Signing off

I'm up really early, as I can never sleep well (or much at all) the night before I fly somewhere. I'm leaving Haiti feeling ready and hesitant at the same time...the good thing is that I know I can come back here in the future. I've learned a lot about the country, its people, all the great aid workers here, and myself. Here's the short list of things I've learned in Haiti:

1. Avon Skin-so-Soft is one of the best products ever made. Thanks, Tuwanda.

2. You can cook lots of things as long as you have a skillet and a fork. 

3. Adendazole never hurt anybody.

4. Spraying bug killer around an oven that's turned on is never a good idea. Ask Jeanne about that one.

5. Bucket showers aren't that bad as long as you check the water for worms first.

6. A fan is worth having for $25 USD. 

7. You know you're really dirty when you take a shower and then your body itches all over because it's not used to not having a layer of grime covering it. 

8. Putting 3 people on a motorbike is fine as long as you have a good driver and don't move around too much. Oh, and you have to remember to lean forward when you go up big hills. 

9. You can eat a good meal off the street for less than $2.50 USD. Drink included.

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10. You will get used to the smell(s). Actually, you might not. 

11. Many times, you can do a lot with a little. What's frustrating is when you can't. 

12. Often, giving a patient some Tylenol, vitamins, or Tums can really make their day. Simple meds that we take for granted in the US are very appreciated here. 

13. The people I've worked with here- Haitian, American, any nationality- are all working intently towards improving the quality of life for the citizens of Haiti. Whether they work in medicine, human rights, construction, or the logistics of running an organization, everyone's here fighting the good fight and getting things done.

14. The Haitian people are resilient, kind, hardworking, and funny. I'm so glad that I got to meet so many of them over the past 5 weeks. 

There are many more things that maybe I'll add if I'm bored in the airport. Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible and meaningful for me: Jeanne, Big Paul, Tuwanda, Michael, Megan Coffee, Nick, Jameson, Pierre, Jonathan, Heather, Lauren, Junior, Ralph, Forrest, Ellie, LP, Riaan, and everyone else that I'm sure I'm forgetting at this hour. Also thanks to my parents and family. Lastly, thanks to everyone who followed and supported me during my trip. I have really appreciated everything. I'm getting eaten by swarms of mosquitoes (only fitting for my last few hours here) so I'm going to go make sure I'm all packed. Orevwa, Haiti!                                             

Happy Birthday, Cassidy!

Good morning everyone. An update from last Saturday: we took chance to go out and be around a bunch of people when we heard that Concern (an NGO) was having a big party at their house that is up past PV and overlooks the whole city. It was fun and once again something I wasn't really planning on experiencing while I was here. Sunday, the house had no city power (which is the case about half the time) but the inverter wasn't working either. The inverter is connected to around 10 car batteries that operate as the power for the house when the city power isn't on. Most things can run on the inverter power except for the AC in the bedrooms and the water pump. But Sunday we had neither....so no internet, lights, fans, nothing. So Jonathan and Nick got on getting an alternative and borrowed a generator from GRU. It only worked for a little while though, so we went out for the day and tried to get some other things done for around the house.

Monday Jeanne and I spent a few hours at the TB tents, as usual doing dressing changes and starting some IVs. We also helped Megan label a lot of sputum cups that needed to be handed out. Tuesday we went back, did more dressing changes, drew some labs, labeled some more cups, and then the sky just opened up. Jeanne and I talked just a few days before about how we had never been stuck at the tents during a downpour, so here it was. Everyone gets crowded in the tents and does their best to stay dry. It was really a nice environment because we are finally getting to know these patients and they know us as well. One woman, a mother of one of the patients (she goes by Mama Lubo) asked Jeanne and I to take a picture with her so that she will remember us! Jeanne ended up taking every single patient's picture and they are being posted on Snapfish right now along with some others. BP, Riaan, and crew had stopped by the tents to deliver some supplies, and when it started to rain, they noticed how many sections of the white tent roof gathered large amounts of water and sagged down during the storms. So, doing what they do best, they set off to find some crutches that could be wedged up under the tent fabric to keep it from sagging (bad explanation, but it worked). They did this rig in multiple spots in the white tent and got a lot of applause and thank yous when they left. On the super hot days (which are most days), the coolest spot to be is outside the tents under a tree. But Tuesday, the best spot to be was under the tents, staying (relatively) dry and getting to spend some time with the patients that we've come to know and enjoy.

