Lenny the PA sent back emails journaling his experiences. He just OK'd me posting them on my blog. I know it makes a long post but I think his words are worth it.
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 10:12 PM
Subject: Haiti
We made it to Salt Lake City. Two of the doctors dropped out so had to rearrange bags and leave some stuff behind ( could only take 10 bags had 12). A bit stressful tearing through the bags, but we managed and hopefully will have all that we need. The team consist of 2PA's,2RN's and a pharmacist. The mood is good, expecting a very busy week. Not quite sure what the week ahead holds. Hope to get supplies from the old camp, sort, set up and see patients. If all works out we will gather,sort, set-up Saturday/Sunday. If this does not work out then will work with what we have and see as many people as we can. Should be interesting. On to New York should get in at about 6am the to port-a-prince arriving at noon.
Haiti Team.
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 4:52 PM
Subject: Haiti
Please send this out to every one.
Made it to Haiti without a hitch. The weather is great maybe hi 80's 80-90% humidity. No problems as a result of Tomas...at least not here in Port-au-Prince. Took a trip out to the HELP Clinic in Pegy Ville. I was overwhelmed by the sight of it. Hillsides with houses/tents/shelters on top of each other. This area is not a camp, this is where they live. 25,000 + people serviced by three doctors. I just wanted to start working then and there.
I thought the camp in carfour was bad, but in comparison it was paradise. We will do what we can to help as many as possible....I can't put a # on it. Just can say I and the team will work hard from the minute that we get there in the morning until they lock the clinic doors at night. I looked out over the area I was reminded of the saying on our board in Cluster B (1D) ...."Keep Your eye on the prize". We won't save the world nor will we save Haiti, but each day that we are here we WILL suceed at making the world just a little better. That's one hell of a prize. A prize that I strive for everyday. Believe it or not, each of us does it everyday, it's just that sometimes it gets lost behind all of the chatter. Close your eyes, think about what you do there everyday. Really close your eyes! Think about it...........how can what you are doing not make the world better.
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 7:24 PM
We traveled out to Leogane ( the epi center of the quake) to work. About 45min South of Port-au-Prince. The trip took about 3hrs45min. The next time I am sitting in traffic on I-5, I will laugh. The roads are something we have potholes they have craters filled with water, don't know how deep until end un scraping the bottom of the vehicle on the road. Made me cringe everytime, wondering if we might put a hole in something vital under there. More later the generator is almost out of gas.
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 4:01 AM
Subject: Week one review. Haiti
Coming down here this time I though maybe I had a a good idea of what to expect. I was wrong. While many this are the some alot has changed. Thomas the Hurricaine started the week off with the uncertainty that we would even come down and if we did what would we find when we got here. So we left on the 6th amid a cloud of fear usre if we would be stuck in NewYork or able to fly. The preceeding week spent stressing and not knowing......I boarded the plan already exhausted.
Me made it and spent about two hours in the airport...Just trying to get our bags out ( carryons and 10 50lb larage black bags.) We needed carts, but the system is screwy, you pay $2 then scramble to get to them. Anyways Woodolph called a friend and soon we carts appeared. It pays to know people. Out to the car, this time was not bad we were no mobbed by too many people trying to take our bags. But it again was a bit stressful for me and for the ones that had not been here a bit fightening. then Herns ( our partner) showed up and the warmth of his smile melted all of my stress away. It was good to see him.
We Packed into the van and were off. The city looks much the same, but there are signs that the is change. Some buildings are being repaired and some tents are gone....not many though. The ride was and experience, not one that I had had before, and because we were on out way to Petionville there were many new sights for me. It was Hot ( 90's ) and dusty and wonderful. We tried to see everything, little did we know we would have plenty of opportunity.
Instead of tents we are staying in a house. It is very nice and we are comfortable. The food is good, the company even better. Saturday eve and sunday spent got trying to rest and getting ready to work on monday. Took a short trip to the site of our last trip for supplies. I left there a bit sad as it is where we started and now the tents are gone. the 15,000 people were moved out and really had not where to go. But our Flag is still there flying next to the Haitian flag and the sight reminded me of the committment that I made in June to do what I could here and at home to help Haiti and it's people.
Monday the experience began full force. Up at 5am ( though I was up at about 4) breakfast pack up and off to the first site Leogane, south of Port-au Prince and the eipcenter of the january quake. The trip took 3 hrs not because it is that far away, traffic here is like nothing I have ever seen . makes Seattle traffic look like nothing. Put on top of it that the roads are full of craters and it is an interesting drive. Again hot and dusty, and hot. Mostly wonderful.
