February 2007 - Austin College

change this would make in the direction of my medical volunteer work,”Hatt said. “Even though we had seen a lot of poverty, we had not seen itthat deep or that pervasive. It became obvious how there would be majorhealth problems.”Haiti almost overwhelmed Hatt and Phelps, but also gave them anew mission. They have since focused their medical volunteer activities onprojects in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic. They takeequipment and medicine each trip, organize information exchanges ontreatments and procedures, follow doctors on rounds, listen, and helpwrite grants to secure funding for future projects, such as a new hospitalbuilding that has been planned for the past decade.Phelps said there are advantages to focusing service efforts andresources on one hospital in one country.“A lot of people on their first trips want to do something: doctorswant to set bones; pediatricians want to look in ears; obstetricians want todeliver kids; facial surgeons want to treat cleft palates,” Phelps said. “Butif you can get into a hospital and find out what equipment they need andwhat the needs of the community are and help them get a buildingproject off the ground and organize some education for the medical staff,then you’ve made more of a grassroots impact. You’re not just treating thetop of the pyramid.”RichEach day at Grace Children’s Hospital begins with devotions. The staffmembers read scripture, sing hymns, preach sermons, and pray. Thepatients, some who walk hours to reach the clinic, participateenthusiastically. “It is quite inspiring,” Hatt said, “and empowering.”Grace is run by International Child Care (ICC), a faith-based nongovernmentalhealth agency working to reverse poor conditions in Haitiand the Dominican Republic. The hospital opened in 1967, six years afteran American couple on a cruise visited Haiti and were appalled by thenumber of children with active tuberculosis. Hatt recently completed twoyears as president of the ICC (USA) board of directors and Phelps is aboard affiliate.Despite poverty, disease, violence, and political turmoil, theHaitian people remain beautiful, creative, intelligent, physically andspiritually strong, full of hope, and mightily resilient, Hatt said.“Haiti is rich in culture.”Hatt cherishes the Creole language and the energy and beauty ofHaitian music and dance. “The people put great value on relationships,”she said. “They are hardworking and loyal. We have developed manyfriendships in Haiti that we will always cherish.”Two senior residents from the National Medical School in Haitivisited the United States for two months in spring 2005 to live with andlearn from Hatt and Phelps. Theresa Israel, a radiologist, worked withAUSTIN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 27