Wednesday was spent around the house, I helped look over a 13-page volunteer orientation packet and some other documents that were put together by Jonathan and Michael for the set-up they're trying to start in the house. Check out Jonathan's organization's website, HerNow.org to see what they are up to. Jonathan is 21 and is a co-founder of the organization. I think they'll be doing a lot of good stuff after I head out. Today is Cassidy's 21st birthday, so I think he's having a little party at his house/room tonight. Megan Coffee is taking a week off from the TB tents starting next Monday, and Jeanne is going to be helping the new doctor that's coming in every day next week. So we are taking it a little slower than usual so she doesn't get burnt out. And me, well, I'm just enjoying my last 5 days here. Going with the flow and making sure that I've done the most important things on my list. I'll check in at least one more time before I go. Take care, everyone.

E

Snapfish page link

Here is the link to the Snapfish page to see all pictures. It was in a previous post but here it is again!

http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2372139021/a=1455062021_1455062021/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

E

Octember

Uploading lots of pictures from Tuwanda's camera to Snapfish right now, some are from a few weeks ago. There are some good ones so check it out. Yesterday Jeanne and I went to the TB tents prepared to draw about 20 labs on HIV patients so that their CD4 levels could be checked. We ended up not doing this (in Haiti, plans ALWAYS change), and instead helped with compiling a list of everyone's name, phone number, address, and mother's name. Actually, our translator Jameson took this task on himself, and did a great job. Jeanne and I helped Megan with two paracenteses (drawing fluid out of the abdomen). As with most things here, you have to make do with the supplies you have on hand...this means Megan uses a 14 gauge IV catheter (a larger catheter that can be inserted in veins for large fluid volume delivery), inserts it into the abdomen, and connects it to tubing and a drainage bag. We took almost 2 liters of fluid out of the first woman; it didn't go as well with the second woman.

Last night we went out to this restaurant called the Latin Quarter where there is a Cuban band on Thursdays. It was definitely the nicest and most expensive place I've been since I've been here, but it was fun. We slept in this morning (meaning I got up at 8) and had a slow morning until Jeanne and I went to Medishare around 1 pm. We had planned to go over there today and tomorrow to help with the transition they have every Saturday when new volunteers arrive and the current volunteers leave. We have been to Medishare many times with BP when he is picking up people or dropping stuff off, but we got the official tour today and got to meet their current volunteer staff.

I feel a lot safer than I thought I would here...it's not like I would ever go anywhere by myself, and we are always smart, but it's not this "war zone" atmosphere that I had imagined. There is still a lot of sketchy stuff that goes on (pretty much every Friday there are demonstrations that shut down some roads, people will burn tires and be intimidating, etc) but I'm with people who seem to know how the city works, and know when it's truly unsafe to do something.

I don't have as much to say when I update two days in a row. Oh yea, let me explain "Octember." We were asking Jameson when he had to start school again. He says "Octember." We are like "Umm, ok so next month or the month after that?" He says, "You know, like September, Octember...." So that settled it. We let him know it was October, not Octember, and he thought that was funny. He will finish high school in a year and has a bright future ahead of him. He is in some of the Snapfish pictures. He is such a nice guy with a lot of patience.

I feel spoiled with the air conditioned bedrooms in the new house. But it's set off by the fact that I killed 6 cockroaches yesterday (all within 3 minutes of each other as they scurried around a room) and that when we turn on the oven a bunch of little bugs come running out and they run all over the stove and counters, which usually have our food on them. You learn to get over it. As long as the bugs don't crawl on me in bed or something (roommate Nick says he had a late night battle with a cockroach the other night) I'll be alright. Knock on wood. Ta-ta

E

Happy (almost) Birthday, Dad!

Hi all. Sorry it's been a while. First of all, I am updating my blog subtitle because I've decided to shorten the length of my trip from 12 weeks to about 6 weeks. There are many reasons but mainly I think that a 3 month trip was just a little ambitious for me. My brain might be mush by the time I leave here. But I already know that I want to return to Haiti so hopefully that will happen in the future. Everything is still great here! Jeanne and I have changed our living arrangements and are now living up in Delmas with Michael, Nick, and Jonathan. We still plan on working with BP and MMRC whenever they need us, and we seem to have a pretty full schedule up until I leave on August 24th.

Last Saturday we went to a party at one of the IMC (International Medical Corps) houses in a neighborhood called Belvil. It was really nice, a little Miami-esque. It was nice to meet all the people there and a good time was had overall. We went to the UN beach on Sunday with some people from GRU...we rented a tap-tap for the day and it took us a couple hours to get there but it was nice to have some down time and to see the local beach. Tuwanda left Monday (it was a sad morning- we miss you!) and Jeanne and I went to a tent city near Cite Soleil called Jean-Marie Vincent to check on a little girl who  had an unknown neurological disorder (we think it is cerebral palsy but need a doctor to check her out) and we checked out some of the pregnant women in the camp. This camp is struggling- as many of the camps are- and we are going to try and help the pregnant women get to the PID clinic which is relatively close to them and free.

