Friday

The rehab therapy clinic was busy today seeing about 20 patients. It was a fun and light atmosphere with Justin Beiber and Celine Dion playing on Melanie’s computer. Suzie was able to help an older gentleman with a significant cancerous tumor on the right side of his face. He was struggling with pain and eating because of the heavy growth. Suzie gave him a collar to support his neck and tumor, some Advil, and worked with him on eating. Vickie was able to do range of motion with several patients and did some wonderful scar therapy with a few of them. Melanie was able to give the splint that Lisa made to a girl who had a significant injury to her leg and right arm nerve damage from an injury sustained in the earthquake. This girl was walking 20 miles a day because the tap-tap’s would not let her ride with her splint. She also found the rough ride on the damaged roads difficult to endure. She was also able to work with several more patients and provide scar therapy. Melanie was asked by Kristi to provide some range of motion and therapies for a child that remains comatose. She worked with the mother teaching her how to perform the therapies and stressed the importance of frequent repositioning. Global Therapy Group showed up about the time that Melanie was providing care and were able to be involved in the therapy session. This was a wonderful opportunity to ensure that care will continue for this child.

Kristi spent the day making sure that previous clinic patients were followed up on. A few of the patients had been discharged home. After many phone calls it was discovered that there is not a cardiovascular surgeon in the country to perform surgery on a 21 year old woman who was in desperate need of a mitral valve prolapsed repair. However, a referral to a Haitian cardiologist may allow her to get medical care in the Dominican Republic . . . if she can afford to pay. The 31 week premie is doing well, gaining a little weight and breastfeeding. Some of the feedings are being supplemented to increase growth. The boy brought in to the clinic last week in a comatose state is now opening his eyes. He has shown a little improvement by withdrawing to pain. He was more reactive with range of motion today.

The International Foundation for Physically Disabled (IFPD) group returned this afternoon from Les Cayes. It was a long and dusty drive, but the group seems to be getting used to the unique driving patterns with traffic here. It was nice to all sit at the table and discuss the week over a wonderful meal, part of which was avocados given to the group by our premie's dad. The group traveled down to the village, Bidon, to again see Justin. We were struggling with how we were going to communicate to him how to care for his foot and continue the antibiotic therapy as we would not be returning. The neighborhood draws you in. Everyone is so genuine and a pleasure to be around. Once arriving and seeing that Justin had again not gone to the hospital, we were desperate to communicate to him the importance. Just as we were sitting down to try to show him how to cleanse and dress his foot, a group of journalists from England walked by. They happend to have a translator that communicated in the most thorough and effective way about his care that we had experienced all week. We had a wonderful conversation about what he had understood and what we wanted him to do. The improvement was significant with his foot now that he had been taking his antibiotic and now he will know we will not be returning and what he will need to do to care for himself once we are gone. Small miracles!

The group returned to the guesthouse and gathered in the front room. We were all able to share the best and worst of our experience in Haiti. This was quite a therapeutic opporunity for the group to share with others thoughts and feelings that others who have not experienced Haiti would understand. It was powerful and meaningful and thought provoking. Thank you Jan, our fearless group leader, for your strenght and support. Haiti is now a part of all of us. Many plan to return as their love for the people is so great.

The rest of the evening allowed for half of the group to go dancing as we all prepare to leave tomorrow. We will be packing in preparation for leaving in the morning. We will be leaving behind such wonderful memories! Bon Swa!

Thursday

Dell, a Canadian student volunteer, was working with one of the babies who had a stroke previously when our occupational therapists arrived. Melanie was very encouraged by this and excited to see that the work will continue to progress when they leave as Dell had jumped right in with his previous training by the therapists. The physio clinic was slower today with only 8 patients. The occupational therapists, Suzie and Melisa, were able to do some great work with a 2 year old. They were able to get him into a donated umbrella stroller and he was also able to hold a sippy cup with both hands. Our teenage with an amputation and nerve damage on her left hand was able to walk a good distance today. She really likes Justin Bieber, and Melisa brought her a music video on her laptop for her to watch. She loved it!

The medical clinic closed with Stacie, our Nurse Practitioner, leaving for home. The work continues on a smaller scale with Jon Louis’, a Haitian physician, continuing to see patients. The Canadian student volunteers remain quite helpful to him as he has a very large patient load. With the clinic closing, Kristi continued to follow up on some patient. She also was able to go with Lisa, Vickie, Jamin, and Lorne to help build John’s “stick” house (wood construction). John, a Healing Hands for Haiti employee was quite grateful for the help and looks forward to being able to move out of his tent. The rainy season is quite a challenge for those living in tents. It was great to see Haitians learning a new trade while helping each other out.

