A seven magnitude earthquake struck the small, underprivileged island country, Haiti on Jan. 12. Immediately, people from all around the world, including Dr. Nirmal Jayaseelan, parent of second grader Kirin, fourth grader Meera, and seventh grader Zubin Jayaseelan and local abdominal surgeon, united forces to aid the nation after the crisis.

Dr. Jayaseelan’s main practice is at Medical City Dallas, where he has worked for ten years after he graduated residency. He works as a surgeon there. 

          While eating lunch on Jan. 14, Dr. Jayaseelan heard some other doctors talking about going to Haiti.

         “On Thursday, the hospital administration started arranging for the medical mission,” Dr. Jayaseelan said.

          Dr. Jayaseelan said that he became curious about what his colleagues from Dallas Forest Park Medical Center were talking about, and wanted to become a part of the medical squad.

“I heard about it and texted Dr. Richard Toussaint, the lead organizer,” said Dr. Jayaseelan.

            An hour later, he received a text back saying "You're in."

           “I wanted to go, a lot of people did,” Dr. Jayaseelan said. “More people volunteered to go than actually went. The people that went, the surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and staff, all had traumatic experience.”

 When Dr. Jayaseelan got home that night, he told his family about his news.

            "My sister came and ran in and said, 'Daddy's going to Haiti!' and I said, 'What?'" Zubin said.

Although surprised at first, Dr. Jayaseelan’s family supported his choice.

            "We didn't question him going at all, we thought it was great that he could help," said Preethi Jayaseelan, wife of Dr. Jayaseelan.

            However, Dr. Jayaseelan’s kids had mixed feelings about their dad’s decision to travel to Haiti.

            “At first, I was scared for my dad, but now I am proud of him for saving lives,” Zubin said.

            Dr. Jayaseelan could only pack scrubs and toiletries. He also took some protein bars and protein milkshakes.

            "The protein drinks and bars he took with him really helped,” Mrs. Jayaseelan said. “He shared them with others on the team.”

            Dr. Jayaseelan and the rest of his team of doctors and nurses travelled on Jan. 16 to Haiti at about four thirty in the morning on donated G4 planes.

            “We were supposed to leave on Friday, early in the morning, but late Thursday evening, we were told that the State Department didn't clear us for landing in Port au Prince until Saturday,” Dr. Jayaseelan said.

            The doctors took two private planes that were donated by an individual. Each held 15 people. The planes were loaded with medical equipment as well. According to Dr. Jayaseelan, the planes were also large enough to carry all the medical supplies that the organizers procured through various drug and medical supply companies, so the doctors carried whatever they felt was needed, and they weren't sure about what they'd find there. Immediately after their arrival in Haiti, Dr. Jayaseelan sent a text to Mrs. Jayaseelan to reassure her of his safe landing. 

             "Our contacts were very basic: 'I am fine, will talk or text later, lots of patients to see, very sad to see and hear the misery,'" Mrs. Jayaseelan said.

            The conditions in Haiti reflected the poor situation. Dr. Jayaseelan and three other doctors from Dallas Forest Park Medical Center were located at a community hospital.

            “We all slept outside on the hospital driveway in sleeping bags,” Dr. Jayaseelan said. “At nighttime, there were gunshots. It was unnerving.”

            Mrs. Jayaseelan kept up to date on the proceedings in Haiti.

“Sunday night was when we started hearing about all the rioting and looting, and we got a little worried,” Mrs. Jayaseelan said.

            Each patient Dr. Jayaseelan saw had a story to tell.

            "On Sunday, a dad came in and dropped off three kids to my dad's work station,” Zubin said. “The dad could not take care of his kids anymore, so one of the surgeons from my dad's work took care of the kids for three days. The doctor that took care of them does not know where the kids are now."

Dr. Jayaseelan and the rest of the doctors and nurses from Forest Park Medical Center saw approximately 500 patients nonstop.

“As a team, we probably operated on 100-125 patients,” Dr. Jayaseelan said. “We worked continually, late into the night.”

Dr. Jayaseelan experienced a lot in going to Haiti.

“It was really heartbreaking; the kids that we saw, but saving the lives of the adults was good. It was not only saving lives. We also gave the people some hope,” said Dr. Jayaseelan.

            The Jayaseelan family, along with others at Forest Park Medical Center, will never forget their experiences with Haiti.

 “It is really nice to see that when tragedy strikes like that, humans really help each other out,” Dr. Jayaseelan said. “We’re not all bad.”