Michele's Trip to Haiti

Clinic Day

2012-11-14T04:31:00.001-08:00

Yesterday and today I am working at The Friends of the Children of Haiti assisting them triaging their massive medical clinic. Everyone was so wonderful yesterday and made me feel very welcomed and supported. The grounds are beautifully located right on the ocean and the guesthouse is beautiful. The clinic is well established and run very efficiently. I was very happy to spend the day there yesterday and happy to return today. I think we saw about 200 people yesterday so I expect the same today. We were able to do a bit of shopping yesterday and today is a beach day after work.

The team has felt more tired than in the past but we have only had one day off work which was spent travelling so we are all looking forward to the end of work on Friday so we can enjoy the weekend, some dancing and a few Rhum Sours.

Missing everyone at home.

Arrived in Jacmel

2012-11-12T15:59:00.001-08:00

The past few days have been emotional. We were able to get in three days at Soeur Flora's orphanage but the winds from the North made getting to work challenging. We had to take a small boat to cross the sea each day with a tarp fully covering the boat in order to not get drenched. The last day, I was holding down the tarp with all my might and leaning into the tarp and the wind and force from the 4 foot waves were pushing me forward with such force that my neck stilll hurts 2 days later. We all had a good laugh about it and I think got a few photos for the photo album. We went up to the Citadel with the kids at the end of our stay and it was so much fun to see them sliding down this massive hill on palm tree leaves. We couldn't figure out why they were all fighting to get leaves before reaching the top and we all giggled when we saw them hop on and slide down. I promise to post amazing photos that the kids took on Facebook when I get home. It was a perfect ending to our time with the kids, to see them all laughing like kids and just having fun amongst a breathtaking background............ truely a moment in my life I will never forget. As always, I have a hard time saying goodbye and the tears come easily when the kids start to cry and know we are leaving. Somehow they always seem to know the day we leave even though we don't announce it. Many of the children were acting out and punching each other to get attention from the blancs, and we all knew that they knew it would be our last day together for another year.

After a very long day driving on Sunday through the mountains, we arrived in Jacmel. Jacmel is a beautiful part of Haiti but where I get mosquito bites the size of welts. We spent today at Pazapa, and I assisted an American Orthopedic Surgeon from Virginia to triage 39 patients that might be considered for surgery when he returns in Feb. We worked out a system that worked and managed to see everyone and set up rehab consults before 1pm. After that, we did 2 home visits which was great becuase it was one child that we had seen last year. Unfortunately, the family was not interested in ways to support her needs. The other family however, cared so well for their severely disabled 21 year old daughter. She was newly bathed and dressed in a beautiful sundress anticipating our arrival and we were able to praise the family for their hard work and set up a plan to arrange for her to receive an appropriate wheelchair in the coming months from a returning team.

We ended today swimming in the ocean and watching the sun set with a cold Prestige. Life is good in Haiti. This trip has taken a bit of a toll on me. I have found that I'm far more tired but loving being back. Despite the fatigue and minor stomach ailments, Haiti has once again got a hold of my heart.

Arrived Safe and Sound

2012-11-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

I have a bit of catch up to get everyone up to speed. The 1st part of my travels from Vancouver to Montreal overall went smoothly. It was so great to meet up with the rest of the team in Montreal and finally meet everyone that we have been teleconferencing with. The flight was packed to Haiti as it normally is and the overhead bins filled up quickly. I learned from last year if you pass a bin and it has a space for your carry on, take it, even if it is nowhere close to your seat becuase you might not find another one later.

Arrivals at Haiti was generally uneventful, no chaos, quite orderly for Haitian standards and even at the baggage claim area, things went quite smoothly. We had a few minor challenges obtaining and counting all the bags and some were inspected by security but overall, no major issues. Hero, our driver who we have come to know well over the years, was there to greet us with his huge smile and giggled as he gave each of us a hug. We even heard him utter a few words in English which NEVER happens.

It took quite a long time to get to our hotel after leaving the airport as it was rush hour traffic, but once we arrived and got all the bags off the van and sorted we got our rooms. Karen and I are roomies, and our relationship on this trip has gone to a whole new level! Our bathroom was in the corner of the room with a semi half wall so you basically were using the toilet in front of each other. We giggled and had quite a laugh about it. We had a fantastic dinner at Montana and saw Gail, Andy and Damian again! So wonderful to see the faces of friends each time we return. The night ended around 10pm and my head was sleepy from a few Rhum Sours.

