Maison d'Accueil... Rev. Jean Daniel

More about the two orphanages we visited. Rev Jean Daniel is caring for the kids and its working! They got fed, they got vaccinated, they got some medical supplies, and they got Beanie Babies!!! On Sunday, Ryan and Ashley are planning on going to Rev Daniel's boys orphanage for more of the same. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association delivered more food and is promising to keep it up. I'll work on explaining the vegan disaster relief team later but they are getting food to the kids so they're okay by me. Here are some more of the kids photos.

Day... Wed?

We lost a tuff one last night. There have been fatalities, and everyone accepts that, but we had an ICU patient that had been fighting for 8 days. Around the clock care for a 20 year old with his family by his side and his passing is a mixed blessing, but its tuff on the staff. We are all talking and crying together but this one is still hard. "Buddy" won't be the last one this week, but the team was fully invested in him. His medical visa never came, and it probably wouldn't have mattered anyhow. We have to accept Gods will for "Buddy," it will just take time. Yesterday was such a great day... lets hope for another one of those tomorrow. We covet your prayers! It'll be easy to bury ourselves in work... its gonna be hard to come home.

Visited Tent City - left in a hurry!

Kim and I needed a break from the hospital so we got Craig from one of the clean water disaster relief organizations (global medic) to take us up to the tent city. Its only a block away from the hospital and is estimated to have 20,000 refugees living their. No one ever calls them refugees, I haven't heard that word used once and it doesn't even sound right typing it, but I'm trying to accurately describe the living conditions. This tent city is located on the Adventist University campus and is absolutely huge. We spent a few minutes looking at the awesome water facilities being installed by Craig's crew then we walked toward the exit before breaking all the rules and handing out beanie babies and fruit snacks inside the tent city. THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE! There are 20,000 people here without much. A few people handing out stuff without an orderly plan could lead to a disaster. We just walked into a group of little kids and tried to empty our bags in a few seconds. Within a minute we were overrun by teenagers and adults trying to get whatever we had to give and we were hot footn' it to the exit. Again, this wasn't a good idea, giving toys, etc. needs to be done by a local group in a controlled setting (like an orphanage). The good feeling of helping others wouldn't last too long if little kids ended up getting hurt in a melee. We were smart enough not to do it by the hospital and mess up the medical work happening there, but even doing it in the camp may have made things tough for the next foreigners walking into the camp... they may now think we all have beanie babies!

How was the drinking water?

Good, the five gallon water bottles were plentiful. There was plenty of travelers sickness going around. Almost everyone had their moments, but for the most part the hospital was able to generate and bottle clean drinking water. The showers were hit or miss because the water pressure was inconsisitant. There were three French firefighter/EMTs who were tired of MRE's and vegan food, so they went out one night looking for a restrauant. They found a local restaruant and decieded it would be a good idea to try the crabs. I don't think they will recommend Haitian seafood again. I think they all recovered after a day or two but a little common sence should be enough to keep everyone safe here. In the heat you need to be drinking consistantly and a water bottle hanging from the belt with powdered gator aid or something similar worked pretty well.

Where are we sleeping?

The entire team is staying at the Hospital. This was a practical decision as the roads are really ruff, traffic is horrible, and the only open hotel is a hard walk by day, and not a good idea at night. Future teams may stay at the hotel and use a tap-tap (private cab) or one of the hospital drivers but that's an added cost and strain on the few hospital drivers there. Dr. Cababa and Dr. Neilson never did make it thought the night without being awakeing for an emergency surgery or consultation. That means that staying at the hospital did translate into fulfilling a constant need, but burn-out was real close for some after only a week; and the hospital really needs all the room they can get for patients. We slept on army cots in the hallways and up on the roof. The heat and humidity was horrific (especially for us from Wisconsin) but the roof was a little cooler and really wasn't too bad except when it rained and we either dove into a bakeing tent or moved under the rain fly.

Day 2....

Stopped raining and the sun is out! Its drying up and thats a huge answer to prayer, thanks to all of you that asked for that one! And thanks God for granting that! Antother tuff day with hard stories and lots of opportunities to care for people but Dr. Nielsen just told us about his little one year old patient that is doing really well after fluid had to be drained from around the lung, he had been here for a couple of days with a fever and shortness of breath. Dr. Cababa and Diane helped on a surgery where a 8 year old girl had a kitchen accident. She was seriously cut in the hand and the surgical team was able to insure all nerves and ligaments will be fully functional and the wound was cleaned well from the inside to stop the infection that had already set in. Diane has finished organizing all of the sutures in the OR and the 3rd anesthesia machine is now running (after Ernie fixed it) so 3 ORs are now up and running!!!

Day 1... photos soon!

It hot here! The people and the country are beautiful, but the city is a mess. The staff here is amaizing. Its amaizing how much they are getting done with how little they have. There are local Hatians working with foreign doctors, working with people from who knows where speaking who know what language. These patients are so calm and so gratefull for the medical assistance and food. Seeing the city in the dark last night after the melee at the airport was a little overwhelming and everyone was very quiet when we arrived. The excitement of finally getting here and the emotional release of just getting on the ground was instantly overcome by an incredible sence of awe at the conditions these people are living in. Then we met the patients at the hospital and they are instantly smileing and gratious... its amaizing. Only God can provivde for these people, working alone we are so small and insignifcant.

ReCellular Comes Through!!!

This very cool company has dontated two unlocked phones, chargers, and spare batteries to the team!!! Thanks so much! I did promise to hold a phone collection for them when we get back, but I don't think anyone will mind doing a little phone recycling for the cause. Follow the link to read more about their phones for Haiti project and their support of the Red Cross... and now the Cure/Elmbrook/Team lacrosse medical mission!!!

http://recellular.com/about/pr-01142010.asp

Prayer Requests

There is a tab on top of the main page that lists different pages, please make sure you read the team covenant and check the prayer request page often... post as much as you want!!! Lets also start a page for people to thank. I know we won't catch them all, but there are so many people helping behind the scenes, donating items, packing things, lets at least try to give them some credit.

Packing Lists - 1 Week to go!!!

Okay Team, time to get your packing lists up! Lets put our heads together and make sure we have everything covered. Please comment or call me with ideas and send me your lists and I'll assign a bag number. Label your bag with the number and the luggage tags coming you to in the mail this week from Cure. We are going lighten the food lists which gives us more room for medical supplies. Even if we don't use them at HAH hospital we'll get them where they can be used. I'm going to call everyone this weekend and we can go over each persons needs and hopes for the team. Thanks for all the prayers, keep it up!!!