There were bodies everywhere — some alive, some dead. Infants just weeks into their lives on this earth were seen alone, suffering and scared without their late parents. Illness and injury — both of the greatest magnitude — were unavoidable.
“So much, so much injury,” said Dr. Maxime Coles, a native of Haiti who has just returned from a medical mission to the earthquake-ravaged island nation. “I cannot describe all that has happened there.”
Coles, orthopedic surgeon at Girard Medical Center, spent a week in the capital city of Port-au-Prince as part of the AMHE Relief Mission of the Haitian Physicians Abroad. It was a mission he vowed to accomplish the moment he saw on television the destruction that the 7.0-magnitude quake left in his native country earlier this month. Not only was it his duty as a native Haitian, but as a surgeon, Coles has the skills and knowledge necessary to bring at least some relief to the suffering.
For at least 12 hours a day, he worked “shoulder to shoulder” with several other surgeons and medical professionals conducting procedures ranging from treating open wounds to amputating limbs of men and women trapped under the rubble that used to be their home.
There were few, if any, breaks in the action. The need for the medical services was and still is endless. The number of patients countless.
“I cannot tell you how many patients we see,” he said. “It was a tremendous number. There were kids laying on beds with no one to take care of them. People were laying outside, too afraid to go back into their homes.”
Coles said the physical injuries strikes him as just part of the crisis in Haiti. Physical wounds will eventually heal. However, the mental and emotional terror in which the people of Haiti are now living may be longer-lasting.
“There are many people with psychiatric problems,” Coles said. “We’re going to need psychologists to help those suffering from mental injury.”
Despite his grueling schedule, Coles was able to meet with his father, whose home was slightly damaged in the earthquake. The doctor tried to convince his father to travel back the United States with him, but pride and devotion to country will not allow him.
“I would have liked my father to come with me,” Coles said, “but he is refusing to leave his country. The people there want to keep working and see how life can continue.”
Coles hopes to have another chance to see his family next month during another medical mission trip.
“I would like to go back in a month,” he said. “The (AMHE) group I am with sends about 50 physicians down each week. We will continue what we started.”
Amidst all of the suffering and sorrow Coles witnessed last week, he also found hope in the Haitian people’s unwillingness to give up.
“They are hard working people and they are proud of what they are doing,” he said. “I hope they can overcome this turmoil. I hope the Haitian people will prevail.”
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There were bodies everywhere — some alive, some dead. Infants just weeks into their lives on this earth were seen alone, suffering and scared without their late parents. Illness and injury — both of the greatest magnitude — were unavoidable.
“So much, so much injury,” said Dr. Maxime Coles, a native of Haiti who has just returned from a medical mission to the earthquake-ravaged island nation. “I cannot describe all that has happened there.”
Coles, orthopedic surgeon at Girard Medical Center, spent a week in the capital city of Port-au-Prince as part of the AMHE Relief Mission of the Haitian Physicians Abroad. It was a mission he vowed to accomplish the moment he saw on television the destruction that the 7.0-magnitude quake left in his native country earlier this month. Not only was it his duty as a native Haitian, but as a surgeon, Coles has the skills and knowledge necessary to bring at least some relief to the suffering.
For at least 12 hours a day, he worked “shoulder to shoulder” with several other surgeons and medical professionals conducting procedures ranging from treating open wounds to amputating limbs of men and women trapped under the rubble that used to be their home.
There were few, if any, breaks in the action. The need for the medical services was and still is endless. The number of patients countless.
“I cannot tell you how many patients we see,” he said. “It was a tremendous number. There were kids laying on beds with no one to take care of them. People were laying outside, too afraid to go back into their homes.”
Coles said the physical injuries strikes him as just part of the crisis in Haiti. Physical wounds will eventually heal. However, the mental and emotional terror in which the people of Haiti are now living may be longer-lasting.
“There are many people with psychiatric problems,” Coles said. “We’re going to need psychologists to help those suffering from mental injury.”
Despite his grueling schedule, Coles was able to meet with his father, whose home was slightly damaged in the earthquake. The doctor tried to convince his father to travel back the United States with him, but pride and devotion to country will not allow him.
“I would have liked my father to come with me,” Coles said, “but he is refusing to leave his country. The people there want to keep working and see how life can continue.”
Coles hopes to have another chance to see his family next month during another medical mission trip.
“I would like to go back in a month,” he said. “The (AMHE) group I am with sends about 50 physicians down each week. We will continue what we started.”
Amidst all of the suffering and sorrow Coles witnessed last week, he also found hope in the Haitian people’s unwillingness to give up.
“They are hard working people and they are proud of what they are doing,” he said. “I hope they can overcome this turmoil. I hope the Haitian people will prevail.”
