Special Haiti Testimony

A Mom, A Clinic and a Bread of Compassion Nurse

It was the afternoon of the last day of our week-long series of medical clinics.  I frequently walk the line of people waiting to be seen and triage those who are the sickest or most fragile, especially the elderly and the Mom’s with small children.  It often is not possible to see everyone. 

There was a Mom with three small children waiting in line in the heat of the sun.  She was taking care of the children but not complaining of the heat, as I was, or asking for anything.  She was just hoping to be seen and had a great smile on her face.  We could see that all the children had skin infections on their legs and heads.  The climate is hot and humid, and clean water and soap are scarce.  We pulled the Mom out of line and took her to wound care first, where Fabio and Carolyn bathed and shampooed the children. They applied antibiotic lotion to open sores and treated areas of yeast infections with a sulfur compound.

While we were caring for the family in wound care, a teenage girl about 16 years old with an infant came into the area and the Mom introduced her as her fifteen year old daughter. The Mom told us that the infant and the toddler who was being washed were the teenager’s babies.   After all the children had been washed and given new outfits, we filled up a bag with clothes for her to take home.  The teenage daughter also had some skin problems and we gave her soap and lotions to use at home in private to treat herself.

After wound care, the whole family was taken in and examined.  A couple of the kids needed antibiotics for their skin infections and everybody received vitamins.  Naomi, our pharmacy nurse, packed a bag for the family that included the needed antibiotics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, Tylenol, Ibuprofen and goody bags for the kids.  With the help of our interpreter, we did medication and skin care teaching with the family and answered questions.

What we did was small, but I know that we helped this family in tangible and intangible ways.  They next day we saw the mom and she had a great big smile.  A smile means the same in every language.  JOY!

- Nancy Aguilar

Haiti Trip - September 2011

In September of 2011, a Bread of Compassion medical team traveled to Haiti and conducted five medical clinics. Word spread very fast in each of the villages that there was a medical clinic and within minutes hundreds of people came to receive help. These villages were targeted for help because they do not have access to any medical care. Over 1,400 people were treated, and received free prescriptions. Many of the villagers were dewormed and were given vitamin supplements to take home.

Team organizer Joseph Sapienza said that "there has been little improvement in Haiti since the earthquake of 2010. Many of the survivors that have been living in tents have been relocated into tent cities in the outskirts of Port Au Prince. They are living in newly-formed communities that do not have stores, schools, medical care or normal infra-structure. The need for medical assistance has dramatically increased."

What can be done to lend help to the people of Haiti? Consider volunteering as a team member in one of our upcoming trips. You can donate funds and sponsor a doctor, nurse or volunteer to serve on a medical team. It costs Bread of Compassion $1,600.00 per team member to serve in a mobile clinic. Expenses include the purchase of medical supplies, transportation, team accommodations and translators. Our practice is to run a lean operation to make the most of every dollar spent. Administrative expenses are kept under 3% and no salaries are paid. Everyone volunteers their time and this enables Bread of Compassion to do the most good.

Our next trip is scheduled for March 2012.

Haiti Video - May 2011

Haiti Video - February 2011

Medical Trip & Application - March 12-20, 2012

Our next Bread of Compassion medical trip to Haiti will be March 12-20, 2012. We will be organizing a team to perform medical and dental care.

If you are interested in joining us, please fill-out the Medical Team Member Application. It must be completed by January 12, 2012 and returned with a non-refundable $1,600.00 deposit.