Out of the rubble

6 Months Later...

2010-07-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

It has been six months since the earthquake and the need still continues. Some experts are predicting that it could take up to 20 years to remove all of the rubble. The U.N. estimates that 1.5 million Haitians are currently living in camps. Loma Linda University and AHI continue their work with Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti.

"Out of the Rubble" premiered at the General Conference session in Atlanta, GA. It will be making it's broadcast premier later this year on KVCR. We're also working on a "Sebastien cut", which will focus more on our friend Sebastien. We're hoping to send that version off to film festivals. Until then please continue to share "Out of the Rubble".

Out of the Rubble from Loma Linda University on Vimeo.

"Out of the Rubble"

2010-06-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Our half-hour version of "Out of the Rubble" is done. Please share it.

Out of the Rubble from Loma Linda University on Vimeo.

Trailer is ready

2010-03-25T09:39:00.001-07:00

We've finished the trailer for the documentary. Pass it on.

Mass immunization campaign in Haiti

2010-03-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

On February 18, 2010 we were witness to a large mass immunization campaign at the Haitian Adventist University in Port-au-Prince where over 20.000 people live in tents temporary after the earthquake. The campaign was arranged by ADRA, US Navy, US Marines and the US Public Health Service.

Best viewed in 720p HD!

Earthquake Aftermath: Sebastien

2010-03-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is just one of 1600 video clips

2010-03-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Best viewed in 720p HD!

Hopes and Fears...

2010-03-05T11:22:00.001-08:00

“Nothing is yet in its true form."
--C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces

The hope is that one day, perhaps thirty years from now, Haitians will be able to look back and see the devastating earthquake of 2010 as a positive turning point for their country. A time when the world community rose up, took a stand against poverty and collectively said that we will not allow over 200,000 people to die from an earthquake.

I don’t think this is going to be the reality. From what I saw and heard it seems as though it is perfectly acceptable to return Haiti to the state it was in pre-earthquake. Field hospitals are starting to leave, news crews are getting fewer and fewer, all the while many, many Haitians still do not have a roof over their head, access to clean water, food, a job, and proper sanitation seems to be nonexistent.

In the face of all of this the Haitian people are resilient if not hopeful. One person told me that they know they are not the first nation to deal with a natural disaster on this scale and they will not be the last. You have to wonder if coping with hurricanes and mudslides has somehow, in some small way, helped the Haitians deal with their current situation. When bodies are still decaying under the rubble six weeks after the earthquake, it’s hard to remain positive.

The people that I met in Haiti were wonderful, beautiful people. I don’t think I talked to a single person that is living in a house, has a job, or didn’t lose a family member in the quake. Even though they are hurting and don’t know what their immediate future might hold, there was some kind of hope there. It’s hard to figure out where that comes from, maybe it’s the spirit of the Haitian people or the many obstacles that they have had to overcome, but it’s there. Even if the world community fails the small island country of Haiti, I believe that small bit of hope will not die.

Day of Earthquake

2010-03-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

We met a friend who took video the day of the earthquake and for the next few days. Below are a few still photos from that video, some of them are pretty graphic.

The Last Day in Haiti

2010-03-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

Our last day ended up being like most last days, busy. Cosmin ended up going to a neighborhood where something like 90 percent of the homes were destroyed. Many dead bodies are still decaying under the rubble there.

Meanwhile I was with Sebastien’s Uncle and we found a driver and headed to the house where Sebastien was trapped for three days. That was really sobering. Standing there beside Sebastien’s Uncle knowing that his mother (Sebastien’s Grandmother) was dead under the rubble of the house in front of me. Looking at the house it’s hard to imagine that anyone survived.

Thanks to a tip from Dr. Archer, the medical director of the hospital, we found someone who had taken video the day of the earthquake and for the next three days. We got a copy of the footage and it is unbelievable. People are running around screaming, covered in dust, carrying people on their shoulders, dragging corpses out of the rubble, the streets are crowded, and it just goes on and on.

