Provide Rehabilitative Care in northern Haiti

Spring has sprung and it seems there is finally a light at the end of the COVID tunnel! We personally cannot wait for restaurants to open back up again so we can get some of that Haitian food we have been missing and craving this past year! While COVID is slowing down in most of the United States, it is still wreaking havoc on Haiti. Food and gas insecurities are now the norm coupled with growing economic instability. Hospitals and clinics continue to be limited by supply and staff shortages and are unable to consistently take in patients. That being said, the STAND clinic is making the best of it. Our pediatric clinic continues to grow exponentially, and the adult clinic is really taking off.

Nickolson is working hard to grow the adult clinic and his hard work is paying off. He now sees several patients a day with a variety of diagnoses from stroke, orthopedic injuries to complicated neuro diagnosis. In addition to working with the patients on their physical needs, he also continues to educate them about COVID, blood pressure and diabetes. The most exciting addition to our adult clinic is our treadmill! It has travelled a long way to get to us with many delays along the way, but it is finally here! In addition, we also have new exercise bikes, medicine balls and strengthening equipment, thanks to some very generous donors back in the States. This equipment will allow our patients to learn how to use proper body mechanics, strengthen weak muscles, and work on their cardiovascular fitness. We can’t wait to get back to the clinic to see all the amazing work Nicholson has done!

The outreach and pediatric clinics continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Autumn, Marthe and the rehab techs see several kids each a day for education, strengthening, sensory integration and equipment and bracing needs. In addition, the vitamin and nutrition program is growing rapidly with 250 children enrolled. Though this past year had been rough, the STAND clinic has been able to send children to Port au Prince for life saving surgeries. Derniska is one of those children. Derniska has a large mass on her pancreas that was life threatening. Thanks to our STAND family, were able to raise the funds for her travel and surgery and she is now back home and fully recovered!

This year has not been easy for anyone and we are so blown away by how giving you all have been. Your contributions have allowed us to COVID-ize the clinic, provide much needed education to the community and to keep our clinic open. Please continue to keep us in your minds as we need your help to keep the clinic open and to continue to keep is safe for all our patients.