I've got some catching up to do.....when last I wrote the first team had arrived. Everyone right away jumped in to sort and prepare packages of meds for the medical outreach clinic on Delmas 28. Which doesn't mean anything for me to write that without a quick explanation. One of the main streets in Port au Prince is Delmas...all of the streets off of Delma are Delmas # 19, 28, 33, 55, 75, 95 etc. Its is also a neighborhood...ie I live in Delmas 75...It could roughly be neighbor the size of Rosecity or Queen Annes Hill or Kettle Falls (with more people). Anyway we had 100 people waiting for us when we arrived at 9:45- we set up and worked until 5 pm seeing the entire group. They were so patient and quiet and greatful...its hard to know if we really are doing something sustainable or bandaging the wounds when we come to Haiti. My feeling is the teaching we are able to do is the most important part of our work and supporting the local staff in all that they do. So we added a little teaching with our medication distribution. Its not enough time in those situations to do proper teaching. Anyway it was a very good day. A smaller group of therapists went with Angel to Wings of Hope and did a bunch of wheelchair repairs- something that is ongoing. We didn't have a toolkit to give them unfortunately but I think they helped with the repairs. Wings of Hope is a nice orphanage up the mountain in Fermathe. The staff always appreciates a visit by the teams, especially if we can leave some of our knowledge behind with them. The kids are great as are the staff. A vista view is overlooking a big valley.
The pediatric docs stayed in clinic and assessed about 20 hydrocephalus kids. The reported that most were in very good health. There was some concern with a new born that the grandma would abandon the baby (mom was still in hospital and septic after c-section) so they made her promise to bring baby back on Monday for check up and instructed her on what to feed her.
I spent much of Saturday 10 until 2 at airport waiting for Nancy, MaryJ and Shaun...who didn't show up until much later. I took the team on the big bus for a tour of downtown, views of the National Palace and statues around Champ d'mars and driving through the streets to see perspectives of markets/ neighborhoods/ etc then we went to a gallery for some art shopping. Finally, we returned home to prepare for my Valentine's Day surprise. At five, everyone was ready when one of my favorite TapTap buses drove into the compound, music playing and ready to take us out for the evening. Like true Haitians, we climbed in, fitting everyone into every inch of seat. Of course, the people at the Montana had a very good laugh to see a bunch of Blan climbing out of the tap tap! The Montana being a very very nice international hotel- Everyone knows the Montana. They were preparing for Valentines eveing dance and while we had our rum mangos, they also served us strawberry rum drinks complimentary.
From there we went to the la vien Rose Italian restaurant for some most excellant fresh pasta at very reasonable price. Some people returned home after supper and the rest of us ended up at Jet Set (next door) for some dancing until midnight and with carnival music blasting from the speakers we took off in our tap tap...for home. It was a great surprise!!! Everyone had a great time!
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