Our trip has been a good one. I think that we both hope that what we do can somehow positively effects the Haitian people. What do you do when people come up to you and ask if you can help them with the necessities of life. Water, food, shelter. These are things that many, many Haitians don’t have access to.

Now the edit begins. For the next few months we'll be editing the film, working out the story lines and reliving our experience everyday through our footage.

Femoral Nailing

2010-02-27T08:34:00.000-08:00

Femoral Nailing surgery by Blake Stamper M.D. Orthopedist, Scott Nelson M.D. Orthopedist, Daniel Patton 4th year M.D. student, M. Antoine Louis-Jacques, M.D. Anesthesiology, Terra Lipuma – Surgical Tech, Lisa Dallman Surgical Nurse.

We were attacked tonight

2010-02-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

These kids were looking for trouble tonight. Mike and I thought we should go outside for some "fresh" air after filming inside the hospital. The moment we stepped outside the hospital door around twenty kids approached us and wanted to hang around and play. We had lots of fun with these kids. When they see a camera they want you to take their picture and show it to them, over and over again!

Photos of the Day

2010-02-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Some portraits from this morning.

Hospital Signage

There was a short interpreter strike this morning

My earthquake disaster kit

Sights from around the hospital

2010-02-25T19:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some random photos from around the hospital from the last two days. Some volunteers have left, others have come. Life goes on at the hospital. More updates to follow soon.

2010-02-25T11:35:00.001-08:00

A photo of the hospital

2010-02-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Here is another photo of the Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti in Port-au-Prince.

We Are The World in Haiti

2010-02-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

While walking by the reception desk at the hospital today Cosmin found our friend here watching a music video on his cell phone.

Dr. David Marks talks about Haiti

2010-02-24T03:51:00.000-08:00

Visit from the physical therapist

2010-02-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

A physical therapist came to the hospital grounds today to check and change the amputee patients dressings. This nice Italian lady helped Sebastien change his dressing even though he more or less did the job himself at her big surprise and amusement. Here are some photos to tell this story:

Aftershocks...

2010-02-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

The last few nights we’ve been having some aftershocks. A couple of 4.7s and at least one smaller quake. They seem to happen conveniently at times like 4:30 am or 1:45 am. These little quakes probably wouldn’t even make me roll over in bed back in California, but here in Haiti it’s a little different. The hospital building is strong and it’s been cleared by the US Army Corp of Engineers which makes me feel a bit better, but it’s still not a pleasant way to wake up.

It’s the sound of things shaking that wakes me up, then you start to hear people screaming. When these quakes hit a lot of the patients take off running wether they have IVs in or not. You’ll see mother’s grab their children and run for the exits. Understandably, anytime the earth starts to heave the Haitian people are very weary.

Last night Cosmin and I were hanging out with Sebastien. Just before we headed inside he told us he was worried that while we were asleep the building would fall down and hurt us. We tried to reassure him that we would be alright but I don’t think he was convinced.

Junior, one of the guys that we’ve been following is probably leaving the camp today. He lost part of his leg in the earthquake. He has two little kids, a young wife, and nowhere to live.

Dr. David Marks left for home this morning. He did some really, really amazing work down in the ER while here. If I ever get sick he’s the guy I want taking care of me. I don’t know how many lives he saved and impacted while he was here, but it is certainly a large number.

Cosmin and I at the front gate.

Things got a little unruly at the gate of the hospital yesterday.

Done with the treatment, what next?

2010-02-23T11:50:00.001-08:00

Over the last weeks Mike and I have spent a good amount of time in the tent camps on the hospital grounds with the amputee patients. These patients have amazing stories to tell. Once we got to know them, they opened up and told us about their life here in Haiti. They tell us stories of the moments from the big earthquake and how they were trapped, trampled on and within seconds became homeless.
These stories are so horrific that they all seem unreal. Unfortunately, all the stories are real.