The next morning we were up bright and early and watched Hero pack all of our bags on top of the van only to find out that the security gate at the hotel was much shorter than the stack of bags on top of the van, so we could not fit through. He had to take them all down and repack the van in the street which took an extra 2 hours. We made it to the coast without running into the expected manifestations we were told might occur during our 4 hour drive. There has been many killings in the streets of police officers and manifestations over the cost of food so we were lucky that we didn't have any issue. Crossed the sea in record time and watched the men at Port Morgan carry our bags up the big hill. We were so greatful that they were here as it would have been a big job.

Yesterday was day 1 at the orphange and it was fantastic to see the kids. Some have grown so much since last year and there are a few new faces and a few faces that aren't there anymore. A new addition arrived not long ago, Nelson an infant who's mother died during childbirth. He was a twin and his brother didn't survive as he died shortly after birth from breathing difficulties. He was a sweetheart, and needs some work done on his lungs to clear them, so he's going to be a priortity for me. We spent the better part of the afternoon playing with the kids after school got out. Overall, it wasn't a super productive day for me, but helped me see which children need assessments tomorrow. I was able to diagnose a rash on a few of the kids that was confirmed to be Herpes, so our team is making efforts to be cognizant of good hand hygiene as much as possible so we come home healthy. Tomrrow, Rosy and \I are going to sit with the ladies that wash the kids clothes to see if we can establish some infection control practices.

We were all exhausted yesterday. After a swim in the ocean, a beer and dinner we were all ready for bed by 8pm. I have had a difficult time on this trip aclimating and yesterday I fought through a migrane all day. I think it was a combination of fatigue, dehydration and lack of caffiene. Today is the first day I feel myself and am ready to work. Hopefully, the sea will calm and we will be able to take the boat to the orphanage. It rained very hard last night after an excruciatingly hot day. The sun is trying to come out now but I am enjoying sitting with the breeze and not sweating.

I've feel very emotional on this trip. Things are continuing to get cleaned up, the streets are being well maintained and builing is starting again all over the city. I don't know why I feel this way, except to say that its hard to describe the absolute poverty Haitians live in each day and perhaps becuase I have friends here it makes it feel more like home.

I will keep in touch as much as I can, the internet has been unreliable the past few days. I won't be able to post pictures for a while as it takes far too long to load them, but I can't wait to share them all with you when I get home. Off I go to start writing reports on the kiddos I saw yesterday. The sky is blue, birds are chirping, roosters are letting us know they are nearby and the faint sound of Kompa music is playing nearby. Life is good.

Three More Sleeps

2012-11-02T21:36:00.001-07:00

Hello blog, I've missed you. Quite a long time has passed since I spent a considerable amount of time here and I look forward to providing daily updates while I'm in Haiti.

Only 3 more sleeps!! I'm getting excited and this year a bit anxious as the recent hurricane has again left Haiti with floods, increased risk of Cholera and 52 deaths. Last year, we witnessed considerable improvement in the roads being cleared of rubble and many less people living in tent cities.

I'm looking forward to seeing the kiddos at the orphanages and when we do outreach days but right now my mind is on preparing to get there. This week has been an act of balancing work and trip preparations. I was able to store all my Haiti gear in a large room at work that has been wonderful. I was able to pack in a well lit room that is indoors (I usually pack on the patio in my backyard). I can also store all my donations here until next year. My company was generous and agreed to allow me to take reusable cloth diapers that are no longer used company-wide. I was able to fit about 6 dozen of them in my bags and I am hopeful that this will improve the comfort of many of the children who are incontinent and are currently using a t-shirt wrapped around their torso as a diaper.

I managed to pack 2 weeks of clothes into a carry on bag. For those who know me well, they know that this is a big deal!! I could easily pack this much when I spend the weekend at my boyfriend's house for the weekend. I'm quite proud of myself, I only had to re-pack twice!!

Once again, the vast generosity of amazing people in my life have assisted me in raising more than required for this trip and got me close to my goal of raising enough for next year's trip as well.

I'll be leaving on Monday Nov 5th and arriving in Haiti Nov 6th. This trip will be very different as there are 11 team members and only 3 of us have been to Haiti before. I am looking forward to seeing this beautiful country through new people's eyes. I'll keep in touch!!

Michele's Fundraising for Haiti 2012

2012-10-09T17:53:00.001-07:00

Michele's Fundraising for Haiti 2012

I have included a link that will bring you directly to a Giving Page that I have created on Canada Helps.org. This new process will not only make it easier for people to donate online and be issued a tax receipt immediately, but it also allows me to see exactly who has donated and offers a more streamlined donation process.

