Léogâne

At 4:53 in the afternoon on January 12 a rumbling in the ground began. It would last for 35 seconds, but in that time 316,000 people would die. Three million people would be affected. 250,00 homes, and 30,000 buildings would be destroyed. Greater than 1,000,000 people would find themselves homeless, and the world would take notice of the poor nation of Haiti during yet another natural disaster.


The epicenter of the earthquake was in Léogâne., one and a half to three hours West of Port au Prince, this is where we would make our home for the first week of arrival. Like Port au Prince the area has picked up considerably over the past year, but the lasting effects of the earthquake are still in every sight.




Our base of operations for the first week was the Heart to Heart Volunteer Center that opened here several weeks ago. Protected by a full wall and gates, the yard also is home to a Hospitals for Hope Clinic In A Can that can provide full power via generator. The clinic has two exam rooms and a pharmacy staffed by a Haitian pharmacist. This clinic is usually run by Dr. Reubens, a Haitian physician employed by Heart to Heart, but on some days other docs will step in to cover the patient visits, like Maryclaire and I did on Thursday.




Across from the center is a small tent city with livestock including cattle and horses roaming and grazing.



Daily, we would leave from the Volunteer Center with cases of meds, and head out to remote areas for open-air clinics with our translators.


We were surprised and overjoyed when we arrived after a long day from Port au Prince to find our good friend Sue sitting at the dinner table waiting for us Monday afternoon, who would share our adventures with us during our trip.




-Aaron