So, last night did not really provide much of a lull, but we managed to get some sleep. I don’t think the bears took a break but we eventually all passed out with fatigue. I am sorry to say I was no more successful with the dog silencing telepathy than Jeffery was last year, and am not optimistic for tonight either.
This morning I awoke to learn that my tiny “Sickle Cell” patient did NOT actually get treated in the local hospital, so Vanessa was required to wake up at 2AM to take her and her mother to Port au Prince (6hr drive) to secure care. I am hopeful she will find the care she does indeed need.
At breakfast there were many sleepy faces and a few mildly ill appearing teammates-no worries though…everyone is rallying well! Christophe informed us that we had many patients to see in clinic already and may have a total of 150 by the end of the day. Truly a daunting task when you figure we saw just about 90 yesterday and today we would be without one full time translator. Regardless, we headed down the hill ready for the challenge.
It did turn out to be a very challenging day – warm, crowded, and some of the most challenging patients of the day. Kitty treated a very sick boy with Typhoid, which took most of the morning, only to learn that his ill father was waiting his turn. She also had the lion’s share of children needing Vanessa’s help for medical visas – 2 with hydrocephalus, 1 with CP, 2 hernias and 1 with Rickett’s and fractures (she sure kept Mary Therese busy). Carey saw a child with the most severe Rickett’s I could possibly imagine. We should all feel so blessed to have healthy children and the ability to seek care to keep them that way when needed.
Rachel B. jumped in this morning with both feet and saw over 30 patients as a solo provider. She definitely has what it takes to be a great practitioner. I’m thinking she may want to join a Pediatric practice some day…who knows?
I may have to adjust my high water mark…I saw the “incredible shrinking lady” today who could not recall how old she was, but her son was certain she was over 100. However, he claimed to be just 30 – he was either the oldest 30 year old I have ever seen or she belongs in the record books for giving birth at over 70 years old. On the flipside, I got to see a 2 kg 8 day old that seemed well, but will return in a few days to be certain….both were awfully cute, but needless to say, I am partial to the baby!
By the end of the day, our total was over 120 and at this clinic, that feels like over 200. Keep in mind we did this with just 2 full time translators. God Bless Mary Therese and Josi. For those from the first trip, you will appreciate the image of Josi going from provider to provider. He is truly an exceptional young man and a fantastic translator. He and I had a very nice conversation this evening and I have never been more convinced that there is a grand plan for him in this country and hope I can assist him in achieving it.
We have now finished dinner and are unwinding in anticipation of our last clinic in the morning. Still wondering if there will be adequate transportation to get to Gonaives tomorrow but if not we will have a nice place to stay while we solve that problem. I will be sorry if we are unable to get to see Kez (…after all, I have brought Dark Chocolate peanut M&M’s a long way for her), but we understand we are in Haiti and in the end it will be what it will be. I have no doubt we will make it home as planned…please do not worry.
As we wind down, a healthy game of BS is going on and Mary Therese is holding her own with her very lady-like way of calling “Bull*#@t!” We are definitely missing Jenny B and her signature style of playing what I like to call “cut-throat bulls*#t”. Hopefully we will all be treated to this again next time.
You may be interested to know that the turkey was again sighted but was no more resilient to this challenging climate than the goose was last year, but surprising as it may seem, we have found a baby goose in this area. I’m afraid it has no better chance of survival than the mother goose last year??
Vanessa has just returned from a grueling day traveling and arguing for care for our severely anemic sickle cell patient. Will need to get details and let you know more tomorrow.
Both bears are back “in the den now” and it turns out we have rare barking spiders as well. Wish us luck tonight.
Will write again tomorrow. Love to all.
The Team