Thursday was also another follow-up for Justin’s lacerated and infected foot. The group traveled to his neighborhood to ensure he had taken a tap-tap to Hospital Generale for evaluation. He was not home and his wife stated he had gone to work. Frustrated, the group decided to wait for him to ensure he will go and get the surgical debridement, evaluation, and IV antibioltics t he needs at this time. While they were waiting, they played basketball and futbol (soccer) on the community playground. The 10 year old boys really gave the group a run for their money on the futbol field. Wow! To play futbol on a gravel field with no shoes was amazing! They were amazing! They were able to follow up with Justin and found that he had actually gone to the hospital before work and could not wait any longer before he went to work. It was discovered that he had been judiciously taking his Advil, but not his Keflex . . . hmmmm . . . the challenges of language barriers.

Thursday from Jana

I am writing this from my perspective, as the prosthetic guys are just too busy to get to a computer. and our internet access is so very limited. Actually I don't quite have words to tell you about what we are experiencing here. So if my writing seems confused and out of order and chaotic, it is either due to heat stroke :) or a very true reflection of daily life here. I have started to converse in a few short sentences in Kreyol. Mostly pleasantries, but the Haitians just enjoy it so much. And I don't mind being the subject of their laughter! But I think I have gained some trust from them, because if their prosthetic leg bugs them they come to tell me! Unfortunately there's not much I can do there. But I know just the guys who can! AJ was in his own little heaven yesterday - he got invited into the surgery to witness an amputation... halfway through the femur the electricity went out and someone ran in with a flashlight! Most of the people they casted earlier this week, were fitted with prostheses today and we are working with another group of PT's from Montreal and things are really going well. AJ has done serial casting on 3 kids with club foot - seems to be something very common here. One PT knew of at least 8 more. But he has tried to teach someone here his method, and hopefully that will help. They were very interested in that. My little 5 year old friend, Florika, had someone carry her from the rehab centre to the clinic to come and tell me I still owed her bubbles! She really stole my heart and I was quite sad to say goodbye (kenbe fo) but I was able to tell her that I thought she was "belle" (beautiful). I have been sewing makeshift shower curtains from rescue sheet (sewing machine didn't like that much) and real ones from fabric. And teaching some of the women at the rehab centre to sew. They made two pillows and a little skirt and we had a lot of fun while listening to a soccer game. Everyone knew Brazil was playing, but no one could tell you against who! Other than that I am sweeping the floor, making training notes for the local staff, and making sure that everyone keeps drinking water. We have not had a warm shower since our arrival, and there is actually very little point in towelling off - half an hour later you are just as wet again. We have done a few crazy Haitian things - like 6 on a quadbike! And I fell off - did not get hurt. But I was hesitant to even get on with just one other person and an exercise ball :) Did okay that time. Tonight we are heading to the beach for dinner. I am going to try and upload a few pics with this note - will see if the internet speed allows me. We are exhausted - last night I was asleep by 8.45pm! But none of us would trade this for anything.

Wednesday

The therapy clinic was only open for half the day on Wednesday, as it is not generally a busy day. Suzie and Melanie were able to see a few patients and do some great work with them. Jamen was able to manufacture a foot brace for a girl with a large wound on the bottom of her foot so that she could walk without pressure and also to keep the area clean. He is quite creative!
The medical clinic closed down by noon. The Canadian students have been a wonderful resource and their enthusiasm for getting things done is encouraging. They will all make great physicians and medical professionals some day. The dad of the premie infant that we have paid to stay and have been so involved with came to the group with a piece of paper and a very large smile. He was very genuine and was trying to explain something and we were struggling to understand without our translators handy. Once we had our translator, Big Mac, he was able to read the note the dad was handing to us. He has been so appreciative of the dedication to his son and the help he had received, he was asking to have Jan be the godmother of his son. . . . . . WOW!

Once the clinics were closed, the group headed off to see down town Port-au-Prince. The conditions were hard to take in as we saw the devastation that has left so many thousands of Haitians homeless. Pictures, even by professional photo journalists, cannot describe the destruction and devastation that was seen. I struggle to even write in words what we saw. It made shopping for souvenirs seem frivolous and was difficult to feel good about spending money. There is so much needed here. Where do you begin. Suzie and Vickie remind us of a parable once shared: a little boy was walking along the beach one night and saw all of the starfish that had come to shore. He started tossing the starfish one at a time back into the sea. Each time he did this he was asked "why do you bother". He again was walking along with his father and shared what others had said as he was tossing in a starfish. His father replied "but you helped that one".
Stacie, Deb, and Jennie began packing for home. They were wonderful to have and Stacie left with a heavy heart the next day not knowing if the care for the children she had been entrusted with would be the proper care or would continue. It is a worry that we all struggle with.

