July 2009

Mission brings chiropractic to thousands

by Peter Morgan, DC

Part 1 -- Haiti

By now, I'm used to going on humanitarian mission trips to developing countries in order to bring the healing power of chiropractic to people who need it most. But there was something special about this latest trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which I made with 10 other DCs from March 31 to April 4. I don't think I was ever prouder of my colleagues and my profession!

I'm sure none of my companions will ever forget the trip. As you enter Haiti your senses are immediately heightened. There is no vegetation, garbage is everywhere, and you can't help but cringe at the terrible odor.

In 1925, Haiti was lush, with 60% of its original forest covering the lands and mountainous regions. Since then, all but an estimated two percent of its original forest cover has been cut down, destroying fertile farmland soils. All you see for miles is bare dirt.

Erosion has been severe in the mountainous areas and most reforestation efforts have so far met with little success. Needless to say Haiti is in an environmental crisis.

As everywhere, poverty can lead to violence and we realized we might be facing a crisis ourselves. Before entering the country, we were warned by the US State Department of "ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom," and that "there is potential for looting, the erection of intermittent roadblocks set by armed protestors or by the police, and an increased possibility of random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed robbery and assault."

In fact, our government advises citizens to defer non-essential travel to Haiti. But bringing chiropractic to the people in Haiti is essential. We're on a mission from God -- and DD Palmer. Naturally, we took precautions and hired a guide along with three very large bodyguards.

On our first day in Haiti, we visited a small hospital where thousands of people had been waiting for us for two weeks. From in the morning to six at night, we adjusted approximately 1,700 people of all ages on our portable chiropractic tables.

The chiropractic team spoke English, Spanish and Italian, but most people in Haiti speak only French and Creole. We had a translator write a sign with four lines of print that said: Nice to meet you ...

Face up ... Face down ... On your side. We'd just point to the sign indicating how we wanted them on the table.

Many patients had serious problems. People presented with oozing tumors and giant goiters. They were promptly adjusted and referred to the MDs in the hospital. Most don't have the money needed for medical care and have to wait until mission doctors arrive.

Most of our patients had neuromusculoskeletal symptoms and protein deficiencies. Some had diphtheria, croup, inflammation of the bowels, pneumonia. Many of the patients responded well with one or two chiropractic adjustments. The chronic diseases will take much longer to affect a permanent cure.

This is why we need mission chiropractors there on a more regular basis. It's beginning to happen in the Dominican Republic, but we need more volunteers in Haiti.

On that first evening, the sun set about six o'clock and since there's no electricity in whole country other than a few people with private generators, we gathered at a candle-lit restaurant. It was very exhilarating walking through candle-lit streets.

The next morning, church bells rang at five o'clock and thousands of people headed off to the local Catholic or Baptist church. We traveled to a hospital in a town about 150 miles away, where we were scheduled to see patients all day, with a short break for lunch.

Thousands of people were waiting for us and, 5,000 adjustments later we made our way toward the Dominican Republic border. All I could think was how nice it will be to take a hot shower and feel some air conditioning again. It had been a brutal 101 degrees for three straight days and our showers were cold without any water pressure.

As I was thinking this, I looked out the window and saw 50 or more people gathered in a small concrete area. About 10 more people were formed in a line and, at the end of the line, one person was pumping water out of a well into a bucket. The buckets were passed down the line to a few people standing atop chairs, who threw the water on the heads of the crowd. Others poured soap solutions and yet others scrubbed using archaic brushes.

Imagine taking a shower 50 people deep. Imagine living with no running water and where an outhouse is a luxury. I stopped and took a minute to thank God for my three days of cold water with bad pressure.

We continued on to the Dominican Republic and the second leg of our chiropractic mission. Part 2 of the story will appear in an upcoming issue of The Chiropractic Journal.

For more information on Mission-Chiropractic, contact Dr. Peter Morgan at chirorye@aol.com  or 646-323-9254.