A Leg Up

It’s always nice to start the week on a light and positive note. I’ve just returned from a bike ride along the East Bay, enjoying the late spring weather and the paths along the water. Although thinking about the New York Times article this morning regarding the Haitian prison uprising was disturbing, I also found some uplifting news from my colleagues in Milot regarding our patients and their continued recovery.

The prosthetics lab had arrived.

Many of you have followed my observations of the difficulties in getting the right supplies to the right place in a timely fashion. Our patients that survived the quake had complex orthopedic injuries that required multiple procedures, and often amputation. It would be impossible to for them to return to Port au Prince with any degree of independence if they were still on crutches or in a wheelchair. The CRUDEM foundation, working with the Order of Malta coordinated the design and construction of a prosthetics lab on site at Sacre Coeur. The picture shows Tom, wearing the first prosthesis fabricated, throwing his crutches to Patrick Etienne, one of the translators we discussed Friday. Over the next few weeks, the amputees will be fitted, trained and will be able to return home. We fully expect to see an influx of other amputees from Port au Prince and other parts of Haiti as word spreads. Beyond the humanitarian benefit, the lab will provide an economic boost to the region, as local workers will be employed. I would hope that over time, operations will be transferred to the Haitians.



Clean water is always key to public health. During my time in Milot, we went through thousands of bottle of water daily for staff and patients. The waste plastic created was gathered and burned in open pits, or ended up in the trenches I showed you. Again, working with partners from the States, a solar powered water filtration system has been installed, generating 6800 gallons daily of potable, safe water. There will also be significant cost savings that can be used toward other urgent needs.

I am hopeful that my own transitions will move forward, so that I can return to Milot in July. You see I want to go to the 3 pm dance party and see the pediatric amputees up and moving with their new prostheses, quenching their thirst from cups of safe water, and smiling now that they have a future more clearly in sight.