Bonjour! We have internet as of now. None last night. We have a few minutes before breakfast. Yesterday was ALL travel. The bus was comfortable, but after a poor night's sleep and crossing from the DR (my comfort zone) to Haiti (not my comfort zone), and feeling hungry and witnessing poverty like I have NEVER seen before as I'm riding on an air conditioned bus was taxing. The road worsened as we neared Cap-haitien and the trash and squalor that people are residing in was overwhelming. Then the bus stopped (8 hrs later) and my brain went "WHAT?" This is where we're staying the night? But once off the bus, I realized we were in a somewhat confined area providing safety and Dan's friend arrived to pick us up. Quick trip to the hotel, which is much nicer than I thought we'd be staying in on a trip like this. Literally though, outside these walls is unbelievable poverty. I digress. Too much else to tell.
Actually good we didn't have internet last night b/c I was exhausted and frustrated and overwhelmed. Didn't feel like saying much. Much better now. Very good night sleep last night.
We met up with another mission team who are leaving after 3 weeks. They were at our same hospital and briefed us (for hours- very long mtg esp for exhausted people). The staff at the hospital haven't been paid since the earthquake and EVERY household in Dessalines has taken on refugees. So families of ten who already couldn't feed everyone, now may have 16 or 20 mouths to feed. The average income in Haiti is $2 American a day! In addition, staff are dealing with death of family from the earthquake. The pharmacist lost 16, his girlfriend 6. To say they're struggling is an understatement.
I am already scheduled to go to a foster home with 2 kids with CP. I'll have a translator with me, but I'll evaluate the kids and help give ideas to the mom. If she's ok, I'll bring the kids back to the hospital to train staff on simple therapy concepts to aide in recovery. Sidenote, they have some counselors now to help staff with PTSD symptoms, etc. There's a wound clinic every morning that I will assist with, debridements, sending appropriate wounds to surgery, etc.
The hospital is 50 beds, 1 OR. We have an orthopod and general surgeon from MIchigan joining us there later today. One patient for example came from Port with a comminuted fx of her femur and a tib/fib fx on the other leg. Never received medical care.
My mind is all over the place, but at least I'm well rested and ready for the day. So bare with me. Mosquitoes are awful here. AWFUL. And it's very hot, but ok for me. I hear it's much hotter in Dessalines. We'll leave after breakfast and get half a day of work in there. It's gonna take 6 hrs to get 80 or 90 miles b/c the road is in such bad shape. Ugh. Another long day of travelling. The $2 travel blanket I bought at Target has been wonderful. Like a comfy piece of home. Em and I keep ours with us all the time. My cold is much improved. Had a full shower this morning which was so wonderful.
It's all just so much for my brain to process. I saw poverty in the DR, but this is like what you see in Nat'l Geographic. It's hard to wrap your brain around. And the briefing last night was challenging esp for someone who likes to solve problems. You feel like, can I even do anything? Dan has been working here for 15 years and it's such a slow process. But it's good. very good.
Gotta eat before we leave. Major rainstorm just came in. Hope it passes before we leave :) WOW...what a journey!! Love, Amy
Actually good we didn't have internet last night b/c I was exhausted and frustrated and overwhelmed. Didn't feel like saying much. Much better now. Very good night sleep last night.
We met up with another mission team who are leaving after 3 weeks. They were at our same hospital and briefed us (for hours- very long mtg esp for exhausted people). The staff at the hospital haven't been paid since the earthquake and EVERY household in Dessalines has taken on refugees. So families of ten who already couldn't feed everyone, now may have 16 or 20 mouths to feed. The average income in Haiti is $2 American a day! In addition, staff are dealing with death of family from the earthquake. The pharmacist lost 16, his girlfriend 6. To say they're struggling is an understatement.
I am already scheduled to go to a foster home with 2 kids with CP. I'll have a translator with me, but I'll evaluate the kids and help give ideas to the mom. If she's ok, I'll bring the kids back to the hospital to train staff on simple therapy concepts to aide in recovery. Sidenote, they have some counselors now to help staff with PTSD symptoms, etc. There's a wound clinic every morning that I will assist with, debridements, sending appropriate wounds to surgery, etc.
The hospital is 50 beds, 1 OR. We have an orthopod and general surgeon from MIchigan joining us there later today. One patient for example came from Port with a comminuted fx of her femur and a tib/fib fx on the other leg. Never received medical care.
My mind is all over the place, but at least I'm well rested and ready for the day. So bare with me. Mosquitoes are awful here. AWFUL. And it's very hot, but ok for me. I hear it's much hotter in Dessalines. We'll leave after breakfast and get half a day of work in there. It's gonna take 6 hrs to get 80 or 90 miles b/c the road is in such bad shape. Ugh. Another long day of travelling. The $2 travel blanket I bought at Target has been wonderful. Like a comfy piece of home. Em and I keep ours with us all the time. My cold is much improved. Had a full shower this morning which was so wonderful.
It's all just so much for my brain to process. I saw poverty in the DR, but this is like what you see in Nat'l Geographic. It's hard to wrap your brain around. And the briefing last night was challenging esp for someone who likes to solve problems. You feel like, can I even do anything? Dan has been working here for 15 years and it's such a slow process. But it's good. very good.
Gotta eat before we leave. Major rainstorm just came in. Hope it passes before we leave :) WOW...what a journey!! Love, Amy
This post brought tears to my eyes, just the brief descriptions of what you are witnessing. You are a total inspiration, I am so proud of you! Prayers and love!
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