Tuesday from Jana

After a night of very little sleep (apparently rooster in Port-au-Prince get up at around 3am) , and then a breakfast of papaya, mangoes, pineapple and bananas 5 of us (Michael, Dan, AJ, me and Carolyn) packed a van and set of with our driver, Jean-Jacques, for Les Cayes. Between his broken English and AJ's broken French they were able to communicate quite well. In Jean-Jacques words: "Driving in traffic here is very complicated." That is an understatement. Traffic here truly laughs at all the road safety rules we know! As we were driving through the devastation that the earthquake brought to Port-au-Prince, it was heart breaking and gut wrenching and hard not to wonder where all the relief money went! We were all taking pictures non-stop: I think in a way to cope with what we are seeing and processing it through the eye of a lens somehow makes it easier. Pigs, goats, cows, dogs and donkeys mingling with the people between the earthquake rubble and tent cities, the burning garbage and the roads lines with plastic bottles are just some of the images that stood out. But there are also the signs of hope: music everywhere, smiling faces, vendors selling their goods, little LOTO shacks in the rubble and the school children - all dressed in colourful, super-neat uniforms and ribbons in their hair. We also saw quite a few open air schools along the road. When we got to Les Cayes after a four and a half hour drive, we unloaded and jumped to work. Caroline started doing physical therapy pretty much as she stepped inside the clinic. The guys sorted a bit, and then managed to cast six new amputees and do a few adjustments in the afternoon. One 5 year old girl stole my heart - Florika. She lost her one leg in the earthquake. After dinner, the guys came back to work on some casts they took earlier, and I was given a sewing machine to make some shower curtains with fabric I brought with me for the rehab clinic. I was in heaven! We are all getting around the language barrier and have two wonderful interpreters. It is an amazing experience... we have a lot of pictures and I will upload them if I get a chance. Today we are right back at it at the clinic. I am doing lots of organizing for them and learning about soft casts and shrinkers and knee braces. There a two babies here today with turned in feet: AJ has been casting them while teaching the local personnel how to do it. We are also working with Isarak, who is deaf, and helps the guys out in the clinic. It is just amazing to see the spirit of co-operation that exists! June and Karen who runs the clinic are wonderful and everyone just works so well together.

Tuesday

Our Swiss group headed to Cap Haitian. Jana had 3 women sewing with some donated fabric. The women were able to make 2 shower curtains for the rehab facility. They have also made 3 pillows and 2 a skirt. AJ saw an amputation and Jana went to a sewing school where 200 women sell their goods. It was a very hot and tiring day with the adjustment to the heat and humidity.

Tuesday’s medical clinic was less chaotic with fewer patients to see and no delay in starting. Although the clinic was only limited to 25 patients, 38 were seen. Several patients were followed up on and many of the complaints were again seen. An older woman brought in a very underweight infant. She had been caring for the infant since his mother passed away in the earthquake and had no means for feeding the child. She had gone through all of the formula she had and the infant was struggling to take the calories it needed. The caregiver was given donated formula and a bottle with instructions on how to mix with clean water. Several other women also brought in children throughout the day with the same struggle. Several trips were made down the hill to the local shop for formula. Stacie had the opportunity to follow up on several patients and track down some contacts for referrals.

The physio clinic was able to work with a woman who had injured her right arm in the earthquake. Lisa was able to manufacture a therapy splint for her. It was quite creative and will be very useful to her in her therapy. Jamen was able to fix one of the tables by borrowing a drill from someone in the hospital and then used bolts off of some crutches to pin the table. Jamen and Lisa were able to fix the wheelchair of a woman who had previously had a stroke. With all of the humidity and mosquitoes, bug spray with Deet is quite popular. Needless to say, the Deet was strong enough to take the finish off of the wheelchair and it ended on Suzie’s legs which resembled R2D2. The stroke woman has made some great progress being able to dress herself for the first time.

After clinic and a hot, busy day, the group looked forward to showers. However, a pipe had broken with the construction on the property and water was scarce. It was a welcomed pleasure to have a downpour of rain. It was worrisome to think about all of the displaced people dealing with the rain in their tents.

That evening was also a wonderful opportunity to receive a visit from two physicians and a Haitian born Utahn that were checking up on some patients that they had treated 5 days after the earthquake. They were a valuable resource and it was a pleasure to have them stop by. Chuck had previously had volunteered with Healing Hands for Haiti.

Monday

On Monday the Canadian IFPD group headed to Les Cayes to work in a prosthetic shop which is attached to a hospital. Monday they were busy making prosthetics for many of the amputees in Les Cayes. They had a long drive down there and will return to Port-au-Prince on Friday. It was a pretty great day. They saw 7 new amputees. Jana befriended a 5 year old girl. There was a lot of sorting and Jana sewed shower curtains for the rehab facility, which she enjoyed. Jamin is also with IFPD and came on Monday. He brought over 90 lbs of titanium and prosthetic components and 80 lb. of feet . Of course he was stopped at each airline security point on his way here.

