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LES CAYES, HAITI -- Account by Stuart P. Sarasin

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After three long days waiting to do their part to provide medical care in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, the remaining four member of the Marquette Haiti Relief Team strode onto the grounds of the Hospital Immaculate Conception, anxious to ply their own specific trades alongside their teammates in Les Cayes, Haiti. 

The first flight left Opa Locka, Florida Sunday with a full load of relief supplies and, due to the high weight, a reduced number of medical staff.  A previous plan had been devised which consisted of two groups leaving on consecutive days.  The initial group made the flight successfully, however, the vintage ex-Navy Grumman Albatross suffered mechanical failure on the return to Ft. Lauderdale.  A forced landing was made in Nassau the Bahamas, partial repairs were made and the Albatross returned to Ft. Lauderdale on Monday.  After more complete repairs were accomplished, the aircraft was successfully test flown Tuesday morning.  The flight crew prepared, the four medical staff boarded for the four-hour flight and the mission ship departed.  Immediately after take-off, however, a warning light once again illuminated, forcing a return to the airport.  The aircraft was to need more extensive maintenance repairs and the flight was painfully canceled. The four, including three Marquette, Michigan residents and a Portland, Oregon-based doctor, opted to plan an alternative means of flying to Haiti.  After many phone calls and contacts, they were able to secure a privately funded flight through Habitat Bahamas, flying Tuesday afternoon to Nassau the Bahamas and then continuing on to Les Cayes Wednesday morning.  Fortunately, along with them they brought additional critical supplies.

Conditions at the Hospital Immaculate Conception have improved considerably compared to the first day the doctors and team carried out their respective duties.  Cooperation with local medical staff, availability of supplies and coordination of procedures have improved greatly.  Operations are similar yet the surgeons are able to be more efficient and yield improved results.  Air conditioning in each of the two operating rooms lessens the sweltering heat and items donated by local Marquette businesses contribute invaluably.  Simple items such as headlamps allow the surgeons to continue operations through the many power outages experienced during the day and nutritional items such as energy bars allow the medical staff to continue to function at a high level, even with minimal rest and limited meal opportunities. 

Even as conditions improve and successes mount, stories of heartbreak pervade discussions and serve as reminders of the enormity of the tragedy.  A mother of three meets with doctors and a psychologist, along with the leaders of a local orphanage that may be forced to care for her three children.  Showering when the earth shook violently, she was trapped by debris, yet fortunate her three small children escaped unscathed.  Paralyzed and suffering wounds caused by her immobility and forced bed rest, she struggles to envision a successful outcome, unable even to make eye contact with those talking with her.

A teacher has been brought to the hospital from the area of Port Au Prince, hardest hit by the destruction and devastation.  When the quake struck, she was trapped by the collapse of the school, suffering severe crush wounds to an arm and her leg.  Enduring a lengthy “machine” ride, a cross between a bus and a truck, the woman is delivered several hours to the Les Cayes hospital, ultimately requiring amputation of both limbs.  As she struggled to get comfortable in her bed she called us over, wanting to explain her story.  She asked to be videotaped.  She wanted her story to be shared with the world.  Sadly, her husband, who is blind, waits outside, wondering how he will care for his injured wife.  Luckily for most patients, the family structure in Haiti is unwaveringly cohesive, with relatives essentially living with the interned, caring for them, bathing them, washing and changing their bedding.  The medical teams are surprised by the amazingly sanitary condition of the patients, surprised due to the often filthy living conditions that exist.           

The struggle that faces all of these victims of the earthquake is monumental.  Living in rural Haiti as a healthy, strong adult is an everyday challenge.  The hundreds of thousands of residents maimed and crippled by the awesome power of the quake will be tested daily, their mettle pushed to seemingly impossible levels.  They will be forced to adapt, forced to exist with injuries that will change and challenge their everyday lives.  For many, the love and support of family will turn disaster and despair into new senses of accomplishment and achievement.  For others, not so fortunate, struggles that existed prior to the quake may become impossible to surmount after. 

For the members of the relief team, mere days remain to administer care and heal the wounded prior to their return to their practice, their jobs and their families. Every moment will be spent in an attempt to make a life better; sometimes, save a life altogether.  Many of the crippled will walk and the injured will mend.  The care will go on when the team leaves, hopefully, a new doctor to mend a shattered leg, a new nurse to administer care, one who cares to hold a hand. “Men Nan Men,” our team members’ shirts proudly proclaim, Creole for “Hand In Hand.”

More on this story:

Haiti relief team update - Day 3  

Haiti relief team update - Day 2  

Haiti relief team update - Day 1 

Group of doctors leave for Haiti 

We've had several people asking about who is on the entire team in Haiti.  Below is a team roster.

1.     Dr. Dan Hardie   family physician   Marquette, MI

2.     Paula Paszke   psychologist   Marquette, MI

3.     Dr. Clayton Peimer   hand surgeon   Marquette, MI

4.     Larry Fladung   RN anesthetist   Marquette, MI

5.     Dr. Patrick Bulinski   general surgeon   Marquette, MI

6.     Mary Beth Waring   surgical tech   Chatham, MI

7.     Dr. Corinne Baldwin Peimer   family medicine   Portland, OR

8.     Dr. Thomas "Michael" Dye   orthopedic surgeon   Shawnee, OK

9.     Laura Lozier   ICU nurse   Marquette, MI

10.   Michelle Lexmond   physician assistant   Marquette, MI

11.   Stuart Sarasin   coordinator   Marquette, MI

12.   Bill DaSilva   pilot, aircraft owner   Carson City, NV

13.   Paul LeVeque   flight crewmember   Santa Rosa, CA

14.   Ray Wolfe   flight crewmember   Las Vegas, NV

15.   Randy Wilhite   flight crewmember   Jackson, MI