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Severed limbs, internal bleeding and other life threatening injuries await Rio Grande Valley doctors and nurses who will represent Hope International Medical Missions as they aid victims of the Haitian earthquake.

“Supplies are low and physicians and healthcare workers are exhausted, and they have called us to help them and give them a hand,” said Miguel Cintron, a Harlingen OBGYN.

“I have seen the misery and devastation that is normally in this sister country,” he said, “and we have friends there…patients there who have opened their arms to us, and our hearts and minds are with them.”

Doctor Cintron said he has helped in Haiti before, but not in a setting quite like this.

“Are we going to see things that we’ve never seen? Absolutely,” he said.

Doctor Cintron said he is up to that challenge if it means saving lives.

The organization wants to send 100 doctors, nurses and assistants. The first group of 20 will fly out January 30, but after that, they want to send 80 more.

Representatives said donations and medical supplies are needed to accomplish their goal.

“To be able to fund this, we are appealing to the public for donations,” said Cintron.

They are also asking pharmacies and hospitals to donate medical supplies like antibiotics, pain medicine, sanitizers and Malaria medicine.

The volunteers plan to pack the medical supplies in their personal suitcases leaving only the essentials for themselves.

And they will make sure to do all they can to save lives.

How you can help

*Hospitals and pharmacies willing to donate supplies, and doctors, nurses or assistants who want to volunteer to help in Haiti can call:

Luz Cintron
956-357-4253

Dr. Juan Padilla
956-444-0800

Dr. Miguel Cintron
956-412-3332

*Monetary donations can be made through www.rgvhelpshaiti.com or in person Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  at the following locations:

Harlingen—        Su Clinica Familiar
                                1706 Treasure Hills Blvd.

                                Valley Endo Center
                                3101 S. 77 Sunshine Strip

Brownsville—    Valley Baptist Medical Center
                                1040 W. Jefferson St. (at Central Blvd.)

                                Valley Regional Medical Center
                                100 A E. Alton Gloor

McAllen/             Doctors Hospital At Renaissance
Edinburg—       300 Lindberg Ave.

Weslaco               Knapp Medical Center
                                1401 E. 8th St.
                                (Circular driveway by Conference Center)

For more information on the locations where donations can be made, contact:

Gloria Gonzalez
956-565-1579
           or
hopeinternationalmm@gmail.com