PALM BEACH, CA (ANS) -- Dr. Chauncey Crandall, is a world class doctor who, most of the time, practices cardiology at his Jupiter office and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Dr. Crandall inside supply tent he helped to set up

But according to a story written by David Rogers for the Palm Beach Daily News (www.palmbeachdailynews.com), this past week was anything but typical.

“Crandall flew to Haiti Saturday, Jan. 23, with Julius Hunter, a Baton Rouge, La., pastor, pilot Bruce Case and 1,200 pounds of medical supplies as part of a six-day mission aided by King's Wings, a West Palm Beach-based charity,” wrote Rogers.

“There, while attending to Haitians wounded by the Jan. 12 earthquake, Crandall witnessed the chaos, confusion, suffering and hope that emerged.

Dr. Crandall praying for injured orphan who lost brother and sisters

“The scenes were often horrific, he said Friday. The massive natural disaster killed an estimated 150,000 people and left many more wounded and homeless in and around Port-au-Prince.”

Rogers went on to say that on the Saturday, Crandall provided basic and wound care in the capital city, working in a field hospital set up near Quisqueya Christian School. That night he traveled with others to Hôpital Notre-Dame, a heavily damage hospital in Port-au-Prince.

“I couldn't see any of the buildings when we drove out that night, but on Sunday I saw it,” Crandall said. “It was like multiple atomic bombs went off on the city. Bodies were lying on the side of the road. Bodies were being burned on the side of the road.”

The falling concrete injured thousands upon thousands.

“People had crush injuries of the skin, broken bones, compound fractures with bones sticking out of the wound site — injuries to the head, arms and legs,” Crandall said.

Scene of devastation at orphanage where 22 orphans, 4 nuns and 2 teachers were killed

Later, the story continued, at the request of a German relief group, he became the first physician to provide care at a Catholic orphanage more than three hours outside Port-au-Prince. The orphanage, positioned on a mountain, had collapsed in the earthquake. Out of 150 orphans, 22 were dead, as were four nuns and two teachers, Crandall said.

“The nuns were reluctant to come out because they were so traumatized. They had no fight left,” Crandall said. He and others established a clinic to attend to 40 injured orphans. Their injuries ranged from broken bones and infected wounds to concussions and lacerations. The cardiologist didn't do any amputations, but other doctors in the group did. He removed debris from wounds and cleaned them. One woman had skin and flesh ripped from the lower part of her left leg. “She had a fracture of the ankle and she crawled to the clinic,” Crandall said. “I had to go in and clean the wound without anesthesia and she was screaming in pain.”

Rogers said that Dr. Crandall returned to Port-au-Prince Tuesday. At the request of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, he traveled with a Special Forces unit outside the city to evaluate the medical needs of mountain people who were living in tent camps. On Wednesday, he helped treat patients at a Haitian state hospital operated for years by Cubans.

“The Cubans were totally beat up and fatigued,” he said.

Dr. Crandall's home for a week

The first patient Crandall evaluated was completely paralyzed. A building had fallen on her. She was airlifted out by a military helicopter. After helping to establish a base camp there with two physicians from Fairfax, Va., he returned once more to Port-au-Prince. He arrived home in Palm Beach late Thursday.

The next day, Crandall called the experience overwhelming and like nothing he had ever witnessed. He found a way to cope.

“You just turn off your emotions. Coming back, now it's all kind of hitting me,” he said.

Rogers reported that the cardiologist said his religious faith compelled him to help Haiti and said he plans to return.

“I'm a Christian. It was just something that said ‘You must go.’ It was a deep emotional pull to go.”

Rogers went on to say, “He does similar projects in memory of his son, Chadwick, who died of leukemia in 2004 at age 15. Crandall established a nonprofit foundation in his late son's name to fund mission work.”
 

The cross still stands

Crandall calls the Haitian people resilient but said they need food staples, rolls of plastic for protection from the weather, care for infectious diseases exacerbated by living in close quarters, and mental health care, too. “Everyone is hugely traumatized,” Crandall said. “They need counselors to help them understand what happened.”

Synagogue is helping, too

Rogers said that Crandall is not the only member of the Palm Beach community assisting the relief effort.

David Smith, a member of the Palm Beach Synagogue, is currently in Haiti.
Smith left Wednesday morning with supplies that were donated and collected by synagogue members and Rabbi Moshe Scheiner.

Scheiner said Smith, an observant Jew, asked him if it was more important for him to observe Shabbat (a 24-hour period of prayer and rest) or save lives.
“I sent him with all the necessary articles — prayer shawl, prayer book — to be able to celebrate Shabbat,” Scheiner said. “But at the same time, I told him if he has the opportunity to save lives, he should forego the day of rest to save lives.

“I found it very moving that at the same time he would be providing physical assistance, he would also be providing spiritual comfort and inspiration, which is also necessary for the healing process,” Scheiner said.

Smith will return this week, collect more items and make a second trip to Haiti with more supplies, Scheiner said.

The story added, “Smith sent Scheiner an e-mail with the medical supplies that still are needed: antibiotics, pain medication (either in date or expired by less than a year), bandages, splints, syringes, needles, surgical tools, surgical stitching materials, gauze, surgical spirits, alcohol, swabs, surgical tape and antibiotic ointment. Rice, beans, oatmeal, canned meat and baby formula top the list of needed non-perishable foods.

“Scheiner said those interested in donating such items can drop them off at the synagogue, 120 N. County Road, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

* Daily News staff writer Michele Dargan contributed to this report.

Dan Wooding, 69, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 46 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is the author of some 43 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, also recently released “God’s Ambassadors in Japan” which is available at amazon.com.