2012 Trip Planning Has Begun

2012-08-31T19:38:00.001-07:00

I remember this time 3 years ago when I was planning to visit Haiti for the first time. I had already completed all of my fundraising and had far exceeded my goal amount. This year, I feel so far behind. I have started a Facebook page named Silent Auction for Haiti and I hope that it will generate some dollars that will contribute to the $2,500.00 that I am required to raise for my two weeks in Haiti.

Hurricane Issac tore through Jacmel and Port-au-Prince last weekend, and despite all the clean up efforts, many continue to live in tent cities. There are reports of mudslides and flooding, and I hope that Mother Nature shines some sunshine and better weather with the hurricane season quickly approaching. Cholera will once again be a huge threat due to the lack of clean drinking and cooking water.

I will be posting every week until November 5th when I depart. I am part of a large team this year. Last year, there were 5 of us, and this year we have 11 people, many who will be visiting Haiti for the first time. I look forward to seeing everything for the 1st time again through their eyes and be supportive during the more challenging days when the sheer magnitude of poverty becomes overwhelming.

Going to try to learn more Creole this year, so I better go find my English/Creole dictionary.

Chat soon.

Last Full Day in Haiti

2011-11-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

So, last night got a bit crazy as it seems to do when the Rhum Sours get flowing. A member of our team (who will remain unmentioned) was unable to join us this morning to go to the iron market to start our shopping day. Hopefully, we'll be able to come back for them in a few hours. The iron market was quite the experience. Because if traffic, it took us over an hour to get there! Once there, we found rows and rows of vendors who make the most intricate metal sculptures and wall hangings. I picked up a few pieces and already looking forward to getting home to get them hung up. While travelling there, we saw the best thing. Each year, we see how many people we can see on a moto. More points are given if there are animals as well. Today, I saw a man on a moto carrying a moto!! This is huge points and it was determined that this one is unbeatable!!

Today I felt much cooler, I don't know if the temperature is dropping or if I'm just finally acclimated (which always happens just before I go home). The days are defintely going to start getting cooler and we have all heard that it is snowing back home and Christmas is into full swing. It's always a strange thing when you go home to snow and Christmas when only a two weeks earlier, it was warmer and Christmas was a faint thought.

After leaving the market, we went back to the guesthouse to pick up our teammate, and then headed to the co-op otherwise known as the Haitian Walmart, then to Kay Artisan and Minou. I was able to pick up some beautiful soapstone pieces which I am hoping to get home in one pice this year.

We went out for dinner to Montana tonight, and it is so beautiful. They have done an exceptional job restoring it post-quake and you would never know you were in Haiti when there. Dinner was great, and then we did a bit of Kompa dancing afterword at a nightclub nearby. Many of my teammates stayed up almost all night, but I decided to turn in early as I know tomorrow will be a busy morning of packing up our bags. I was hoping to fit everything in one hockey bag, but it's not going to happen so I'll be lugging two bags back with me.

Bittersweet, is how I'm feeling. I am ready to get into a comfortable bed and have a long hot shower and stop being eaten alive by mosquitos but also sad to go back to the everyday grind. A year feels like a lifetime away right now but I knwo it will go quickly and we'll all be back doing this again.

I think Gail stated once that when you come to Haiti for the first time, it either makes you not want to return or gets under your skin and your hooked. I'd say that I'm hooked. I got to see many different parts of hte country on this trip and even different parts of Jacmel and Port-au-Prince which showed me that there is still a ton of work to do but that so much rebuilding has occurred and that Haitians are trying to make Haiti a beautiful and safe place to live where tourists are welcomed. I am looking forward to the plane ride home. Our usual picture exchange will lokely occur which takes up most of the flight, and when I get home I am going to make a book of last year and this year's trip. I figured out the name: "Hope". I hope for so much for Haiti and it's people. Until next year, stay safe, remain beautiful and keep Kompa dancing.

Travel Day to Port-au-Prince

2011-11-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

We had an amazing night last evening. Members of the French embassy are staying at the Cyvadier hotel and we were able to participate in an amazing dance show. The dance troupe from Haiti is looking for a sponsorship so they put on an amzaing dance show. I videotaped most of it and Eric got some amazing photos so I'm hoping to share them with you soon. A great way to end our last night, and again another wonderful suprise Haiti gave us!! Mama Lang made sure that everyone had a good evening. We had to say goodbye to the wonderful staff that made our stay here so memorable. Franz, was so great that by the end of the week, he knew all of our room numbers when we ordered food or drinks. Since Cholera, most Haitians "punch it out" instead of handshaking now. You make a fist and touch fists but today was a day for hugs and big thank you's.

