By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Mike Vansteel says it is opportunities like a mission trip to Haiti in January that reaffirm his decision to be part of the medical profession.

Vansteel, one of the Blessing Health System nursing directors, is trying to raise funds to take as much children's Tylenol, liquid infant Tylenol, vitamins and other medications to Haiti as space permits.

"It is an opportunity to make a difference," Vansteel said. "This reignites the passion as to why I chose nursing as a field."

Haiti is a Caribbean country often labeled as the poorest nation in the world, ravaged by longtime political corruption and with almost no infrastructure. Church mission trips representing numerous denominations from across the globe regularly target Haiti because the country is in such desperate need of assistance of all kinds.

"It is difficult to explain the poverty there," Vansteel said.

Vansteel said the worst U.S. inner-city living conditions do not compare to what is found in Haiti, most notably in the nation's capital of Port Au Prince, where the on-the-street garbage and waste is legendary.

Vansteel will be part of a 14-person group representing Blessed Sacrament Parish in Quincy making the Jan. 16-23 trip to Haiti. Additional medical personnel and professionals also will be part of the group, which will work in a mountainous region near the town of Lavanau, about four hours away via bus from any major civilization center.

"The situation in Haiti is so hard to describe," Vansteel said. "For one thing, the land is being stripped of all its natural resources because the people need them to survive."

This is Vansteel's third mission trip to Haiti in as many years.

He said despite the Haitian people's extreme poverty and their constant battle against a wide range of illnesses, they remain upbeat and look forward to the arrival of Americans.

"You can see the excitement in their eyes when we get there," he said.

Vansteel said 100 percent of all money raised for the mission trip goes directly to the people of Haiti. Those who go on the trips pay for all their own expenses.

Those who want to help with Vansteel's collection of children's Tylenol and similar supplies may do so by calling Susan McReynolds at Blessing-Riemann College of Nursing at (217) 223-8400, ext. 5520.

-- seighinger@whig.com/221-3377