“Today is Sunday and people will go to church.” Those are the first words in an update from JoAnn McCaffery, Bon Secours Virginia director of diversity and member of the Salva Vida medial mission team currently in Haiti. After being separated due to capacity of the small planes on which they were traveling, the team is now together in Cayes-Jacmel Haiti. The first 48 hours have been long and emotional. But, there is comfort in those words. The people of Haiti of maintained their faith, perhaps even strengthened it. It also means that they are doing what they can to maintain some parts of normal daily life. As stated by  previous trip leaders, the Haitians are strong people!

JoAnn, Dr. McGlynn and the rest of their team continue to support the Bon Secours mission of being good help to those in need. During a recent phone call, JoAnn shared how much everyone enjoys hearing the feedback from your comments here and on facebook and twitter. Please continue to keep posting your messages of support. Again in JoAnn’s words: “They mean a lot to the team, there is a lot of need for that [emotional] support down here”.

The rest of JoAnn’s message continues below:

Today is Sunday and the people will go to Church.
There won't be much new activity. A needed respite--
time to unpack and sort meds and supplies,
and get the OR set up for next week..

The free clinic that has been set up is bringing in hundreds of patients
each day--some with injuries from the earthquake--
what the local people refer to as "'evenement"
french for the event or the happening.

Others come with regular illnesses Yesterday alone it was constant all day:
The team [had a complex procedure and was unable to
save one badly injured patient]
[There was also a successful] emergency appendec-tomy about 10 pm. 
There are three covered tents and one pavilion for in-patients; 
an outpatient clinic area and two covered waiting areas.
 
 

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1. Haiti medical mission team is on their way
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