Med. team from Wishard headed to Haiti

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A medical mission team from Wishard Hospital received plenty of hugs and hope before they headed to Haiti Tuesday morning.

The group left with a van and truck full of supplies for the Haitian people fighting to live after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake last week.

Mike Thralls, a Wishard paramedic and member of Indiana Task Force 1 is leading the team which includes his wife, Melanie, a nurse, along with a retired St. Vincent nurse and another member of Task Force 1.

"This isn't a mission trip that's going to be done in a week or two weeks or a month. We need to continue to do this. It's probably going to be much bigger than even the Katrina effort," said Michael.

They will be meeting up with three others medical personnel from Tulsa, Oklahoma including a trauma surgeon. They have two tons of cargo. Their contact with teams in Haiti said there's a need for antibiotics, splints and when necessary assistance with amputations.

"We have no idea how many patients we're going to see. We're prepared to work through the day and night if necessary," said Michael.

This isn't the Thralls' first visit to Haiti. After their first mission trip, years ago, they befriended a young Haitian boy who ended up living with them off and on. It was just a few days ago they learned he was safe.

"As horrible as an event that this is I hope that the one positive thing that can come out of this is that at least Haiti will get the recognition and the support and the infrastructure that they need at this point," added Melanie.

The team has three volunteers who are driving them down to Florida.

They’ll be flown to Port-Au-Prince Thursday morning by a missionary service specializing in flight arrangements and getting medical supplies to poverty stricken areas in the Caribbean.