Non-Surgical Conditions
Among the surgical cases Schochet
saw were new and infected wounds
and dozens of umbilical hernias
in older kids, something routinely
repaired by age 4 in the U.S.
To prepare for surgery, the doctor
retrieved semi-clean, used scrubs
from a communal box and evaluated
the operating room and equipment at
one site.
"They have one sterilizing
machine,and I was able to pull togeth-
er a mish-mosh of tools; although we
rarely had matching pairs of items," he
wrote in his journal.
Schochet expressed concerns for
the future of the Haitian people.
"There is no government, no func-
tioning civil service, no natural
resources, no infrastructure; rainy
season coming. Dare I say no hope?"
he wrote.
"The amazing thing I guess is that
the Haitians themselves don't seem to
be daunted."
During his stay, he wrote, "I have
yet to see a fight, hear an argument.
Everyone is smiling and dealing
with their problems. They appear at
first glance to be a hardy, spiritual
and resilient people, yet I wonder if
that is just based on ignorance of
how bad the situation really is long
term."
A core of young Haitian men acted
as interpreters, security personnel
and provided transportation for the
team.
"They work tirelessly for free and,
as far as I can tell, it's all volunteer:'
he wrote.
Before leaving Port-au-Prince, in
time to arrive back in Florida for
Shabbat, Schochet gave his sleeping
bag, flashlights and a duffel bag to a
translator whose family is now home-
less.
An observant Jew, he took his own
kosher food with him, leaving what
was uneaten. "As far as I know, there
were no Jews in Haiti except relief
workers, and I was the only one in my
compound:' he said. "The Haitians
How To Help
we met were very spiritual, praying
constantly"
To Give Of One's Self
Schochet, who has three young sons
with his wife, Abby, attended Akiva
Hebrew Day School in Southfield and
is a graduate of Brandeis University
near Boston and Michigan State
University's College of Human
Medicine in East Lansing.
His father and step-mother, Dr.
Claude and Rivka Schochet, still live
in West Bloomfield and are mem-
bers of the Sara and Morris Tugman
Bais Chabad Torah Center; his mom,
Bobby Schochet, lives in Silver Spring,
Md.
"I believe Elie's response is reflec-
tive of the response of the Israeli
government, which immediately
dispatched a large group of doctors
to Haiti to establish the first field
hospital there said Rabbi Elimelech
Silberberg of the Torah Center in
West Bloomfield.
"The two countries that responded
immediately in a very significant
way were Israel and the U.S.A., both
countries that are built on the Judeo-
Christian ethic that is based on Torah.
"As Jews, we take for granted the
need to extend kindness and help
to all people in need regardless of
nationality or religion. The response
of people like Elie and other Israelis
and Americans should give us all rea-
son to pause and think about the rich
legacy of Torah and our obligations
towards mankind."
Schochet says his stint in Haiti was
based on "the strong sense of social
consciousness in trying to do good
and help wherever one can."
"To do Third World medicine is
definitely addicting:' he said.
"Taking a few days off from co-
pays, insurances and hospital politics
to step back and remember exactly
why I trained to do what I do, and be
able to just give of yourself and help
people is intoxicating. I will definitely
be doing something like this again;
hopefully in Haiti. 0
Die Schochet has pledged to raise funds for the cost of medications
and supplies for upcoming Holy Cross medical relief missions. To make
a donation, access the Web site at haitimedrelief.blogspot.com or send
a check, payable to Holy Cross Hospital, to Holy Cross Hospital, c/o Elie
Schochet, Department of Surgery, 1960 NE 47th St., Suite 102, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33308. Make notation: "Medicines for Haiti." Schochet's
blogspot also includes additional journal entries and photos.
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February 11
2010
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