Winter - Augusta Health

OPPOSItE PAGE: WALtER KERSCHL, MD, SPENDS tIME WItH HAItIAN CHILDREN, CARES FOR PAtIENtS AND CELEBRAtES A SuCCESSFuL tRIP WItH FELLOW vOLuNtEERS.
tHIS PAGE: DR. KERSCHL AND HIS tEAM OF vOLuNtEERS PREPARE tO LEAvE tHE PEOPLE OF FOND PIERRE AND tRAvEL ALONG tHE MuDDy ROADS tO PORt-Au-PRINCE.
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has raised more than $90,000. That
money has allowed the organization to set up a school
clinic with a pharmacy; they’ve also hired a full-time Haitian
nurse to staff their clinic and are looking to hire a full-time
Haitian physician so care can continue between visits from
Dr. Kerschl and his volunteers.
Dr. Kerschl also reports that each mission benefits more
and more Haitians and their families. “We usually see about
250 people over four days, but during our last trip [in April
2012], we saw well over 1,200 people!” he says. “Every time
we go, it grows and gets bigger and bigger.”
Getting more than they give
Dr. Kerschl says that each person who goes as a volunteer
experiences it differently, but everyone comes home
feeling changed in some way. “it’s hard to describe,” he says.
“Some are emotional at first, but once they leave they feel
empowered and touched by the things they’ve seen and
the people they’ve met. The experience takes part of your
heart and adds something to it that somehow helps you
understand what’s really important in life.”
Dr. Kerschl fondly remembers a story that particularly
touched him: “An 86-year-old nun who runs a visitation home
in the capital city told us that the night after the earthquake
that hit Port-au-Prince in 2010, she listened off in the distance
and heard songs of hope and of thanking God for saving
them. That shows how faithful and appreciative the Haitian
people are, and that’s what makes this such a reward for us.”
Many volunteers have even expressed an interest in
returning on future missions. “i’ve not had anyone who’s
ever come with us say, ‘i don’t want to go back,’ ” says
Dr. Kerschl. Despite a very busy four-day trip, “most are
always rejuvenated and full of a new spirit of hope and
appreciation for all that we have and for all that we can give
to help others.”
Become part of the mission
the rockbridge-haiti medical Alliance is
looking for volunteers for future medical mission
trips. medical and nonmedical professionals
are welcome. for more information, visit
www.r-hma.org.
if you can’t make the trip, you can still
support the rockbridge-haiti medical Alliance
with a donation that will help the organization
continue its mission of healing and empowering
others. donations can be made online or mailed
to Walter kerschl, md, at the rockbridge-haiti
medical Alliance, 55 comfort Way, suite 1,
lexington, vA 24450.
www.augustahealth.com 19