Sunday, March 14, 2010
I apologize for not blogging the last few days, but we arrived home Saturday at 4 am and spent most of saturday trying to recuperate. I still have not caught up on my sleep, and after I finish updating this blog, I plan on doing just that.
Friday was spent working all morning and then packing and saying our goodbyes before leaving for the airport. Many, many tears were shed as we left the rest of the team behind that will be stayting until next Saturday. That includes Erin, Dr. Hurley and Dr. Decker, Claudine and Claudee. Dr. Kim was leaving today and Barbara is leaving Tuesday.
Once we said our goodbyes, another adventure began. We loaded into a tap tap (Truck that was used as a taxi if you will) and headed toward the airport. We were all very nervous about this as we had no translater with us and that in it self was scary. However, after a ,dusty, hot trip through the crowded streets of Port Au Prince, we arrived at the airport. After going through 3 security check points, yes I said 3, we were now on our way home. The plane was filled with American workers heading home and Haitians moving out!! One young man I met spoke English well and told me that he had come to Haiti to bury his grandfather who was killed in the earthquake and to bring his 89 year old grandmother to the US to live with him. He had been in Port Au Prince 4 a month to attend the funeral and to get the affairs in order and then move his grandmother. She had been blinded in the quake in her left eye and also had some other injuries that made it difficult for her to move around. It was very touching to see him with her and the care and love he gave her.
Once we were in the air, and they began to pass out beverages.....ICE was my one request!!!! Ice has never tasted so good!!!! Many on the team that left with me on Friday, Carol, Diane, Lynell, Dr. Joel, and Audrey said the same thing!!! THe next wish was to be able to wash our hands in HOT water and then to take LONG, HOT showers and sleep in our own beds.
As we approached Miami, the pilot came on and told us that there was some bad weather in the area and the landing was gonna be rough!!! and Yep.....it was!!! But we landed and then....sat on the runway for an hour and a half. With us being an international flight, we had to come into only certain gaits and we were the 8th plane to come in. The weather ahd kept everyone in the air a little longer as well circling the airport, but we finally were able to disembark and begain our adventure through customs!!!
We all made through without a hitch and then started to make our way through security...AGAIN!!! We all passed, but only to find out that our final flight to Nashville had been delayed by an hour. So this was now going to put us in Nashville at 1 A.M instead of midnight. We were all exhausted at this point, smelly from sweating in our scrubs in the 94 degree heat and dirty and gritty form the dusty ride to the airport, but we were one step closer to being home.
We were all hungry, and with few restaurants open at 10:30 at night, pizza was the winner. Audrey ahd missed her flight because of the long wait on the runway, so she had already lefy us and was on her way to a hotel for the night. She was going to be meeting up with her sister in the morning. I later got a text from her that said she had caught a shuttle to the hotel, but went to the wrong hotel and and was then waiting on another shuttle to take her to the right one!!! I think the Lord was trying to teach us ALL patience!!!!
We finally made it Nashville. Lynell's family surprised her and met her at the airport. My husband ,Red, met us with the Owensboro Christian Church van and after we were loaded up, we began the long drive home.
But, we made it!! The LONG, HOT shower was soooooo good!!!! But climbing into my bed was just the most amazing feeling!!!! I curled up and almost immediatly fell asleep!
I am still trying to catch up on the liquid that I lost....I just can't seem to get enough to drink. I lost 10 pounds while there.....the heat made food unappealing and with the hot temperatures, we were sweating out every drop of water we were taking in and then some. Lunch was provided for us everyday, but it was sooo spicy!! I could not really eat it, but others were. So the tuna in a can bame my meals.
I have so many stories to tell and well as everyone else that was part of the team. We still have members of our team there and we are lifting them up daily in prayer for their strength and comfort and health.
I thank EVERYONE of you for your prayers and support while we were gone. I could feel everyone of them!!! When I became weary, they kepy me going!!!
The group of people I was working beside are AMAZING!!!!! Everyone of them have a huge heart and love for helping others.
I have tons of pictures and can't wait to make a slide show out of them and hopefully post it for all to see.
