Team First Choice - Haiti

On January 10, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti leaving in its path ~ 250,000 dead, 300,000 injured and 1.5 million homeless. Reports coming out of Haiti in the days following the quake were of unbelievable loss and suffering as well as the need for medical personnel to assist those with crush injuries, fractures and amputations. In the weeks following the earthquake, I felt compelled to help in a tangible way those who were hurting, little did I know that it would become a calling.

My initial visit was to Fond Parisien where an orphanage was transformed into a primary surgery/rehabilitation site for the central portion of the country. Patients were flown in on military helicopters from Port Au Prince and the surrounding areas for surgery and physical therapy. My assignment was to a row of 10 tents labeled "unattended minors". These were children who had lost parents, family members and limbs. It was my responsibility to get these children up and moving and to educate them on daily activities to improve their functional mobility.

Subsequent trips back to Haiti over the past 2 years has seen physical therapy become more structured as our "clinic" has progressed from a UN donated tent to a free standing structure in the coastal town of Jacmel. We have joined in a collaborative effort with Community Coalition for Haiti to provide clinical support and training for the physical therapist and support staff in Jacmel. Ongoing therapist training is essential to the growth and development of this mission as we continue to see injuries/pathologies as a direct or indirect result of the earthquake.
My calling is to continue this work. Please consider supporting this mission to facilitate the long term sustainability of physical therapy in Jacmel and the surrounding areas.

For more information about our trips to Haiti visit our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/1stChoicePT


Scott Champagne, PT.