AHDH Mission - Fall 2009
November 15 - November 28
As usual, the group arrived in Port au Prince at about noon.

Instead of departing immediately for Jacmel & LaVallee,
we  stayed  in  Port au Prince  to  arrange  transport
and supervise  the first shipment  of the contents of a
40 foot container  shipped  to  Haiti in February.

This container held some important cargo destined for
St. Joseph Hospital and our medical partners in other areas
It required four trips to deliver all of the equipment, but our
dedicated team of movers and drivers did the job!

One of the shipments arrived at the hospital at 2:00 am after
some truck repairs were needed on the road.

Here our x-ray machine and C-arm for the fluoroscopy unit  
and other equipment arrives at St. Joseph's Hospital.
After two days in Port au Prince taking care of business, the
team hit the road ... or actually hit the sky ... for Jacmel.

Mission Aviation Fellowship or MAF transports other
missionaries in Haiti to destinations with an air field.

Here the group loads up for the 15 minute flight. To drive from
Port au Prince to Jacmel would require almost three hours!
When we fly with a large group, we charter a larger plane
to accommodate more people and baggage.

The larger plane is a bit more comfortable, too.
Of course it's the same beautiful scenery,
and the flight time to Jacmel is about the same.
The road from Jacmel to LaVallee begins
The road in places is steep and rough, often
washed out by tropical storm rains

The road is almost always busy with trucks,
autos and the ever present mototaxi.
After about 45 minutes and 25 kilometers
we arrive in Ridore and at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The first week is spent in surgery.

We are joined by Haitian surgeons who recognize
AHDH's contributions to the health and welfare of
Haitians and have partnered with us
Dr. Louis Philippe of Cayes-Jacmel
has worked with AHDH for 4 years
Dr. Lucien Baptiste of Zanmi Lasante/Health
Partners, in Cange, Haiti
Dr. Baptiste                           Dr. Philippe
working a surgery case together
Dr. Rene assists Dr. Baptiste
Dr. Samm monitors his patient
as Dr. Baptiste operates
AHDH Volunteer Physicians
Dr. Charles Rene, Obstetrics & Gyenocology
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Dr. Paul Samm, Anesthesiology
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Dr. Charles Rene  is  a  cofounder  of
AHDH.  He was born in Haiti and has
worked  at  St. Joseph's Hospital since
1986 as a volunteer and mission leader.

Dr. Paul Samm  has volunteered  with
AHDH  to provide  anesthesia, usually
on the Fall missions.  He  doubles  as a
photographer when not busy in the OR
Many of this  mission's  photos are  his.
AHDH Surgery Volunteers
Sandra Birdsall-Rene is a Registered
Nurse specializing in Obstretrics. She
has been an AHDH Volunteer for 19
years, circulating in surgery and
assisting with OB/Gyn clinical care.

Jeanna Clark lives and works in New
York City preparing herself for an
education as an Orthopedic Surgeon.
This is her first trip with AHDH, and
we hope she returns often; one day
perhaps as a volunteer surgeon.
Sandra Birdsall-Rene, R.N.
Jeanna Clark, E.M.T., C.N.A.