THe last few pictures I am going to post are of the entire team...including our fearless leader Dr. Hurley. He did not make it into our first group picture and he wanted to make sure that he was in this one so the people back home didn't think he was off in Hawaii somewhere sitting on a beach!!!!:)
God is still moving in Haiti and there is still so much to be done. The work of rebuilding is beginning, but the rainy season is going to be starting soon and a whole new set of problems will them begin.
I am going to keep updating this site as I get updates from the team still in Port Au Prince. Keep the prayers coming!!!
Love you all,
Denise
Friday was spent working all morning and then packing and saying our goodbyes before leaving for the airport. Many, many tears were shed as we left the rest of the team behind that will be stayting until next Saturday. That includes Erin, Dr. Hurley and Dr. Decker, Claudine and Claudee. Dr. Kim was leaving today and Barbara is leaving Tuesday.
Once we said our goodbyes, another adventure began. We loaded into a tap tap (Truck that was used as a taxi if you will) and headed toward the airport. We were all very nervous about this as we had no translater with us and that in it self was scary. However, after a ,dusty, hot trip through the crowded streets of Port Au Prince, we arrived at the airport. After going through 3 security check points, yes I said 3, we were now on our way home. The plane was filled with American workers heading home and Haitians moving out!! One young man I met spoke English well and told me that he had come to Haiti to bury his grandfather who was killed in the earthquake and to bring his 89 year old grandmother to the US to live with him. He had been in Port Au Prince 4 a month to attend the funeral and to get the affairs in order and then move his grandmother. She had been blinded in the quake in her left eye and also had some other injuries that made it difficult for her to move around. It was very touching to see him with her and the care and love he gave her.
Once we were in the air, and they began to pass out beverages.....ICE was my one request!!!! Ice has never tasted so good!!!! Many on the team that left with me on Friday, Carol, Diane, Lynell, Dr. Joel, and Audrey said the same thing!!! THe next wish was to be able to wash our hands in HOT water and then to take LONG, HOT showers and sleep in our own beds.
As we approached Miami, the pilot came on and told us that there was some bad weather in the area and the landing was gonna be rough!!! and Yep.....it was!!! But we landed and then....sat on the runway for an hour and a half. With us being an international flight, we had to come into only certain gaits and we were the 8th plane to come in. The weather ahd kept everyone in the air a little longer as well circling the airport, but we finally were able to disembark and begain our adventure through customs!!!
We all made through without a hitch and then started to make our way through security...AGAIN!!! We all passed, but only to find out that our final flight to Nashville had been delayed by an hour. So this was now going to put us in Nashville at 1 A.M instead of midnight. We were all exhausted at this point, smelly from sweating in our scrubs in the 94 degree heat and dirty and gritty form the dusty ride to the airport, but we were one step closer to being home.
We were all hungry, and with few restaurants open at 10:30 at night, pizza was the winner. Audrey ahd missed her flight because of the long wait on the runway, so she had already lefy us and was on her way to a hotel for the night. She was going to be meeting up with her sister in the morning. I later got a text from her that said she had caught a shuttle to the hotel, but went to the wrong hotel and and was then waiting on another shuttle to take her to the right one!!! I think the Lord was trying to teach us ALL patience!!!!
We finally made it Nashville. Lynell's family surprised her and met her at the airport. My husband ,Red, met us with the Owensboro Christian Church van and after we were loaded up, we began the long drive home.
But, we made it!! The LONG, HOT shower was soooooo good!!!! But climbing into my bed was just the most amazing feeling!!!! I curled up and almost immediatly fell asleep!
I am still trying to catch up on the liquid that I lost....I just can't seem to get enough to drink. I lost 10 pounds while there.....the heat made food unappealing and with the hot temperatures, we were sweating out every drop of water we were taking in and then some. Lunch was provided for us everyday, but it was sooo spicy!! I could not really eat it, but others were. So the tuna in a can bame my meals.
I have so many stories to tell and well as everyone else that was part of the team. We still have members of our team there and we are lifting them up daily in prayer for their strength and comfort and health.
I thank EVERYONE of you for your prayers and support while we were gone. I could feel everyone of them!!! When I became weary, they kepy me going!!!
