“There have been many successes, some miracles–and a few tough losses; not for lack of trying” – that is the message we are hearing from Haiti. Throughout their mission, our  team has received your feedback. Please continue to share your encouragement, ask questions and offer prayers in the comments on this site, facebook, and Twitter.

In recent posts, GoodSharing has featured the updates from the Salva Vida / Bon Secours medical mission team delivering care in Haiti. This is a highly dedicated, inspiring group who are striving to meet the needs of the Haitian people with compassionate, competent care. What follows is the most recent update from that team:

Tuesday evening:  Long [challenging] days–and sometimes nights as well.
Sunday night it rained–in fact poured for most of the night. Some of the nurses and docs on call had to pull a few patients and families under cover, since they were sleeping on make shift cardboard beds outside the tents and pavillions which serve the in-patients. Many of our own team are sleeping in pop-up tents outside the guest quarters–which also serves as a supply depot.  Some tents didn’t fare so well in the downpour.

Last night, after a very intense Monday, we all felt a strong after shock–about 1:30 a.m.  Those who were sleeping inside dragged bedrolls and joined the tent dwellers under the trees and stars. Somte of our team we’re just getting back from an ER stitching up a depressed skull fracture, severe head wounds on a young man who would have [expired] without immediate and almost impossible care.

The night before, several [team members] pulled all nighters with critical cases from the days operations. There have been many successes, some miracles–and a few tough losses–not for lack of trying.

Monday, there were probably close to 400 people lined up for the out-patient clinic. Imagine an attempt to triage and treat!

The organization at this make-shift operation leaves much to be desired, in spite of efforts. There’s constant coming and going, turnover of teams every 3 days to a week, little communication during the changing of “shifts” from week to week, so little continuity as to how things are done…

Just when we finally get some sort of a system going, another group leaves or comes

But the Haitian people are long suffering. and deal with it all with such patience. And there is a great spirit of camaraderie among the volunteer teams like ours.

So all’s well. Thanks for your prayers, support and well-wishes.

For the Team.
JoAnn

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Related posts:

1. Miraculous ending to one Haiti medical mission as another begins
2. Pastor David Wright, MD teams with Bon Secours for Haiti relief