We worked about 4hrs that day ( 6 driving to and from). saw 80 patients, setting the pace for the week. tuesday to Peguyville. wednesday thursday to leogane. Lots of riding and lots of patient. Yesterday we saw 120. The team has seem 350 people in 4 days. ( Two PA, Two RN's and a pharmacist) We will take Friday (today). It is amazing what can be done when the heart is in the right place.
Now I will gear up for the next team. Excited to see what the week will bring. We will travel to a different clinic next week. I am excited about it. Herns is from there so I will be sure the team is ready.
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 8:42 PM
Subject: Week Two Hati update.
Everyone made it here safely and spent Saturday resting and staying up late. Sunday I thought it would be a good idea to take a drive so that they could see what why we are here. This trip is different than my first trip, in that we are seeing a great deal more of what is happening down here. Mostly I just wanted them to feel what it is like to be in the vehicle for long period of time. It was a good day. I think everyone ended the days with a good view of the scale of the problems here.
Today up at 5am to be out by 6am....missed the mark and left at 0630. traffic here can not be described in a short email, but 2.5 hrs later we made it to the clinic and 23 km away. Had a hectic start , as everyone tried to get familiar with the place and the supplies. Then hit our grove and worked through the patients. We were done at 3 pm after 102 pts. Had to wait a bit, then were back on the road at 4:30 pm,. 2.5 hrs later we arrived "home" The ride can not be described in a short email either, but to sum it up....frightening. However, the dark gives you a whole new perspective and I would not miss it for anything. Tomorrow will be much of the same. Except this time we will leave on time.
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 8:31 PM
Subject: Haiti day 5 week two
Was a good day. Up at 5am on the road at 6am and at the clinic at 9:30 am. Yes, the trip takes 3hrs....It is difficult but everyone is holding up. Today wearrive to see what looked like a bus load of highschool kids checking into the clinic. Turns out it was a bus load of highschool kids checking into the clinic. Started the day off off a bit hectic as we tried to set up and get started. Soon enough we were moving and patient's were bening seen. Just as we got done with the group of kids anoth arrived. It was busy but cool. We came to find out that tey were on a feild trip and had come to the clinic to see how it worked. We checked out every one and found two 16yos with high blood pressure and a 18 yo diabetic. So if we didn't do any more we would have had a great day. Turned out that we saw 140 pts and did some good medicine. It really was a great day. Tomorrow we go back, but will only see patient for 2hrs. It is a holiday and the town is having a party, The have invited us the show their apprieciation for was we have done. I would not miss this for the world.....it's the people. I will pop out out bed tomorrow morning.
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2:10 PM
Subject: Haiti experience.
This morning I awoke to Snow and cold….a stark difference from the 90 degree weather that I left on Saturday. It served as a reminder of all of the differences that I would encounter on my first day back to work. I thought that I would be fine, a little beat up and not feeling 100% but fine never the less. I got here and the team was huddling, talking about the day to come and trying to work out how best to manage it. Access was the topic, all I could do was smile…the things we worry about. I bit my tongue. It is all relative. No access in 25,000+ people with one doctor three days a week, no access is living in a camp with no electricity, running water and no doctor. No access is waking up to the reality that all that you have is gone. It all a matter of perspective.
During the 8 clinic days that we had there I spent a total of 48hrs in a van riding to and fro. Physically it was exhausting, mentally numbing. I found myself wondering why my heart ached so. Why when I look out the window at the merchants in the market sitting in dirty water trying to sell their goods I felt like crying….my thoughts kept me awake nights. I came to realize that it was not the condition that made me sad, not the fact that the Haitian people awoke to these hardships everyday. I realized what I was feeling was not sadness. Soon I did not see the dirty water, or the garbage, or the rubble, or the smog,dust,grim. I saw proud people working and striving to live regardless their conditions. It was something to see. I wondered if I would be so strong. After this realization, I settled into the daily 6hrs. of commuting and took in the beauty that is Haiti. For some it the group, it was hard to get past the shock of what they were seeing, I understood completely. Me, I was in awe. Every trip was like a gift that I had been given and I felt compelled to see deeper in to the heart of the country. I can't express the extent of the emotions that I experienced, it is enough to say that I am not the same as when I left. I am changed….for the better.
As I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner this year, I will say a special thanks to Haiti and her people. Because of them I am truly alive.
Lenny