The group of people I was working beside are AMAZING!!!!! Everyone of them have a huge heart and love for helping others.
I have tons of pictures and can't wait to make a slide show out of them and hopefully post it for all to see.
THe last few pictures I am going to post are of the entire team...including our fearless leader Dr. Hurley. He did not make it into our first group picture and he wanted to make sure that he was in this one so the people back home didn't think he was off in Hawaii somewhere sitting on a beach!!!!:)
God is still moving in Haiti and there is still so much to be done. The work of rebuilding is beginning, but the rainy season is going to be starting soon and a whole new set of problems will them begin.
I am going to keep updating this site as I get updates from the team still in Port Au Prince. Keep the prayers coming!!!
Love you all,
Denise
Thursday, March 11, 2010
March 11, 2010
Hey everyone! This is Katie blogging for my mom, because the modem they have been using isn't working today...
Everyone is doing well. It was a very hot day today and it was difficult to stay cool at all. We have been trying to drink as much as we can, but it is still difficult to get enough. We are all anxious to come home and see our families and babies, but our hearts are going to be here in Haiti. It is so difficult to see patients have no water except once every 8 hours when they take 1 Tylenol! No fans or air conditioners, bed pans, pillows...nothing. Life in the US is such a blessing from God and we take so much for granted! We are working until noon and then leaving for the airport. We will arrive in Nashville tomorrow night at midnight and arrive in Owensboro at 3am, God willing! I will blog and upload alot of pictures once I get a long hot shower and sleep! Love you all!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
March 10th,2010
Today stated as usual with a Mass, however, as we were walking into the chapel, there were 2 body bags laying in the court yard next to the chapel. Once Mass was over, we all moved to the court yard and had a funeral srvice for the victims. No families were present. Usually when these boby bags appear, they are the remains of children found in the rubble of the schools. In these 2 bags were 10 people we were told. 7 in one bag and 3 in another. the bodies were badly decomposed and obviously very small. Once the funeral service ended, we began our day at the clinic and hospital.
Today was hot! Hottest day so far. More people came to the clinic today and before we knew it, it was 1:30pm and we had not stopped to eat lunch. We are drinking alot of water, but we noticed today that we are not going to the bathroom but once or twice a day. Dehydration is something that we don't think about at home very much, but we are watching closely for it here. The language barrier is a very big source of frustration. We have some local Hatians that are interpreting for us, but it is still very difficult. It is difficult for the people to understand what we need them to do to get better. They are a grateful people, but still have a hard time believing that they can walk when casts are removed after wearing them for 6 to 8 weeks. I have had a very difficult time with the language thing!! I have been laughed at alot because of the way I pronounce things...but I am trying.
Diane, Carol, Amber, Lynell and Dr. Decker spent the day in the clinic and back and forth to xray. Denise and Audrey went to the recovery room and the clinic. Dr. Hurley, Dr. Kim and Erin and Barbara spent the day in the OR. Dr. Joel again went on his mobile clinic with the germans.
One of our interpretors told us that he had a tap tap that would fit 19 people and wanted to know if we wanted to go on a sight seeing tour. Well...we all jumped at the chance and the entire team was off!!! We drove through town and even stopped at a local grocery store to enjoy the air conditioning and buy a few supplies and drinks. Once we were all on the tap tap again and took off, we noticed that we had a flat tire! But, we had a spare thank goodness.....but then quickly realized that it too was flat. So ......out cute little Lynell flagged down a U.N. police vehicle that helped us. Dr. Hurley and Jude, our interpretor and the U.N. police officer went and aired the tire up. Our driver meanwhile had left and walked about 2 blocks to get the other tire fixed. After waiting about an hour, we were on our way to the guest house. We did not want to venture any further due to the fact that the tire that Dr. Hurley took to air up and we put on the truck had a slow leak!!!
So we all arrived safely back home!!! After alot of laughs and bonding time, we are all taking showers and grabbing something to eat.
