Medical Team From DHMC Tells Story of Desperation and Hope in Haiti

The first medical team from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) returned from Haiti on Monday after more than a week of providing care and support to those injured in the devastating earthquake that struck the country on January 12. At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, they told inspiring stories of hope about a resilient populace, tempered by the pervasive sights of abject poverty and a medical infrastructure that was woefully inadequate to meet even basic needs.

The team of nine, including five physicians and four nurses each shared individual stories that shared common themes.

"We were both amazed and humbled," said Rajan Gupta, M.D., Director of DHMC’s Trauma Program and the leader of Team One. "In the midst of all the pain, suffering and despair, we saw signs of strength, resilience and hope among the Haitian people."

Christopher O'Connell, RN talks about his experiences providing care in Haiti as colleagues Carter Dodge, M.D (left) and Kurt Rhynhart, M.D (center) listen. The three were part of a team of Dartmouth-Hitchcock physicians and nurses that returned on Monday after more than a week in Haiti.

Carter Dodge, M.D. told of one patient he met who, along with his wife and son, had been trapped for two days after their home collapsed. Pinned in the remains of his home, the man watched helplessly as his wife died near him. By using his feet, he was able to get the water being passed through by rescuers up to his mouth to survive until he was rescued. Once freed and still badly injured, he and his son endured a long bus trip to get to one of the outlying hospitals where they believed they could get the help they needed.

Members of Team One, including Kurt Rhynhart, M.D., Michael Hawkins, R.N., and Chris O’Connell, R.N. are current or former members of the military and have spent time in Iraq providing care under what they termed “austere” conditions. They said however even with that background, they still found the conditions in Haiti deplorable and far worse in many ways than anything they had experienced in a combat zone.

You can see more of Team One’s comments as well as the latest from Team Two, still currently in Haiti at the following links.

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock team returns from Haiti
• WMUR - Dartmouth Docs Say Haiti Even Worse Than Expected
• NH Union Leader - Dartmouth team decompresses after emotional mission of mercy to Haiti
• Valley News - In Haiti, Purgatory for Patients