Michelle May

Unlike many in the States- if you give your average Hatian an opportunity to learn they take it, cherish it, and make the absolute most of it.  I worked as a PT technician w/ a U of Miami team one rare day when were well staffed w/ PTs at the tent hospital.  With our extra hands we decided to do follow up with some of the patients we had discharged to smaller clinics.. unfortunately the reality in these small clinics was that there were not docs, nurses, PTs or even cots for that matter….

A Hatian woman told me that most Hatians believe if you are sick or injured you should lay in bed & wait to heal- THat is counter to what PT is- and for many who suffered severe crush injuries, amputations, and broken bones, we knew we had to go out & educate that moving is in fact good for you- as long as it is done intelligently.  At one clinic (pictured here) we had a woman go from a wheel chair to walking w/ a walker within 20 minutes with a PT from UM! She glowed as she walked- and seemed like she had just gotten her life back.  It was empowering and gave me the chills to witness such a wonderful thing.  It brought tears to my eyes- but like many times that week i bit them back.  I worked with a school teacher that was lying on the floor in a tent the past week- i made her do some exercises that the PTs prescribed to her.  She really hated it at first but with some animated enthusiasm and encourgaement (via translator) I got her up & walking with just 1 crutch- broken arm & all.   Here she is calling her family to let them know the news afterwards:

When in a disaster area we all have to be extremely resourceful… not jsut with our professions but with supplies.  The lead PT (a genius I might add) created a contraption with a Bally’s exercise club stretch cord, so that this sweet little 10 year old could slowly get some muscle control back -and again be able to do basic things like eat with his right arm.  I was constantly struck by how much good came out of such little time and resources.  I work as a psychologist: the mind- mental issues- things take a long time to change- but with PT- we saw instant results.  Just a little bit of education brought so much joy.  Ontop of that a few outgoing onlookers started imitating what we were doing- we began to train them in some PT basics so that after we were gone, they could step in to help.  Again, the glow and joy that i saw from these poeple- to have a skill that was useful and could help- most have never had access to education- it again hit the point home that we have so much opportunity in the states that we take for granted.  This was one of the most incredible days of my life.  I am not expressing it too well here, but i will never ever forget this day- it warmed my heart and made me want to cry tears of joy.

Tags: Earthquake, Haiti, PAP, physical therapy, Port au Prince, relief work, University of Miami.

I had no idea what to expect working with project medishare- and glad that i did not.  As i wrote, thought I would be doing “logistics” work… which i learned means alot of operational stuff- not so much my forte but of course i can do it- and happily so.  However when they caught wind that i was a psych i was pulled into a few cases- I also ended up acting as physical therapist “technician” and a nurse assistant.  Much of the reason for this is that there is a dire need of nurses, PTs & OTs.   So if you know any please send them Project Medishare’s way.  I will do my best the next few days to fill you in a bit of what i have been up to the past week.  In a nutshell my experience has left me in awe of the people of Haiti’s resilience and the hard work that docs, nurses, and other medical staff put in at the hospital.  20 hour days seemed to be the norm. I have mad respect for most i met there- some who will be friends for life.  Thank you Project Medishare for putting together such an incredible group and for existing in the 1st place- what you have is Haiti’s biggest and most high tech hospital going right now- you are saving many many lives. 

Tags: Haiti, Project Medishare, relief work, University of Miami.