When we ask them about the hope for the future, their hope is lost. All they want to do is to survive the present. A young man came and sat next to me yesterday afternoon. Most of the time when people come over they are hungry or thirsty and want me to help them out with food or water. And sometimes they ask for money.
This young man did not ask for any of this. All he asked me was if I wanted to be his friend. He told me that he does not want to ask me for any of my money, just my friendship. Then he continued to tell me about how all his parents and relatives passed away during the earthquake and how he was a lone survivor. Now he is living on the streets and is looking for things to do or a job where he could earn some money to survive. He does not have a tent or a tarp and sleeps under the sky. He told me that he thinks something is now wrong with his head and just wanted to talk to me.

Every day we hear stories like this one. People carefully approach us and want to tell you their story. It seems like there is an urgent need for therapy down here in Haiti. And what makes things even more difficult is the traumatic stress people are experiencing with the still ongoing aftershocks on a daily basis. Waking up in the middle of the night by 4.7 rumbles and hearing people scream and running outside is not a pleasant experience.

The people of Haiti are suffering and have a long way to go to a “normal” life. Their stories need to be told and the rest of the world needs to help and support them for a long time to come. Their biggest fortune is their attitude and friendship. They are caring for each other and are always ready to help one another and the foreign volunteers that are here to help.

Sebastien's Interview

2010-02-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

We spent most of today with Sebastien. This little 8-year-old has been through more in three days than most of us will go through in a lifetime. He's still got a smile on his face most of the time though, and I think we've found ourselves a new cameraman.

A sobering tour through downtown Port-au-Prince

2010-02-21T14:46:00.001-08:00

Here are a few photos I took while driving through downtown Port-au-Prince the other day.

Last Night

2010-02-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

We hung out in the ER for a few hours last night, but like usual when we’re there it’s slow. But, in peds an approximately 27-week-old baby came in. She was born in the camp outside the hospital, she still had some dirt on her. Every effort was made to transfer her to a medical facility that could provide life support but none could be found. The nurse on duty called a doctor in the US to get some advice, the doctor gave her a 50 percent chance of surviving the night. At 2am the baby was doing good but the mother was running a fever.

We made it until about 2am and then crashed. We had been up since about 5:30am Saturday morning.

Today the plan is to get some interviews, talk with a patient outside who lost his leg and has a wife and two small children, and spend some more time with Sebastien.

Night Shift

2010-02-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight we’re going to hang out in the ER, the night shift. We’ll see how long we last (it was an early morning). We’re going to try and go on a transport or two. Seems like the transports usually go to the Miami Field Hospital or the USS Comfort. When they leave transports will probably come to this hospital. We’ll bring along Cosmin’s LED Cool Light and it could be a good low light test for the 7d.

This morning we rode along on an airport trip. One of the orthopedic surgeons was heading home. We drove through downtown, saw the palace and the devastation around Port-au-Prince.

Video Update

2010-02-20T11:36:00.001-08:00

Impressions from around the hospital

2010-02-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

Shipments of supplies arrive at the hospital. These boxes contained saline.

Patients out in the tents receiving food from the Supreme Master Ching Hai Chefs. This is a very popular event in the camp. This group of people makes an enormous effort preparing over 4000 meals for hospital staff and patients every day.

Patient identification chart in the ER.

Dr. Brock Cummings, MD Orthopedic Surgeon writing down memories from the day.

The 89 year old dentist in the forest

2010-02-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

While on an excursion across the street from the hospital we came across these two dentists working underneath some tall trees. Keith Canwell and Ted Fleig from ACTS World Relief were busy seeing patients and pulling out their teeth. Today’s amount: 45! And there were lots of patients still waiting to see them.
At the age of 89, Dr. Fleig lays the patient’s head on his leg and starts working. These two dentists did some impressive work out there by the trees. We thought their location was especially interesting.

