Bottom Row: Don, Marjorie, Lacie, Nick Top Row: Amy, Louie, Darrel, Patty, Juanita, Debbie, Sue, Ryan
Saturday, 12 June 2010
The Team Departs
Everyone met at the hospital first thing this morning and we began our trip. The check in at PDX was very quick and smooth. The flight to Ft. Worth was bumpy and we had a short layover with just enough time to grab some dinner. We are now boarded and ready for takeoff for Miami. Time to turn off the phone. More later.
Made it to Miami.
We now have a 6 hr layover. All the shops are closed. No free Internet. Part of the group has gone outside of the terminal to find refreshments. Unfortunately they can not come back in till after 5am.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Day One
Arrived in Haiti. Just went through customs and am now trying to get our bags. Temp feels over 100 and we are in a metal shed. Mission people are here to help us out. Should be on the road within the hour…. More Later
Don Turrell
We have made it to the mission. Temperature is not to bad but the humidity is through the roof. We are all soaked in sweat. There is a nice breeze on the veranda. Everyone has jumped in and the team is working well. I don't have cell service so will have to rely on the Internet.
Don Turrell
We have arrived in Fond-Parisien, Haiti. So far fifteen of our team members are here. Five more are being picked up at the airport right now and two more come in tomorrow. All of our flights went just fine. We spent seven hours in the Miami airport overnight and I think most of us got at least a little sleep.
The Port-au-Prince airport was damaged in the earthquake so things are different than they used to be. I was impressed at first to be walking through a tunnel into the airport rather than going down stairs onto the runway. That was an improvement. That's where the improvements seem to have ended though. To say the luggage claim area was crowded and chaotic would be a major understatement. In my many trips to Haiti it has never taken even half that long to find bags. We did find them all eventually though and someone from the Haitian Christian Mission staff was able to be inside the airport to meet us.
Outside we were overwhelmed by men wanting to help us with our luggage carts and then to be paid. That is typical but still can be a bit stressful. We and all our bags fit into the bus that came to pick us up and we had an uneventful drive out to the mission compound in Fond-Parisien.
Since then the team has been working on unpacking, sorting things in the pharmacy and lab, getting to know some of the other teams here at the compound, interacting with the neighborhood kids, and trying to stay cool (impossible). Tonight when the rest of our team arrives we will have an orientation meeting. Tomorrow we will hold our first clinic. Then the plan is to hold mobile clinics out in villages the rest of the week.
There are two other groups here with us. One arrived two weeks ago and leaves Tuesday. The other arrived yesterday and leaves next weekend. Another group is coming in tomorrow maybe... Fortunately lots of construction has taken place and we are getting to stay in three new bedrooms. None of these other groups are medical.
Feel free to forward this message as you wish. Also, if you use Facebook, you can check our updates at Help Haiti-Santiam Mission Team 2010.
Sara Dessieux
Team leader
Monday, 14 June 2010
AM
First baby born with our group. Patty delivered this beautiful baby first thing today. Lots of patients arrived first thing this morning. Clinc is in full swing.
Evening
Dr. McGreevy and Patrick arrived this evening. We jumped in and did 2 surgeries. Things are going well and everyone are in good spirits. It's 5am right now and I am looking at @ 100 people waiting to be seen. Our photographer Eric is having a great time and getting some great pictures.
We're sweaty. We're exhausted. We're having to deal with so many things, namely people in all kinds of need. But we're glad we're here. I think we all are anyway. :) Our surgery team did seven surgeries today and is working so hard. Tomorrow we're sending out our first mobile clinic to go up the mountain.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
For Crystal, Ryan is doing great an is going on the trip today. Everyone is doing great being pushed to exhaustion. Days start earlier and run longer. Missed every meal yesterday. Didn't really feel like eating anyway. The hospital is filled with surgery pts. 7 yesterday and 6 today.
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Last surgery was a thyroid mass. 6 1/2 hours. Temp through the roof. Delivered a 1-2 pound mass. Pt doing well. Staff a few pounds lighter from water loss.