The Dominican Republic has everything you could ever hope for in a tropical paradise: white sand fading into crystal blue water, palm trees and flowers cascading over old stone walls built in the days of Columbus, and Haitian ladies selling lush fruit from baskets perched on their heads. Yet, despite its natural beauty, most of the people live in less-than-paradise conditions.

Poverty is rampant and therefore the usual problems of the third world are ever-present. Trash. Pollution. Lack of proper sanitation. Beggars on the streets. And, of course, children receiving little or no proper medical care.

From the first time we visited the island it was clear that better orthopedic care was desperately needed, and through a series of events we signed up to work with CURE International, a non-denominational Christian organization based in Pennsylvania (www.cureinternational.org).

CURE operates six other hospitals in the developing world and several more are currently being built. The hospitals have been established for the treatment of disabled children and the training of local surgeons. They also have a very strong spiritual emphasis.

So, in late 2004, we sold our house and packed up all our belonging in a Maersk Sealand container (we would not see it again until late April). We arrived on New Year’s Day to our intriguing, but somewhat old, house (probably built in the 1500’s), which is located in the heart of the first city in the Americas—Santo Domingo (population: three million). We settled in as best we could, having only the stuff from our suitcases, and attempted survival in the heart of an inner city.

Scott immediately set to work as the medical director at the “Centro de Ortopedia y Especialidades,” a 6 floor hospital with a clinic, 2 operating rooms, approximately 30 beds and other ancillary services such as physical therapy, lab x-ray, etc. There were some hurdles to overcome, including practicing medicine in a new language—Spanish (only three people of his staff of 55 speak any English). Luckily, Scott has always loved challenges. Although he was adapting to the responsibilities of being a medical director he was eager to get back to the bright lights and cold steel. It was sporadic at first, but now, as the schedule has started to get somewhat regular, he is getting more OR time, much to his joy.
He’s doing some exciting surgeries, including deformity correction of children’s hands, feet, spine, hips, and everything in between. One recent limb salvage operation even made the front page of the national newspaper.

Life isn’t always easy here but it is pretty much always an adventure. Despite the irritations I sometimes face (such as lack of electricity/water or mold growing all over our clothes and house) these seem petty when placed next to the things of true significance, like children who will run and dance, thanks to Scott’s hands and God’s healing.

We really are grateful every day to be where we are and hope to give back a small portion of what we have been so abundantly given. Thank you to Amistad, and all of you who have given us so much support.

— Written by Marnie Nelson

Marnie is the wife of Dr. Scott Nelson, a Loma Linda University School of Medicine Graduate and orthopedic surgeon, who is providing free surgeries in the Dominican Republic for the poor who would otherwise not have access to orthopedic surgeries. Amistad International accepts contributions to support the Nelsons outreach to the poor in the Dominican Republic.