Jamin had a wonderful day once he arrived safely from the airport. His luggage made it mostly intact with only one piece of luggage duck-taped together. He had an extraordinary opportunity to meet a man by the name of Lorne. Lorne has given up his retirement and moved to Haiti in March to help the Haitians build sustainable wood housing through a soon to be self-sustaining program he originated. Jamin spent the day doing construction with John, a Haitian employee of Healing Hands. John lost his home in the earthquake and he and Jamin spent the day working on laying cement and framing his new home. It was an amazing experience that allowed Jamin to become immersed in the wonderful Haitian culture doing something that he loves so much.

The therapy clinic outside of the hospital was very busy on Monday. Melanie-OT and Suzie-OT stayed very busy. Suzie saw a new stroke patient. Mikayel-a physiotherapist from Haiti, followed up on all of the physical therapy treatments that had been started with patients returning for treatment.

The hospital clinic was extremely busy on Monday after a very late start to the day. There were some delays because of the newly instituted changes from the Department of Ministry. Once the group was cleared to work, they were very busy trying to see over 40 patients before the clinic closed. Jan and Vickie, HHH support, and a group of Canadian pre-med students were wonderful help for the group as they tried to see so many patients. Many of the same complaints from previous clinics were seen. A mother brought her lethargic infant to be seen and it was promptly recognized that the child needed the emergency room. The group that was assisting in funding previous hospitalizations was now depleted, so the group gathered money to pay for the emergency room visit. It is very interesting the way the health care system is run here. No pay . . . no stay. It doesn’t matter how critical. We are so blessed to have such great healthcare in the states.

Monday evening gave the group an opportunity to follow up with the man in the village with the lacerated foot. Our Swiss doctor was able to accompany the nurses to the village to do wound care. The man was instructed on proper care of his foot, the wound was thoroughly cleansed and dressed using donated medical supplies, and a donated antibiotic was given to the man to reduce and prevent further infection.

Sunday

Many team members arrived on Sunday and some left. Kathy-OT and Gail-MD left for home. Linneah-PT and her husband Egan-interpreter, were supposed to have left Sunday, but were delayed until Monday due to the Spirit Airlines strike. A nurse from Utah, Kristi, a group of Canadians, and a group from Switzerland were the Sunday arrivals. Kristi will be working with the clinic group. The group of Swiss personnel that came in Sunday consisted of a Physical Medicine Physician, a nurse, a physical therapist, occupational therapist, and researcher. Our Canadians are: AJ-Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist, Jana-support, Michael-Certified Prosthetits/Orthotist, Dan-Prosthetic Tech, and Lisa-support. AJ and Jana are co-founders of the International Foundation for the Physically Disabled (IFPD) that have come to work with Healing Hands for Haiti.

Sunday was a free day where several went to church and some went walking. It was very hot and humid and many people slept to try an catch up from the lack of sleep during the week. Linneah, Egan, Deb, Stacie, and Dan befriended a family on their walk who had adopted a 10 year old boy. Later on that evening they returned to the village of Bidaun with shoes with a few more people. At this time they met a man who had stepped on a broken bottle and severely lacerated his foot a few days earlier. The nurses and interpreter were able to explain to the man how to clean the wound and that they would plan on returning Monday to again clean and dress the wound. The laceration was severe enough to need debridement and closure. However, with no money for shoes, there was no money for surgery. We take so much for granted in America with heath care.

Friday at the Clinic

Gail MD, Chris RN, Stacie FNP, Deb RN, and Jennie RN ran the free clinic outside of the Haiti Community Hospital. It was a VERY busy day with many patients to see. 48 patients were seen before the clinic closed for the day with many more that wanted to be seen. Many of the patients included ring worm, head lice, scabies, and GI complaints. With the intense heat and high humidity, it was easier to see patients outside of the covered porch under the shade of trees. It was a challenge to admit a child with respiratory distress and Jennie spent most of the afternoon working on getting the child into the hospital. Several children were suspected of having Tuberculosis and were referred to another free clinic for evaluation. The team is learning a great deal about the resources available, however, we are trying to be very careful about not taking business away from the hospital so that the hospital can continue to function. This is a fine line to walk because of the poverty stricken population being seen. While there were many resources available, some have run out of money, some do not have the resources we need, some are no longer in operation, and some are too far away.