Today was a pretty emotional day for alot of us. The body bags and the funeral service drove home to us the reality of all of this. THe people in the clinic tell us their story...the what and how of their injury and the loss that they have experienced. Some tears were shed this morning before and during our jobs....and still tonight the emaotions are on our sleeves....tears come at the drop of a hat! God is giving us the strength to do this very difficult job....we ALL know this because the human part of us are weary.....even after just 4 days. The need is so great and will be for such a long time. People are in tents and plastic tarp homes....on top of the remains of the homes that were destroyed in the quake!!! The Haitian people ar so strong and rebound quickly!!! Kind of like...."Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!!" kind of thing!!!
More will come tomorrow and then more the next day and the next, etc......So many people....so much pain and suffering!
The doctors are amazing as well as the nurses that are cutting of casts, making casts, cleaning wounds, etc..... all the while with smiles on their faces and hugs for the people.
God put together an amazing team to work together this week....and I am blessed to be a part of it.
Love to all,
Denise
Today was hot! Hottest day so far. More people came to the clinic today and before we knew it, it was 1:30pm and we had not stopped to eat lunch. We are drinking alot of water, but we noticed today that we are not going to the bathroom but once or twice a day. Dehydration is something that we don't think about at home very much, but we are watching closely for it here. The language barrier is a very big source of frustration. We have some local Hatians that are interpreting for us, but it is still very difficult. It is difficult for the people to understand what we need them to do to get better. They are a grateful people, but still have a hard time believing that they can walk when casts are removed after wearing them for 6 to 8 weeks. I have had a very difficult time with the language thing!! I have been laughed at alot because of the way I pronounce things...but I am trying.
Diane, Carol, Amber, Lynell and Dr. Decker spent the day in the clinic and back and forth to xray. Denise and Audrey went to the recovery room and the clinic. Dr. Hurley, Dr. Kim and Erin and Barbara spent the day in the OR. Dr. Joel again went on his mobile clinic with the germans.
One of our interpretors told us that he had a tap tap that would fit 19 people and wanted to know if we wanted to go on a sight seeing tour. Well...we all jumped at the chance and the entire team was off!!! We drove through town and even stopped at a local grocery store to enjoy the air conditioning and buy a few supplies and drinks. Once we were all on the tap tap again and took off, we noticed that we had a flat tire! But, we had a spare thank goodness.....but then quickly realized that it too was flat. So ......out cute little Lynell flagged down a U.N. police vehicle that helped us. Dr. Hurley and Jude, our interpretor and the U.N. police officer went and aired the tire up. Our driver meanwhile had left and walked about 2 blocks to get the other tire fixed. After waiting about an hour, we were on our way to the guest house. We did not want to venture any further due to the fact that the tire that Dr. Hurley took to air up and we put on the truck had a slow leak!!!
So we all arrived safely back home!!! After alot of laughs and bonding time, we are all taking showers and grabbing something to eat.
Today was a pretty emotional day for alot of us. The body bags and the funeral service drove home to us the reality of all of this. THe people in the clinic tell us their story...the what and how of their injury and the loss that they have experienced. Some tears were shed this morning before and during our jobs....and still tonight the emaotions are on our sleeves....tears come at the drop of a hat! God is giving us the strength to do this very difficult job....we ALL know this because the human part of us are weary.....even after just 4 days. The need is so great and will be for such a long time. People are in tents and plastic tarp homes....on top of the remains of the homes that were destroyed in the quake!!! The Haitian people ar so strong and rebound quickly!!! Kind of like...."Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!!" kind of thing!!!
More will come tomorrow and then more the next day and the next, etc......So many people....so much pain and suffering!
The doctors are amazing as well as the nurses that are cutting of casts, making casts, cleaning wounds, etc..... all the while with smiles on their faces and hugs for the people.
God put together an amazing team to work together this week....and I am blessed to be a part of it.
Love to all,
Denise
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday March 9th, 2010
Another day!!! Very busy, but oh sooo rewarding. I have posted some pictures (finally) that shows two things. One group is of the devastation still EVERYWHERE here in Port AU Prince.
