Yesterday, we published an article commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the earthquake that Haiti experienced in 2010. Here is an article that Delia Maria Hernandez-Rivero OTR/L, CHT/CLT and Elisa Priscal OTR/L, shared with us about their experience:
“There was never a question in our mind if we would go to Haiti to help those injured by the January 12, 2010 earthquake. The question was what we would do when we got there to aid the thousands of victims in that devastated country. We would soon learn the answer. Our Health Care Union SEIU 1991 was organizing volunteers to assist with the recovery in Haiti.
My fellow OT co-worker, Elisa Priscal OTR/L, and I packed our backpacks, protein bars, insect repellant, baby wipes, and scrubs. Being therapist, we also packed supplies to facilitate play with children, coordination activities; my Semmes Weinstein was necessary, and a plethora of ace bandages for wrapping makeshift splints. When we arrived in Haiti, we were taken to the Project Medishare/UM Field Hospital. Although difficult to describe I will try to create a picture for you. Imagine two huge tents with row after row of cots filled with patients and family members lying between the cots. Nurses, doctors, therapist, pharmacists, translators, and volunteers were scampering up and down the aisles dodging the piles of personal belongings of these families. The tents housed approximately six rows of 25 cots each equipped with an x-ray machine, ICU, surgical area and operating room. Outside the tents were a triage area and a wound care center.
We stepped inside the tent into total chaos. We would quickly learn that the correct term was organized chaos!!! I remember looking at Elisa and asking, “Where do we start?” “Row A, Bed 1”, she answered. This is how we worked, cot to cot, one patient at a time. Some cried, some laughed, many sang and praised Jesus. Amazing! In them midst of all the suffering, I never witnessed a loss of hope.
The range of injuries was as varied as the number of patients. There were patients with multiple trauma, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Spinal cord injuries, upper and lower extremity fractures, compartment syndromes, degloving injuries, upper and lower extremity amputations, tetanus, burns, and subtle nerve injuries that prohibited functional use of their hands. Creativity was a necessity as the tools and equipment we so often take for granted in our hospital setting were not available. We assessed each patient and fabricated adaptive splints according to their injuries. Creole translators assisted us in providing critical education on prevention of further injuries secondary to sensory deficits, range of motion to prevent contractures, proper positioning, wear and care of splints, and compensatory strategies for performance of ADL.
Many patients were memorable – one in particular was the patient in Row A cot 25. She had multiple injuries including a casted right both bone forearm fracture with profound loss of median/ulnar nerve function due to a compartment syndrome rendering the right hand with very little hope of recovery, a left ankle fracture in a short leg cast, left proximal humerus fracture in a sling and deep open wounds left hand palm, entire palmar aspect of her thumb and index finger from repeated debridements. She was at the end of the tent, and next to her was her two-month-old baby. She never spoke and would just look over at her child with teary eyes. We worked with her three to four times a day, knowing that if we could help her to use her only functioning hand, she could care for her baby. The first two days she had no functional use of her left hand, unable to make a fist or oppose her thumb to any of her fingers. We taught her transfers from her cot to the wheelchair, wheelchair mobility, dressing training, and feeding. By the fourth day, she realized she could feed and change the baby’s diaper. This was the first time I saw her smile. She thanked us and said, “I can go home now, I can take care of my baby” When we asked her where she lived she answered, “All I need is a tent”. I knew we had made a difference in her life, and I thought this is how you make a difference, one patient at a time.
Another patient was an 18-year-old boy in the pediatric tent. He had a right transhumeral amputation. When we first saw him, his mother was feeding him and he had not gotten up off his cot since his arrival. We focused on his endurance and functional mobility skills, and taught him one-handed techniques for dressing/feeding and writing. We gave him a yo-yo so he could work on his coordination skills with his left non-dominant hand. At that moment, former NBA Miami Heat Player, Alonzo Mourning walked into the tent. The teen just looked at Alonzo and grinned. I asked him if he knew who Alonzo was. He shook his head yes. “Do you want him to sign your Yo-yo?” What a beautiful smile. Alonzo came over, shook his hand, and signed his yo-yo. At that moment, I thought again, this is how you make a difference, one person at a time. Alonzo made a difference to that young man at that moment, without even realizing it. When Alonzo left, the young man just kissed his Yo-Yo and kept saying thank you, thank you.
On our third night, we found the nursing crew moving around heavy pressure support mattresses. We quickly learned they were setting up an area in the tent for patients with unstable spinal cord injuries. That night six spinal cord injury patients arrived. In the morning our team, made up of doctors, nurses, O.T. and P.T. gathered to discuss the management of these patients. We had little medical information; we used our clinical skills to assess the patient’s functional levels. There were two quadriplegic patients and four paraplegic patients. One of our first concerns was their location in the tent. Their mattresses were on the floor, it was an area at the far end of the tent, which was poorly ventilated and very hot. We began by using icepacks to regulate the patient’s temperature, a turning protocol was established to prevent further skin breakdown. A range of motion and strengthening program was begun we used foam and duct tape to fabricate splints for positioning, bowel and bladder management were implemented. The patient’s family was educated on range of motion exercises, turning schedules and positioning to prevent further complications while there loved ones were kept stable as they awaited their transfer to the USS Comfort floating hospital for spinal stabilization.
Delia and I embarked on this journey knowing that we wanted to make a difference; our years of experience, clinical skills and compassion gave us the opportunity to witness the strength and will of the human spirit to unimaginable heights. Our lives have been forever changed.
There is a great need for Occupational Therapist in Haiti, now! In addition, the need will continue into the future as those injured by the earthquake attempt to make a meaningful recovery. We strongly urge you to either volunteer in Haiti or send supplies. Supplies needed are splinting material, splinting scissors, tubigrip, stockinette, ace bandages, universal cuffs, coordination boards, bolsters, mats and activities for the pediatric population. You can and will make a difference in many lives, one at a time.”
Below is contact information if you are interested in donations or volunteering: Http://www.projectmedishare.org
If you have, any questions regarding our experience feel free to contact us, Drivero@jhsmiami.org and/or Epriscal@jhsmiami.org