We made it back to Port-au-Prince through the mountain pass in good time. My stomach was off today and I spent the first leg of the trip trying not to vomit while we travelled down the windy road. Things improved for me by the time we reached the guesthouse which I was grateful for. I have had a cough for the past week which I am now convinced is due to the air pollution.

We are going to stay at the guesthouse tonight and go our for dinner and dancing tomorrow, our last night. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by and how much I'm going to miss my teammates.

Day 2 In the Mountains

2011-11-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

We travelled to another small town in the mountains today. Much better roads and a shorter distance to ride in the back of the pickup. This community seemed much more poor than Belleview and we gave out a fair number of shoes for the kids and kits for new moms with items we had brought. I had nothing to do today so I fit children with shoes and tried to stay out of the way. The highlight of the day was when a young boy with a right-sided hand palsy arrived at the clinic with his brother with a pair of hiking boots on and no socks. We were able to get him a new pair of socks and because there were no shoes left in his size, I took the runners off my feet and was more than thrilled to see his face light up when he put on a new pair of white sneakers. A sad moment also occurred, when a young boy asked Melissa if anyone would ever love him the way he is. It was a moment that you choke back the tears when a young child is aware that his physicial disability will determine how others will view him. Most of the kids arrived in their Sunday best and as it was a long weekend, we arrived to hear the town singing in the church for a few hours. It was quite amazing to hear!!

Saturday was shopping day in Jacmel, we walked the streets as Solage kept a close watch and followed us with the van. He is such a wonderful man and I always feel so safe when he is our driver. We wanted to go to the iron market again this year, but in the past week, there have been an increased number of crimes against blancs (whites) in Jacmel, so Solage refused to take us. After shopping, we went to Kabik beach. It is the most amazing place and we were able to body surf as the waves were breaking. During lunch on the beach which consisted of an entire grilled lobster with beer, a troubador band serenaded us. There is always a surprise around every corner in Haiti, and some of them are wonderful! Today was a great day to round up a busy and productive first week. Our first real day off. Tomorrow is another travel day back to Port-au-Prince, so an early morning start so that we can make it back into the city before the traffic gets bad. As usual, we have heard each other say a few funny things that you would only hear in Haiti like: "Was that two pigs in a wheelbarrow" and "Hey, I just saw four adults on a moto".

This is about the time when my love affair with Haiti starts to settle in and makes me want to slow down time because I know our time is almost gone for another year.

Outreach Clinic At Belleview

2011-11-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

We were up very early this morning and arrived at Pazapa to pick up Fred the orthopedic surgeon from the US and our guide/interpretor shortly after 8am. We had about an hour drive up the mountain and had to cross a river (yup, you read that right) water a few feet deep to get to Belleview. Once we arrived, there ware about 20 parents and children waiting for us. Some who had been there early in the morning to ensure their children would be seen. Karen and Michaella (the first trained speech assistant in Haiti by TCHH) saw over 18 children. I helped with some role-playing with Karen and acted a a distraction while children waited. Bubbles are the universal toy that always brings a smile to a chld's face. I didn't have a lot to do today medically, but Eric spent a lot of time taking photos which he has agreed to share with all of us and I can't wait to share with my friends and family!

Everyone had an exceptional day and left Belleview feeling that good work had been done. We noticed there was a large number of children with Autism in this community. One mother, brought two sons with Autism! I was a bit surprised to see so many kids on the spectrum in one town.

When we got back to the hotel, there were a few of the kids that sell items on the beach practicing aerial tricks,so we got some great photos and took some video of them performing which when we showed it to them, they laughed and wanted to watch it a few times.

Lobster for dinner again tonight............. I really should stop bragging so much!!

Mid-Week Post

2011-11-21T14:10:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last three days at the clinic. The first day, I helped to triage about 70-80 people. Team Canada hired an interpretor for me which was very helpuful. The interpretor, Okswald, also does interpretation for the Canadian Miliatary and is hoping to become a police officer in Port-au-Prince. It is a very dangerous job and not one that he or his family wants him to have, but he feels that it is the best way for him to earn a decent living. He has been trying to visit Canada for some time but has not been able to earn enough money to save so that he can purchase a plane ticket.

I didn't get up from the chair at the reception area of the clinic all day, to eat, or drink my water and I have developed a cough which I think is an allergic reaction to all of the dust and pollution in the air. I am very glad I had the foresight to bring cough drops with me as they have been very helpful in stopping a tickle in the back of my throat.

