Some more updates

1. Boni is doing bicep curls with a foam ball in her hand! We were working on the wrist and fingers this week and have a lot of work to do.
   
2. Rosalande is getting a bit of a tummy. She's been to church a couple times this week with Mama and was cooking today in the kitchen. You have no idea what transformation this is from over a week ago.
   
3. We had an eye clinic this week and saw over 400 patients (might have been over 500 even). People can see (funny pictures to come)!
   
4. We have over 500 patients entered into the database and are working on the format. Lots more to go but help from the group that was here this week was much appreciated.
   
5. I had a rat in my suitcase last night. I'm a little traumatized. I opened my suitcase to get candy canes for my friends (Kayla left these to give away) and out jumped a HUGE (not exaggerating here...) brown rat. Straight at my leg, just missed me and ran out the door. Holy camoly. I screamed so loud and was so traumatized. I did sleep there last night but man oh man. I hung all my food in a bag from my wall. Kind of like hiding the food from bears!
   
6. 11 of the group members leave on Saturday and the rest on Tuesday. They will missed but I'm looking forward to life returning back to normal.
   
7. It's still hot here. I have a crazy heat rash on the back of my legs but this hasn't kept me from running.
   
8. Electrical will hopefully start next week or the following. It's delayed because they were using the hospital this week for the eye clinic.
   
9. It doesn't feel like it's been 4 weeks already - but apparently this Sunday that will be the case. Lucky for me I can't count weeks and I'm actually here for 11 weeks rather than 10. Yay!
   

Miss you all lots and can't wait to hear from you. Send me an email!

Picture updates

The gang (Ben, Kayla, myself, Alin)





















My physiotherapy patient, Boni. She can do a bicep curl holding onto a rock now! :)





















My other patient (Rosalande) and I. She is staying at the house with us and we are taking care of her for 1 month. I think I will spend 1 week with her and her family at her house in the jungle after she's finished treatment with us. Yikes!




















































The hospital is currently testing people's eyes and giving out classes through the Randolph Foundation. This morning they saw 50 patients. I even tested some of them!
















Getting the generator out of the truck in the dark.....sooooooo scary!















We got it out after much yelling and pulling and "discussing"














It weighs a lot! I was excited to see the ECCC name on it too! What a relief and such hope for this community and country.



















I'm happy! :)

Click on any picture to make it bigger.

The Value of Life

This week has been a bit of a wild ride. On Monday 12 students arrived from the USA to help in the clinic and Tuesday another 3 came to work in the lab with the technicians. Tuesday Manno took me to pick up a patient. I drove along the very bumpy and windy roads, parked, and we hopped on a couple motorcycles and arrived at her house. There she was, nothing to her. Sitting with a completely lifeless look on her face. I noticed how big her feet and hands were and how tall she was, yet every bone was visible and protruding. I’ve never seen anything like it. We loaded the motorcycles after they prepared and her 2 sisters came along with us. I drove back in the rain through the mountains and arrived at the hospital in the town next to ours. We sat in the waiting room for about an hour waiting to see a doctor. Meanwhile, a young girl died from electric shock. She was in the waiting room for who knows how long (at least an hour) and her heart stopped. The doctor didn’t try any form of resuscitation and we sat there listening to the family scream and cry in disbelief. This morning she was just fine, that evening she was gone. We watched as friends and family walked by us to go into the room to say goodbye. At this point we are exhausted from the travel and the emotions from the day. We haven’t eaten and are all hungry and we are just waiting. The doctor finally agrees to see her at his convenience and nothing. Manno says we are going to take her home with us because he doesn’t want to leave her there. So we bring her home. We feed her. We take her to a room at the University with her sisters. Test her insulin which is 594. The next day she sits all day in the living room at the house and I’m in charge of making sure she gets food and her insulin as Manno is at another clinic for the day. Rosalande begins to look a little better. Her glucose level is coming down and I even got a couple smiles out of her. There is something about showing someone that they are worth something. Manno shows this girl that her life matters. That he will make the treck out into the jungle to get her and bring her back to his home and care for her. Now, just maybe, she will fight for her life too. I was asked today if I thought she was going to make it, but I really don’t even want to think about that. I want to hope and pray for her, but at the same time I want to be ready for this reality. The reality of death. I’ve been here 3 weeks and have experienced 3 deaths (clinic staff members brother, baby at the clinic, girl at the hospital).

