PT faculty members, Karen & Andrea, report from Haiti

This has been an experience of a lifetime. It has been full of emotions that are hard to describe: a beautiful culture in the people of Haiti, the inner strength of the people there, the challenges ahead with rehabilitation for a child who will return to this physically challenging environment, and, pride in our wonderful students as they interact with the individuals in this very unfamiliar setting. As we watch Meloonda smile in Jennifer's lap (with quite improved posture!) as Brian makes her giggle in the "universal language" or Lindsay feed her with the care of a loving mother, our pride in the students of Shenandoah is tremendous.

We have much to reflect on in the coming days. We look forward to helping Meloonda and Mr. Bregard adjust to their new settings and begin the rehabilitation process. We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity.

President Fitzsimmons writes from Haiti

So much to digest... two days easily feels like two weeks in Haiti, as each day is so full of images and experiences. The most remarkable thing about being in Haiti, now eight months after the earthquake, is how much of the city looks the same as it did in the first months following January 12. In the city center, there are still piles of rubble everywhere and roads are partially (as opposed to completely) impassable. There is very little reconstruction evident. And there are still around one million people homeless -- the landscape continues to be dotted by tents everywhere.

The difference is that the tents have a much greater sense of permanence about them. In fact, many tents now have a door -- and actual wooden or metal door -- at the tent entrance and they are secured by a padlock. These tent cities have a complete social and political system, and a fully developed internal economy. There are hair salons, churches, and schools. Babies are birthed and weddings are performed. And an intricate informal sector has grown up around each large tent city to support the needs of those living within.
Is it possible to be "beyond impressed"? That was my reaction upon seeing the temporary school that has sprung up at the College Catherine Flon. Those following this blog in the past know that most of the school's structures either collapsed or were severely damaged by the earthquake. Now, all the buildings, except the one-story one, have been removed. 3,500 K-12 kids are now being educated in makeshift classrooms constructed of wood and thick plastic sheeting. I am attaching some photos to this post for everyone to see. Is the set-up ideal? Certainly not. But it is impressive how well they have used the space to accommodate the maximum number of students.
Today, we were there during a downpour -- with the sound of the rain on the plastic roof, we could barely hear each other. It is hard to imagine how the students can focus on a teacher's lesson between the loudness of the rain and sound of 50 students immediately on the other side of each of the three walls of plastic sheeting (chalkboard is fourth wall). But everyone seems very happy to have the school fully functional again.

Perhaps most aggravating was seeing the plastic sheeting -- it says "US AID" everywhere. My delight at imagining my government at work quickly turned to dismay when I found that the sheeting was initially distributed as a donation, but had been sold and re-sold on a black market before reaching this school - and many, many others. How unjust for them to have to pay to acquire what had been intended as a donation to start the re-building of the educational system!

More Reflections from SU PT/OT students in Haiti

Today we started with a quick stop at a Haitian artisan shop. Colorful artwork decorated the walls and shelf upon shelf held all sorts of handmade crafts. They create things of such color and beauty out of a world filled with gray. It was difficult to restrain ourselves from purchasing more than we could carry, but we wanted to bring back a piece of Haitian culture to share with people at home. After, we visited the College of Catherine Flon (K-12). We were delighted to see that a temporary structure had been erected on the foundation of the original school. There were summer classes going on, so we got to see the school in action, which was a great experience. During our tour of the school, we met two students (brother and sister) who were injured when the school collapsed. Physical therapy faculty and students helped evaluate and recommend leg exercises for the girl, and occupational therapy students helped evaluate and recommend hand exercises for the boy. Later in the day we had the opportunity to visit the home of one of our security guards. He and his family were very welcoming and it was nice to see how proud they were of their home.

Driving through the streets of Haiti is very humbling. Rubble and trash are strewn everywhere, clogging drains and in some areas limiting traffic to one lane. Pedestrians walk in the street dodging cars and motorcycles, hopping on and off tap-taps (modified trucks or vans that carry passengers), selling their wares or just watching traffic and people go by. We ride in relative luxury in air-conditioned SUVs while much of the populace of Port-Au-Prince struggles to survive. When we were stopped in traffic children would come up to the windows and tap, signaling for those inside to give them something, anything. Tent cities are erected wherever there is space, even in the medians of roads. Being here and seeing the daily struggles of the Haitians make our troubles at home seem insignificant.

PT/OT students report from Haiti

Day 1 of our Haiti trip has opened our eyes to how challenging it is to rebuild a life after the January earthquake. On our way to Meloonda's house, we saw everything from tents set up in the medians on the roads to rubble blocking the way. All of the people of Haiti have been more than accommodating and appreciative of us coming down here to meet and bring Meloonda to the U.S. Meloonda is an amazing little girl, with the brightest smile. We are more than excited to start our treatment with her, especially since our ideas for how we can help her seemed endless as we were brainstorming. Although discharging her to her home environment may be the most challenging part, we all agree that she is appropriate for therapy services and will make progress from now until December.

There is nothing more beautiful than a little girl smiling again!

Please know that we are sharing this update and information with the permission of her parents....

When we last saw Meloonda in late April, she was unable to smile, move her head and had very little ability to move her limbs. Yesterday, we went to visit her home so that the therapists could do her rehab with her environment in mind, particularly important as they help move her toward some independence. She and her family live at the end of a road that is accessible only by a four-wheel drive. And then, it is a five minute climb (and climb is the accurate word in this case!) further up the hill to their house. The view is quite beautiful. The place is entirely inaccessible for someone who cannot walk.

The family has been living for the past eight months on the concrete pad that was the floor of their house before the earthquake collapsed it. The pad now serves as a base for a tent and open-air "patio". Recently, her father built a 12 by 12 room out of tin and wood to serve as their sleeping quarters nearby.

What progress since April! Meloonda can now smile! And what a beautiful smile she has -- her whole face lights up. While she still cannot hold her head up, she is now able to turn her head to the left, to the right, and to look up. And she reaches toward the person that she wants! Yesterday, we all celebrated her progress. But she still cannot talk or eat anything, and has almost no control of her trunk or neck.

It is fascinating to be here with PT and OT students and faculty. They notice so much about her abilities, her challenges and her environment that those of us without their training would miss. As the president of a university, it is so inspiring to watch some of SU's students and faculty at work in Haiti -- and essentially to be their student. They are helping me to see Haiti through a different lens and are also teaching me more about the fields of PT and OT. It is, frankly, hard to imagine how any disaster effort or field clinic operates without rehab therapists.

It has been four months since Shenandoah University last sent a team to Haiti. During those two post-earthquake trips, SU committed to three future initiatives: to lead a partnership to raise the funds to re-build the College Catherine Flon (a K-12 school) in Carrefour that had been destroyed by the earthquake; to organize future health profession mission trips to Haiti; and to help a little five year old girl that was crushed by the earthquake under her home.

Those of you who have followed SU's Haiti posts know that this little girl, Meloonda, is largely non-functional and in need of rehab. Finally, Meloonda and her father have received their visas! So, we are now in the airport on our way to Haiti to pick up Meloonda and her father and accompany them back to the U.S. for her treatment. The SU team that is travelling is 2 PT doctoral students (Brian & Jennifer), 2 SU OT students (Lindsay & Carol), 2 PT faculty (Andrea & Karen), and the SU President (Tracy). The PTs & OTs will have the opportunity to see where Meloonda lives, may go to school, and the general Haitian context so that they may focus their treatment of her appropriately. What an incredible educational and professional opportunity for the students. And we all are excited and hopeful that this little girl may have a better life after her rehab.