Note by Amy MacNeil.~~~
I have just returned from a trip to Pignon, Haiti with CCH. Every aspect of the trip was a blessing. When we went around the group and talked about our favorite moments of the trip one evening after dinner, almost everyone mentioned how amazing it was to be able to participate in surgery. Although I did not participate in the surgery itself, I did get a chance to interact with some of the patients after they returned to the wards. One story in particular will stay with me a long time.
Dr. Greg Bennett was tasked with getting a 60+ year old male patient up following his operation – only the 2nd total hip surgery ever done in Pignon! I tagged along to help translate. After checking that he was not feeling dizzy or nauseous, Greg and I helped get the patient up onto his feet to walk with crutches. Greg showed him how to use the crutches and we were soon out in the hallway with the gentleman cruising along well. We asked him to turn around and return to the room. Right after turning, we noticed him slump forward and we feared he was either going to faint or vomit from the effort. We asked if he was OK and he could only answer, “Emotion.” He was literally weeping with joy to be up on his feet walking again. When we wonder whether it’s worth the effort to fly down to Pignon with medical professionals and cases and cases of heavy medical equipment, after seeing this man’s life changed, I’d say a hearty “YES!”
I also got to help translate as the physical therapists worked with various patients who were not candidates for surgery. We worked everyday with a young woman named Angeline who had been bedridden for 10 months during which she underwent 3 surgeries for appendicitis. Her legs were badly atrophied and she was unable to fully straighten them due to lack of use. In just a few days of somewhat painful stretching and exercise, there was improvement in her ability to move her legs and she even got up and walked to the door of the room and back with our assistance. I enjoyed visiting with her and holding her hand while the PTs stretched out her tight and sore limbs.
I could go on and on about the lives these dedicated medical team members were able to touch: the 11 year old boy who fell out of a tree and had his leg fracture repaired allowing him to walk in the future without a limp, a woman with a painful back condition who with the help of a brace was able to smile again instead of wincing in pain, a young girl with high arches in her feet who now will have proper shoes and inserts to support her once painful feet, a dynamic former athlete who received exercises to improve his function in spite of a painful disc problem, a woman with an elbow full of buckshot following an attack on her life who was given exercises to regain use of her hand and shoulder, a young man who had badly broken his hand and forearm several months ago in a car accident who was given exercises to help him move his fingers and possibly regain some use of the hand.
We also had the opportunity to see the fruit of CCH’s work outside the hospital: at the school in Boukeronne where one year ago there was nothing and now there is a well and a functioning school for 75 kids, at the Campbell’s orphanage where many malnourished children are being fed and restored to health at weekly baby feedings, at Pastor Francois’ orphanage where a second floor and a kitchen area was added to the existing dormitory to allow the boys and girls to have separate and adequate space for sleeping, eating and living, and at the farm where we distributed 11 goats to families who will not have a good source of income for future needs.
It is an inspiration and a blessing to have the opportunity to serve in this way. If you feel called to join us on an upcoming trip, please contact Michelle McBride at michelle@cchaiti.org.
Dr. Greg Bennett was tasked with getting a 60+ year old male patient up following his operation – only the 2nd total hip surgery ever done in Pignon! I tagged along to help translate. After checking that he was not feeling dizzy or nauseous, Greg and I helped get the patient up onto his feet to walk with crutches. Greg showed him how to use the crutches and we were soon out in the hallway with the gentleman cruising along well. We asked him to turn around and return to the room. Right after turning, we noticed him slump forward and we feared he was either going to faint or vomit from the effort. We asked if he was OK and he could only answer, “Emotion.” He was literally weeping with joy to be up on his feet walking again. When we wonder whether it’s worth the effort to fly down to Pignon with medical professionals and cases and cases of heavy medical equipment, after seeing this man’s life changed, I’d say a hearty “YES!”
I also got to help translate as the physical therapists worked with various patients who were not candidates for surgery. We worked everyday with a young woman named Angeline who had been bedridden for 10 months during which she underwent 3 surgeries for appendicitis. Her legs were badly atrophied and she was unable to fully straighten them due to lack of use. In just a few days of somewhat painful stretching and exercise, there was improvement in her ability to move her legs and she even got up and walked to the door of the room and back with our assistance. I enjoyed visiting with her and holding her hand while the PTs stretched out her tight and sore limbs.
I could go on and on about the lives these dedicated medical team members were able to touch: the 11 year old boy who fell out of a tree and had his leg fracture repaired allowing him to walk in the future without a limp, a woman with a painful back condition who with the help of a brace was able to smile again instead of wincing in pain, a young girl with high arches in her feet who now will have proper shoes and inserts to support her once painful feet, a dynamic former athlete who received exercises to improve his function in spite of a painful disc problem, a woman with an elbow full of buckshot following an attack on her life who was given exercises to regain use of her hand and shoulder, a young man who had badly broken his hand and forearm several months ago in a car accident who was given exercises to help him move his fingers and possibly regain some use of the hand.
We also had the opportunity to see the fruit of CCH’s work outside the hospital: at the school in Boukeronne where one year ago there was nothing and now there is a well and a functioning school for 75 kids, at the Campbell’s orphanage where many malnourished children are being fed and restored to health at weekly baby feedings, at Pastor Francois’ orphanage where a second floor and a kitchen area was added to the existing dormitory to allow the boys and girls to have separate and adequate space for sleeping, eating and living, and at the farm where we distributed 11 goats to families who will not have a good source of income for future needs.
It is an inspiration and a blessing to have the opportunity to serve in this way. If you feel called to join us on an upcoming trip, please contact Michelle McBride at michelle@cchaiti.org.
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