Last night the generator arrived at the clinic. This has been a work in progress and has been a bit of a worry for me as it’s taken months to ship it here and have it arrive. They unloaded it from the truck by hand (all 1340lbs). Slowly they lower it onto a couple of boards on top of 3 tires. The truck slowly inches forward as the generator is pulled out towards the ground. It took over an hour (or maybe two) and there was lots of yelling and disagreeing on whether or not the thing would crash to its death. I stood trying not to panic and when that thing was safe I was so relieved (Pictures to come). This is hope for this community and this country. This generator means that there will be electricity for the hospital. It means that people like Rosalande will be able to be admitted and treated properly, with dignity and respect. This huge thing gives hope. Someone cares about the future of these people.

Lastly, this afternoon I went to visit Boni as per usual. I brought the before and after picture of her printed for her to keep. Her mom is out showing her friends or family the picture and we can hear them talking from inside the house. This is about 45 minutes after I initially gave it to them. All of a sudden Boni starts sobbing, right in the middle of her leg lifts! I stand up and hold her and ask her if she’s hurt. I ask her to sit but nothing. She’s just crying. Her mom comes in and I ask to please explain what’s going on. I guess Boni was just so overwhelmed by the entire situation. That 1 year ago she was nearly dead. She should have died and yet here she is 1 year later making progress in her exercises. I tried to encourage her comfort her but there was so little that I could say. Her community is supporting her in her rehab and everyone is on board. I make the 5 minute walk down the road to her house twice each day and am greeted by everyone, most knowing who I am and what I’m doing. When I’m not able to come to the house, the family helps her with the exercises. And when I come again, there she is so excited to show me her progress. When I first started with Boni she couldn’t do a bicep curl without using her other hand to pull her arm up towards her shoulder. Today, she held a rock in her hand (which she couldn’t do either) and did 20! I have no idea what I’m doing when I go there, but the point is that I care. I care about her and her well being. I care about her life and her mobility. I care about her family and am able to love her just by showing up each day. They have so very very little. Their house is 1 room, 1 bed, hardly any clothes or food and yet they offer me gifts. I’ve brought home sugar cane and corn and have been so blessed and challenged by this family. I am often frustrated that I can’t understand what they are telling me, but we are making progress.

So today, was up and down again, all day. It’s beginning to feel like home here. When I drive down the road I can yell out hello to more then one person. When driving I pass people I know on their motorcycles and can shine my lights at them. I can sit with the women in the kitchen and eat corn or sit outside with them and eat sugar cane and talk about life. I feel welcome here and accepted, and that’s encouraging for me. I don’t like the special treatment I was given before as their blanc guest, but now I think they are seeing that I’m a lot like them. Different, but similar.

Lastly, this morning while waking up I leave my room and walk across to the other house (main house where everyone else is staying) I look out the hole in the wall where the window will be when this house is finished being constructed and I see the neighbours getting ready for the day. The mother washing herself at the water tap, later on the 4 and 2 year old girls washing the dishes. The older brother (11 years old) looking after his sisters. They watch me and stalk me every time I come out of my room or return, but they are my neighbours. Living here has given me new meaning to what loving your neighbours means. So vulnerable and open. So raw and real.

This ride is bumpy. There’s darkness and there’s light. So much of both. This is our world. This is reality. And it’s my reality right now. Death. Life. Sickness. Suffering. Tears. Sorrow. Laughter. Compassion. Embrace. Hope. Love. Worth.

The Zoo?

The sun's out and it's gorgeous here today. This morning I drove to Limbe alone and it was wonderful! Freedom!

I was very homesick yesterday - missing being able to hide away and have time to myself. To be comfortable with my friends and family and know what's happening. Control is the key word here. Kayla and I took the motorcycle into Limbe to walk around which was nice and Manno took us out dancing in the evening. A night of dancing is enough to cure a sad heart. A group of 12 comes in today to do mobile clinics. They are staying at Manno's so we will be shifting around in the house and cleaning like mad this afternoon. We wen't expecting a group until Thursday but plans are always changing! I don't even believe people anymore when they tell me something, is that bad?

