Haiti Trip June 1-5 2009

Trip 17. We return every 3 months to Justinien University Hospital in Cap Haitien. As the major referral center for all of northern Haiti there is never a lack of work. The only orthopaedist in the region is planning to retire in the near future and many languishing patients are accumulating without resources or hope for urgent operations. Because of our commitment to quarterly visits we are able to provide adequate follow up for much of the work that we do. In spite of seeing many suffering patients we were encouraged to see some of our patients whose lives have been changed one by one due to our efforts, our supporters, and most of all God's healing touch.


Elena a 4 year old girl before and after surgery for severe clubfoot performed Dec 2008



Loudwige (R) with her sister after having an 85 degree scoliosis curve operated at CURE Santo Dominogo

Mirana a 12 year old girl with cerebral palsy walking for the first time after having severe knee flexion contractures corrected during our last trip.



A 5 year old Haitian boy after having bilateral "ulnarization" procedures performed for radial clubhand.




A mother with her baby cured of his clubfoot after serial Ponseti cast treatment and a minor operation



Dr. Ed O'Laughlin (Baltimore, MD) teaches Haitian resident anesthesia techniques as he puts another patient to sleep.

41 patients were operated during this trip. In spite of operating day and night, unfortunately many patients still had to be turned away.

Subsequent 2009 trips are scheduled for Sept 21 and Dec 7.