The second day at the clinic was very different. I spent some time with Michelle, who dispenses the medication. They cut up small squares of paper, dispense the number of pills the doctor instructs and then seal it with masking tape and write how many pills to take and the number of times in a day. These expereinces always help to remind me of the contract of our healthcare systems, resources and options from Canada to Haiti. It also helps to keep me focused on "Basics is Best". Everyone at the clinic has been very friendly and acoommodating. I do feel that I need to learn how to speak Creole. I feel embarrassed this trip that I am unable to speak the language at the same level as my teammates and other blancs I hear in Jacmel. I feel that it is also an issue of respect for me to at a minimum make an effort to speak the native language. This will be my goal for next year, to be able to converse at a basic level in Creole. At the end of the day, we were provided a tour of the lower level which will be a fully functional OT/PT clinic with surgical rooms for orthopedic surgeries. Karen and Melissa played a big part in getting this clinic developed, so it was a proud moment for both of them to see it come to life!!

The last day at the clinic was the same as the first. One of the doctors, had asked me to work with him directly today, but Jacquline, the nurse was busy with patients and needed help so I stayed with her again and triaged people. We saw about 50 people today, but it was a shorter work day for us so had I stayed longer, I imagine we would have seen close to the same number of people as the first day.

I'm tired today and looking forward to an evening of rest with my teammates before we head into a town in the mountains called Belleview tomorrow for an outreach clinic. We will have a photographer, Eric, who is doing a documentary and taking photos of what HHHI and Team Canada Healing Hands roles are in Haiti with regards to rehab services and education. It will be great to have him join us for the next few days.

Off to put on my swimsuit and grab a Prestige. I might do some shopping on the beach tonight. The vendors are out selling their goods, and they always have beautiful items to sell. We've done a bit of shopping at the end of each workday, but we are saving Saturday, our first real day off as our shopping day.

I'm headed for warm salt water, cold beer, acra, the best french fries and piklez!!

Bon Bagay!

First Day In Jacmel

2011-11-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

We all were feeling a bit under the weather this morning after a night of too many rum sours. Morning came way too soon and the idea of having to pack up all our hockey bags and personal stuff seemed a bit overwhelming for all of us. Karen and I took turns giggling at each other but once we ate breakfast, most of us felt better. Caryn, wasn't so lucky. The boat ride back to Les Cayes left her throwing up off the back of the boat and after taking a Gravol, she slept most of the 4 hour drive to Jacmel. The drive went well. Driving through the mountains is dangerous and always a bit nerve-wrecking but our drivers are wonderful and always work hard to keep us safe.

It was great to get back to Jacmel and stay at the Cyvadier, a beautiful hotel just outside the main city of Jacmel. Christophe, the ower, always makes a great effort to ensure we are comfortable when staying with him. The food is exceptional, and I was excited to have the lobster again after waiting for it for a whole year!! Lobster and Pristige beer go together very well! We haven't had a day off yet between work days and travel days, so next weekend will be welcomed with a few days at the end of our trip to do some shopping and relaxation. We barely sat down to order dinner when Adrian let me know that a young man and his girlfriend had been in a moto accident and were hurt badly, so we all went off to see what we could do. His leg/ankle looked broken but he refused to accept that or to allow me to splint it and I bandaged a fairly large wound along his shin of his right leg. His girlfriend had a large superficial cut up the back of her leg and serious "roadrash" to her bum. I didn't think that I'd be providing first aid to other guests of the hotel, but if you can help than that's what we do. In a short period of time, Karen was also able to arrange for the two of them to be seen for an orthopedic consult by the doctor (Fred) who has been at Pazapa all week determining which children he will provide surgery to when he returns early in 2012. He has been coming to Haiti for over 20 years. I was very impressed with our team tonight, and it made me realize again how awesome my teammates are!!

For the next three days, I will be working on my own at a walk-in clinic run by CCH (Coalition for the Children of Haiti) which I am looking forward to. So, until tomorrow, I am going to enjoy my cold Pristige while I listen to the waves of the ocean crash against the rocks while watching the sunset with my teammates. Once again, I feel grateful to be working with such a great team and to be in a place that has a way of making you want to stay.

Getting Caught Up

2011-11-21T13:36:00.000-08:00

n and I have both got bit like crazy by the mosquitos. We haven’t been able to figure out what’s worse, the mosquito or microscopic ant bites. I currently look like I have chicken pox, but hopefully they will stop itching soon. We all said good bye to Wadson, Damian and Daniel (Damian’s bodyguard) after breakfast. It’s always sad to say good bye to great people. In Haiti, you bond with people quickly and develop fast friends so it’s always bittersweet when the time comes to go in separate directions.