The second group of pictures is of some of the team holding and with some of the precious Hatian children we have come in contact with. I am walking with a little boy who was crushed in the earthquake. He broke both legs, from the pelvis down and was put into a spika cast....a hard cast on both legs from the hip joint down to the toes and then it is held in place by a rod attatched to both legs to keep his legs in proper alignment. That was 2 days after the earthquake hit. Well today the cast came off...he was healed, and he got to walk for the first time. I am seen walking him with his clolorful crutch that I gave him and he did very well. He was scared at first, but quickly gor over that fear and with the aide of just a hand a 1 crutch was able to walk!! His father was so happy that he would not stop smiling and telling us thank you. At one point, the little boy rested on my knee and put his head on my shoulder. As he rested,he put his arm around me and began patting me on the back....just like my precious little grand daughter does!!! It is so very rewarding, but so heartbreaking at the same time!!
The doctors and nurses continue to work very hard under very difficult conditions. The equipment that they need to take xrays and do other essential things to perform surgery keep breaking down or are not running properly. At the clinic today, we had over 30 patients that needed xrays, and mid-morning, the machine broke. We had no choice but to ask the patients to wait, and they did. It began to run again, but it was needed in the OR. So...again, the patients had to wait. They were finally all seen and not one complaint was heard!!! I think we Americans can learn a thing a two from these wonderful people about PATIENCE!!!!!
All is well with the team. Still taking cold showers, but we have now learned that a cold shower after a very long, hot sweaty day is much better than a cold shower early in the morning.
The mornings are still starting with a Mass and then doctors meetings and then clinic. Dr. Johnston again went into the mountains with the mobile unit and had a productive day. He is seeing about 60 patients each time he goes in.
The team is amazing!!! We are adapting to having so little and needing so much!! Carol, Diane, Lynell are continuing to remove and apply casts, wound care and in general anything that is needed. Amber and Erin and Barbara are in surgery with Dr. Hurley, Dr. Kim and Dr. Decker.
We have two very big prayer needs....that the xray starts working again as well as the ansthesia machine begins to work as well.
Keep the prayers coming.....I will post more tomorrow....
Love to all,
Denise
The second group of pictures is of some of the team holding and with some of the precious Hatian children we have come in contact with. I am walking with a little boy who was crushed in the earthquake. He broke both legs, from the pelvis down and was put into a spika cast....a hard cast on both legs from the hip joint down to the toes and then it is held in place by a rod attatched to both legs to keep his legs in proper alignment. That was 2 days after the earthquake hit. Well today the cast came off...he was healed, and he got to walk for the first time. I am seen walking him with his clolorful crutch that I gave him and he did very well. He was scared at first, but quickly gor over that fear and with the aide of just a hand a 1 crutch was able to walk!! His father was so happy that he would not stop smiling and telling us thank you. At one point, the little boy rested on my knee and put his head on my shoulder. As he rested,he put his arm around me and began patting me on the back....just like my precious little grand daughter does!!! It is so very rewarding, but so heartbreaking at the same time!!
The doctors and nurses continue to work very hard under very difficult conditions. The equipment that they need to take xrays and do other essential things to perform surgery keep breaking down or are not running properly. At the clinic today, we had over 30 patients that needed xrays, and mid-morning, the machine broke. We had no choice but to ask the patients to wait, and they did. It began to run again, but it was needed in the OR. So...again, the patients had to wait. They were finally all seen and not one complaint was heard!!! I think we Americans can learn a thing a two from these wonderful people about PATIENCE!!!!!
All is well with the team. Still taking cold showers, but we have now learned that a cold shower after a very long, hot sweaty day is much better than a cold shower early in the morning.
The mornings are still starting with a Mass and then doctors meetings and then clinic. Dr. Johnston again went into the mountains with the mobile unit and had a productive day. He is seeing about 60 patients each time he goes in.
The team is amazing!!! We are adapting to having so little and needing so much!! Carol, Diane, Lynell are continuing to remove and apply casts, wound care and in general anything that is needed. Amber and Erin and Barbara are in surgery with Dr. Hurley, Dr. Kim and Dr. Decker.
We have two very big prayer needs....that the xray starts working again as well as the ansthesia machine begins to work as well.
Keep the prayers coming.....I will post more tomorrow....
Love to all,
Denise
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