We had a lovely weekend of R&R...we went to Bassin Bleu on Saturday where I got over my fear of cliffs... Jumped from the first rock also known as the mouth of the gorilla into the crystal blue bassin! It was such a freeing experience! Funny how trauma works!!!
After Bassin Bleu we went to the Hotel de la Place for some lunch, where I had Pwason Gwo Sel (poisson gros sel), it was delish! We also watched the inauguration of President Martelly on TV with some Haitians! Glad I got to experience that!
We had some sick team mates, so we forewent the promoting of Haitian economy (aka shopping) and headed back to the hotel for a swim in the ocean.
Sunday we went shopping in the morning and then headed to Kabik beach (aka paradise). We were laughed at by the locals as we were wearing market hats swimming in water that was body temperature. We were called blan blan and blan ak chapo... followed by bel femme! Love Haiti! lol!!! We also enjoyed a lovely meal of pwason griye (grilled parrot fish) with very cold Prestige. We could've stayed here forever...
We returned to the hotel to say goodbye to two team mates and hello to two others...
Monday was spent doing a second outreach clinic in the mountains which required travel through the river (again) and over the most bumpy terrain I've ever experienced sitting sideways and backwards in the back of a pick up truck... I've never been car sick before, but I was yesterday! ugh!!!
Despite the car sickness, the clinic was amazing. Working under a thatched roof with no walls, families with their disabled kiddos lined up and sat waiting to see us patiently for up to 3 hours in very hot weather...I can not imagine us "north americans" doing that back home! We'd be complaining and kids would be going batty! Not here... everyone waits quietly and patiently! Another testament of the resilience and strength of these wonderful people!
We were the only ones at the hotel last night! Very quiet...
Today we head back to Pazapa to do more assessment and therapy education with the teachers and then to the physiotherapy/psychology clinic and then shopping! :)
If I haven't mentioned it before - I love this place! As one of the T-Shirts say: Jacmel mwen fou pou ou! (Jacmel I'm crazy for you)
Stay tuned...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday the 13th!
I meant to write more, but internet is jammed with all the expats staying here! So here it is 2:30 in the morning and I'm blogging!
Wednesday we spent the day at Pazapa, the OT and PT got lots of work done, but I spent the day organizing the week! The MD taught a first aid course at Trinity House and the RN worked at the hospital.
On Thursday, another great canadian adventure was had - we went to do a triage outpatient clinic high up in the mountains... this required us to take a taptap up the mountain. To get to where we were going, it was necessary to cross a river a couple of times. The first time, we got stuck - smack dab in the middle of the river. All of a sudden their were eight men in their boxers pushing us out of the river!!!
We then saw a kiddo at a school and then went to Bellevue Klinik. We saw about 40 kids, all of whom had disabilities and needed rehab. It was such an amazing experience! And not without tears. We had a 20 year old girl with stroke paired with malaria, typhoid and jaundice. Her mom and dad were A-MAZ-ING!!! They took such good care of her it was remarkable! Tears were shed after I watched Mom fall with her daughter trying to get her down the stairs. After asking how far she lived from the klinik, she said not far - 2kms... this kid was a 2 person assist!!! Then Dad showed up with the mule and they loaded her on... as they walked off one parent on each side assuring her safety! Did I mention there were tears? An extraordinary family!!! Reminded me of how lucky I am!!!! And how lucky I am to have experienced this!
Today we went to Pazapa where I assessed a bunch of language kiddos, then we went to assess a 3 month old baby who was VERY unwell....our team I think was in shock and the PT from Pazapa was amazing at putting everything into perspective for the young mother... I don't think this kiddo is going to survive.
After we pulled ourselve together, we went to the physiotherapy klinik owned and subsidized by Dr. Leon Paul. We saw many stroke patients and did a multidisciplinary assessment. I am very fortunate to have such a great team with me.
Our RN went to Friends of the Children of Haiti clinic and triaged about 200 kiddos! Our MD went to the CCH clinic at Potay Leogane and saw many patients.
Tonight we went for some Barbencourt and some dancing! Fun FUN FUN!
Tomorrow - Bassin Bleu!
Bon Bagay!
Wednesday we spent the day at Pazapa, the OT and PT got lots of work done, but I spent the day organizing the week! The MD taught a first aid course at Trinity House and the RN worked at the hospital.
On Thursday, another great canadian adventure was had - we went to do a triage outpatient clinic high up in the mountains... this required us to take a taptap up the mountain. To get to where we were going, it was necessary to cross a river a couple of times. The first time, we got stuck - smack dab in the middle of the river. All of a sudden their were eight men in their boxers pushing us out of the river!!!
We then saw a kiddo at a school and then went to Bellevue Klinik. We saw about 40 kids, all of whom had disabilities and needed rehab. It was such an amazing experience! And not without tears. We had a 20 year old girl with stroke paired with malaria, typhoid and jaundice. Her mom and dad were A-MAZ-ING!!! They took such good care of her it was remarkable! Tears were shed after I watched Mom fall with her daughter trying to get her down the stairs. After asking how far she lived from the klinik, she said not far - 2kms... this kid was a 2 person assist!!! Then Dad showed up with the mule and they loaded her on... as they walked off one parent on each side assuring her safety! Did I mention there were tears? An extraordinary family!!! Reminded me of how lucky I am!!!! And how lucky I am to have experienced this!
