Back in the world

A term we used in Viet Nam , when returning from a tour of duty still seems appropriate today. As you know we arrived together at Jacmel airport with hopes of catching an empty plane returning home. There are armed Canadian guards at the gate and we had our own water and lunch (tuna) with us. There is a table where you check in with a flight coordinator and then you wait, in the heat, to see what flys in. The air port is our life line for supplies and getting in and our. We heard a rumor that one small airport was over run with looters. belive me we are glad to have the Canadian troops covering our sector. God save the queen! Because only very small planes were coming in we could not depart together and it was hard to be separated. WE had bonded well as an effective surgery team. (See hasty Nassau blog).

I arranged a pick up for Dr. Tom and Cindy with the Bahama habitat pilots who flew me out, but was surprised to get a call from Cindy who said they were in Ft. Lauderdale. They hopped on twin engined private plane that was flown in on it’s own, to drop something off. (In the right place at the right time.) We reunited at the Lauderdale-Hollywood airport and had omelets & coffee for breakfast, I got my shoes shined as there were pretty scuffed up from the rocky roads in Haiti. The South West plane arrived on time and we were met by our spouses. It was great to be back home, even with snow on the ground.

The contrast between the two airports is hard to wrap your mind around, even for us who experienced it. It’s now like a dream. We’re back in the world. There is a post mission depression and we were all a little down yesterday, but recounting what we accomplished helped us realize our work there was done.
It’s a little like deep sea diving, when there’s underwater work to be done. You go down to get the job done, but you can’t stay or you will sicken and die. You must return to the surface. Nitrogen narcosis may lull you in thinking you can go deeper, stay longer and do more. Our job was done and it was time to return. we saved limbs on children and young adults, even though it took longer. Because of the unique situation at Cayesjacmel (the right team, at the right place, at the right time) we were able to do the job so many people sent us to do. When we left there were no more such cases pending.

I am humbled and astounded at the hundreds of people, who we have never met and who have never met each other, that helped position us to help the Haitians. From the coordinators who made us aware of the need, to Murray Hospital, the local Ford dealer, Southwest Airlines, Mission couples who housed, fed and transported us. The island charter companies and pilots (true unsung heroes, who never get credit) who flew us in and out and the hundreds who cared about and supported us. We represented your hands and hearts. I hope we did you proud. Thank you.

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