In Port au Prince

The car arrived at 5:00 AM this morning to bring us in to Port au Prince.  After a bone jarring ride, with fortunately only a couple of major traffic jams, we made it and I am in a hotel for the night.  The hospital brought us to Port a day early as the State Department has sent out warnings about possible mass demonstrations this weekend.  They wanted us out of the country by then.  So I should be home tomorrow barring any last minute blockades immediately outside the airport.  I am very close, so fingers crossed.  See you soon!

Challenges on the campus

There are always challenges, even as HAS moves slowly forward over time.  X-rays are now viewed on line on computers mounted on the wall.  No more bulky films to post on a lighted box.  This morning, though, the system was down so we did not get to view X-rays on rounds.  Many of the beds on the wards have been replaced by rolling stretchers.  There have never been electric beds; these are far too difficult to maintain.  But the old metal beds with the metal bar that allows you to raise the head of the bed like a pool lounge chair were quite serviceable. It is unclear where many of them have gone; perhaps finally worn out after 60 years of use.  The rolling carts all have side rails for safety as they are designed for patient transport from one area to another.  Unfortunately, many of those side rails are long stuck in the upright position.  This means that the only way someone can enter or exit the bed is at the foot of the cart.  Even when the side rails go down, it is still quite a drop to the floor for someone standing up for the first time after surgery or on crutches.  Our rehab staff have complained about this, as it is make harder to mobilize people out of bed.  And prolonged time in bed brings a host of complications.  And so it goes . . . .

Chloroquine Dreams

Last night brought vivid chloroquine dreams.  I always take chloroquine for prevention of malaria starting a few weeks before, during and after returning from Haiti.  One of the side effects of Chloroquine is hallucinations.  In milder form, this manifests a vivid dreams.  Several other people that I have met here have remarked on this effect.  Or my synapses may just all be melting in the heat.

Actually it was sleep

It is always amazing to me that the Haitian patients are able to sleep in the hospital.  It is hot. The ceiling fans give little relief. It is crowded, especially in the Observation Ward where this incident occurred. You can barely squeeze in between the rolling carts that serve as beds. It is always noisy. So—the medical team approached an older man, spoke to him and touched him. No response. Thinking that he might be a stroke patient that we would be treating later, I gave him a light sternal rub. His eyes flew open and he awoke with a start. Actually it was sleep. . .

Enjoying a lazy Saturday

After sleeping in incredibly late until 6:20 AM, I rolled out of bed.  It was still reasonably cool.  We made our own breakfast, something that we can do in this old house with only 3 of us (see earlier post on 'Roughing It').  We had fresh bread that we picked up yesterday from a boulangerie on the way home from Liancourt.  It was hot and fresh and we enjoyed a helping yesterday the minute we got back to the house.   In Kay Alumni where we usually stay, the Haitian staff make all the meals for up to 10 or more people.  We eat lunch and dinner there.  The food is simple but plentiful and there is always a tiny bit of guilt in my head about eating comfortably in a country with so much food insecurity and so many hungry people.  There is a 4th Health Volunteers Overseas person on campus right now.  She is an OB-Gyn who has worked in many places in the developing world.  We have had long discussions with her about Hospital Albert Schweitzer and similar places in the world.  The native and foreign people that you meet and interact with here are one of the most intriguing aspects of the trip.  We took a walk down the "corridor" (main drag) and campus late this morning and I was drenched in sweat by the time we finished.  It is hot and still; tropical heat.  Don't be too alarmed by the State Department warnings if you are reading them.  All is quiet out here in the country.  I'll see you in a week.

Off to the community

Today we will go to a community clinic in a small town near here (Liancourt). From there we will spend the day walking to patient homes. This is the heart of Haiti, seeing patients in the reality of their own homes. Have a good day and remember that you will spend tonight in a “palace” compared to so much of the world.

I could use some help out here

To all of my younger colleagues--I could use some help out here.  There are so many needs for education and you have the energy, skills and youth that are fast fading (or gone) for me!  Yes, you do have to use your vacation time and pay your own way.  It is expensive.  It is also one of the most incredible things that you could choose to do.  Tired of what feels like the rat race at work?  Try doing it in 90 degree heat with no running water in your house when you come home to shower.  Think our unfunded patients are difficult to set goals for?  Try thinking about gait training for someone who walks down the mountain on something more like a goat trail than a path to get to the hospital.  Or ADL evaluation for someone who scrubs their own clothing clean in a bucket of cold water and cooks over an open fire.   I always call Haiti my "gratitude fix."  I come back with renewed awareness of all the little and big things that we take for granted every day.  I am definitely not a better person than any of you.  You all contribute to the human race in ways large and small.  I just want to invite you to try doing it HERE or any of the many other places in the world that Health Volunteers Overseas (HVOusa.org) serves.  Whatever your interests, someone needs your help.  Someone who doesn't have anyone else to do it.   If not us, who?  If not now, when?  Think about it!