The children at Sister Flora’s orphanage are wonderful. In such a short time, I am learning the children’s personalities. There is Beatrice, who always is where the action is at or creating a rouse, Ibald and John who can’t stop beating each other up. We have all had to put each of them in time out for hitting, slapping, spitting. Pretty common stuff between two boys who are 3-4 yrs old, some things don't change in Haiti. I met Mathiew, who's mom died in the Cholera centre and his dad left him at the orphanage because he didn't want him. I will include a picture of him in his daily outfit of a white shirt and diaper. He like many of the children, have stolen a piece of my heart and it makes my next visit a year from now seem like an eternity away.

Being on Ile le Vache is like being somewhere other than my previous experience of Haiti in Port-au-Prince. It is a carribbean paradise. I’m sitting at the hotel lobby watching hummingbirds, listening to the birds, looking at the amazing colours of blue and teal from the ocean and watching a tiny gecko run back and forth across the table while I blog. Good times and laughter with friends so far and seeing so much progress in the country is making me want to stay. This first week has flown by as usual. We are leaving for Jacmel tomorrow. So tonight, we will have some fun with rum sours and enjoy our last night on Ile a Veche and with Andy before he leaves us as well tomorrow to go back to Port-au-Prince.

Week 1 Is Almost Gone Already!

2011-11-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

So, I forgot to mention in my last few blogs that Michel Jean was on our flight from Montreal to Haiti with her daughter but I wasn't able to see her at the airport because it took me so long to get my baggage out of the overhead bin. As usual, upon landing in Haiti, every Haitian clapped and thanked Jesus for our safe arrival. It always makes me laugh at the way some things are done in the carribean. Another thing that makes me giggle, is the odd food combinations you get. For example, this morning we had eggs, with hot dog weiners and spaghetti. The team let off some steam last night and we all drank a bit too much, so needless to say none of us were moving too quickly this morning and reamining upright for more than 15 min at a time to pack was a challenge. While we giggled our way through our hangovers, we prepared to say good bye to the kids at Sr. Flora's orphanage and to Ile a Veche.

Sr. Flora came to this island - originally from Quebec- about 28 years ago. She has 22 special needs children and over 70 other children living with her. Some of the older kids go to school in Les Cayes, crossing the sea on Monday and return Friday, boarding during the week. Some of the others go to school on the Island. There are about 450 kids on the island that go to school on the island.

The children have been so wonderful and happy to greet us each day. Damian gave us a tour today and showed us the work that Soul of Haiti has been doing. They have a building which he hopes will be a 24-hour clinic within the next year and we got to see the Cholera centre just outside the gates of the orphanage. Had it not been for this clinic, hundreds on the island would have died. When Cholera hit the mainland, everyone on the island thought that Cholera would not reach them, but becuase so many travel between the mainland and the island, it took the lives of five of the beautiful children who lived with Sr. Flora. Damian also showed us the schools that have been built. One for Catholic and one for Protestant children. He showed us water stations where the locals are given discs and they put their disc into the pump and it will dispense water. As well, he was telling us that there are hopes to create solar handwashing stations. These stations would be powered by the sun and would be sensored so that when someone puts their hands under the water it would allow the person to wash their hands. It was very inspring to see what great work other organizations are doing.

Some of the childern were not happy that we were leaving. Enrico, unfortunately, gave Karen huge crocodile tears and then proceeded to stick out his bottom lip and turned his head away from her. After only my first visit, I can understand why it is so difficult for my teammates who have been here before to leave.

The ride to Les Cayes, was great. Caryn, would not have the same story. She spent half the trip hanging off the back of the boat throwing up. Once we arrived back on the mainland, we loaded our awaiting van and headed to Jacmel, a 4 hour car ride away.

I will write more once arriving at Jacmel. The internet is better there and I will be able to blog more often. Until my next post, I am going to go and count the number of mosquito bites I have. At last count, I had over 35 on my right leg.

Next post to follow soon.

