Dr. Fleury Reflects On His Experiences In Haiti: What We Found
The Hopital Sacre Couer had expanded and transformed into a tent hospital city for earthquake victims while maintaining the original hospital building for the care of the community. The hospital campus was filled with physicians, surgeons, medical personnel and volunteers from all over the US and other parts of the world. And even though six weeks had passed since the earthquake, much of the work at hand was acute care and people were doing whatever was needed–often things they don’t customarily do. Our goal was to try and close as many wounds as would be problematic otherwise and then to at least see all the rest and make some sort of decision about treatment. The work included orthopedic cases and anesthesia for 12 – 15 patients a day over 6 days.
It was very stressful–everything felt urgent and we couldn’t come close to doing everything that needed to be done. Sometimes you’d think, “What can I honestly DO here?” The truth is we can’t fix a country or undo a disaster, but we can help one person and then another and another. In the end, the individuals we help are so appreciative.
I think this is a key thing to understand. The resilience of the Haitian people is just mind-boggling. There’s none of this “woe is me” stuff; no “Why did this happen to me?” Inside the tents what we saw was truly devastating–kids without arms and legs or with horrible extremity injuries. Every other baby had lost both parents. And we also saw a joyful, resilient people–very appreciative and polite–who reminded us of how much we have and how little one really needs. We’d walk into a tent filled with people who are dealing with absolutely the most difficult situations you can imagine. They are smiling and glad to see us. They clearly haven’t given up. Kids who’ve lost a foot or a leg, hopping around on crutches, trying to play soccer; little ones reaching up and asking “Who you?” or “Who that?”
In the end, bottom line its as much for us as it is for them to go down there. We come back better for having gone. We remember what’s important, that we don’t need a lot to be happy, how much we truly have and how being grateful for what you have is joyful.
Dr.Fleury, THANK YOU for your efforts to assist in Haiti. In our own small ways, we also have tried to assist, with transport of.20 plus tons of medical/food/equipment in small boats from Key West -January to April (part of an effort by various churches and local groups in Key West). Now, in the hurricane season, several of us are working on determining what can be done for a few special people in Haiti needing care. My “special person” is Michael.
During trips to La Gonave, a young man, Michael Samuel(20 something), came to our attention.He works to help orphans and teaches in a local school. Several months (years?) ago, he suffered significant burns in a cooking fire..to the side of his head/ear. Only the open ear canal remains–with bad scarring on the entire side of his head. His vision was not damaged, but about 1/2 of his skull was badly burned and is now just scars. Of course, no medical care.
He has been trying to find someone to help him with plastic surgery to at least give him a “ear” to protect the canal; provide a more “normal” feature for him. One NGO group has told him they raised approx 1500 EU for surgery..which has raised his hopes for assistance.However, they are in Australia, and frankly 1500 EU is a drop in the bucket for what he really needs.
As I see it(in my admittedly limited knowledge), he needs assessment to determine what can be done, a plan developed, costs identified,
travel/etc/housing/VISA/host family (TBD-but the Austrailian funds could cover travel I would think) and surgery (s) if indicated. I do have a medical request form from a Doctor in La Gonave who indicated Mr. Samuels damage required assistance beyond what can be found in Haiti and a photo of the damaged area. I do not have any idea of what might be possible for him with the ongoing medical work being done by various US based groups now in Haiti in regards to Plastic Surgery.
Can you suggest who to discuss his situation and possibly help?I have request out to Interplast.org (a group who does pro-bono work for burns in Haiti) –Doctors Without Borders–and others, some of whom we transported into Haiti at the height of the crisis. No responses yet.
I know Michael is not in danger at this time (I hate to think of the pain he was in when first burned…), but psychologically..he is in need of assurance that hes not forgotten and to give him hope of a more ‘normal’ look. Since I don’t know what he was told is possible–from reconstruction to prostetic ear/implant. The photos of the burn area–lets say there is nothing much left to work with as to skin or hair in the affected area-its totally denuded.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Joan Conover
Near Norfolk Va
11225 Beechwood Pte
Smithfield VA 23430
http://www.sv-growltiger.com
757 593 4919