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Hurricane Maria: Hospitals helping Puerto Ricans

PUERTO RICO, Fla. — There are more stories of survival and hope coming from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Channel 9's Nancy Alvarez traveled to the island last week. She landed in Suan Juan and went from hospital to hospital in cities like Canovanas and Mayaguez.

A hospital in Aguadilla is struggling. The hospital had to close, and the military is caring for patients in medical tents.

However, Alvarez said the Bella Vista Hospital, in Mayaguez, is like a miracle on a mountaintop.

The lights are on, the staff is busy and the patients are grateful.

“The tears is about appreciating the care,” said patient Tally Colon.

Colon retired to Puerto Rico this summer after a long career as a college professor in New York City. During the aftermath of Maria, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor near her pancreas. However, she said she knows she’s lucky to be at the hospital.

Dr. Jorge Lopez, from Florida Hospital in Orlando, traveled to Puerto Rico to offer his medical expertise. He met with staff and officials from the island's health department.

Florida Hospital has been supporting efforts to keep Puerto Rico's hospitals alive through supply runs and with doctors on the ground.

Their biggest challenges are that hospitals are still running on generators and spotty phone service that complicates patient transfers and care.

“The island is mountainous, and what seems to be close is really not close,” Lopez said.

The hospital is using a private plane donated by a member of the Florida Hospital Foundation who wants to remain anonymous but simply said it's in his heart to help the people of Puerto Rico.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Tally Colon found out she had cancer. She's one of the many patients that Florida Hospital is helping since the storm hit Puerto Rico.

Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Nancy Alvarez

Nancy Alvarez, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team in May 2010 and am currently co-anchor of Eyewitness News This Morning alongside Jamie Holmes.