Green bay woman helping Haiti victims

GROS MORNE, HAITI - Life changed in a hurry for a Green Bay woman when a massive earthquake struck Haiti last month.

22-year-old Brittany Galvin has been living and working with a Catholic ministry in Gros Morne - about 80 miles northeast of Port-au-Prince - since September.

When the massive earthquake rocked the island nation Galvin felt it.

”I mean the shaking here was violent. I can't imagine what it was like in Port-au-Prince. I thought for a second the house might collapse,” said Galvin told FOX 11 via broadband technology.

Just days after the devastation, Galvin -a certified nursing assistant- headed to the epicenter to provide medical relief.

She said it was tough to see the city reduced to rubble.

“The smell of death would hit you, and you know automatically that people had died there, I mean that is something I don't think will ever leave my brain. Just unbelievable,” said Galvin.

Galvin and other medical workers went to work.

“We worked at a hospital doing dressing changes and IV changes,” Galvin explained.

Galvin said medical supplies are available and so are food and water, but added the lack of infrastructure is a huge concern.

“What is desperately needed now is engineers who can go down there and the buildings that are left standing how can you fix them so someone can live in them,” Galvin said.

According to Galvin, the situation is hard because the future remains uncertain, and the country is wondering what's next.

“It's kind of chaotic, unorganized. We're not hearing a lot of where the direction is going to go. What the plans are for the future or what the government is thinking,” said Galvin.

Galvin has now made two trips to the nation's capital to aid victims. She said the pain and suffering is almost unbearable, but she's glad she can help.

“It was hard, I mean I don't want to be there doing it, I don't want to have to be in a situation like that, but I need to because I can help them. I can do that,” said Galvin.

Galvin said she will return to Port-au-Prince tomorrow to continue relief efforts there.

She expects to continuing living in the country for at least another year.