A little over five weeks ago, Lt. Cmdr. Martin DeFant, a perioperative nurse at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor (NHOH) was given less than 48 hours to pack his bags and report to the USS Bataan (LHD 5). The ship was en route to Haiti to provide on- and off-shore medical support for victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake. 

“I barely had time to stow my gear when the bell rang signaling mass casualties were being transported on board,” said DeFant, adding that he hit the ground running and did not stop until he was on his way back to Oak Harbor.

The hospital staff was on hand to welcome him home, Feb. 25, fascinated to hear about his experience.

Mid-way into his deployment the medical team was told to prepare for an emergency caesarian section. The mom, husband and sister-in-law arrived on deck and were immediately brought to the operating room. The team quickly assessed the mom’s condition, calmed her fears and successfully delivered the baby vaginally.

According to DeFant, the Bataan’s commanding officer was beaming with pride: the newborn baby boy marked the first baby ever born on the USS Bataan, affectionately called “The Gator.”

When asked what his most rewarding experience was, DeFant replied that it was being able to be there as part of a team to help the Haitians. He said the Haitian people were extremely thankful for them being there and that he was constantly being “blessed” by the locals.

Long days were common at first, with scheduled surgeries in the morning and urgent trauma patients coming aboard in the afternoon. By the end of week five, approximately 100 surgeries had been performed. Most of the cases were orthopedic related. The team also attended to the Marines and ship’s company who were injured during early rescue efforts.

DeFant also assisted the Public Health Services team ashore, immunizing over 6,000 Haitians over the five weeks he was there. The ship also coordinated efforts with Life Line Medical Relief Mission performing an emergency c-section in the medical clinic on Haiti resulting in healthy twin babies.

He was pleasantly surprised to find out that a former NHOH staffer, Cmdr. Melanie Merrick, was Bataan’s senior medical officer. He also commented that after this experience he has 84 new friends from other Navy Medicine West commands with whom he now shares a special bond.

“It was a very rewarding and challenging mission,” said DeFant. “I would do it again, if given the opportunity.”