Empowering Communities in Haiti Through the Gift of Rehabilitation

In April 2015, Back in Motion Physical Therapy™ Co-Owner Michel Brunet joined 17 medical professionals from around the world and traveled to Port-de-Paix, Haiti.

It was all part of the Phoenix Rising for Haiti mission to provide medical and rehabilitation treatments in this northwest region of Haiti.

“We basically restore health and functional mobility; providing evaluation and treatment of all kinds of medical conditions. We provide prosthetics, orthopedics, and physical therapy, among others things,” said Brunet.

A city of 60,000 people, Port-de-Paix is one of the poorest regions of Haiti and is in desperate need of medical attention.

“90% of the people we see have never met a doctor in their lifetime. It’s mind blowing. Last year I had two patients that were in their 90s and had never met a doctor before.”

In just a week the group treated 600 patients averaging about 25 minutes to an hour per visit. People would walk 2 to 3 hours just to come to the clinic and then wait in the heat and humidity for a couple of hours to be seen.

“The amazing part is that it would be 4 or 5 in the morning when it’s still dark out and you would start waking up because you were hearing voices. People were already lining up at the door.”

“The people are just so gracious. They actually wear their Sunday best to come and see us. It’s an event to come see the doctor. There was a little kid, about 3 or 4 years old, who had torn up shoes. We bring as many supplies as we can and a lot of the supplies are shoes. I found the perfect pair of sneakers for this kid. The smile on that child was priceless! It was like I had just given him one of the biggest gifts in the world.”

This year the group returned for two weeks in April and plans to do another visit in October. The ultimate goal is to create a network of sustainable rehabilitation clinics throughout rural Haiti. Eventually it will be run by Haitian professionals.

For more information on Phoenix Rising for Haiti: http://www.phoenixrisingforhaiti.org/

By Kelly LaBrecque

Back in Motion Physical Therapy – Vice President of Public Relations