New Jersey RN Shares Haiti Experience

Therese Frare

When AristaCare Creative Director Lori Theiss heard that staff member Jenni Carlock was participating in the Haiti Rescue Mission, Theiss wanted to share the story with their community.  So to honor Carlock’s important work and call attention to the tragedy in Haiti, Theiss posted Carlock’s photos on the AristaCare website.

Jenni Carlock shares a smile with a Haitian boy after tending to his broken arm.

Carlock is the Director of Case Management and Marketing/Clinical Manager for AristaCare at Alameda Center, but her out of the office activities range from teaching nursing to responding to many major national and international disasters in recent history—including the bombing of the World Trade Center.  Carlock also serves on the board of directors for the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center in Perth Amboy, NJ, which was the organization that organized the rescue mission that Carlock led.

The ER was a series of outdoor tents, such as this one, labeled Post-Op.

“I have been to many disasters and seen all types of injuries.  This mission was no different, except for the enormity of it,” Carlock said.

Her team of 12 collaborated with a total of 40 providers offering primary, acute and critical care to 250-400 patients a day, for 12 hours a day, in 92 degree heat.  They worked out of CDTI Hospital in Port-au-Prince, which is not a stable structure.  As a result, the temporary ER is outdoors, crowded with tents. They work on the ground, and the electricity comes from gigantic generators.

“You cannot even believe the devastation,” Carlock said.  “Imagine you build a structure with Legos.  Now imagine you knock it down.  Now build a whole city of those structures and knock those down. Then keep going.

Jenni Carlock witnessed the unbelievable devastation in Haiti.

Carlock has many experiences to share that bring her first-hand experience into her community, spreading understanding about the tragedy in Haiti. By posting those events on the website, AristaCare also spread the word that their organization has a caring staff which answers the call of those in need.

What stories of caring and volunteering are waiting to be told within your community? Contact IlluminAge for more information.

All photos courtesy of Jenni Carlock/Jewish Renaissance Medical Center