I tried to hide away yesterday for a short while and went on the roof of Manno's house that's being built. I was spotted by the neighbor children and was called out at. No hiding there. Decided to go for a run at the soccer field and thought I was in the clear with only 1 person there studying. Boy was I wrong. I guess I had some followers, about 15 people and they just sat on the side and watched me run around in circles. One of them even brought out a banner as I ran by...not sure what it said though. I often feel like I'm in a zoo or something - oh look, the white girl sneezed! Now she's turning bright red, and now she's drinking her water! I need a sign, "please don't feed the animals" or something! So it was good to go out lastnight and dance the night away, at least I only kind of stuck out. I knew what I'd be coming into when I decided to come, but the looks and stares get tiring. I kind of forgot about that when we were here in March. I have a small taste of what is feels like to live somewhere as a minority.

The work at the clinic is coming along. It's always busy there. Last week there was a little baby that passed away. One of the workers brothers also passed away and the funeral was on Sunday. Death seems to happen a lot here yet it's never easy. The feeling in the town was very different yesterday. This week will be a few mobile clinics and regular work there. Next week will be the eye clinics. I'm looking forward to seeing and helping with that. I will soon be able to add optometrist to my resume along with physiotherapist...Just kidding!

And so this week is a new week. I'm not really sure what is in store, and I'm not really going to try and figure it out. That hasn't seemed to work out so well in the past so hopefully I can learn from it.

Thanks to everyone for your support again. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends, family and family friends. There is a real need in our world both locally and abroad, and I just happen to be serving here right now. As I see the hurting people here in Haiti I often think back to those that are in Winnipeg. I feel incredibly blessed to have all that I do, and sometimes wonder why I've been so. Things are not right in our world, not at all. One step at a time though, one smile, one touch, one laugh. These people are beautiful here and I am so blessed to spend this time with all of them.

Until next time!

A small emergency...

I've been running most mornings at the University soccer field and usually have quite the audience. I don't mind though as the kids usually give me a high five as I make another lap - that's enough to keep me going. But...Wednesday I decided to step out and run to Limbe (about 3 kms away). My friend Alin came along as my "bodyguard" and all was well most of the way there. Every time a truck or car would pass by you'd have to jump off the road which kept things exciting. We nearly made it and I suddenly felt very very sick. We walked for a short while and eventually I swallowed my pride and said I needed to find a bathroom. Well, there's really NOTHING near there. We were approaching the river but I thought that would be a little bit of a scene. We walked a little ways and he said he had a friend that lived just up the road. How embarassing - bringing some crazy white girl to use the washroom. I said I'd rather go in the bush and that is exactly what I did! I was really hoping there was no poison ivy or something of the like. A fairly hilarious story now but not so much then. That's my sickness story # 1. I stayed close to home the rest of the day as I didn't want to get caught again.

It's been overcast and raining here almost a full week now. I must admit I can't wait until it's scorching hot again - this is just getting depressing. I've been driving a little bit more but haven't yet ventured out on my own - havn't needed to quite yet. We've been hanging out with the kids quite a bit and they are loving the extra attention. They are wanting to learn English and so we've been helping each other.

No new proposals yet but lastnight I spent some time hiding in the kitchen with the ladies. It's beginning to feel a little more like home here. Only 8 more weeks left and I can't even remember where the first 2 weeks went! So much happens in one day and yet the weeks just fly by.

We are hoping to get the money transferred over to this week or next so we can start on the electrical. I would estimate that it will begin at the end of the month - although that may be postponed a little bit as there are a couple groups coming next week to help train the lab technicians. I will be sure to post pictures as soon as I have them!

Driving 101

Today I drove to visit my patient! I had someone come with me for the first time and it went just fine! I dodged the huge holes and didn't stall even once! Now all I need to do is learn how to use the horn...
I'm alive and well and loving Haiti. We are off to visit the orphanage that we went to in March. Should be fun to play with more kids!
Hope to hear from you all! I miss you!

Pictures

I'm having trouble putting blog posts up on here so please be patient as I find ways to keep everyone updated! Miss you all!

Update from Haiti

Today we went to the beach. It was the same beach we went to while I was here before, but this time we went to the “Haitian beach”. This one is right beside the “compound” that we went to previously but doesn’t cost anything to enter – in fact you don’t really enter anything. There were a few other girls that came as well and so we followed along with them for the morning/afternoon. It was so nice to have someone to follow to know how to act and be. Apparently you don’t just take off your skirt and tank top on the beach if you have your bathing suit underneath. THAT would be inappropriate…! You don’t lay your towel out and listen to music and read. You change in the little huts there and everyone kind of swims in a little pack or herd. Swimming and interacting with each other – (space issues anyone…?) Anyways, us 5 girls change and come out and I’m suddenly feeling extremely white. I look out at the people swimming and picture myself in the water with them – you’d spot me from miles away, literally. I suddenly want to retreat back into my own skin and disappear. This feeling faded fairly quickly as we made our way into the water and I became more comfortable with the girls. We ate fish, plantain, and conch for lunch and walked along the beach together. We came with our guy friends as well but didn’t hang out with them at all – in fact we didn’t really see them until it was time to go. It was a good few hours swimming, eating, laughing and relaxing. Yes, I’m white – but that’s okay. The girls reminded me that I should be proud of who I am. And I am. Sometimes I just wish I could fit in. I’m not so sure that’s going to happen.

