Everyone,
Today started out as a beautiful day and we all left the
hotel very early this morning and headed to the Government Teaching Hospital
where we were expected and was introduced to the doctors and nursing staff
during grand rounds. The hospital Director
invited us to work with them in serving the people of Naples .
Dr. Parikh remained at the hospital to perform some angioplasties scheduled
yesterday. The remaining team members then purchased supplies to share with the
day's needy clients. We then proceeded to the Helping Hands hospital in the upper
mountainous area but the amount of patients there very limited. The Red Cross representative
for the area then invited our team to serve higher up the mountain and he along
with his team would accompany us. We then elected to do just that and drove through
some unsteady roads by mini van as far as the vehicle could take us; we then
trekked about half hour to the mountain top and immediate set up a mobile
clinic. We had serve about fifty to sixty clients when the earthquake struck.
It was the most awful and disturbing feeling to watch the genuine fear in the
people's eyes. Women and children started crying, some clients clung to our
providers refusing to let go while everyone started running to an open field.
Everyone seemed confused and very worried. We were told by the Red Cross worker
that we were the first medical team to come so far into their village to serve
the people. When the earth settled we decided to climb back down to safety. We
then rushed to the hospital to locate Dr. Parikh because all phone service was
disabled and found mass confusion. Patients were in the street, medical staff
and doctors all trying to keep the patients and their family calm. We connected
with Dr. Parikh and everyone started cheering. Our team then returned to the
hotel and waited for the trekking team who arrived to cheers, hugs and kisses
by us all.
We then had a brief meeting decided to change hotel location
and settled on the Radisson. The United
States Army are also staying at the same
hotel. During dinner I asked if anyone wanted to return home that we would do
all in our power to get them home. Up to date no one has volunteered to return home. Tomorrow we will access the situation
again and then decide where to serve. We are most welcomed by some NGOs here.
Thanks for your support!!!!!
Rey Agard
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