(From WEEK News 25)
Help has poured into the country, but more is needed. A group about 25 volunteers with the Friends of Children of Haiti left to help on Sunday.
Dr. Stephanie Lindstrom with Methodist Medical Center says, "It's an excellent team. I'm very excited to work with this group of people."
Dr. Lindstrom with Methodist Medical Center made the journey several years ago...and after the earthquake decided to leave her husband in charge of their three kids to help.
Lindstrom says, "The malnutrition I think is going to be worse, people who were returning to the clinic probably haven't gotten the care they need. I expect to see much worse."
The diverse professional group preparing to leave the General Wayne A Downing International Airport Sunday includes doctors, nurses, a dentist, pharmacist, physical therapist and regular joes... But they all have a common goal... Help the people of Haiti.
Lindstrom says, "It's going to be ongoing, regardless of natural disasters. Haiti is a place that's 4th world as far as services. They needed this before the earthquake... They'll need it even more now."
Ed Monroe is a retired pharmacist and is making his 11th trip to the clinic that's located south of Jacmel.
He says "They have no medical care down there. They live on 350 dollars a year. they have to pay for everything to go to the hospital. You have to pay for all of the supplies before you go in. You have to go and find them."
Each volunteer can take two fifty pound bags with them on the trip... They are full of food, supplies and toys for some of the kids.
Monroe says, "My neighborhood collected toys an I'm taking it to the kids. But the time they get to the pharmacy, they have been in the clinic grounds three hours. They may have waited for two or three days to get into the clinic, so by that time they get to me they are ready to go home. If i can give a little boy some cards, or girls a bracelet... It's a smile."
A smile...that can go along way for these volunteers... Because they expect to see 2000 patients during their 12 day trip.
Lindstrom says, "The last time I came back, it was hard to even just go to the supermarket because of all the options we have and just thinking about how little they have there."
Monroe says, "You realize how good you have it here when you come back. They have nothing. They're choosing which child to starve. So you come back here and hug your grandkids."
