Home Sweet Home

I'm starting to feel clean and rested. And clean. And shaved. Going over a week without a shower is something somebody should do no more than once a year, if avoidable. I was starting to feel a little bit gamy and scruffy....

We returned last night after an almost 24 hour journey door-to-door; I showered and went right to bed. This morning I was back at it with the family routine, getting up with the children and bringing them to school, but not before I was able to hand out the souvenirs. Baby mama got a hand-embroidered Haitian tablecloth and hand-carved pill/jewelry box. My daughter received two Haitian dresses, and for the boys it was a couple of handcrafted wooden decorative machetes. I also picked up a first grade level Haitian Creole reading and writing workbook, which one of my sons promptly brought to school for show-and-tell this morning.

After I dig out from underneath the pile of bills and finish unpacking, I'll be putting together a little more detailed prose with regards to the trip overall. In the meantime here are a few more photographs. Enjoy!

More-

Enjoy.

While waiting for our connecting flight, more:

A few more random photos in no particular order-

Sitting on the taxiway in Miami....

So I thought I'd upload a few teaser pics:

The Clinic is Open....

143 patients in the back of the orphanage church today....

A lake we passed; some orphans

Janet and her newest PAP friend

Miami to Pignon: The Road thru Hinche

Hello folks,

Wow...what a day.

We woke up at 3:00 am and one flight and six hours in a school bus later, we arrived at our destination- the Mt. Carmel Orpahanage in LeGene, just north of Pignon. I would love to describe every last detail of the journey but as it turns out my international data rates are FAR more expensive than I had imagined. Pastor Joe has graciously allowed me to use his laptop but it is not a fast connection, and I don't want to dominate it.

Port-au-Prince was as smooth as one can hope for in a third-world country. We basically flew in on time, went thru immigrations, customs, got our bags and were met by the good Pastor and his helpers in their US-purchased renovated schoolbus (purchased in Virginia for $2200, with $2500 in shipping costs and over $3000 in customs fees for Haiti administrators, but I digress...)

After a quick stop for water, we made our way...slowly...out of the city proper and into the rugged mountainous countryside. Lots to see...but it was Haiti as I remember it from 2010- full of beautiful people in a bad situation. (I invite any of the OWS spoiled crybabies to stop texting and put down their Red Bulls for just a moment and come see what REAL poverty looks like).

Anyway, the last miles of the trip were on unpaved, poorly maintained roads but we arrived tired but in one piece....having avoided the bands of UN convoys so famous for confiscating anything of value and either keeping it or redistributing it in "the name of the UN." We turned into the orphanage and were immediately greeted with the smiles of children and adults alike, and there were hugs and kisses all around.

After a wonderful dinner prepared by Nerlande our house mother, we set up for clinic for tomorrow in the church on the compound. The tables were set up and medications and supplies laid out. I even got to see my first few patients as a favor to the Pastor.

I would love to type more but I am exhausted and have a long day tomorrow. I will try to upload a few pictures, if it doesnt get too $$$$...

Eric

Port au Prince Security

Roll call: Shenandoah Valley to Miami

Our Haiti adventure began at o-dark:30 this morning when the nine of us gathered at the Pastor Henry's church. We loaded up the van and were on our way to the airport , a relatively uneventful drive. I sat in the back row and had an opportunity to dialogue with Janet, the pastor's wife. Now here's a woman who takes things in stride....Conversation centered around what one would expect with a pastor's wife-the assault rifle parts she purchased for her daughter for Christmas, the merits of concealed carry versus open carry, and how many rounds of .22 LR would be appropriate for home storage.

The trip through the airport was remarkably smooth, except for my turn at security. Screeners had to inspect every last piece of my medical equipment; a supervisor was called over when they discovered the MRE rations. My water packets were confiscated but they allowed me to keep my beans and rice. Apparently peanut butter does not count as a liquid so that got to stay too. Beyond the delay at the screening checkpoint, there is not much airport stuff really to mention (other than my quiet amusement at seeing a women's softball team camped at the Aer Lingus counter).

After our arrival to Miami international Airport, we picked up our ample checked baggage (but not before I pointed out to my Shenandoah Valley colleagues that the Hasidic Jew we crossed paths with was NOT, in fact, an Old Order Mennonite), and high-tailed it to the local Holiday Inn Express.

Right now it's a waiting game at the hotel until we depart for Port-au-Prince very early tomorrow morning, when we will once again hit the airport at o-dark 30 for some more TSA fun. It will give me a chance to eat, rest, and take one last inventory of meds & supplies.

