Thanks to Kimberly and Richard Grant for bringing supplies to Cuba!
We recently had the opportunity to deliver our first medical supply suitcase to Cuba. It was a humbling experience and one we definitely plan to experience again. It is a great way to thank these beautiful countries for their hospitality and for allowing us to experience their beautiful beaches and culture.
I’ve got to say, that I was a bit nervous at first, but mostly due to overthinking the process. Transporting through Westjet was very easy. They had granted us a free humanitarian bag and had the information on our booking when we checked in at the airport. Going through Cuban customs was also very simple, which was a relief.
We had recruited the help of my new sister-in-law, who is from Cuba, to help us find a hospital in the community where we would be staying. Through a contact she had in the medical community, she found out that the National Institute of Oncology in Havana had been struggling to keep up with supply demands. This hospital is in high demand and brings in patients from provinces all over Cuba. Our decision to take the medical supplies there proved to be a bit more complicated, as the specialized hospitals have a protocol for donations. After a few days of communication, we arranged to meet at the hospital.
The hospital looked like one of the more modern buildings on the outside, except for the steep rounded, polished stone stairs that encircled the doorway. There was no hand railing, and we stopped to assist some patients trying to ascend the stairs. There were elevators, but they were out of order. They took us through a corridor and outside, along a broken up concrete sidewalk, and into a boardroom where we met a group of doctors, nurses and admin staff. They were very thankful for the donation and the main doctor said that the Cuban people and the hospital would like to thank us very much for our generous donation. -NJT Calgary
