One of the first medical treatment flights to Haiti returned late last night with a group of earthquake survivors who were happy to be back in South Florida.
Three University of Miami students and a small number of other patients, seven in all, arrived at Fort Lauderdale Airport late last night, and were immediately taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for treatment.
The flight, which left from South Florida early yesterday, carried a small number of UM doctors and nurses.
One of the personnel, Dr. Leo Harris, accompanied the injured back to South Florida and described the catastrophic conditions he encountered.
"It really is devastating, the country is completely devastated," said Harris. "I've never seen anything like this in my entire life."
Harris helped carry the wounded passengers off the plane, including a young boy with bandages all over his body.
One of the passengers on the plane was Christa Brelsford, a grad student from Arizona State who was volunteering in Haiti when the earthquake struck. The 25-year-old was one of the first evacuated by the team of UM doctors.
She is now a patient at Jackson's Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, where her right foot was amputated.
With her brother still stuck in Haiti, Brelsford's parents are flying to Miami from their home in Anchorage, Alaska. Brelsford is happy to be alive and greatful for the medical care she has gotten, her family said.
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The team of doctors, led by Dr. Barth Green, brought supplies and equipment yesterday, but Harris said they still need more.
"There's a compromise of the infrastructure, it's just devastating," Harris said. "A lot of patients are sick, they need lots of help."
Click here for information on donations and other ways to help the earthquake survivors.