On Tuesday MMRC received 2000 cases of Pedialyte. The NC Baptist Men came to the house and we loaded up their big truck with a bunch of cases. These guys are so nice and hardworking and it was great to see some fellow NC-ers (they can seem few and far between!). We also loaded up PID's tap-tap with Pedialyte and stored the rest at the house. As far as I know there is even more Pedialyte coming and it will be very helpful to a lot of the dehydrated and sick people here. Yesterday Jeanne and I went to the TB tents and drew labs on about 30 of the patients which took up most of the day- but we are getting a lot more efficient! We have pretty much mastered sticking most Haitians, who are thin and dehydrated. There was a newer patient yesterday who was heavier than the rest, and we couldn't find her veins...people in the US aren't going to be as easy to stick as Haitians!

Back to the tents today- drawing more labs as Dr.Coffee thinks she has found someone who will run CD4 counts on all of her HIV positive patients. Not exactly sure what the plan is for the rest of the week and weekend, but internet is more accessible at the new house which means I should be able to update more frequently!

E

Because it's Friday night...

Sitting at the Plaza having a mango daiquiri with Tuwanda, Jeanne, and Ralph. It's been a busy and productive week. On Monday, Tuwanda, Jeanne and I went to a clinic that is set up at an old water park. It is run by a group called AIMER Haiti and is open 7 days a week. They usually have volunteer groups with 8-10 doctors and can see up to 500 patients a day. But when we were there it was just Tuwanda and a Haitian doctor. It was crazy but Tuwanda got the job done and saw over 50 patients by herself (that's a lot). Jeanne and I started off the day triaging patients but we soon learned this wasn't really efficient because we had to refer about 95% of the patients we saw to the doctor (which meant they were basically being asked the same questions twice and taking twice the amount of time necessary). So we found other things to do but we were still there 10 hours.

Tuesday was spent at the TB tents, nothing crazy but it was good to feel comfortable and efficient. Wednesday morning we went over to the Partners in Development clinic (the one I mentioned earlier). We never did figure out if it was actually in Cite Soleil, but we never felt like we were in a dangerous place. On the contrary it was actually the most peaceful environment we'd experienced so far. I really can't say enough good things about this organization...they have a 20 year presence in Haiti and provide a great resource to the community. Not only do they have a free clinic but they give loans to small businesses. They treated us so well (the best meals we have eaten yet) and it was great to see another part of the city. We stayed there Wednesday night....they have a newly built guest house with space for almost 30 people in bunk beds. My first experience sleeping in a mosquito net, and it was quite hot. Jeanne and I woke up with probably about 20 bites on each knee...we are thinking it might be fleas. I don't deal well with rashes, especially on my own body, and everyone around has to make sure I don't scratch. I think I've almost gone through an entire tube of anti-itch cream. We visited a tent village on the way home from PID so that Tuwanda could check on a young boy with cerebral palsy. He is on three different seizure medications and still seizing often. His mom takes really good care of him and he was not as contracted as you might expect. We drew a crowd of kids, they all say "Hey you! Give me ______ (a dollar/chocolate/your watch)!" But they're sweet and I just wish I could communicate with them more. One group of boys had a book of Creole-American phrases and asked us for our phone numbers.

Today we went up to J/P HRO (Sean Penn's organization) and worked in the clinic. This is also a great organization from what I saw today. They have a lot of permanent and temporary staff who are well established in Petion-ville. A large part of J/P HRO that you might have read about is the 52,000 person tent city they run, the largest in PAP. We were given a tour today and it is pretty cool. I can't really explain everything about it but it really seems like they have figured out how to run the whole show really well. I think that Jeanne and I will probably spend a good amount of time here over the next few weeks as long as they will have us. The tent city is on a 9-hole golf course up on the mountain overlooking the whole city....there is a pretty cool view. All the staff, translators, and volunteers were great. I saw a lot of people with fevers, ear aches, upper respiratory infections, and muscle aches. The translator I worked with most of the day, Sammy, was awesome...he wants to come to the states and go to college and then hopefully medical school. The fact that most of the translators I've met have taught themselves English continues to amaze me. I WILL learn at least one foreign language over the next 3-5 years. If anyone has a Rosetta Stone Spanish or French that would let me use/borrow it, let me know!