Day #4

2011-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Things were amazing today. The boat was at the dock to pick us up at 9am as asked, not Haitian 9am which is more like noon. We arrived at the orphanage and got straight to work. I did complete assessments on about 12 kids today and then had fun with bubbles. Amazing photos have been taken on this trip, the children are so special and just make me want to take them all home with me. Damian gave us a tour of what Soul of Haiti has been doing on the island. We were able to see a clinic that he is working on staffing 24/7 with doctors and nurses and I saw a Cholera camp which I will post photos of later. We also saw the amazing Catholic and Protestant schools that have been built for approximately 600 children to attend school. Very humbling and brought my first lump to the back of my throat when I saw the amazing progress that has been made and the plans for the creation of a wonderful community. Went shopping at the market yesterday so it was odd to see it empty today. We were all very tired, hot and smeelly today so we swam in the ocean and then the pool at the hotel after work. Having a wonderful dinner tonight and then heading to a voodoo ceremony at 9pm. I'm a bit concerned about the 20 min walk in the dark to the location..... no more broken bones needed. Many pictures to come but I should just let you all know that I have once again found myself content, calm and feeling like I have more purpose and inspiration than I have in a long time. I have met a few new friends, Damian and Andy (an architect building the HHH rehab clinic on the guesthouse grounds). Looking forward to what the next week will bring.

Bon Bagay!

Day #3

2011-11-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

Went to the orphanage today after a challenge of getting the boat ti pick us up. Once getting to the orphanage we, worked hard and met Damian and his group of Irish workers building schools and farms throughout Haiti. The team we met (Soul of Haiti) is working with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood to build a school. They are here in Haiti and have been offering free concerts to the group every night. Nice to see that the celebrity support for Haiti is still present. Rumors are that Sean Penn and Angelina Jolie will be in this week but nothing confirmed. Saw a few children today. The funniest part of the day was that we were looking for a place in the shade to eat our lunch, and found ourselves sitting on Cholera stretchers eating lunch. Another day ended swimming in the ocean with a cold Prestige, and amazing dinner and card games over rum sours. We got to do the most amazing thing today. There is a small sandbar literally in the middle of the ocean with water about two feet deep that surrounds it, and we got to go swimming there. It is so weird to look around and realize that you are in the middle of the ocean and walking in shallow water. My teammates had a great time picking starfish out of the water and we all swam while watching the sun set. Already looking forward to tomorrow. Life is good!!

Day #2

2011-11-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

Woke up early this morning after a horrible first night sleep at the guesthouse. Dogs up barking all night long and a gunshot at sunrise got me up for the day. We were off by 9am to head for Ile le Veche and made really good time through the mountains. A 4 hour ride was great, and Wadson, Karen, Adrian and I had great conversation which made the time go faster. I won't be able to post any photos for a few days as the internet access is so horrible here on the island that only one person at a time can be online. The island is beautiful and if I showed everyone pictures of the hotel, nobody would believe that I am in Haiti. Went to Sister Flora's orphanage and met some UN workers from Paraguay. The children at the orphange range in age a great deal and were so happy to see us. Wadson put on a kite show (he is on the Haiti Kite Team) and performed magic tricks so it was a fun time for all of us and a great way to end a first day of work. Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped at a mini island in the middle of the ocean. It is an oasis about 200ft in diameter and gets about 3 feet deep. You feel like you are walking on water in the middle of the ocean. We picked starfish and enjoyed the warm waters. Afterward, we went to a private beach, jumped into the water from the boat and went for a swim while watching the sun set. I'm so happy to be back and to experience a different Haiti. The streets in Port-au-Prince are so much cleaner than last year and overall, there is a lot of building and improvements that have occurred. It's been 30 degrees before the humidity and I have forgotten how hot it gets here! Oh how I have missed Haiti!!

Day #1

2011-11-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Great first day!! My travels began yesterday at 5pm leaving Vancouver to Montreal. It was wonderful that Air Canada could check my bags all the way to Haiti this year which made the layover in Montreal so much easier. Arrived in Montreal as planned, took the wrong shuttle to the hotel which meant a quick walk at 1:30 in the morning and then slept for about an hour and a half before my wake-up call came in. Arrived at the airport in plenty of time to have a hearty breakfast. I decided to save the Air Canada lounge passes Mark was so wonderful in giving me for my trip home. The rest of the team almost didn't make it on the flight as their connection from Ottawa was late. Everyone arrived, we left 30 min late and arrived in Port-au-Prince 1 hour later. Suprisingly, all went very smoothly at the airport. The normal chaos seemed much more controlled this time and we managed to get 10 bags and be out in 1.5 hours. As usual, the humidity hits you like a brick wall, and the 30 degree temperature didn't help. That said, the instant Haiti smell is reminding me of what I miss most and seeing so many familiar faces at the guesthouse is comforting. Got my bugnet set up, and then headed off to the grocery store. It is like shopping back home in Canada, there certainly isn't much you can't buy, which still seems odd to me. Stocked up on Haitian rum and opened a Pristige beer at the guesthouse. Dinner was noodles with fake meat, french fries, piklez, salad and another mystery meat which we all think was beef. We were supposed to go to the Montana for coctails tonight but we're all pretty tired, so once we repack bags in preparation for our 7am start time tomorrow, a few games of cards will be more the speed everyone is at tonight. No pictures to post today but will try throughout the week.

