The week in review

We've been at it for a week with our full crew – myself, Erica Webster and Kevin Harrington, two other Hanger practitioners. We followed up with Schneily and everything went very well. He grew an inch so his socket was very loose. After lengthening and tightening the fit, we kicked the soccer ball in the alley and rode his bike. This kid is full of energy and endless smiles. The only thing that went wrong was I grabbed what I thought was my metric and standard set of Allen wrenches but upon arrival, I realized I had two standard sets. Unfortunately, the standard set wouldn’t work for the adjustments I needed to make on Schneily’s prosthetic leg. Luckily, I planned for my misfortunes on the road and I brought my Dremel tool; I found a power source off of a generator and sized down the standard set to metric. I was able to successfully make a 3mm out of the standard. The adjustments went on and everything worked out.

Last week we also observed the one-year anniversary of the earthquake; a beautiful day shining the light of the Haitian people on hope and perseverance.
We have had really busy days at the Clinic; patients are coming in from everywhere seeking our assistance. I don't have exact numbers, but I believe last week we did about 37 adjustments, fit 6 new limbs, and did 7 socket remakes due to the many adjustments and changes of the residual limbs over time. Wow, we have a standard prosthetic shop just like home! It is great to see the patients keeping appointments and coming in on their own for help. Things are working just as we planned.

The patient living quarters have improved as well. Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) has been working on a new housing development called Kay (house) 52. It is great; it has running water three times a day, working private plumbing, and electricity. It also has two long cover porches that will be great for gait training. Most of the patients walked to the clinic this morning. This is great practice for ambulating in our natural environment. The streets of Haiti are not a smooth floor like our clinic.

On a personal note, Sunday I attended a local church service. Rony Bern, an employee of our Clinic is also a local pastor. He has been helping to start a church in a village outside of Deschapelles. Myself, my family, Hanger employees in Baton Rouge, and my church back home, donated funds to start the roof of the church. My mom also sent musical instruments last year. It was really nice to listen to the children play them and sing. So far away, but still close to home.

Reflections – one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that forever changed Haiti

Today was everything it should have been. We met with our Haitian staff yesterday and asked them what they wanted to do. Jill (the head of physical therapy at the Hanger Clinic) and I didn't believe on a day such as this we should decide what was appropriate. The Haitian staff didn't want a party since there is nothing to celebrate. Instead, they wanted a happy day to highlight the good that has come over the past year – the spirit of the Haitian people to over come adversity and push on for a better life.

Our day started with music played by patients and local artists. I spoke of the beginnings of the Hanger Ivan R. Sabel Foundation, getting to Haiti, and my personal feeling for the people of Haiti. I talked about how I have never known the true meaning of determination, compassion, humility and selflessness until now in life. I also spoke to the road of the Hanger Ivan R. Sabel Foundation towards a Haitian-run Clinic.

Our technicians spoke of their love for their people and Hanger for giving them the opportunity to help the people of Haiti. They never would have dreamed in their life they would have such an honor.

Patients including a bilateral above-the-knee mother and a young bilateral girl spoke of their triumph to regain their lives and an above-the-knee male patient expressed his appreciation. A bilateral man also ran out of the grounds and back to show his ability with his new prostheses.

The art school that is located in our backyard performed an act about the quake and cholera outbreak.

We finished by hosting a reception at Kay (house) Hanger.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined us for the special day as well as another photo journalist. WBRZ-TV, a television station from my hometown of Baton Rouge conducted a lengthy phone interview with me shortly after the activities ended. They were very pleased to hear of the Hanger Ivan R. Sabel Foundation’s efforts. I thanked them for staying with Haiti because so many have forgot but the Haitians still need our prayers and aid.

If you’d like, you can check out the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article here and the WBRZ-TV news story here. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also posted some great photos of the one-year anniversary ceremony which you can see here.

Today was an emotional roller coaster and I am grateful I was here to ride it. I couldn't imagine another place on Earth I would rather be right now.

First Hanger Clinic lead practitioner Jay Tew returns to Deschapelles for another clinical rotation

Jay Tew, CP, was the first prosthetist to serve a three-month term as lead practitioner at the Hanger Clinic in Deschapelles. The Clinic achieved notable success and outstanding patient outcomes under the leadership of Jay, providing prosthetic care to 300 Haitian amputees in just three months. Following Jay’s return to the States, two other Hanger practitioners served as lead prosthetist including Anna Avakian, from Washington, DC and Vern Hostetler from Zanesville, Ohio. By the end of 2010, under the leadership of Tew, Avakian, and Hostetler, the Hanger Clinic provided prosthetic care to nearly 700 Haitian amputees. Today Jay returned to the Clinic to serve a 6-week term as lead practitioner. Stayed tuned for updates from Jay during his time in Haiti.