Crew 3 Final Report

Port au Prince, Haiti reminded me of war zone because of the death, destruction and shortages of food and water – all of this destruction has been caused by the recent earthquake.

I worked at the warehouse at the hospital where the supplies are stored. We would receive soap, water and MRE’s but then the next day they were gone or there would be half as much on the shelves. Haitian people were pillaging from the warehouse, and I would wonder – why are they stealing from the sick and dying? After thinking about the circumstances, I wondered what we would do if our children were hungry and had no water. What would we do to keep them alive? Are they stealing for their children or are they selling the goods at an exuberant cost to the poor people of Haiti?!!

God supplied miracles daily -– we would need for example, diapers, ensure for adults, medical supplies, and the next day it would be delivered. We asked for Bibles in French or Creole one day and miraculously it was received the next day. God works in wondrous ways!!

The University of Miami is the medical facility that is in charge of the hospital in Port au Prince. The head CEO was Doctor Vince and he was a stern but fair person – he would often make appearances at the warehouse to check on medical supplies and water. He had to make decisions that I would rather not have to make, for example: two girls, 11 and 13 received severe burns on Saturday night when a transformer exploded and covered them with fire. The hospital requested an airlift for the girls to Bethesda, Maryland, but it was not to happen. The decision was made to keep them comfortable and their bandages changed when needed. A Charge Nurse was helping us in the warehouse and she said that without a sterile area the two (2) girls will die from the infection. The nurse thought it not feasible to use the much needed medical supplies for those that are destined to die from their injuries. I am not such a skeptic – I believe in the divine grace of God!!

While in Haiti I would sit in the area where the doctors and nurses would come on their breaks to relax and talk of the days events. I heard that a woman with TB in her chest, not yet in her lungs, would receive no medicine for the bacterial infection – there was not enough medicine to start the treatment. The day before I heard of this ladies predicament, an older man had died from TB.

Death is not uncommon at the temporary tent hospital. I would go everyday to the children’s side of the hospital and see children that had to have parts of their arms and legs amputated, children with back injuries so severe that they could not walk, and then there were the preemie babies. The preemie babies were the most beautiful of Gods Creations. The babies were born to mothers that had little food or were ill when they were pregnant. Mothers’ asked me to pray for the babies – one mother professed that she believed in God and that she wanted me to pray for her small infant. I was so overwhelmed by these tiny babies that were so innocent and sick that I cried. After I finished praying for the first child, I was asked by two other women to pray for their babies. It was unexplainable how I felt to see these babies that are sick and dying. The same night the man with TB died, one of the preemie babies died too.

There was an RN from Philadelphia who was stationed in my tent. She worked in the adult side of the hospital and said that almost every night the army or the emergency workers brought in Haitians that had been shot in the neck (spine). She said that they would be quadriplegic for the rest of their lives. A young man of 18 was brought in that had been shot in the neck and he was paralyzed from the neck down, He had a young wife that was 16 or 17 years old and she was being taught how to take care of her husband. The RN told me the young wife did not realize that this type injury would not go away, it would be a lifetime of taking care of her husband.

I am so glad that I live in America, the Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave. I am so thankful for all of the prayers that were prayed for the Haitians, me. and First Baptist of Morristown for giving me a spiritual home. and for giving me an opportunity to help others in need.

I also want to thank the recruits from the United States Army Division from Louisiana that helped us at the Port au Prince warehouse. They brought us a foot locker of food. It sure tasted good!

Thank you God for the blessings you have bestowed on all of us in the USA!!!!

- Gail Hudgens