and Brother but she also lost her lower right leg. She suffered a crushing injury to her left arm and was having some difficulties with her right arm. When I met her, her spirit seemed broken…A young lady coming into her own had now to learn to not only overcome the devastating physical injuries but also the psychological body image of a missing leg, needing to be in a diaper, and now we were here to take skin grafts and help in the healing process. She asked ‘why me’… The anesthesiologist needed to place a central line for ongoing antibiotics and fluid maintenance. During this time I held her hand as she endured yet another procedure. At the end of it I told her (through translation from a Plastic Surgeon) that she was a very brave strong young lady…a small smile came at the corner of her mouth and she closed her eyes. My heart sunk. If I could only imagine what this ordeal will do to her and has already done to her…I pray that she gets the ongoing medical care for her physical challenges and emotional support for psychological challenges that lay before her. I am thankful for the talent I was give to have made a small difference in a person’s life and pray for the opportunity to continue to help others in a cause greater than my own.