Friday and the Weekend:From Suzie

I know it's been several days since I last wrote anything from Haiti. Though it's Sunday, the backhoe operator and laborers continue to remove what's left of the adjacent apt. building and prosthesis clinic, so the smell of diesel exhaust is mixed with the mango and other fruits we have for breakfast. I continue to wipe the drips from my head with a wet bandana as I type. We have only fans to move the heavy hot air and cool water to drink, plus lots of stories to share with each other just from the day including those with the journalists from the Toronto Star who are staying here for a week. I'm sitting in the living room with stories going on behind me.

We have done some good things here - but have only made a small dent - One woman came in for therapy the other day with a 10-day old bandage on a finger. I took her up to our nurse to cut off the dirty bandage and soak the wound, learning that some guy had bitten off the end joint of her finger during a terrible argument. People who cannot pay for medical care simply do not receive it. Another woman arrived with 5 month old stitches in her upper thigh that will need a surgeon to get those stitches out as the skin has grown closed over and around them - she could very possibly lose her leg. I have treated folks with rotator cuff injuries, old fractures, and a young woman who lost most of her right arm in the earthquake. She has a young baby and has developed severe neck and scapular tightness from trying to do everything, include carry her child, with the left arm. I massaged her back, neck and stump with bio-freeze, taught her some exercises and asked if she needed anything. Next day she returned for the baby stroller, tennis shoes and socks that I promised her. I also made a strap using a gait belt so she could carry the stroller behind her like a guitar case to keep her hand free. Her smile and gratitude was nearly more than I could handle.

The children have such melancholy in their eyes - it is indescribable - we fit them for shoes and give them socks while they are here - most are walking on sandals that are worn out or too small. I am mostly frustrated by having to make decisions about who I give the shoes out to based on how worn their flip flops are, or distributing the rice and beans that we receive at lunchtime from the hospital. Jefferson and Joseph are two of "my" boys who hang around the clinic every day, always wanting to help when we pack up in the afternoon. The little boys need attention and ask for water from our 5-gal. keg since the tap water is not potable, even inside the hospital. Can you imagine a hospital employee asking for water to drink?

The past week has exposed me to a level of poverty that was formerly unimaginable. It's smell-able, taste-able, visual and extraordinarily pervasive. Yet I've also seen a different part of Haiti. Thursday evening several of us went with the Star journalists who are staying here out to a restaurant about 10 min. drive from the guest house. They had a driver they've been using and we went in 2 car loads. It was so nice to have a cocktail in a cool swanky place that is frequented by Embassy personnel and business people!

Saturday, Jan arranged for the air-conditioned mini-bus, which we've been using every day to commute to the community hospital, to take us to the mountains for the day. The team members from the clinics in Les Cayes and Jacmel had returned on Friday afternoon via truck and plane and we were 18 people reunited since last Saturday. While the bus climbed the steep narrow roads, the A-C had to be turned off in order to power the engine. Being high above Port au Prince was visually and emotionally refreshing as well as cooler. We visited and spent several hours in Kenscoff, a Baptist mission village with lots of friendly people. Lovely, the little girl who was removed from the rubble after 6 days of being trapped, lives there with her family and the Star journalists were also there doing a follow-up story on her. I didn't get to see her but all reports indicate that she is doing well. There we wandered amongst the street merchants to shop and bargain, coming away with all kinds of beautiful Haitian art and crafts. During our lunch in the western-style grill/sub shop that had a spectacular view of the valley below and next mountain, various other Westerners were present, mostly from faith-based American organizations. In the church at the end of the parking lot, many of us enjoyed the unexpected opportunity to listen to their children's choir rehearse for Sunday's evangelical service. Imagine about 150 kids, 4-15 yrs. old, swaying right/left and joyfully singing with a few adult leaders and accompanied by a pianist and drummer! I have some great photos but no way to upload them now....

We completed our holiday with a fine dinner on the veranda of an elegant hotel restaurant in Port au Prince, celebrating Hero, our skillful driver. Later, back at the guesthouse, Jan encouraged each of us to share our best and worst experience of the week, processing, laughing and crying together about the experiences and feelings that each of the 18 of us chose to express. For some people, including me, this is the first time we've volunteered our professional services in a poor country -- but not my last time. Others have traveled and worked extensively including multiple visits to Haiti. What a great group of individuals this is! I can hardly believe that half of my trip is over. I'm well (with a few mosquito bites, puffy feet and ankles) and hope all is well with you too. Bye for now. Be grateful.

From Melanie

I keep starting to write another update, but it's so hard to give you a succinct idea of what's been happening here! But I'm not sure that succinct OT's exist. If you're out there...let me know! This is a dream come true, I have wanted to use my OT skills in a setting like this since before OT school! It's been such an encouraging time, I've been stretched in my skills and have been so busy, but it's a good busy! I love my patients here.

