Welcome to my blog about the recovery effort in Haiti!

Hi! I'm a physical therapist who has made a couple of trips to Haiti to volunteer after the earthquake. I named this blog 'I left my heart in Haiti' because that's what happens when you go to Haiti. You go to help the people, to change their lives. Then somehow before you know it, you realize it is they who have changed you.


There are so many wonderful people and groups providing assistance in Haiti, I wanted to create a central place to highlight them all. I hope to include information about different local and international organizations and people, stories from the field, and ways to support the work that will continue in Haiti for many years. If you like would me to include your story or organization, drop me a line!















Saturday, July 24, 2010

Donate to Project Medishare!

I have started a fundraising team for Project Medishare! You can join the team or make a donation by clicking on the link below:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=340675&supId=297241951

Help me reach the goal of raising $2000 for Project Medishare!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Global Therapy Group: Looking for PT/OT volunteers


After the January 12 earthquake in Port-Au-Prince, two dedicated physical therapists from St. Louis decided to make a difference. They created Global Therapy Partners and immediately partnered with Haitian Community Hospital in Petion-Ville, an area of Port-Au-Prince.
They are committed to providing rehab volunteers for the next two years, and are instituting a technician training program so local Haitians can continue to care for their own people.
Accomodations are available.
For more information please check out their website at http://www.globaltherapygroup.org/ or contact Donna at dhutchinson@globaltherapy.org For more information about the hospital, you can check out their webiste at http://www.haitihosp.org/

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Global Therapy Group Fundraiser, St. Louis, MO

Global Therapy Group provides rehab volunteers to Haiti Community Hospital in Port Au Prince. They will be hosting an exciting evening of live music, food, and libations at:
The Warehouse
2501 S. Jefferson Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63104

July 17th, 7 - 11 pm.

This event will feature the photography of Jim Sicile taken during his March trip to Haiti.

For more information, contact Donna Hutchinson, President, Global Therapy Group at dhutchinson@globaltherapygroup.org

Project Medishare






Project Medishare is a non-profit organization that has been functioning in Haiti for over 15 years. Founded in 1994 by Drs. Barth Green and Arthur Fournier of the University of Miami, Project Medishare is dedicated to sharing its technical and human resources with its Haitian partners in the quest to acheive quality healthcare and development services for all. Project Medishare has many programs in Haiti, including school health programs, community health and agriculture programs.






Immediately after the earthquake, Project Medishare set up a field hospital at the Port-Au-Prince Airport. The 300 bed tent hospital functioned to provide the first NICU in Haiti's history. See the four large tents in the picture? The tent on the right housed staff, the two central tents were the adult, pediatric, ICU and OR, and the tent on the left was supply, affectionately called 'Cost-co.'




In June, the hospital partnered with Hopital Bernard Mevs and all patients and staff were transferred to an actual building complex. Here Project Medishare volunteers are working alongside local staff to continue providing care while training local staff.






AS OF THIS POSTING, Medishare is only taking medical volunteers. There are currently no out of pocket costs for volunteers once in Miami. Volunteers are housed in airconditioned rooms on site, with indoor showers and toilets. MRE's and 2 meals a day are provided. Purified water on site. As a bonus, the UN restaurant delivers on site! Volunteers are also able to take tours of the city.
If you would like to volunteer with or donate to this organization, please check out their website at http://www.projectmedishare.org/