From Milford to Haiti on a mission

MILFORD — Pike ophthalmologist, Dr. Severin Palydowycz, won’t be in his office at Tri-State Eye next week, but he won’t be on vacation either. In fact, the doctor says he expects “to work really hard and be exhausted and do as much good as possible.” So where will he be? On a medical mission some fifteen hundred miles away, in the northern Haitian city of Milot. “Throughout my career, I’ve supported various organizations that do charity and relief work in underprivileged parts of the world”, Dr. Palydowycz explained. “I’ve always wanted to be able to give back to people who are much less fortunate than we are.” Now, he’s about to do just that in a very personal way. After some research, Palydowycz hooked up with the Crudem Foundation which operates a hospital (Hôpital Sacré Coeur ) and medical center to provide quality healthcare for the sick and poor in Haiti. Although the doctor has never been to Haiti before, he has a thorough knowledge of the situation in that country: “Haiti is probably the poorest country in the western hemisphere…with over 60 percent unemployment,” Palydowycz explained. “The average salary for someone who is fortunate enough to have a job is about one dollar a day, so as you can imagine, this is a group of people that really are without any type of health care.” He added, “My understanding is that people will walk for one or two days just to be seen in this clinic that’s been set up.” Dr. Palydowycz is anxious to bring his skills as an ophthalmologist “not only to help the underprivileged but also to try and treat some of the local physicians that are helping out in this particular hospital.” Palydowycz will be examining patients in a clinical situation, diagnosing and treating disease and expects to be performing cataract surgeries - his area of expertise. He is happy to be performing the work completely free of charge: “There is a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction in being able to give back”, he explained. “I’ve dipped into personal funds to make this happen and also have called upon some of the vendors I deal with to donate …or allow me to buy at a nominal price, some supplies to bring and leave there for the people.” And, to add even more meaning to the mission, Palydowycz will be traveling with his teenage son so that he “will know the values of charity and to see how fortunate we have it here in the states.” We wish them a safe and successful journey.