Monday March 8,2010

Today started off ok. We were up and moving, taking showers and going to the bathroom, when the water stopped. We were told there was no water in the hospital or the guest house compound. So....we adapted and went to mass. No funerals today.
Then our day began. We seperated out into specific areas. Dr. Joel went with the mobile clinic and said he saw about 60 patients. Alot of different kinds of cases, but was back in the compound around 4:30pm. Denise and Audrey went to the recovery room and began therapy on some post op day #1 patients before heading to the orthopedic clinic. Dr. Hurley, Carol, Diane, and Lynell headed to the orthopedic clinic to open and start the day. Dr. Kim and Amber and Erin were off to the OR along with Barbara.
The clinic was nothing short of chaotic. So many people!! Casts were removed and replaced if needed, xrays were being taken until the only machine we had broke down, people who had been in casts and now needed to start walking and moving their arms or legs were sent to Physical Therapy, all the while surgery was happening!!
The clinic is small and the patients line the walls and sit in chairs waiting to see us. They are a very patient people. Thank goodness we have some wonderful interpretors that are able to get some of our instructions and directions across.
We are all tired, but in a good way. I have not been able to have some quite time as of yet, I am wanting to get to the chaple and just relect for awhile.
It is so very easy to become overwhelmed,but you just have to remember that our strength is coming form the Lord. The Haitan people are so grateful for the help they are recieving, but they are coming to us with so little. Families are literally carring patients into the clinic because they have no wheelchairs or cars. The clinic is no longer needing crutches at this time. The critical need is walkers and wheelchairs. I met a family today that carried their 72 year old mother over 3 miles to see us, and then were going to carry her back. Some people arrive on make shift cots that the families are carrying them in on. It is just unbelievable.
We are all going to try to hit the sack early tonight because tomorrow will be busy as well.
Everyone is safe and feeling good. Tired, but good.
Keep the prayers coming. We are going to try to get the rooms organized tonight in the clinic to make our work easier, but we will see how our energy levels hold out.
The weather contiues to be good. Hot during the day and cool at night.....90's and 70's.
I have emailed Red(my husband) some of the many pictures I have, and hopefully he will be able to put them on here so you all can see. The internet is still slow, so trying to upload pictures is not very easy. The pictures do not have captions, but you will be able to see the hospital, OR, the guest house, ect.
Love to all,
Denise