Of course the children were waiting for us as we returned but I just wanted to be quiet and not be with so many people. It seems this house is the community hang out place and just when you think it’s time for bed and you’re all set to go, more people drop by. But this afternoon, the rain came down hard and it was quite refreshing. A rest from yelling kids. From children waiting at your door. A rest from studying Creole. A rest from unexpected visitors. A retreat from a very overwhelming and challenging week of adjusting.

I miss home quite a bit these days. I miss my friends. Community. Church. Job. Freedom. Comforts. English! It’s all very selfish and I in no way wish to return – but I feel like I’m mourning the loss of a really great summer in Winnipeg. These new experiences are so exciting and fun yet I just miss what I know, what’s comfortable. When I will leave and when I will return. When I will eat and what it will be. Who will come over and when. How and when I will do my laundry and get clean towels. I think living here will be a good test of my hospitality. Am I willing to host people even when I’m tired? When I’m in my pajamas and ready for bed? When it’s early in the morning and I want to read my bible? I’ve never been really gifted at being hospitable, but this sure will help I think. I ask for prayer for patience and strength to deal with the children here who are oh so excited to see us. Even as I try to blend in with the other 4 Haitian ladies on the beach, the children still come and sit in the sand among us.

This week I will visit my patient again to work on her exercises. I will also try to get this database up and running. Things move so slowly here (myself included) it’s really quite the adjustment. Pray that I will find a way to be productive and efficient again like I know I’m able! Who is this person here in Haiti and where did I get left?

The money raised thus far will be sent this week and I’m hoping the electrical will begin by the end of June, although it may be pushed back to July as there is a group coming to provide care for those with eye problems and they will be operating in the new hospital building (without electricity of course!). I hope also to see the generator that was purchased back in December arrive this week. Pictures will be sure to come of that – me hugging and kissing that thing I’m sure!

Goodbye from the very white girl.

Love you all!

Pictures!

Hey friends.
I'm here in Haiti and it's hot hot hot! I've been enjoying my first week in Haiti thus far. It's been challenging and fun! I'm picking up the language pretty well but I do feel frustrated a lot. I have been helping with a patient to do exercises every day. I go to her house (about 15 minutes from where we live) and we work for an hour. Today we saw progress! Her right arm and leg don't work very well at all. Her fingers are locked in a fist position and today when I came they were relaxed and flexible! I have no idea what I'm doing as a physiotherapist but I am trying! I think it's just important that I am spending time with her and showing her that I care and that she should care as well. She was tired and sore today so we took it easy. A couple other people came and showed me their sore and swollen feet and asked for help - I just told them I am NOT a doctor and that I only have exercises for Boni (that's the patients name). So...it's been exciting! I road on a motorcycle for the first time. He was extremely slow I think I could have ran faster than him. Speaking of running, I have been up at 5:00 or 5:30am every morning, trying to beat the sun for a nice run around the University soccer field. Tomorrow I will attempt to run on the road to the nearby town. I look forward to that. It's been good to form relationships here with people in the community. I love telling them that I will see them later, for another 9 weeks anyways. People are very happy to see me back and it's been awesome to have real conversations with them. Lots happens at this clinic. Things I had no idea of. There is a clinic in a couple weeks for people that have eye problems, a food program, water treatment program, a program for malnutrition etc etc etc. They are very busy here, yet it seems people stop working at about 1pm. Haha. That's been hard to adjust to but we are studying Creole in the afternoon (me and the other girl from Alberta that is here for 3 weeks).
Sorry this is so random but I only have a few minutes and can't edit! I hope to do a better job of being in contact, yet I want to take advantage of every moment that I'm here. This truly is a gift being here. I can see how things take so long to get completed though as I keep saying I'll get to it tomorrow. Even the smallest of things. So yeah, thanks for your patience!