The Haitians are such amazing people, and a little hope and encouragement goes a long way. There's one woman with an elbow fracture who looked so sad the first day I saw her. Her arm had been in a sling for 5 months, even after the cast was removed, and not told to move her arm at all! So she had a lot of pain in each of her joints and limited movement. Her family had to do everything for her. After she was shown a few exercises, worked with myself and the physio, and a lot of hard work and perseverance she slowly regained movement in her arm, as well as more and more independence. And gradually, her beautiful smile is starting to return. Wednesday and Thursday she had worked with the physio and when I saw her on Friday I was so amazed by her progress, and seeing my enthusiasm (and those of you who know how excited I can get, she must of thought - 'Crazy Canadian, all I'm doing is straightening my arm'), she was just beaming!And in many ways, these patients are not much different then anyone else.

I'm treating two teenagers, one who has a below knee amputation and whose leg and arm was crushed in the earthquake, and another who has had an external fixator in her leg (left in for too long - the doctor told her to return when she could bend her knee. 5 months later and it's still as straight as it could be). I tease the one about all the calls she gets from her "boyfriend" on her cell phone - and get a huge smile and blush, and talk to the other about Justin Bieber - a singer she's crazy about!

On another note, the translators work has been invaluable in the clinic. They have done such a great job and are so much fun to work with. Many of them suffered horrible losses during the quake and yet are giving of their time for only $25 per week. Sometimes seeing the devastation of what has happened, it's easy to wonder what type of a future there is for the people here. Yet I was encouraged yesterday when we passed by a church and heard a group of children singing the song "Give Thanks" (in French), with such joy and enthusiasm. There is always hope.

We continue to work at the Haitian Community Hospital every day. We have the therapists very busy seeing patients on the patio. They see patients of all ages. Some have traumatic disabilities and others developmental disabilities. They have seen two severe stroke inpatients. Melanie has been working with a little girl with CP. The pediatric medical clinic has stayed very busy seeing babies with scabies, lice, and worms. Lots of kids with respiratory problems and colds. We arranged to admit our tiny preemie baby, Rivaldo, yesterday. He is doing well today as far as we can tell. Mom is sitting and sleeping next to him on a folding chair, six days post partum. Amazing. Dad brings fresh mango to the team each day to express his gratitude. We moved the pediatric clinic outside today due to the limited space and extreme heat inside the small building. This seemed to have a positive effect on both volunteers and patients, although many adults were under the impression we were the pharmacy. Vitamins for everyone was well received. In addition, we have been working with team Canada to help clean the storage room and rearrange the pharmacy. This has been a huge success, so far. The Canadians have sorted, shelved, and cataloged the greater portion of the room. Finding supplies has become much easier and we are amazed at all the supplies available. We will have three workers for the next week to help in the free clinic and perhaps PT/OT as well. Gail has begun distributing tents to the groundskeepers and debris workers. All tents have families with babies and small children. They are so pleased to have these tents. In the guesthouse last night and this morning we didn't have any water. We were so excited tonight to return home to find water, though a trickle, coming out of the showers. It makes us appreciate what we have at home and to understand what the Haitians deal with daily. The creativity of the Haitian people continues to amaze. They paint beautiful canvas and oil works, metal art works out of used soda cans/wrecked vehicles/old hubcaps, and carved stones. Also, the children around the clinic show a great deal of imagination creating activities and toys from our spent equipment. Today an elastic ball for PT broke. It wasn't long before the children had figured out a shuffleboard like game to play. Tonight, many team member are heading to a club to dance. The reporters from the Toronto Star invited us to attend the club with them for a bit of fun. We'll let you know how it was later.

More to come!

Several more team members, including Jana and AJ, are packing and preparing to meet the team this weekend. They are bringing several suitcases of supplies and are working on tracking down some of the supplies that Terri has recommended. They have ace bandages and are working on getting ultrasound gel. Those not there yet are getting excited to join the work!

Suzie says:

After a lovely breakfast, complete with mangos, prepared by the cooks in the Healing Hands for Haiti guesthouse, we boarded the van for our first day in the "Physio Klinic" at the Haiti Community Hospital. We are 3 OTs, 1 PT, and 3 interpreters. Also on board are our pediatrician and nurse for a treating the folks lined up already when we arrived after 1/2 hour drive. The route follows bumpy streets with hairpin curves on steep hills. We have packed our van with all the dufflebags and suitcases filled with the things you have donated for medical and therapeutic use...The hospital does not have their own therapists, so it welcomes the volunteers who come through HHH and Global Therapy Services and Handicap International who initiate our own process and procedures.