Today we went to Pazapa where I assessed a bunch of language kiddos, then we went to assess a 3 month old baby who was VERY unwell....our team I think was in shock and the PT from Pazapa was amazing at putting everything into perspective for the young mother... I don't think this kiddo is going to survive.
After we pulled ourselve together, we went to the physiotherapy klinik owned and subsidized by Dr. Leon Paul. We saw many stroke patients and did a multidisciplinary assessment. I am very fortunate to have such a great team with me.
Our RN went to Friends of the Children of Haiti clinic and triaged about 200 kiddos! Our MD went to the CCH clinic at Potay Leogane and saw many patients.
Tonight we went for some Barbencourt and some dancing! Fun FUN FUN!
Tomorrow - Bassin Bleu!
Bon Bagay!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
We have arrived safe and sound!
So we arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday without any difficulties. The team met up in Montreal and then we flew to Haiti together! It was nice seeing old friends and meeting new ones!
We went directly to Giant Market to pick up supplies for Jacmel and Ile-a-Vache. Then Gail had planned for us to meet up with some others from HHHI and HI at The Montana. We watched the sun set and then headed to the Guesthouse! It was lovely seeing Sultane and were treated to griot, acra, pikliz and banan peze! All my faves! How lucky am I?!
We gave going through the wheelchairs that had been recently released from being held hostage for 7 months in customs, unfortunately, after such a long time in customs, the identifiers for who the chairs were assigned to had faded! :(
But we will go through them when we get back from Ile-a-Vache and Jacmel and have the chairs sent to Ile-a-Vache with Irish team next time they go.
We arrived in Jacmel today around 1pm. Hero our driver was amazing and got us here in record time in one piece! I was very impressed by the work being done on the road through Carrefour, where Haitians are working to build sewage system! Then while we were driving through the mountains we saw a number of new houses built out of wood! Another interesting note was that the tents that had been in the median since the earthquake were no longer there.
Driving through Port-au-Prince, there was much less rubble in the streets!
Happy to be here and so fortunate to have the opportunity!
Stay tuned - hopefully will continue to have access to internet (none yesterday)
Bon Bagay!
We went directly to Giant Market to pick up supplies for Jacmel and Ile-a-Vache. Then Gail had planned for us to meet up with some others from HHHI and HI at The Montana. We watched the sun set and then headed to the Guesthouse! It was lovely seeing Sultane and were treated to griot, acra, pikliz and banan peze! All my faves! How lucky am I?!
We gave going through the wheelchairs that had been recently released from being held hostage for 7 months in customs, unfortunately, after such a long time in customs, the identifiers for who the chairs were assigned to had faded! :(
But we will go through them when we get back from Ile-a-Vache and Jacmel and have the chairs sent to Ile-a-Vache with Irish team next time they go.
We arrived in Jacmel today around 1pm. Hero our driver was amazing and got us here in record time in one piece! I was very impressed by the work being done on the road through Carrefour, where Haitians are working to build sewage system! Then while we were driving through the mountains we saw a number of new houses built out of wood! Another interesting note was that the tents that had been in the median since the earthquake were no longer there.
Driving through Port-au-Prince, there was much less rubble in the streets!
Happy to be here and so fortunate to have the opportunity!
Stay tuned - hopefully will continue to have access to internet (none yesterday)
Bon Bagay!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
T-19 hours...
Well, I've done it! I've managed to pack my hockey bags and stay under the allowed 50lbs per bag! :-) I'm getting pretty good at figuring out what 50lbs looks like, only had to take 3 toys out!
I was able to bring some of the things the OMS donated yesterday, the rest will have to wait til another trip.
NQ was supervising my packing and was quite concerned when her ball ended up in my hockey bag!
Haiti here we come!
Bon Bagay!!!
I was able to bring some of the things the OMS donated yesterday, the rest will have to wait til another trip.
NQ was supervising my packing and was quite concerned when her ball ended up in my hockey bag!
Haiti here we come!
Bon Bagay!!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Less than 48 hours to go...
Well, less than 48 hours to go before I'm off to Haiti. You'd think by now I'd be an expert packer! Alas, I'm definitely not!!! I will have to purge some of my personal stuff that I've tentatively packed. I haven't even tackled the hockey bag packing yet!
One of my teammates and I will be going to Ontario Medical Supply today to pick out some supplies - a BIG thank you to OMS for their donation.
Last week I picked up over 300 backpacks and bags from the Canadian Medical Association to be distributed to the disabled in Haiti! BIG thank you to the CMA for their kind donation.
If you'd like to make a donation please feel free to click here I'd appreciate if you can indicate my name so that I can keep track of donations!
Stay tuned for updates...
Bon Bagay!
K.
One of my teammates and I will be going to Ontario Medical Supply today to pick out some supplies - a BIG thank you to OMS for their donation.
Last week I picked up over 300 backpacks and bags from the Canadian Medical Association to be distributed to the disabled in Haiti! BIG thank you to the CMA for their kind donation.
If you'd like to make a donation please feel free to click here I'd appreciate if you can indicate my name so that I can keep track of donations!
Stay tuned for updates...
Bon Bagay!
K.
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