Day 3 – October 27, 2015
We were so glad to get word from the team. They have had power issues as well as internet connectivity challenges. Well, as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours and 2 communications came through yesterday. Here is the first: Last Monday was a typical busy day. Patients were lined up by 0800 to …
The 2015 Haiti Team Has Arrived!
Operation Medical is grateful to the families of our volunteers who sacrifice time with their loved ones, who are in Haiti for the next 2 weeks to provide medical care to the underserved. Team Roster: Suzanne Bergeron Harris, CST/CSFA – Strafford, New Hampshire Linda Brindle, RN – Dauphine, Pennsylvania Pat Crouthers, MSN, APRN – Derry, …
Day 1 – Sunday Oct 25, 2015 – Pierre Payen, Haiti
Sunday, October 25th and the entire Haiti Team has arrived. The group was greeted by Dr. John Judson at the airport. So good to see a familiar face! The team members have come from many areas of the U.S. and are composed of surgeons, primary care, anesthesia, OR staff, lab support, nursing, medical students and …
Team Haiti is Nearing Their Next Visit to Hospital Pierre Payen
On October 23, 2015 Dr John Judson, Vice President of Operation Medical will take two teams back to Hospital Pierre Payan, located just north of the busy market town of Montrouis, which is about 2 hours north of the capital city of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The mission is scheduled for two weeks ending November 4, 2014. …
At the Table
Operation Medical loves that our Board Members are often volunteers at the warehouse and on surgical mission trips! We are delighted to welcome back some ‘regulars’ at the table both in the board room and in the operation room: Ken Arthur, MD Ken Arthur, MD is a plastic surgeon practicing in Lancaster, PA for the …
“On The Ground” / Thursday, January 22, 2015 – Lions Hospital, Mehsana, India
Today is our last full day of surgeries at Lions Hospital. It’s another busy day that started very early with a packed case load. Energy is high and spirits are light and the team of volunteers work diligently to take care of patients. We would like to extend our heart-felt gratitude to two special people, …
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 – Lions Hospital, Mehsana, India
A new day dawns and the team is making a strong come back! Thanks to rest, IV fluids, well wishes and prayers, our fallen team members are stronger and everyone was able to come to the hospital to work today! Much discussion was had about the cause of this malady and the current thought is …
Monday, January 19, 2015 – Lions Hospital, Mehsana, India – Mid Day Update
As ‘they’ say….”The Show Must Go On.” Who are ‘they’ anyway…… Yesterday we reported that three of our team members were under the weather. To update this information, those three people are feeling a bit better, however about half of the team has succumbed to illness and were either unable to work today or tried …
A Passion for Service
This week marks Cheryl Peck’s 5th Surgical Mission Camp in five years, and she can hardly wait to get there. She is a Founding Member, Executive Committee Member, Board Member and Chair of the Marketing Committee for Operation Medical. She feels her work with Op Med is great way to help others while experiencing different …
Our team has arrived (for the most part). We expect a couple more members to join us later this evening. This morning our large group finally made it to our home-away-from-home after a 3-hour delay when their bus broke down on the way to Mehsana from Ahmedabad Airport, arriving here at 4am after their long journey from Newark, NJ International Airport. Despite travel fatigue, we enjoyed a breakfast prepared by the hospital and started our set-up chores. Surgeons are screening patients, nurses, anesthesia staff, and ancillary volunteers are unpacking those bags, organizing supply rooms, familiarizing themselves with the facility and staff and capturing images and stories. The staff here has welcomed us with open arms and are doing everything they can to facilitate our visit. Their pre-screening efforts have produced remarkable results, bringing many, many patients from the local community and as far as several hundred km away. It is currently just before noon and we have 18 cases already scheduled for tomorrow including 12 general and gynecologcial cases (6 open, 6 laproscopic) and 7 assorted plastic surgery cases. These numbers with no doubt increase as the day continues. The halls are simply jammed with people who have come with hopes of receving surgery. Our teams diligently review every patient to ensure they can safely perform a procedure as well as provide a favorable outcome for the patient. It is not uncommon for prospective patients to arrive with an entourage of family members. After a late lunch we will spend the rest of the day checking and rechecking, and making sure that everything is in order for tomorrow — our first day of surgery. For those who got a mere 3 hours of rest after their 30+ hour journey – some shut-eye is in order. Please continue to check back for frequent updates.
This week marks Cheryl Peck’s 5th Surgical Mission Camp in five years, and she can hardly wait to get there. She is a Founding Member, Executive Committee Member, Board Member and Chair of the Marketing Committee for Operation Medical. She feels her work with Op Med is great way to help others while experiencing different …
