More than likely, you have encountered an episode of medical necessity, i.e. if that would be to vaccinate your child to prevent influenza, a simple referral to get an XRAY to rule out a fracture, or even used physical therapy to get rid of that ache in your low back.
Now imagine, if you can, minimal access to NO access to those options. Simply put, you do not have the ability or resources to seek medical care. Period.
This is what most Haitians endure day in and day out. Farmers... manual labor jobs... raising families like you.... without healthcare access. Without help from specialists. Living in pain. Lacking the education to correct medical issues. And living with the inability to afford the interventions necessary to improve their health and mobility. About 80 percent of Haitians live in poverty (on less than a $1 day). These unaddressed health issues create an environment where people lack the ability to work, farm, and care for themselves and their families.
STAND is a nonprofit organization that seeks to change this model for Haiti. A group of trained, specialized physical therapists (PT's), orthotists, prosthetists, general medical staff, educators, and students work to deliver these services to the highest standard. The best part... FOR FREE. We deliver the care to the clients and train the Haitian staff members to be able to, in the future, continue this type of treatment to others in need. Sustained Therapy And New Development. This is the mission. Provide treatment to underprivileged areas across the world and teach them how to effectively help each other and develop their own medical system, if you will.
"You can give a man a fish, or you can teach a man to fish. We do both." - STAND
If you haven't watched the video yet, you definitely need to do that now. It's chilling and goose-bump worthy.
https://youtu.be/rrbMq4d_rRc
I could not think of a more deserving population to devote my time to than STAND. My goal price is to cover the trip alone: flight to/from Denver, housing, food. This is the cost of the price that STAND asks volunteers to cover. I currently work as an independent contractor for multiple home health agencies as a physical therapist, which means, if I don't work, I don't get paid. There's no PTO for me. This is what I'm donating. My time, expertise, and money. We leave May 12th and will return May 28th. It will be a 2 week journey to impact more lives than you will even imagine. After speaking with Justin (the co-owner of STAND) a few days ago, he told me they have literally have 100-150 people standing outside the door EACH DAY waiting to be served. Watch the video if you haven't. Seriously! We work from sun up to sun down Monday through Friday each week, roughly treating 125 patients each day.
What you are helping towards is a lack of medical assistance to a community in dire need of a solution. I truly cannot thank you enough just for taking the time to learn about STAND and the progress they are making in such a well deserved area in need. Your donation, regardless of size, will be devoted towards allowing us to change lives for those who need it the most.
If you have more interest in this area or have questions regarding the volunteer trip, please feel free to contact me directly (PM me on facebook) or visit the STAND website at standhaitiproject.org.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping making this trip possible!
Brooke