St. Alexius Doctors Return From Haiti Encouraged and Hopeful
Posted on 4/26/2010
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Just moments after hearing about the powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, Bill Cleary, MD, knew he wanted to do something to help the thousands of injured residents. At the same time, retired physician Ray Gruby, MD, began making plans for a trip of his own. More than two months later the two have returned from a trip together to the devastated country, proud to have helped and hopeful for the people of Haiti.
The two physicians traveled as a medical team. Dr. Cleary is a full-time anesthesiologist at St. Alexius. Dr. Gruby is a retired orthopedic surgeon from The Bone & Joint Center. Together, they used their skills to treat Haitians who have been living the last several weeks with untreated wounds and broken bones.
“On any given day, we performed between 15 to 30 procedures,” says Dr. Cleary. “We saw patients who were paralyzed, many battling severe infections and more people who had lost limbs than we care to count. But we still saw hope through it all.”
They say while there is plenty of work yet to be done in Haiti, they’re encouraged by what they saw and hopeful for the people of Haiti.
“Through wound care, surgical procedures, good news and bad news, the Haitian people persevere,” says Dr. Gruby. “We have learned so much. We have so much to give, and we should do so freely.”