Sebastien's Video

2010-02-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

Impressions from Thursday

2010-02-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

The day starts with a morning meeting at 7:30am in front of the hospital.

Its only early morning, but some medical volunteers have worked all night and are taking advantage of an empty air mattress.

We headed out to a neighboring University Campus where over 15.000 people live. A mass vaccination was happening.

At the University we found pastor Trofort, a very friendly US Navy SDA chaplain.

End of the day MRE

2010-02-18T15:48:00.001-08:00

I came across an interesting scene this afternoon. While I was passing the hospital chapel I saw a bunch of young volunteers peeking through some small holes in the wall anxiously awaiting their name to be called out by the chaplain.

One young man told me that the chaplain is calling out names of selected volunteers who had helped out throughout the day and that they would receive food packages. Around twenty of them were concentrating and listening for their name to be called out.

Once they heard their name being called out, they stormed through the door of the chapel and received an US Military MRE (Meal Ready to Eat).

What an experience to watch this food lottery!

Sebastien

2010-02-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

Today was our first day with a translator, what a treat. He’s been pretty good so far, Simone was an english teacher until the earthquake. The going rate for a translator is $10 a day, other labor $5 a day. Today we started Sebastien’s story, he’s 8 years old and had to have one leg amputated after the earthquake. His house collapsed, his aunt was told that everyone in the house was dead. Three days later she heard Sebastien’s voice. The next day a hospital put a dressing on his leg, three days after that he came to Hopital Adventiste d’Haiti and had to have the leg amputated. I asked him what it was like in the rubble, he said that he was trapped beside a dead body. I asked him if he was scared, he said no. He’s full of energy, happy, loves the camera, and is living in a tent outside the hospital in the post-op area. His aunt is taking care of him and his uncle comes from 110 km away every few days to see how he is doing. It seems as though that whole section of the camp has taken him under their collective wing.

Today I had five people come up to me and ask if i could help them find a job. One young guy had lived in the US for 13 years but was deported after overstaying his visa. He speaks perfect english, creole, and spanish but can’t find work as a translator.

Refugees in their hometown

2010-02-17T19:02:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update today. We walked to the nearby University where 15,000 people are living in tents and ran into a clinic being run by ADRA Spain. It seems to be the only working clinic serving these people. We also stopped by ADRA headquarters, a German helicopter team flies in everyday from the DR and takes supplies from ADRA’s warehouse to more remote areas of Haiti. ADRA is working with the UN and it sounds like they’re in charge of getting food to the people living in PAP's neighborhood of Carrefour, a pretty big place. We also hung out with some of the people living in the post-op tents, I showed them some video that I shot which they seemed to enjoy. We got some good stories in the ER tonight. A 67 year old woman who has had a dislocated and broken hip since the earthquake, a 4 day old baby almost died but once they got an IV in she seemed to really perk up, and another child who had a skin infection (we think she was found in some dirty water after the earthquake). Tomorrow is our first day with a translator, can’t wait.

Also, I think all the pictures so far have been taken by Cosmin.

The Principal

2010-02-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

We talked to Armand today he was the principal of a school before it was demolished in the earthquake. The school was full but somehow all 300 plus students were able to get out before it came crashing down, Armand was almost crushed by a wall. His house is gone too, now his family is living in a tent. Armand went to Brooklyn College and now has no job, nowhere to go, and nothing to do. He’s worried about what will happen to his family when it starts to rain. From all appearances it seems as though Armand was better off than most Haitians before the earthquake. We’re thinking about hiring him as our interpreter for a day.

Video from Port-au-Prince

2010-02-16T17:51:00.000-08:00

Port-au-Prince, Haiti Feb. 15-16 2010 from Michael Wolcott on Vimeo.

More photos from Tuesday

2010-02-16T16:31:00.001-08:00

Here are some more photos taken on Tuesday at the hospital.

