Haiti Day Three

It’s Sunday night and we've now officially been in Haiti for three whole days. Without exaggerating too much I think I can honestly day that I've done more good during these past 72 hours than I have for the past 12 years. That was the last time in my life I completely forgot about myself or my needs and solely focused on the needs of another. Its an amazing feeling.

The sad thing is mothers get to experience this sentiment often, while men miss out a lot of the time.

Today we still had a group at Mardy's orphanage, we had a team at Healing Hands' clinic and then two groups at two downtown hospitals.
I was with the largest group at the General Hospital because the biggest need is there. We are starting to get into a groove and almost have, as it were, our full time jobs for the next couple of weeks. We tried the portable clinics on the outskirts and although it was rewarding and needed, it wasn't the most effective use of our time. Plus we found out quickly that although we, as former missionaries, are extremely comfortable with the crowds, most of the medical personnel are not. It’s a privilege to work with these selfless, talented medical professionals translating for them. Today at the hospital I saw pretty much everything you can see in a triage unit from the common cold to a young girl with an STD to a gunshot victim.

It’s hard to describe the bravery of the people here. There was a girl who came in with a broken foot. She said something fell on it. After many, many questions I found out that she had been buried in rubble for 24 hours at her school. In her Catholic school of 43 children, she was one of only 4 that survived. She was so matter of fact and composed. Here, you talk to people who have lost literally everything and it’s like you are discussing the weather. A woman came in with her father today, she had a massive tumor in her stomach, she literally looked 8 months pregnant. The doctor thought the tumor was probably cancerous and there was very little we could do for her and she and her father just nodded and said thank you. A doctor I was translating for, was digging into a deep would and scrubbing it and cleaning it out. The man just stayed still on the table, wincing every now and then. The doctor said in the states, someone would have needed a heavy dose of morphine to deal with that pain.

I stepped back at the end of the day and felt very satisfied I thought what an overwhelming undertaking this is for the doctors and nurses. We'll be literally running the main city hospital (the biggest was destroyed in the earthquake) beginning Wednesday.

The Haitians are beautiful but they are also extremely dwol (funny). If there is something free being handed out they come running, especially medical treatment. 2 out of every 10 patients we saw today just wanted some type of pill but didn't have a real sickness. For those we find them a vitamin and send them on their way.

Tomorrow I get to go with the 82nd and the DMAT group and assist with a food drop. These are the only situations that can get crazy quickly. Last night they did one at 2 am and only allowed women with tickets to stand in line. It was much more calm. We passed a UN food drop site today and luckily it looked like they were keeping the thousands somewhat under control. The food drops are the most dangerous part of being here. Can you imagine a country of 4 million starving people? Over 100,000 people show up clamoring for a bag of rice and they are so hungry, they will do anything they can to get it. Good thing we are with the best trained soldiers we have!

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow night. My meatloaf MRE wasn't all that bad tonight. I wish I had Brooke's cooking though!
Kenbe djanm.