Ribbon cutting of the clinic with Anne and Rev. Leo L. Sherard
“This trip gave us the privilege of being used in so many meaningful ways. We served at the All Hands Together Clinic and were able to impact people ranging from infants to senior adults. Although most of us didn’t speak the language or have a medical background it didn’t hinder our ability to contribute. We enjoyed building benches, distributing food and clothing, organizing supplies, playing with children, distributing medicine, praying for patients, preparing meals, and setting up a pharmacy. In addition to serving the Haitian people, we were blessed to by the camaraderie of the other team members. We have formed friendships that continue to grow today.”
Dr. PennyCooke, Anne, and a 53 year old woman we were able to help.
“I had the privilege, last spring, of traveling with the organization “All Hands Together Haiti” on a medical missions trip. It was my first endeavor in this area. I like any other first timer did not know what to expect, but I knew we were going to serve a group of people that had limited access to healthcare.
On the first day of clinic I was awoken at 5 am by the voices of the people waiting in line to be seen. It was then that I knew we had come to do a great deed for the people of Haiti.
We provided the most basic healthcare including hypertension and diabetes screening and treatment. In many cases the need was for medication which the patients had limited access to. We also provided antibiotics for infections, treated chronic wounds, and provided corrective lenses and reading glasses. These may seem very basic but I know we changed many lives on this trip. I had the opportunity to treat a little boy about 11 years old who was brought to the clinic by his grandmother. He was very downcast and spoke very quietly. He went on to say that his teacher had been punishing him because he could not read the words on the black board. After talking further he told me he could not read them because he could not see and his grandmother was in no position to take him to the eye doctor. It was our mission that day to find him a pair of glasses that would allow him to see and read and we did not give up until we were successful. That young boy left smiling and full of hope.
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