Trip to the ER

Friday, Oct 29

It’s 5:00 a.m. and I slowly open my eyes. Our room is still dark and I wonder for a moment what woke me. It is then that I hear Jason in our bathroom and it’s obvious that he is sick. I close my eyes for a moment and get this sinking feeling in my chest. We’ve been back in Haiti for less than 48 hours. Can he really get sick that fast? With Cholera on everyone’s mind any sign of sickness is scary. Still half asleep, I slowly get up to see if there’s anything I can do for him. “Can I help you?” I ask. “I’ll be okay,” He replies. “I just need to get back in bed.” Once he’s back in bed I go back to the bathroom and spend some time washing and rewashing my hands. I then find the bottle of hand sanitizer and use that as well. “I guess I’d better call and tell the guys you won’t be going to work,” I tell Jason, and he nods. Once I’ve placed the call, I find the Gatorade powder and make Jason something to drink. After drinking some of it, he dozes off and I go help Jayden get dressed.

Later that day, Jason comes in and out of bed, drinks more Gatorade and tea, and also eats some toast. Although he still makes many a trip to the bathroom he doesn’t feel really sick.

Saturday, Oct 30

1:00 p.m.

Jayden is napping and Jason had been keeping food and drink in for several hours so I decide to make a quick, much needed run to the grocery store. Just after I arrive, Jason calls, telling me he is now vomiting as well, and has fainted in the bathroom. “Please hurry and come back Will. I don’t know if I can get back in bed and I feel so sick.” I make a quick phone call to Dr. Ed, who, since all the hospitals we would normally go to have shut down after the earthquake, finally suggests I take him to the Bernard Ves hospital. Back at home, I find Jayden still sleeping and Jason back in bed. When I suggest taking him to the Bernard Ves Hospital, he refuses. “We’ve never been to that hospital and who knows what kind of level of care there is there.” He reasons. Unsure of what to do, I decide to call our Program Manager who tells me if we do decide to go to the hospital, he will drive us.

6:30 p.m.

Jason’s stomach is now cramping so bad he is in terrible pain. He’s also hardly keeping any fluids in and is bleeding. Right then I make the decision to take him to the hospital. Jason no longer protests, and seeing how weak and sick he is, I know it has to be bad. I make a quick phone call to our Program Manager who promises to be right over. I then call my friend and fellow MAF wife Christine to see if she can take Jayden. While on the phone the seriousness of the situation hits me and I can hardly make myself understood through my tears. After hanging up I pray again to God for Jason’s health and also for peace and calm in my heart to deal with the situation. Feeling better I quickly get to work packing my purse with water, snacks and money. I then get Jayden changed into his pajamas and pack an overnight bag for him. Shortly afterwards our Program Manager arrives and I help Jason and Jayden into the truck. We leave a very worried Anoud behind, who is currently taking care of his three kids on his own since Denise is visiting her parents in Jeremie. The streets are dark since there is little street lighting. Christine lives close by and it only takes a minute before we’ve stopped at her gate. I call her cell phone and a few seconds later she opens the gate. I pass Jayden to her who at first is very happy to see her but then begins to cry as I leave without him. After giving him a quick hug and kiss I head back to the truck. Since none of the other MAF staff has ever been to the Bernard Ves hospital we now rely entirely on the information that Dr. Ed had given me earlier to find it. Thankfully we are able to find the hospital with little difficulty but are surprised to see the sign that says “University of Miami Field Hospital” attached to the gate. At the gate we are let in and immediately approached by an American Doctor. After several questions he determines that Jason does not have Cholera and does not need to be isolated. In the emergency room there is one bed open so Jason is immediately admitted. American Doctors and Nurses mill around inside and we are greeted in English. Nurse Brad gets to work filling out paperwork and getting Jason comfortable.

Shortly after Dr. Jeff Daniel hooks Jason up to an IV. After asking numerous questions the Doctor decides that Jason has a bacterial infection and prescribes Cipro. While waiting for the prescription and for Jason to get pumped full of two bags of IV, we get a chance to talk to the Doctors and Nurses and examine the ER a little more closely. We find out that this team of Doctors and Nurses had just arrived that afternoon into Port au Prince and are here to work for 7 days before getting replaced by another team. Because they just arrived they have a hard time finding where everything is stored and kept. A team of translators work with the Doctors, so patients can be diagnosed. In the bed beside Jason lies a man who we find out has Typhoid and Malaria. After getting his prescriptions he is helped by a friend out the door, and a teenage girl is led in with a deep cut in her knee cap. Apparently her boyfriend was jealous of her talking to some other guy and attacked her with a broken ceramic plate. She’s all alone and I feel really sorry for her. Looking around the ER I watch with interest as one Nurse spends all his time trying to organize paperwork. Observing him I’m certain he has a “C” type personality and has a difficult time functioning in a disorganized environment. Nurse Brad who keeps checking up on Jason has a bandanna tied around his head and with his tattoos and little dance moves reminds me more of a Rock Star than anything else.

