Medical Team Returns from Haiti

Fresno – A group of Valley residents saw firsthand the devastation and destruction in Port–Au–Prince, Haiti.

The team of doctors and nurses and support staff was in Haiti for a week, delivering medical supplies and treating patients. The Wheelchair Foundation flew them there, on a private plane. 

They describe what they saw as a war zone.

“From the moment we hit the ground, we were being escorted by the air force out of our plane, we were unable to leave airfields, sleeping on benches. People with machine guns walking with us from the hospital tent to where the x–rays are,” said Dr. Joaquin Arambula of his experience. 

They say the sick and wounded lined up to get treated in a tent. 

The group also delivered a batch of wheelchairs. 

“Wheelchair foundation is bringing about 5,000 over there. Of that 5,000 we brought 50, and just the 50 we brought, they were gold,” said Thomas Miller, a former Army medic who traveled with the group. 

He says the group had to be picky about who was given a wheelchair. 

One man who received one was paralyzed, and couldn’t move the entire right side of his body. 

“I found myself picking up and carrying him to his wheelchair and kissing him on his forehead because I was so touched.  Here’s a man who wasn’t able to move for 15 days.  The fact we were able to give him a wheelchair and some sense of normalcy. The most touching situation I’ve ever dealt with in medicine,” said Dr. Arambula. 

And despite the difficult conditions, this group says, they would gladly do it all over again. 

“In the near future, if they asked us, I’m sure all of us would jump at the opportunity to go,” said Miller. 

SOURCE: FOX 16 KMPH-Fresno