USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). NORFOLK (March 13, 2010)

Headlines for Monday, March 15, 2010

100313-N-3165S-044 NORFOLK (March 13, 2010)

The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-week deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility to provide medical care in Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response.

The Comfort surgical team performed more than 800 surgeries. Comfort will return to homeport in Baltimore after a short port visit in Norfolk.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Steinhour)

100313-N-6764G-039 NORFOLK (March 13, 2010)

Lt. Cmdr. Robin Lindsay embraces her family after returning to Naval Station Norfolk aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Goodwin)

On January 13, 2010, the Comfort was ordered to assist in the humanitarian relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake as part of Operation Unified Response. Three days later on January 16 the Comfort left the Port of Baltimore bound for Haiti. It arrived Wednesday, January 20, 2010 and began medical treatment early that day.The deployment marks the first time the ship has reached full operational capacity, utilizing all 12 operating rooms and beds, since it was delivered to the Navy in 1987. The mission also saw the ship's first on-board delivery, of a 4-pound, 5-ounce preemie named Esther. Although the ship is less capable than a traditional hospital on land, it offers the most advanced medical care available in Haiti following the earthquake.

Between January 19 and February 28, 2010 the ship's staff treated 1,000 Haitian patients and performed 850 surgeries. As of March 8, UNSN Comfort (T-AH 20) had discharged its last patient. On March 10, the ship ended its mission in the Joint Task Force Haiti area as part of Operation Unified Response, and was returning to its home port.