Haiti 2013

Internet this year in Haiti was not very good (actually, I think it had more to do with the fact that everyone had a phone, tablet, or computer and it just couldn't handle it).  Either way, I didn't do a daily post.  I'm sorry.  But here are the highlights. (Also, we had a photographer with us this year, so if you'd like to see her AMAZING pics, just go HERE)

Friday night we arrived at the airport for our red-eye to Florida.........just to find out that there were mechanical problems and we would not be making our connecting flight.  They were able to reroute us, but 2 got sent to JFK first.  There connecting flight in JFK was delayed so they didn't make it to Haiti until Saturday night.  But we did make it.  And this year my bag actually made it with me.

There are improvements in Haiti.  One of the biggest things I noticed is that it rarely smelled like sewage this year.  That was wonderful! Slowly but surely they are rebuilding.  It has been 3 years since the earthquake, and in some parts you wouldn't know it had happened, but many others you would think it was just a few months ago.

Church Sunday was just as wonderful as ever.  Such beautiful people with great spirits.

Packed in the van for church

In the afternoon we sorted meds and other supplies to get ready for the week. We also went up to the Hotel Montana that night.  Always a good time up there. Lesly's brother Wildly came by the guest house to talk to us about what happened with Lesly.  We were kindof left in the dark as to the actual cause of death.  It was so interesting to hear Wildly talk and to see how much voodoo has influenced the culture there.  He told us that Lesly was perfectly healthy, but there was a man who was jealous of the work opportunities Lesly was having so he put a curse on him.  It was then that Lesly started having headaches and fever.  From our medical team's insight, they feel like the symptoms Wildly described would indicate meningitis. It was good to see Wildly (he looks so much like Lesly).  We were able to give him some money to take back to the family (Lesly was the main financial supporter for them).

Monday I went out to Callebasse for an outreach clinic.  I started out as the intake nurse, became the photographer, then ended as a pharmacist assistant.  Never a dull moment at the outreach clinics!

Tuesday I went out to Notre Maison to do the caregivers school.  The orphanage has really come a long way.  I taught basic nutrition and then we played with some of the children with disabilities.  We brought along an OT to help assess their needs and teach exercises.

Wednesday we drove out pretty far to do a education for the caregivers and community outreach workers. They have a beautiful orphanage that is not really being used.  Which might sound sad, but in a way is a good thing.  The community has a school that has 500 children (basically all the kids in the village) where a hot breakfast and hot lunch are provided.  This makes it more manageable for the parents to take care of their children and not have to give them up.  It really was an amazing model of what can be done to help people help themselves.

In order to get to this village, we had to drive up a dry river bank.  It used to be a beautiful, brand new road, but when hurricane Sandy came through, it completely washed out the road that was the only access to that town.

The washed out road 

At some points the walls were really high around us

On Thursday I stayed at Healing Hands to present at a 3 day health conference.  I was the nutritionist and had 3 hours to train pre-professionals on basics of nutrition in developing countries.  I'm not going to lie, I felt a little under qualified to be there.  But they had some great questions and I think it was an overall success.

Dr. Carrol teaching about burns

Friday left to drive up to our annual 2-day outreach clinic at Montrouis and spend the night at Indigo Beach. It was just as crazy as ever and Xavier was as helpful as ever ;).  But the beach was also just as beautiful as ever.

Every year in Haiti is different, but I love it every time.  I'm so grateful for the team and for all we were able to accomplish. In addition to what I reported on, we also had teams go work in the TB ward at the general hospital, more education and outreach clinics, and some work with local universities.