A small group from the area headed to the earthquake-stricken nation, and may return later for a longer stretch.

Four local physicians left for Haiti early Sunday as part of the Adventist Medical Evangelistic Network Haiti Medical Team to provide aid to earthquake victims.

Carrying very little personal luggage, but loaded with boxes and bags of supplies, Dr. Ron Fleck led the team, which included orthopedic surgeon Scott Hutson and general surgeons Jacqueline Tracey and Raquel Collins. Also joining the team later en route were West Side-based physician John McGhee and Spokane diesel engine mechanic Eddie Wickward.

The team members got the call on Friday that the Adventist Medical Evangelistic Network was putting a medical team together for five days of volunteer work in Haiti; the next two days were spent scrambling to pack, rescheduling appointments and collecting boxes of supplies, including antibiotics and morphine.

"We were told they are using IVs of vodka because they don't have any medications," Fleck said, while checking in almost a dozen bags and boxes of supplies marked "AMEN Haiti Team."