That's all for now. One last story- Riaan (a Marine who's staying with us for a few weeks) wanted to get tazed today. He put on an adult diaper (because of the effects that tazers can have....) and tazed himself. With two tazers at the same time. And he didn't even flinch or fall down or anything. He says he's been tazed probably 30 times. That was about the craziest thing I've seen in a while. He's a really nice guy who is always down to do anything for anyone. He is teaching an emergency medical training class at Medishare for the Haitian OR staff. We stood in on his class for a few minutes the other night and it looked great. The 5-6 guys he's teaching are so motivated and eager to learn...they want to have class 5-7 AM before work and then 7-9   PM after work.

That's really all for now. The power just went out at the Plaza so I should probably post this soon. Orevwa!

Rabbit rabbit

Hi all. Not sure when I’ll get to post this, but right now it’s Sunday morning. Things at the Fany Villa (our house) are slow this weekend- the truck we were renting is now gone because the owners wanted us to purchase it for a rather expensive price (cars down here are really pricey). So were carless for a few days, which led to a couple rides home from HUEH/TB tents on the bike with Cassidy. Yesterday, we found an OLD Nissan Pathfinder to rent until Tuesday, when hopefully we will have acquired another car due to the generous donation of Patricia Arquette (see BP’s blog for details on that). This car cuts off often- on the way to GrassRoots last night I think it cut off 6 times. I was considering driving the truck occasionally if needed but I don’t think I’ll be driving this car.

On Thursday, Jeanne and I were at the tents with Megan when she was called to the ER to see a patient. He was really hypoxic and his oxygen saturation was in the 70s (it needs to be above 90). Because of this, it was imperative that he wear a nonrebreather mask connected to oxygen. But he was freaking out, and constantly taking the mask off. Megan says that a lot of patients here are freaked out by the masks, and sometimes the nurses will let the patients take them off- and when patients are wearing these masks, it’s pretty much a life or death situation. Anyway, Megan is trying to tell the patient to keep the mask on or die, and he just wasn’t having it. It was really sad because he wasn’t acting right maybe because he had been hypoxic for quite some time and enough oxygen wasn’t getting to his brain. Jeanne and I were preparing an IV medication by using a needle and syringe to draw normal saline out of a bag that was sitting near the patient. At one point, the patient was so frantic that he grabbed the bag, took the needle and syringe out of it, and was threatening anyone who got close to him with the needle. Eventually he dropped it and nothing came of it, but it was a little unsettling just the same. We had to leave for the night shortly after this, but we found out the next day that he died that night around 11:30 pm.

On Friday I headed to the tents in the morning by myself so that Jeanne could sleep in, and successfully started an IV all by myself! Granted, the guy was really skinny and had HUGE veins but it was encouraging. We have a lot of glass bottles of Lactated Ringers (an IV fluid) that are from some other country- no one uses glass bottles in America (that I know of) for pretty obvious reasons. Jeanne and I use these bottles at the tents a lot, and you have to wrap them up with a lot of tape and make a loop so that you can hang them up. It’s a pain- and apparently I didn’t wrap one of the bottles well and it fell to the floor and smashed right before I put this IV in. Not the best way to start the day but I cleaned it up the best I could and made sure everyone knew to be careful. Hopefully we don’t go there this week and have to change someone’s foot dressing.

Yesterday Jeanne, Tuwanda and I were getting a little stir crazy sitting here at the house with no mode of transportation and nothing to do. So we decided to take a little walk- it was really liberating to walk out of the gate and walk down the street! We were planning on going by ourselves and just circling the block in the neighborhood, but Ellie (a Haitian boy who lives with us- he is so sweet) decided to go with us. We ended up walking to the Plaza Hotel and sitting on the rooftop deck for a few minutes. It was nice to be able to do something without depending on a car. Also nice to know that the Plaza is really within walking distance.

Last night, we went over to GrassRoots United (GRU) to hang out, and 9 of us ended up going to a club. I need to get some better dance moves to hang out with this crowd. I think it was the latest I’ve stayed out since I got here and I was exhausted by the time we got home. Now, Tuwanda and I are about to test out the maple sausage MRE because we heard it was good from a credible source. I’ll let you know how it goes.

The plan for this week (plans change pretty frequently around here though) is to vaccinate kids at an orphanage and then Jeanne and I might go work with Partners in Development (PID) at their clinic in Cite Soleil. If we do this, we will be staying there for a few days because no one here would drive into Cite Soleil at night to pick us up (dangerous). But hey, maybe they have internet there! Will keep everyone posted.

E