“How you doing Bro?” He keeps asking Jason, and I do my best to hide my smile. Doctor Jeff offers me a camping chair to sit on beside Jason’s bed and I note that it is one of the only chairs around. From my vantage point I carefully observe the ER. Duck tape labels are pasted all over the place and hastily scribbled descriptions explain what is supposed to be in the various cupboards and drawers. The floor, although not terribly dirty, does boast its share of muddy foot prints. Under Jason’s bed I spot a small container of spit, or is it vomit? All in all though, for a Hospital in Haiti, I’m impressed. The care really is just incredible. The Doctor himself even walks over to the pharmacy to fill Jason’s prescriptions. While he’s gone, another Doctor spends some time telling us more about the Cholera Epidemic. So far they’ve narrowed the source down to the Artibonite River and have warned people to no longer use that water for drinking, washing food or bathing. Cholera is not spread from person to person, but from eating or drinking contaminated water and food, or touching contaminated feces. So far the only five cases reported in Port au Prince are from people who had traveled from the Artibonite River area. Cholera is treatable simply by hydrating the patients. “If you stick with bottled water, and boil your vegetable, you should be fine.” The Doctor finishes and we thank him for the information. Shortly after Dr. Jeff Daniel returns with Jason’s medication. After explaining when to take them and how often and when to return if symptoms worsen or change, we are free to go. All medical care and medicine is given free of charge. With fluid levels back up, Jason is feeling much better and is even able to walk back to the truck unassisted. Driving home, I thank God for his care and for the wonderful care Jason received at the hospital. After picking up a sleeping Jayden at Christine’s we head on back to our house. We find an anxious Anoud pacing at the gate who when I tell him Jason is doing better raises his hands and says “Mesi Bondi, Mesi Bondi!” I whole heatedly agree. Back inside I’m happy to note we finally have city power again after over a week, and that it’s only just after 10:00 p.m. What a day.

Home from Vacation

I step out of the airport terminal into the bright sunlight and am immediately enveloped by a sticky humid heat. A mixture of coal smoke and diesel fumes fills my lungs and people all around call out to me.

Pulling my suitcase behind me, I take hold of Jayden’s hand and begin to follow Jason and Dieucon to the Land Cruiser. It’s 9:00 a.m. and we landed about 30 minutes ago.

"Too hot. Too hot. I got owie eyes. Hold me Mom. Hold me.” A very upset Jayden is not impressed.

Still chilled from the airplane AC I enjoy the warmth and all the familiar sights, smells and sounds. Jayden however does not.

“You’re a big boy now Jayden,” I tell him. “Mommy can’t carry you and pull the suitcase, so you will have to walk. It’s not that far.” I try to comfort him but he continues to cry and complain, dragging his heels. I stop for a moment and bend down till I am at eye level with him. “You’re three now Jayden. You can do it.” He tearfully nods and then bravely walks beside me, now only letting out an occasional sniff.

Several minutes later we’re at the vehicle and we load in our bags. As soon as we’re all strapped in and we’re on our way, Jayden closes his eyes and falls asleep. Not having him to distract me, I simply stare out the window. After a busy few weeks of organizing the building project, housing the team and planning the feeding program and clothing distribution it was nice to get away and spend some time with just the three of us. Memories of our time together fill my thoughts and as we drive I spend some time reminiscing.

Some of my favorite memories include:

Watching sunsets,

cuddling with Jayden after getting caught in a rainstorm,

holding the sea turtles,

swimming in the pool,

having monkeys sit on our shoulders,

digging our toes into the white sand,

and playing and snorkeling in the turquoise ocean.Lost in thought I barely notice that we are getting closer and closer to home till Diecon honks at our gate. A minute later a grinning Anoud pushes open the gate.

Oh, it’s nice to be home again too!

Thank You Team!

On behalf of all the people whose lives you touched, whose homes you built, whose hands you held, whose stomachs you fed, whose bodies you clothed, those you preached to, prayed with, listened to and sang with, thank you.

When Words Aren't Enough

Time and time again I've been told by the team that although I write my blogs well and always have pictures to share, Haiti is impossible to describe and you really have to see it with your own eyes.
How can mere words or snapshots really affect all five of your senses like Haiti does?
Haiti is a country of extremes. Extreme heat, extreme dust, extreme rain and lightning storms, extreme mud, extreme number of people and extreme poverty. Words can't really describe what it's like to work in the baking Caribbean sun at noon, or the extreme power of the rain storms that pound the city each night, or the dust or mud that covers everything and everybody, or the masses of people in the markets and on the streets, or the dismal conditions of millions living in tents, or the hungry children so desperate for one small glass of clean drinking water or a small plate of food to quiet their demanding stomachs. One of the team members said, and I quote "All I can say is that you have to be here to understand what is really going on."
Does that mean I stop writing and sharing pictures? Of course not. I will still do my best to help you see the Haiti I love so much.

The job site.