Photos Tuesday

2010-02-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

Port-au-Prince Hillside

Patients tents in front of the hospital

Hopital d'Adventiste, Port-au-Prince

First Day in Haiti

2010-02-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

February 15, 2010

Woke up this morning at 3am in Santo Domingo in order to take the mini-bus at 4am to Port-au-Prince. There were 10 of us in a 9 person mini-bus plus luggage. The roads in the Dominican Republic seemed to be pretty good, I was nodding off most of the way to the border. We got to the border around 9am and the DR side is crazy. Trucks are everywhere, tons of people walking around, we were just waved through, the border seems to be completely open, didn’t even check our passports. We got to the outskirts of Port-au-Prince fairly quickly and I was thinking we’d make it to the hospital by noon at the latest, wrong. Traffic in town is awful, at times we probably sat for 10-20 minutes without moving an inch, and the mini-bus overheated 3 times. At first the destruction didn’t look so bad, then we got deeper into the city and it is unbelievable. The places where our mini-bus overheated seemed to be some of the hardest hit areas. Buildings are flattened, ones that are standing look like they could fall over at any moment. People are living all over, there are tent cities in what look like old parks, there are tent cities in the medians of roads. There seems to be very little heavy machinery, I think I saw one bulldozer and one backhoe. We did see some troops, French, USA, Spanish, Italian.

We were almost at the hospital when we had to drive up what was basically a stream. A gravel road, very large gravel, with water running down it. We came to one part where the driver had to gun it to get through without getting stuck and the spare tire was ripped off. It sounded awful, I thought we had lost a wheel or an axle was damaged.

Finally we made it to the hospital, two kids immediately came up to me. One asked for money the other for food. One, I think his name is Claude, might end up being a character for us. He’s got a great smile and he’s really outgoing. We got our stuff upstairs, started to settle in, then took off to shoot an orthopedic surgery. A 95 year-old woman had broken her femur the day before, hopefully tomorrow we can talk to her and her family. We’ll have to find us a translater.

En route

2010-02-14T04:09:00.000-08:00

Just got into the Atlanta airport, there's snow on the ground, it's 27 degrees outside, we've got 3 hours until our flight to Santo Domingo takes off. 90 degrees and high humidity await us.

2010-02-12T13:20:00.001-08:00

I think I have all of my equipment packed. Just made our last run to Costco for a few things, still have to do a Trader Joe’s and Target trip. I’m starting to get a little excited, still figuring out our final transportation to Port-au-Prince and a few small details but overall I think we’re almost ready to go. We were going to post a picture of our equipment piled up but it wasn’t that impressive. We’re taking a lot of stuff but still traveling light. We’ll be shooting on a Panasonic HPX-170 and a Canon 7d, running sound into the HPX-170 with a Sennheiser G2 wireless kit, a Sennheiser ME66, and a Sanken CS-1. We’ll be trying to use a Zoom H2 for ambient stereo sound, it’ll be interesting to see how that works. I love the CS-1, the ME66 not so much. Just under 36 hours before our first flight takes off, hope the weather in ATL isn’t too bad on Sunday.

2010-02-09T15:15:00.001-08:00

In five days we start our journey to Haiti. Cosmin, myself and three medical students from Loma Linda University are traveling together. Our route is: red eye to Atlanta, flight to Santo Domingo Sunday morning, bus to Port-au-Prince Monday morning. For the first time we’ll be shooting video on a dslr, the Canon 7d, it’s very exciting. We’ll also be using a Panasonic HPX-170 and a small AVCHD camera (if we need it). So far our biggest challenge is figuring out what food and now much to bring. I’ve shot in a few developing countries before, but this is the first time we’ll have to be pretty much completely self-sufficient. There’s a possibility that there will be some food for us at the hospital, but we want to take up as little resources as possible. We’ll try and keep this blog updated as much as possible with photos and video as long as we can scrounge enough bandwidth.