At 8:40 it's already hot and humid. There's NO air conditioning here that I've experienced, including the hospital. But you need to know that the new Physio Klinic is run outside, on a cement patio covered by a large tarp (that leaks during afternoon rainstorms). The people come for free therapy services, and today we worked with several amputees, traumatic injury patients, Melanie, Kathy and I set up the supplies in the middle of the patio as we have been instructed to do yesterday, also reminding each other all day long to drink water! I decide to keep on my cowboy hat all day to minimize glare and hide my wet hair! That with a scrub top, shorts and tennies is my "uniform". Surrounding the Klinic are chairs for those who have signed in and waiting for attention but the young boys who come to watch from the nearby tent village are ever-present. Perhaps we are entertaining for them to watch, but they are all hungry for food and attention too. And they all ask us for new shoes.

A note left by the last OT/PTteam asks for an assessment of a new CVA in-patient. I check in to take a look and decide I'll see her after working with Madame Laura, a sweet tiny elderly lady who had a hip replaced the other day. Her son is aghast that I am about to get her out of bed for the second time in order to walk her down the hall. So my translator (into Creole) explains to him that this is "normal" vs. premature. Gently Mdme. gets to the edge of the bed with my help and trepidaciously stands up with her walker. She is not yet looking me in the eye. With much encouragement, she slowly walks toward the door and was surprised to learn that I expect her to go into the hallway. Son is still scared and must be told to let go of her... The door has only one hinge and falls sideways if not opened properly, I quickly learn. Anyway, 30 meters and 30 minutes later she has done a wonderful job of walking--and with no complaints. She makes us laugh, speaks animatedly to people in the hall, and now looks at me! She returned to her room and sat in a chair and I instruct her and her family what to do at home, since discharge is later this morning. Mdme. is relaxed, insists on getting my address and photos with her.(Wish I could upload from here, but I don't yet know how) We are now good friends and she invites me to do therapy with her in her home every day! Instead, I invite her to the new Klinic outside for PT every day! She--and her son-- gladly accept.

Did I mention that I am sweltering and dripping? all the time! even in front of the fan as I write this at 10 pm

Outside again by noon after evaluating the lady who had a stroke #3 and teaching her family to re-position her frequently and to feed her only baby food. The hospital, which is not free care, does not provide food unless it's paid for and families bring in all the bed linens too,,, We use lots of disinfecting hand stuff.

Lunch is what we brought from home. I have a tin of chicken salad, a granola bar, and am full. That's normally not normal for me. But it's so hot that all I can do is drink more water (which we've brought in a 5 gal jug). The little boys look at us beseechingly and finally ask for some water. One of them shows me his woven name bracelet -- do I want one? Yes! What color? I point to my scrub top of blues, purples, white, pink and he asks me to print my name. A few hours later, his older brother appears and they gesture to me, presenting a lovely bracelet with turquoise, pink and white "SUZIE" woven on top. Billy asks for $2, one for his brother who did the marketing.

Note-writing is not for anyone but ourselves and we do it for ourselves and each other. Gail, the doctor, and Chris, RN come down from their indoor space on the other side of the parking lot and start telling stories of the people they just treated, including a teeny 4-day old premie infant whose mama is too sick to bring her herself because of hunger/ the father brought the baby who Gail reports is the tiniest she's ever seen. We process more of who and what we've been dealing with to problem-solve while learning more about each others' skills and thinking. This is really teamwork! I love my team. We already trust each other. I love my team!

Dripping and drinking water but having a wonderful day. The patients are all done and we start cleaning up. I found some balloons and gave out 8 to the 8 shortest kids on the patio. Soon there are soccor and volleyball balloon games going and Chris, our nurse, Gail and I are playing with them. They are beautiful, sort of dirty, and totally curious. They like having their pictures taken and then want to see everything in my camera. I had 10 or 12 hands trying to move my wrist/camera around in a circle for them all to see. A balloon pops during play and the first real belly laughs we hear from them affect us all deeply.

I've only been in Haiti 36 hours and feel it's gotten under my wet, sticky- with -mosquito- spray -and -sweat -skin. A journalism team from Toronto arrived today and tomorrow we're getting our 2nd PT for the team. All of us know why we're here in a way I cannot really express to you.

A bien tot. Suzie

From Alex:

The first day was very hot, 14 patients, and we are needing more cleaning wipes for in between patients to clean the only two beds we have available. People are very interested and motivated in getting better. There's lots of damage with scars and adhesions around. We have an ultrasound but there is no available gel. There are lots of myofascial release and stretching exercises as tolerated by patients. I need to get a cane for a patient. There are lots of fractures that are not going to be treated because there is no surgery without paying for it, so deformity and lost of function because of it.
Anyways take care,
Alex