Little Bird (Haitian Childrens Song)

Ti Zwazo kote ou prale
Mwenn prale kay fiyét lalo
Fiyét lalo kon manje ti moun
Si ou ale lap mange ou tou
Brik kolon brik Brik kolon brik
Wosiyol mange korosol
woulo woulo Mwen soti lavil o kay
Tout bet tonbe nan dlo
Madmwazel leve pou danse
Mesye mwen trò fatige


Little bird where are you going?
I am going to Lalo's house
Lalo's eat little kids
If you go she'll eat you too
Brik kolon brik Brik kolon brik
Nightingale eats breadfruit
Rolling rolling I come from the village
All birds fall in water
Lady, please dance with me
Sir, I am too tired.

My Packing Helpers....

....holding a few portraits of last time

Prologue: Haiti Mission 1012

Dear Friends,

Departure time for Haiti grows near and excitement is building.

The mission group has really kicked preparations into high gear these last several weeks. Through the financial contributions (thank you, you know who you are!) as well as some personal resources I have been able to order, organize, secure, and pack up a host of much-needed pharmaceuticals for our little traveling clinic. Antibiotics, dewormers, skin creams, injectables, antihypertensives, female products, multivitamins, analgesics, steroids...etc....Having learned the Hatians' medical needs from my last trip over, I have been able to tailor my inventory to better treat them. In addition, we come prepared with donated surgical instruments, wraps, bandages of all sizes, water purifying equipment...and plenty of hand sanitizer. The volumes of these items have turned out to be a bit more than I had originally anticipated; fortunately, we are a team of eight this year.

There have been some last-minute personnel changes. The nurses originally expressing interest in the trip had to cancel, so jumping in as my primary assistant in their stead will be one of our own emergency department clinical techs. Clint will serve as medical assistant: part nurse, part pharmacist, part clinic supervisor...and part security. A big, self-assured guy with experience in the Red Cross and FEMA, he brings an added level of OPSEC to our group. Not that I am overly concerned about our safety during our time in-coutry, given the relative stability (for Haiti) lately, but it's nice to have a guy along like that who can watch your six. Third world traveling is never risk-free, and safe return to CONUS in one piece is never assured, regardelss of preps.

Our other fellow do-gooders will be a group from a local church- Pastor Henry and his wife Janet, and parishoners Crystal, Kim, Scott and Diane. All are seasoned Haiti volunteers, having been to "Pastor Joe's" orphanage before. Each brings his/her own area of expertise, which will be used to improve the lot of the orphanage and local townspeople- electricity enhanced, vehicles upgraded, health improved...and spirits lifted.

Once I get past my last regular shift in the emergency room this weekend, I will gather up the last of needed supplies, make a Wally World run, reorganize my survival pack, and load-to-go. After that it will be some much-needed quality time with my family before the Haiti gang rendezvous at first light Monday for the bus ride to the airport.

My intention over the next 10 days or so is to "blog on the fly," uploading journal entries and pictures as we travel. Pastor Joe has graciously agreed to let me use his laptop once we arrive, so I am hoping to post updates nightly, or as interesting occurrances present themselves. Of course, if I happen to be deeply involved in a soccer match or Creole sing-a-long with the children one evening, please bear with me....

Haiti Medical Mission 2012 Off and Running

Hello friends,

I am happy to announce that I will be going back to the orphanage over the winter. This time I will be accompanied by two very capable and energized colleagues whom I work with in the emergency department. Jill is a long time nurse who has done medical missionary work in Mexico, and Dawn, a medical tech who has volunteered in Africa in the past, shall join me as we venture into inland Haiti to see my children and their "father," Pastor Geordany. Needless to say, all involved are excited and enthusiastic.

Much prep work needs to be done. I have purchased the airline tickets, but now need to register with the State Department, gather the essentials, inventory the supplies, order the medications, coordinate the activities of the clinic, and of course, do a bit of fundraising. Fortunately I still have some funds intentionally held back after last year's cancellation, and plan on financing some of the operation myself.

If you can see it in your heart to make a donation, you can send it directly to me, or otherwise make it thru Paypal by clicking the icon in the right upper corner of my blog. I am not big on fundraising but I know it's a labor of love.

God Bless,

Eric

Epilogue

Dear friends,

I wanted this blog entry to serve as a kind of closure to the Haiti trip- for now. I have wired the majority of the donated funds to Pastor G, and reprint his latest correspondance:

Doctor Eric,
 
Thank you very much for money, we got it yesterday afternoon.
I am going to buy everything for our orphans children this morning.
May God bless your family and the donators. Special thanks....
The orphans and Nerlande say thank you for your efforts to help us.
More details soon. You,re blessed.
 
Pastor Geordany

I did my best to take a decent shot of the wire transfer paperwork, but it came out poorly- I hope you'll accept on my word that your help reached a noble cause. The balance of the funds, less than 20% of the total, is being held for me by the hospital, earmarked for MY FUTURE TRIP, date TBA.

I will be rather dormant on the blog for a while but before you know it.....I'll be back to it, fighting the good fight for a small, remote orphanage in a blighted nation.

