If my Parkland colleagues could be a fly on the wall . . . .

They would be choked with laughter watching me here. One of the things I enjoy in Haiti is s t r e t c h i n g out of my usual comfort zone to areas in which I have been trained, but seldom practice at home. I am actually quite grateful (don't tell them) for all I have learned from everyone I work with. I could use several of them here--an OT with hand skills would be especially useful for the 2 patients with a diabetic hand and middle finger amputation that I have seen in the past 4 days. Orthopedic trauma, burns, complications of diabetes, stroke, head injury and on and on can all be found here along with things we seldom see--leptospirosis, typhoid, long term TB. I could use help with foot problems, and always children with burns. So, my friends at work, if you would like to ship Stef and Beth down here, feel free to do so!

Slowly the body adapts

Today was the first day at the hospital that I did not feel like I had been run over by a truck all day. I am adjusting to the heat, the change in time zone, the food, the noise, the struggle to communicate, the back and forth pace. I have made one concession to my body and my age for which I am feeling great guilt. The days here are long. Conference with the entire team begins at 7:00 AM sharp. It is hot and I am sweating through my shirt by the time ward rounds end around 9:00 AM. The day ends at 5:00 PM with one hour for lunch. Ten hour days, 9 hours at work. I am cheating. I am taking 1 1/2 hours for lunch. That extra time to relax and recharge is really helping. My friend who is in charge of the Physical Therapy Health Volunteers Overseas program here reminded me that the staff is probably glad to have me out of their hair for a little while in the middle of the day. She is probably right. Visitors can get old fast . . . . .

Stream of consciousness

As I read the last post, I realize that is sounds like a rather crazy stream of consciousness with topics changing from sentence to sentence. This is not the way it was written. I did use paragraphs to start new topics. However, there is something about the blogger software that allows no more than 2 spaces after a period (.). Spaces between paragraphs disappear. Everything runs together, which may actually be appropriate for Haiti as everything including your thoughts tends to run together in the heat. What I will do, though, to appear less crazy is to write short one topic posts. So the blog will appear to change from stream of consciousness to hyperactive. Whatever.

Slowly, slowly, S L O W L Y

Getting back into the rhythm of Haiti. It is a slower pace. The heat saps my energy. There is more noise, more distraction all around you. The sensory feedback can be overwhelming. Much is the same, but change marches forward. I am working off a portable 'hot spot' sitting here on the table. My iPhone works here for local and international calls, email, texts, internet. This sounds trivial until you calculate how recently this was possible here. Fifteen years ago even a phone call was almost impossible in Deschapelles. The Haitian people are slowly taking over more and more of the work of the hospital. There are fewer 'blans' (foreigners). I no longer need to do the work. My role is to teach, to expand skills, to bring new ideas. This is as it should be. Teach a man to fish . . . . . More later, but I wanted you to know that I am well and thinking of all of you who helped me get here and are carrying on while I am gone.

Back in Deschapelles

Enjoying a beautiful morning that is rapidly getting warmer. Yesterday was the usual unending journey beginning with my alarm clock at 3:00 am and ending with arrival on Hospital Albert Schweitzer campus around 6 PM. More later when I can hopefully get Internet. On the iPhone for now.

"I go there in my dreams"

I am back in the USA waiting in Fort Lauderdale for the connection home. The title quote above was from one of the Haitian Rehabilitation Technicians as I said goodbye to them yesterday. I invited all of them to visit me if they were ever in the USA. In response one said (translated from Kreyol), "I go there in my dreams; someday I hope to go there for real." On your worst day in America remember that millions of people would love to take your place . . .

Reach Deeper

This was the theme at our church a few years ago under the direction of the Reverend Dr. Laurel Hallman (and I think also the title of her book.). That is what these 14 trips over the last 14 years have been about for me. The chance to reach deep deep inside myself and look for connections that I did not know existed. I have been a guest in Haiti. To be invited to return is an honor and a privilege. I pray that I have lived my faith and offered a view of Americans that will reflect positively on all of us. With deep gratitude, Judy