On Sunday morning fifteen team members arrived on two different flights at the newly remodeled Port-au-Prince airport. We loaded our luggage into the blue van and boarded a big rented bus for the ride to the HHH compound. The scene en route varies from total devastation to business as usual. It is really mixed. Many people selling their wares on the street in front of a collapsed building. Rubble everywhere on the side of the road. Many, many tent cities, some as many as 50,000 people in them. We arrived and started unpacking the suitcases as Vicki, Eve and Terri left for Jacmel at 11 am. They loaded up some supplies they wanted to take as they are working for the week in a rehab clinic there. Scott, Matt, Jan B. and Samantha left later in the afternoon for Les Cayes to work in the prosthetic shop there. Scott and Matt will be doing prosthetics and Jan will be doing the gait training. Samantha is a reporter from St. George who is along to document the week. We were fortunate to meet with 2 PTs and an OT departing Haiti for a tour and introduction of where we will be working for the next two weeks. Haitian Community Hospital is an inpatient hospital that has a new therapy area on the patio that has been staffed by Global Village Therapy. They have a lot of supplies and we were introduced to a few patients and staff in the hospital. There are a lot of boys who hang out around the hospital that we have had a chance to have some fun with. The rest of us settled into our rooms and started getting to know each other. We packed vitamins into baggies and organized the orthotic, medical, clothing, and personal supplies everyone had brought from home in giant duffles and suitcases. Jane needed to return home and went on the plane the following morning headed back to Salt Lake. We will miss you Jane. The rest of us - Gail, Chris, Suzan, Kathy, Melanie, Alex and Jan went to the Haitian Community Hospital. Three OT's to start with -- how unusual! The therapists started right to work seeing outpatients who were lining up. They also treated several inpatients. They saw about 15 patients during the day of all ages and with all kinds of disabling conditions. We were working with Allison, a PT from another volunteer agency. We don't know if/when we will see her the rest of the week. Gail, Chris and Jan set up down the road in the outpatient medical clinic area. Lots of moms and kids were waiting on folding chairs outdoors in the shade to see us. We worked in the administration area using a desk and filing cabinet to unload all of our pharmacy supplies. Another desk and chair served as patient treatment area. Gail and Chris saw 20+ pediatric patients, many babies who are malnourished and developmentally delayed. Lots of scabies and stomach aches, a few fevers and a tiny 5 day old premie that weighed maybe 2 pounds. His twin had died after birth and his mother was injured her leg somehow in the earthquake. Dad brought the baby to be seen. He was so tiny. On Tuesday five more team members arrived - Linnea and Egan, Stacie, Jennie and Debra. We took them to the guesthouse and unpacked and then they headed up to the hospital to work the rest of the afternoon. The nurses joined with Gail and Chris and Linnea and Egan joined the therapists. The medical team saw 40+ patients today but the therapists weren't as busy as they were yesterday, yet each patient provided new challenges to our creativity with limited supplies and stimulated a lot of team interaction. Jan went with Al Ingersoll to the Healing Hands For Haiti/Handicap International prosthetic lab to deliver some supplies and see the new space. It was good to see Edylene and Fritz again. They are very well equipped and have fit more than 200 patients with prosthetics and over 100 orthotics the last 3 months. Dinner in the guesthouse was wonderful as usual and afterwards we again had a "pill party" - putting vitamins and tums into baggies in preparation for distribution to patients at the clinic the rest of the week. To say we have had hot and fun days might be understated!

Needs

As our team begins work in Haiti, there are many items that we find we are needing. They are: normal saline, telfa pads, adaptic, vaseline gauze, safety and sharp scissors, suture removal kits, pens, accordian folders for chart organization, clipboards, shoes and socks of all sizes, antibiotic creams, 4x4 gause, ace bandages, small lotions, candy, and kids prizes. For the volunteers that will be coming we suggest also bringing waschloths and powdered gatorade.

Preparing for Haiti

We have received many donations in preparing for Haiti. Each team member has 2 suitcases of donated items that they have and will be checking as their luggage. These donated items will be used for patients in the clinic and orphanages. Some of these items consist of: shoes & socks, over the counter meds, braces, hygiene kids, prosthetic supplies, tents, and umbrella strollers. There are still needs for shoes and socks of all sizes, antibiotic creams, 4x4 gause, ace bandages, accordian folders for chart organization, and little treats for the children.

Volunteers have paid their own travel and use of personal vacation to aid the Healing Hands for Haiti program. The Groves team consists of physicians, therapists, nurses, orthotists, prosthetists, translators, and support personnel. Most of the team members arrived Sunday, and the remaining team members will be following this Sunday. Many will be staying in Port-au-Prince to help in the hospitals, clinic, and orphanages. Some will be traveling to Cap Haitian where they will be helping with spinal cord injury patients in a small hospital there. Our prosthetists will travel to Cap Haitian, Milot, or Les Cayes to work with amputees. With the recent earthquake there is an overwhelming need for providing rehabilitative care and to provide teaching and opportunities for Haitians to care for themselves and their families. We'll keep you posted on our progress.