Dr. Grant Padley is used to a busy schedule with his orthopedic practice, performing surgeries, doing physicals for the Cincinnati Reds and his family life.
He recently took time away from all of that to take on some additional work he felt called to do - a humanitarian medical mission to Haiti.
After the Caribbean country was devastated by an Earthquake Jan. 12, volunteer efforts began to mobilize to provide aid. More than 100,000 people died in the 7.0 quake and the capital of Port-au-Prince was mostly leveled.
"When this came up, it really was a pull on my heart to go help out," Padley said. "They needed an orthopedic surgeon, so I went."
When Padley arrived at Haiti Adventist Hospital, he had a brief orientation and went into the operating room.
"We did a case that first night," he said. "At one count, we had about 210 patients there."
Padley estimated the actual typical bed-count of the facility to be about 25.
"About one-third of their staff was killed in the earthquake," he said. "All of the patients were very happy we were there."
Fear among the residents prevails, though. They have experienced so much anguish, many are afraid to go in buildings for fear they will collapse, the doctor said.
"A lot of them are also very scared of amputations because that's a lot of what needed to be done early on," Padley said. "Even removing a cast from a child, the families were afraid we were amputating."
The Litchfield Park resident said he would like to do more humanitarian work and go to some places where he could take his family to join the efforts, as well.
"The earthquake was a bad thing, but it certainly helped shine a light on Haiti," he said. I think we were all satisfied with what we did, but heartbroken for how much more they need."
Padley performed 20 surgeries in the eight days he was in Haiti. He had to do some things he doesn't have to do when he works at Banner Estrella Medical Center and West Valley Hospital.
"We had to sterilize instruments ourselves. Their staff tried to help, too, but it was way beyond anything they had done before."
The medical staff from the U.S., France and Canada were working and staying together. Most of the hospital was without air conditioning and they slept in the facility.
"We slept on the floor and showered with a trickle of water," Padley said. "There were flies everywhere."
The doctor was happy to have had the chance to offer some help, he said. West Valley Dr. Troy Anderson was originally slated to take the trip; however, a pressing need for an orthopedic surgeon led Padley to go instead.
"I initially wanted to go out there and be part of the emergency crew, but they had plenty of people like me," Anderson said. "They needed orthopedic surgery."
Anderson plans to go to Haiti by the summer and help the continuing medical care efforts, he said.
"Dr. Padley went there and did a wonderful job," he said. "I still want to go and help as some of the interest there starts to die down and they still need care."
While Padley knew the situation in Haiti was too volatile to take his family along on this mission, his children, 6 and 8, wanted to help out, too.
"My kids sent some toys for me to give to the children there," Padley said. "It's so hard to even decide who to give things to because the need is so great."
Beth Kristin Ott can be reached by e-mail at bott@westvalleyview.com.
