On the flight home this morning. Yesterday Ann and I were in Fort Lauderdale for a relaxing afternoon and evening. She got a mani/pedi while I slept in a lounge chair by the mineral pool with cucumbers on my eyes. (I woke myself up snoring:)). We went out for an excellent seafood dinner with Dr. Jim. Great food, drinks and conversation. I met so many compassionate healthcare workers on this adventure. It gives me hope for the future of healthcare.
I am traveling with my backpack and a small carry-on. I left everything in Haiti and I am thinking now of MaKenzie who has my pillow.......wondering how he slept last night....
I am incredibly exhusted but my heart is full and my worldview has expanded and shifted again. I am so thankful for the blessings in my life....family, friends, clean drinking water, food, enough gas to move freely about and a safe place to call home.
My mind is starting to plan ways to continue to support the wonderful mission of Haiti Family Ministries and people of Haiti.
Thank you to everyone who held me in prayer, supported me and especially the people whom I have met in Haiti who worked tirelessly this past week.
What a life changing experience!
Siging off for now....stay tuned for the next adventure.....not sure when or where but there will be more to come:)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Well....another busy day is done or so I think....my last day working in Haiti. I am definately ready to be home but I will miss so much here. There is such a need and the people have so much love, hope and big smiles. BUT as Ann says EVERYTHING is hard in Haiti.
I spent the day in the "rubble" clinic as it is now called by me. Lots of chronic conditions today such as a woman who has a colostomy who has no supplies. How she keeps it clean is beyond me. A 47 year old diabetic woman with an above the knee amputation. She is out of metformin and we had none to give her. As I write the Rx she says I have no money to pay. We found some at the hospital when we got back tonight and are sending it to the clinic on Monday for her. A 40 year old with a tumor just above her symphsis. Doctor from Aruba consulted....maybe pelvic TB.....WOW....and that is a select few of the crowd that was there today.
Saw a Rat today inside the "clinic" space so Mary and I moved.....crazy. And the smells are burnt into nose, literally. I asked what to do with the plastic garbage bag when we cleaned up at clinic...."oh just toss it on the fire burning on the rubble". It was one of hardest things I have done since being here...sharps and all burnt......smelly to say the least!
Got back to the hospital and showered and went to maternite...28 weeker in pre term labor just broke her water. Not much hope here for her babe...she is alone and crying......2 pre eclampsia patients had MgSO4 IV push then aldomet...... 42 week primip obviously infected, fever and tender....prepped for surgery BUT no anesthesiologist to be found. So the French midwife tells me the doctor said that if the baby crashes then it will be an emergency and I will need to push Ketamine....I say N-O!!!!! I draw the line here. I am not giving anesthesia. I have the interpreter wake up the OB/GYN from Washington to see if he does spinals oh and also wake ip the Resp. Therapist to alert her of the possible 28 weeker tonight.....whew
Now I am in bed. Hoping to stay here until 5am when I leaving for the airport to fly into Fort Lauderdale.
I spent the day in the "rubble" clinic as it is now called by me. Lots of chronic conditions today such as a woman who has a colostomy who has no supplies. How she keeps it clean is beyond me. A 47 year old diabetic woman with an above the knee amputation. She is out of metformin and we had none to give her. As I write the Rx she says I have no money to pay. We found some at the hospital when we got back tonight and are sending it to the clinic on Monday for her. A 40 year old with a tumor just above her symphsis. Doctor from Aruba consulted....maybe pelvic TB.....WOW....and that is a select few of the crowd that was there today.
Saw a Rat today inside the "clinic" space so Mary and I moved.....crazy. And the smells are burnt into nose, literally. I asked what to do with the plastic garbage bag when we cleaned up at clinic...."oh just toss it on the fire burning on the rubble". It was one of hardest things I have done since being here...sharps and all burnt......smelly to say the least!
Got back to the hospital and showered and went to maternite...28 weeker in pre term labor just broke her water. Not much hope here for her babe...she is alone and crying......2 pre eclampsia patients had MgSO4 IV push then aldomet...... 42 week primip obviously infected, fever and tender....prepped for surgery BUT no anesthesiologist to be found. So the French midwife tells me the doctor said that if the baby crashes then it will be an emergency and I will need to push Ketamine....I say N-O!!!!! I draw the line here. I am not giving anesthesia. I have the interpreter wake up the OB/GYN from Washington to see if he does spinals oh and also wake ip the Resp. Therapist to alert her of the possible 28 weeker tonight.....whew
Now I am in bed. Hoping to stay here until 5am when I leaving for the airport to fly into Fort Lauderdale.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
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