Friday Afternoon Update

We are working long days and hoping to keep our operating room running continuously. The Surgeons tell everyone that we saved these patients lives. But we are worried how they will get by with amputations in the future under the terrible conditions in Haiti.

Jack also reports that he met documentary photographer, author and filmmaker Gerry Straub. According to his foundation's website, he "left a profitable and successful career as a producer of Hollywood soap operas for a radically different vocation."  For more information about Gerry's work as well as his recent observations while in Haiti, click here.

Google Maps: Community Hospital of Haiti / L’Hôpital de la Communauté Haïtienne

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Thursday Afternoon Update

We partnered with a surgical team from Sweden. Getting better organized. Enjoyed can of tuna for lunch. Dr. Vanek took leadership and our surgical instruments and team are collaborating with Sweden and we have a full service team with continuous care of the pre and postoperative patients. Dr. Vanek and our team operated until 3am last night on very critically ill trauma patients and they are dramatically improved today. One of our hand case left the hospital without our consent. This is common. Technical surgical conditions have improved by having electrocautery and having sterile drapes. Prior to cautery patient blood loss was almost frightening, but now we only lose about 500cc on a leg amputation. Anesthesia monitoring is improved with a working pulse oximeter. We have 4 ORs now, they did a Cesarean Section yesterday. We have post op patients in 26 rooms.

Our best friend is a Special Ops soldier who checks on us regularly. We give him status reports on everything and he brings us whatever we need. No questions asked. We love his gung-ho attitude. Those folks make miracles happen every day.

I lost most of my clothes but I rummaged through bags of donated items and I'm good again. Back to surgery.

Thursday Morning Update

In any other circumstances it would be called romantic, adventurous, fun...sleeping under the stars in the Caribbean. But, Jack woke up on the roof top of the hospital in a sleeping bag with a mosquito net over his head, maybe 5 hours of sleep, to the harsh realities of another day in the makeshift OR. This is his description:

L’Hôpital de la Communauté Haïtienne

This is the hospital where we work. There are patients on cots all around the hospital waiting to get help. Many are afraid to come in the building because they fear it will collapse in another aftershock. Mostly injured limbs and fractures. Seeing a lot of gangrene and treating quickly with amputations under spinal anesthesia. The scope of the problem is enormous.
The other staff is helpful. But this feels like a war. I never saw surgery performed with so little equipment and basic monitors. Haiti was incredibly poor before the quake when unemployment was 75%. The relief effort and reconstruction may take ten years per the Special Ops soldier we talk to ( Lieutenant Colonel Wilson).


Jack describes everyone he meets as generous, helpful and "unbelievably humanitarian".

Wednesday Afternoon Update

Port-au-Prince was settled in 1700 and had two earthquakes in 1761 and 1780, but none since. The population was 2 million before this quake. Maybe 200,000 dead. There are 12,000 troops with UN, Haiti police and Marines. We heard 7,000 Marines landed today.

Flew over slums around airport. People living on the streets and under tarps. Airport has Marine helicopters and Marines exercising. C130 cargo planes unloading supplies. Our Medishare clinic is on airport right next to Marines. Looks very secure.

We landed at airport and took our personal belongings to Medishare tent in airport. We are riding on a bus along a crowded 2-lane road seeing Haitians in the streets and homes in rubble. Relief teams from Germany, Qatar, Israel, Greece, UN, many NGOs. Ambulances blaring sirens because traffic is so slow. The rock in the water doesn't know the suffering of the rock in the sun.

Earthquake situation report #8 from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Highlights / Key Priorities

• International search-and-rescue teams reported four more live rescues on 19 January, including those of a 22-day-old baby and a 3-year-old child. The revised total of lives saved by international search-and-rescue teams is over 121 people.

• Despite logistical and security constraints, the affected population is receiving an increasing number of relief supplies, including medical assistance, food, water and shelter.

• Priorities remain medical supplies, water and sanitation, tents, blankets, food and fuel and transport equipment.

• Aid has started reaching people in areas west of Carrefour and in Jacmel.

• There is an increased risk of death as open wounds and fractures go untreated. WHO reports the number of communicable diseases in Haiti and along the border remains stable

For more information from the OCHA, click here and here.

Wednesday Morning Update

6:46am - On the Bus

We just boarded the bus to our American Airline flight to Port-au-Prince. Our team is together and we have all our supplies checked. Just heard Haiti had another 6.0 quake [Click here for related CNN article] but we will land. We’re a little nervous and my team is discussing how we will stay together. Stay safe and seek military support. We have a police escort in Miami. They are all totally supportive in every way.

7:20am - On the Plane

I am seated on the plane next to a UN representative who told me [retired NBA basketball player and former Georgetown Hoya] Alonzo Mourning donated the first hospital in Haiti this week. [Click here and here for more information] But the UN has had a presence there and has connections. He said they are building a new semi-rigid 300 bed hospital right now and it will have rooms for medical staff too. He said it is the Hilton of hospitals there now.

Tuesday Afternoon Update

Jack has reported that the cost of fuel in the Dominican Republic has skyrocketed from $1.50/gal yesterday to $6.75/gal today, raising the total fuel cost of a plan to Haiti to nearly $40,000, making travel even more difficult. He will be staying at the Miami airport tonight and expects to fly out sometime tomorrow. He appreciates the support of so many who are helping to ship $17,000 worth of medical supplies via FedEx. He reports that the Director of Operations at the airport is contributing cases of baby formula. He would also like to express his support of everyone who has gotten in touch with him today. I will make an effort to ensure that any comments left on this blog for the Cleveland team will be relayed to Jack via BlackBerry.

Tuesday Morning Update

Jack flew out of Cleveland this morning at 6:05am on American Airlines flight 4384 arriving in Chicago at 6:30am. His flight left Chicago at 7:35am on AA 1048 arriving in Miami at 11:45am.

There are over 400 people on the waiting list to go from Miami to Haiti. Only 60 planes can land in Haiti each day. Jack and his team are fortunate enough to be cleared to go on the 1:00pm flight out of Miami.

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