All my best & thank you,

Eric

Hopes Dashed by Baby Doc

It is with a heavy heart that I am forced to announce postponement of my medical mission to Haiti.

Things were really looking on the up-and-up with the streets of Port-au-Prince finally settling down after the first round of elections, the ebbing of the cholera outbreak, and the securing of our "safe" air transport in-country. As things were, there was always going to be risk...but hey, it was all about doing the greater good and acceptable levels of risk. However, with the unexpected arrival of long-deposed Haitian dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier, destablization potential is once again very high. Whether the Haitians feared his iron rule or revered him as a strong leader, matters can decompensate very fast in an already

With today's most recent news and the email from Pastor G, it's just not fair to keep the people worried about me. Haiti could go from calm to a cauldron of civil unrest in the blink of an eye. I could get trapped there- or worse. Volunteers, as the State Department memo I blogged about stated, are being robbed, kidnapped, and killed. And when it comes to recovery efforts, individual unaffiliated volunteers like myslef are last in the rescue pecking order.

As far as the money raised, I offer up options for my generous donators. Write or call me and I will be happy to return your donated funds. However, note the email from Pastor Geordany today:

Dr. Eric,

Sorry to say, our country is not safe enough for you to come.
It will be better to watch on God,s will. Let,s pray and wait.
Please, If God puts in your hands some money to help our children, send it to me as soon as you can before the next trouble in Haiti. Maybe the banks will be closed.
It,s better to send it via MoneyGram and send me exact code number.
More details soon. Try to do the best for us please. God bless.

Your sincere friend,
Pastor Geordany

If you could see in your heart to allow me to transfer the remaining funds to the orphanage for food, supply and gas purchses, we would all be grateful. You just have to let me know. I promise to take a picture of the wire transfer receipts and post it, in the spirit of full disclosure.

I will write more when I know more about future travel plans to Haiti.

Your Friend,

Eric

Good News, and Gathering Strength....

It certainly has been a roller-coaster ride these last two weeks.

As some may know, and many may not, the Haiti election process has been a fiasco, at best. Allegations of fraud with first round voting have been endemic, and with that, civil unrest in the big cities has been rampant. Between the State Department's memo regarding restricted travel to Haiti, the suspension of commercial air traffic into PAP, and my difficulties in obtaining a bush pilot to fly me inland, my travel plans were very tenuous, at best. Even 24 hours ago I was discussing with my family and colleagues the very real possibility that I might have to suspend my mission altogether.

Call it fortune, divine intervention, or fate, but matters for me have turned around significantly. After hearing real warnings from the Pastor over the last few weeks, he now tells me that things are settling down, the streets are calm, and it is much safer to travel in-country. I have secured for us a pilot who can fly us in and out of PAP airport (no overland travel thru the city), and other security arrangements have been procured.

It is as if an huge obstacle has been removed from my path to the orphanage. While only two days ago I was wondering how I was going to tell my donators the trip was cancelled and how to return funds, now I can proceed with medical supply purchases. My thoughts shift from airlines and emails to ciprofloxacin and fluconazole. I have a master list of medications which I took with me last year, and am ready to place my order for them with our hospital pharmacy, plus a few new ones. Good stuff- Greer's Goo, ibuprofen, urine dipsticks, hydrochlorothiazide; lidocaine with epinephrine, otoscope speculae, gauze wraps, and ceftriaxone. And chloroquine, of course.

Things are a go. T-minus twelve days and counting....

The Latest From Haiti

Dear reader,

Here is my latest letter from Pastor Geordany; while the situation does not look promising, I don't see how postponing my trip would make much of a difference. I have purchased a rider to my life insurance policy in the event that I am kidnapped or killed (half-joke)....

Dear dr. Eric and Wife,
 
How are you and children doing? We pray God to keep your family safe, healthty and blessed through this new year 2011.
 
Here, things are the same, we don,t have Political stability, we always living in trouble. We cannot wait for your coming but my responsibility is to keep you safe in our area. The Haitian people waiting for a good elections results to know if a new President will take place on February 7th, 2011.
Surely this weekend the results will be there. Please, be patience for awhile and I will let you know what to do.
 
An orphan boy is sick ( Pressoir ) laydown at Hospital. He has a worm inner, he has also typhoid fever and has only nine grams of blood.. Please, let us trust God to find enough money to the bills.
 
Dr. Eric, do you remember a boy of ten years old who has epilepsy every two months? He is my grandson; can you find special medicine for Him when you came in Haiti? I will be glad if you can do that for me, also I have hard pain in my leg, please, try to find some medicine for me . Thanks.
 
My wife, the orphans and all the people say; cannot wait to see you.
We love you Dr. Eric. Hello to your friend ( nurse ).
Please let us know how you are.
 
Your sincere friends, Pastor Geordany and Nerlande