Austinite Hopes Haiti Mission Will Inspire Others to Serve

My name is Sarena Green, and I work as a registered nurse in Austin.  Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Haiti as part of a medical missions team.  Our team was comprised of orthopedic surgeons, surgical assistants, anesthesiologists, an internal medicine doctor, and family physician.  There were three nurses, myself included.  Due to our well rounded team and graciously donated medical supplies, we were able to open up our own hospital clinic in Haiti.  Our hospital was on the grounds of Mission of Hope for Haiti, a 70 acre orphanage that resides approximately ten miles outside of Port-au-Prince.  Our team essentially turned a clinic building into a functioning hospital overnight: 1 operating room, 1 ER/ICU, 1 PACU (recovery unit), 1 recovery ward, and 1 pharmacy. For six days, our team had the privilege to serve the people of Haiti.

Our surgeons performed various surgeries: amputations, amputation revisions, external fixations for open limb fractures, and casting for closed limb fractures.  We worked 18-19 hour shifts everyday. Your body was drained, but your heart was full.  The Haitians are strong, resilient, and thankful beyond measure.  Every patient blessed me more than I blessed them, I am quite certain.  In the midst of chaos during our time there, relationships were formed with these patients.  We had the opportunity to laugh with them (mostly over language barriers), pray with them, and shed tears with them.

One patient in particular struck our hearts.  Her name was Dani.  She was sixteen years old, and had suffered a left arm amputation (which she partially had to sever herself, in order to make it out of the rubble alive).  As she was brought to the post-op ward late one evening, we had the joyful opportunity to pray with her (via a translator).  As tears streamed down her face (and ours), we prayed and sang with Dani.  It was a beautiful and humbling moment to be a part of, and I pray I never forget it.  She was sixteen years old had lost her left arm, had no idea where her parents were, but her faith was real and alive.  Her faith was inspiring to us all.

This trip to Haiti changed our hearts, and I pray to return soon.

Our team was the first to set up a now functioning hospital on the grounds of Mission of Hope Orphanage and currently there are medical teams that rotate every week, sustaining this hospital clinic. For more information pertaining to our specific trip opportunity, go here.

We all have a part to play in Haiti's restoration whether through service, prayer, or fundraisers.  Be creative.  Dream big.