Haiti
Where do I start? I guess I'll post a bit from the journal I kept while there.
11pm - Still waiting for our flight from NY to the Dominican, The snow has started to fall. I'm sensing some resistance from the medical team, because I'm green to this. I want to help, NOT be part of the problem. For sure.
Wed. 720am - Still on the flight to DR! We boarded the plane at about 1215 and sat on the runway for FOUR hours. About 2 hours into it the police boarded the plane and removed a man who was sitting a few seats behind me. Soon after his female companion followed suit. There was also a mechanical issue that maintenance was trying to resolve. They finally resolved that issue, but the police were still looking for the suspects' luggage. SO around 4 am, as the snow was falling hard, our plane was de-iced and we slowly made our way to the runway to take off. After talking for hours with the RN's in the airport, I've started to consider a health related education, to use especially on trips like these. Maybe take on a humanitarian role (in addition to my current job).
Wed 9pm. We made it! The long journey to get here is finally over. I'm laying in my tent and am very content! It is stifling hot outside - STIFLING So far we haven't seen much damage, but I have a feeling we'll see more tomorrow. It sounds like I'll be helping distribute food at the clinic tomorrow - the rest of the week will be construction, and I'm hoping to help Gail cook.
When we arrived at Mr. August's house, a dinner of tasty rice & beans, salad, brownies and bread was waiting for us - it was splendid. My tent is about 15 feet from the generator, but I think the constant sound will actually help me sleep.
Thursday 2am - POURING RAIN
Thursday 5am MORE POURING RAIN! Where did this come from?! This was not forecasted. My tent has a puddle where the rain has come in...
Thursday 6pm - Today we worked at the clinic in Blanchard. I helped bag some children's vitamins. We were in a room, which had a sheet separating it in two, creating another exam room. The first patient was a 2 year old boy that broke my heart. The mother carried him, he was so small and limp. I could hear him struggling to breath, worse than asthma. Breath by breath. It was horrible and heartbreaking. The mother showed no worry or care, just defeat. These people have dealt with so much tragedy - I supposed they aren't shocked by much. In the states a mother in this situation would have been frantic.
Later I helped pump/carry water from a well. We have a water filter system, and we distributed the water to the people at the clinic. We also gave rice/beans/corn to each family who came in.
Friday 930pm Very Very long day. Lots of construction. Mixed cement, wheelbarrowed through rough terrain, lots of shoveling. I hoisted water out of a deep well with a bucket, and thin rope, to mix with the cement. I also hoisted the same water to the roof of the clinic to fill the water tank, with the help of Baboush and Nison (two pre teen Haitian boys). I love Baboush, such a smart kid - 13 years old. The highlight of the day : Robert fixed Rosie's (a haitian girl) bicycle. She was so happy, that I cried. I've never seen happiness of that kind in my life. I will remember the moment forever. So touched, so tired, goodnight.
(more to come)
11pm - Still waiting for our flight from NY to the Dominican, The snow has started to fall. I'm sensing some resistance from the medical team, because I'm green to this. I want to help, NOT be part of the problem. For sure.
Wed. 720am - Still on the flight to DR! We boarded the plane at about 1215 and sat on the runway for FOUR hours. About 2 hours into it the police boarded the plane and removed a man who was sitting a few seats behind me. Soon after his female companion followed suit. There was also a mechanical issue that maintenance was trying to resolve. They finally resolved that issue, but the police were still looking for the suspects' luggage. SO around 4 am, as the snow was falling hard, our plane was de-iced and we slowly made our way to the runway to take off. After talking for hours with the RN's in the airport, I've started to consider a health related education, to use especially on trips like these. Maybe take on a humanitarian role (in addition to my current job).
Wed 9pm. We made it! The long journey to get here is finally over. I'm laying in my tent and am very content! It is stifling hot outside - STIFLING So far we haven't seen much damage, but I have a feeling we'll see more tomorrow. It sounds like I'll be helping distribute food at the clinic tomorrow - the rest of the week will be construction, and I'm hoping to help Gail cook.
When we arrived at Mr. August's house, a dinner of tasty rice & beans, salad, brownies and bread was waiting for us - it was splendid. My tent is about 15 feet from the generator, but I think the constant sound will actually help me sleep.
Thursday 2am - POURING RAIN
Thursday 5am MORE POURING RAIN! Where did this come from?! This was not forecasted. My tent has a puddle where the rain has come in...
Thursday 6pm - Today we worked at the clinic in Blanchard. I helped bag some children's vitamins. We were in a room, which had a sheet separating it in two, creating another exam room. The first patient was a 2 year old boy that broke my heart. The mother carried him, he was so small and limp. I could hear him struggling to breath, worse than asthma. Breath by breath. It was horrible and heartbreaking. The mother showed no worry or care, just defeat. These people have dealt with so much tragedy - I supposed they aren't shocked by much. In the states a mother in this situation would have been frantic.
Later I helped pump/carry water from a well. We have a water filter system, and we distributed the water to the people at the clinic. We also gave rice/beans/corn to each family who came in.
Friday 930pm Very Very long day. Lots of construction. Mixed cement, wheelbarrowed through rough terrain, lots of shoveling. I hoisted water out of a deep well with a bucket, and thin rope, to mix with the cement. I also hoisted the same water to the roof of the clinic to fill the water tank, with the help of Baboush and Nison (two pre teen Haitian boys). I love Baboush, such a smart kid - 13 years old. The highlight of the day : Robert fixed Rosie's (a haitian girl) bicycle. She was so happy, that I cried. I've never seen happiness of that kind in my life. I will remember the moment forever. So touched, so tired, goodnight.
(more to come)