Dear MMIers,

Tim DeYoung (MMI Haiti Director) and I have just returned from our second run to Port-au-Prince (PaP) with 300 waterproof tarps for shelter - and other supplies and food. This time was different since, after making our deliveries, we continued north along the coast above PaP crossing the central mountains to Cap Haitian (CH), which is one of the only places planes can land in Haiti apart from PaP. We were there to meet an incredible medical/surgical team from Wilmington, NC, that - while not an MMI team - was lead by our own Dr. Ken White, MMI Board President, and flown into the country by the two corporate planes of Irving Warren of Warren Lubricants, one plane of Dale Murphy of Murphy Farms, and one plane of Dan Smith. These four companies’ planes delivered a total of twenty-three medical people as well as supplies for the two days we had to work - and they returned to CH to fly the team home on Sunday.

Tim and I arrived in Cap Haitian (after an overnight 30 hour trip) a day earlier than the team and found two Brits painting the “operating room” ceiling with 2 inch brushes – the completely tiled room had no doors and was missing windows but, by the next morning when the group arrived, the room was closed and we had gathered two makeshift tables for surgery and were able to complete preparation for surgery and clinic the next morning. The air conditioning was up and running for our second day of surgery. The team saw nearly 200 patients and did some 15 surgeries - about 40% were for injuries suffered in PaP. We left an OR and post-op room ready for ongoing use for the people of the north coast.

What this ad hoc and enthusiastic team did in the north, away from the earthquake zone, could not have been done in PaP. They would not have been allowed to land there and space for patient treatment would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to find. The problems of PaP and the area continue to be our major concern as we move toward the establishment of the MMI permanent center; but we are ready with personnel for ophthalmology residency and dental services.

The “normalcy” of which I wrote last time continues to set in. Streets are cleaner and more and more rubble is being trucked away. While many businesses were destroyed, they are once again “taking root” with street vendors leading the way. The command center functioning in the world class Quisqueya Christian School is efficient and effective. As we continue to transport relief goods, we coordinate with QCS.

By the time we return from our next trip (remember, Tim’s wife Paola, DDS, is due to deliver their first child here in the DR around the middle to end of March) we are hoping to announce the specifics of our new MMI Haiti calendar. We will work on the basis of solid invitations that include provision of housing, food and transportation for you when you come to work as well as definite places to attend to our patients.

Again, you may give toward our Haiti Fund by clicking “Give Online Now” on our website www.mmint.org – and then selecting “Haiti Fund” when you reach the third step of the giving area.

Yours,

Tim and Willie