The feeding program.
Word has spread about our feeding program and each day more and more kids gather around the gate hoping they might be let in so they can have a glass of water and a plate of rice and beans. Since we can only feed a 100 children at a time and tickets are handed out in the poorest tent cities beforehand, we have to turn many children who don't have tickets away empty. This is really heart-breaking.
Those who have tickets and therefore permission to enter are greeted with a handshake and a smile by our team members.
Many of our team members have said that the most rewarding, and most difficult part of the day is when we run the feeding program. To give food is very rewarding, but to see so many children desperate for a cup of water and a plate of rice and beans is really difficult.



And so, if my meager words can't really explain, try to imagine what it is like to not be able to feed or clothe your children, to not even have a cup of water to give them, and to have powerful rains and wind soak and destroy the few things that you have each night. Imagine how you would feel if strangers came to work with you and build you a home. A home that you could lock at night, a home that could keep out the rain and wind, a home that would keep your children safe and dry.
When they wave their hands in the air and say "Mesi Bondye na siel la"(Thank you God in heaven), they mean it.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A typical day starts around 6:00 a.m. After a quick breakfast, the team is driven over bumpy roads to the Apparent Project. Since the roads are too rough by the tent city they are working in they walk the rest of the way.



This is what they see on their walk to the tent city.









Inside the tent city the living conditions are very poor. In this "shelter" a single women sleeps with her baby.



The guys have been getting a lot of work done and are surrounded by a crowd of Haitians who curiously watch them.





At 11:00 a.m. each morning the team walks back to the Apparent Project to eat their lunch. Once lunch is over they return to the tent city and spend 20 minutes in the small church building, reading God's Word, praying and singing with the Haitian people.





Then while the Caribbean sun burns they get back to work, framing, nailing and building homes, for those who have none.








At 3:00 they walk back to the Apparent Project to help feed street children.








Once a 100 children have been given food and water, Sherilyn and I sort through suitcases of donated clothing to find each child something to wear.
At 4:30 we are finished and an exhausted team heads back to our home, to eat and rest so they can do it all over again the next day.

Over Prepare Then Go With The Flow

That is my motto and it has always worked well for me!
So the news? The work team made it here safely and are now, as I write, just arriving at the job site!
For those of you who didn't know, we have a work team of 8 people from our hometown/church, staying in our house for one week to build houses for Haitians living in tents. They just arrived yesterday and things have been going really well so far!
Pre-instructed on what forms to fill out and how to mark suitcases for easy identification it only took 20 minutes from landing to driving out of the airport and that is record timing! After what they considered a shocking? crazy? mind boggling? drive over some of the worst roads, which we considered actually some of the better ones, they arrived at our home. By that time everyone was thirsty and actually pretty tired and a little hungry too, but we got busy right away. After getting re-hydrated and unpacking any perishable food items, we all piled up in two vehicles and made our way up to the Baptist Mission. It was our one chance to visit the Mission since the rest of the week, other then Sunday of course, everyone would be too busy building houses. On the drive they saw more bad roads, breathed in a lot of exhaust fumes and polluted air, saw the most people they've ever seen in one place at one time on the streets, and really couldn't believe how Jason or I actually drove through the masses of people and vehicles, especially since there appeared to be no traffic rules whatsoever. Kids with dirty rags wipes down the vehicle multiple times, motorcycles squeezed through traffic and everybody honked about everything. At the Baptist Mission we had cheese burgers minus the cheese since they had run out, and on sub-like sandwiches, they didn't have hamburger buns either, but the food was still good and it did hit the spot. Souvenir shopping was, well interesting! Sellers hounded, and tugged, we bartered and people gawked, but we did manage to purchase some nice souvenirs for pretty good prices. It was starting to get dark on the way back home which made seeing the potholes a little more difficult, especially since my headlights weren't working either. People still wandered all over the streets even in the dark between the traffic so that was interesting as well. I think the team was a little relieved when we finally got back to our gate since the maze of rutted streets all started to look the same and they were starting to wonder if we'd ever find our way back. Home again we did house orientation, explained where everything was and how houses in Haiti work. The guys then had a meeting and sang while Wouter played on Jason's guitar. Sher and I decided we really didn't need to be part of the meeting so we just spent time catching up, looking at pictures and enjoying our time together. How cool is that, that one of your best friends happens to be your sister-in-law and married to your cousin? We joke that that can only happen if you are Dutch. On top of that her daughter Kaelie, and my Jayden are 1 day apart! She's here to help me with cooking for the team so I get to hang out with her all week!! So exciting! Anyway, I haven't taken pictures, but I promise I will today. Tomorrow there will be a new post. Maybe I can include some first-impressions of Haiti from the team as well. Until then..

Beautiful bags!

The last sewing class for the summer is over and all five girls completed their purses!


Posing from left to right are Chedline, Katiana, Isguerda, Cherlye and Renise.

And for a closeup of the purses...


Good job girls and thanks Christine for helping out!