Bon Bagay!

A Year Has Passed

2011-11-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

So, it's the day before I head back to Haiti and I feel so much better about this trip. I am excited to see my teammates again and the excitement that Haiti seems to bring. I have been packed for 5 days and I can't believe how much I was able to fit into my carry-on bag compared to last year. I'm not sure what I did differently, but it seems that packing 100 lbs of gear and 2-weeks worth of clothes in a carry-on was easy this year.

We'll be traveling to Ile La Veche, a small Haitian island for one week and then back to Jacmel for our final week. I will be working with a partner organization and working in a outreach clinic for 3-4 days which I am looking forward to. I will blog as often as possible but I have been told that the WiFi is horrible so I may be unable to keep in touch for a few days.

I promise to do my best to avoid breaking anything on this trip and come home in one piece.

Haiti, I've missed you and can't wait to see you!

July 2011

2011-07-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd let you all know what's been going on since my last post several months ago. I am preparing for my next trip to Haiti in November and already have my hockey bags nearly full with small toys, bubbles, and sunglasses. I had a garage sale a few weekends ago and managed to raise $340 dollars which I will be putting towards my fund raising efforts.

I am still in physiotherapy once a week for both my ankle and my shoulder but slowly on the mend. The car is fixed, there ended up being over $8000.00 damage. Now I'll get to have fun with the provincial auto insurance to get a reasonable claim settled.

First night at home with my cast/ in a lot of pain!

The day after surgery and waiting to go home

Indent from the cast for 7 weeks!

First day with cast off. Grossest thing I've ever seen!

After the wonderful pedicure. Looks pretty good!

My pretty fibreglass cast for the next 7 weeks!

6 inch plate and 7 screws!

I am looking forward to getting back to Haiti and seeing my friends from last year's team. I'll fill you in on more soon. I plan on posting much more regularly. In the meantime, here are some pictures of my fracture. Kind of cool!

Chat soon!

News Article

2011-02-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hello again, I really do miss blogging on here each day so I thought I would write an update on where things are at.

I haven't heard anything from the Burnaby Hospital Foundation about whether they are going to run a story on the amazing care I received. I hope they do, it really is a feel-good story that I think sends a positive message that our sometimes flawed health care system still has amazing individuals working to make traumatic experiences positive. So, in the interim, Meredith and Paige, two amazing nurses at Burnaby Hospital, thank you for making my time in the hospital so much better. Dr. Tarazi, you are amazing and I have had no post-op complications to speak of. My current PT told me that you are a very good surgeon and that I was lucky to have you operate on my ankle.

I have started physio and Kristie has told me that a complete recovery is expected. She stated that I'm already a bit ahead of the game in terms of ROM and has provided me exercises to do at home. I'll see her twice a week because in her words: "I really want to work that foot". I was in a car accident two weeks ago. I was rear-ended at at least the marked speed limit by a young distracted driver. His car was a write-off, and mine has just over $8,000.00 damage to it. I subsequently hit a car and that driver hit the car in front of her. It could have been so much worse had I been driving a smaller vehicle so I have some lucky gods looking out for me again!! Aside from a left shoulder that is also now getting physio, I'm totally fine and was not seriously injured.

I will post the recent news article that was published. This article is a follow up to the 1st one that ran before I left to Haiti.

Peace Arch News - Healing Hands

I'll keep posting over the coming months so that there is not a huge break between this and my next trip which will occur in November.

Bon Bagay!

My Haiti Compilation

2011-02-04T13:59:00.001-08:00

The Cast Has Come Off........

2011-01-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

So, I wanted to give everyone a quick update. It's been 7 weeks since returning from Haiti and my ankle fracture has healed enough to have my cast removed yesterday, YEAH!!

I am literally learning to walk again. I started with my aircast and crutches (because I was too scared to actually put my foot down) to one crutch to a runner and a cane and now I can walk without any support by the end of the day. I have a visible limp, it reminds me of how I was getting around in Haiti but my pain is minimal.

Reflecting on the past 7 weeks, I feel very fortunate that the events that happened did so for a reason. While this expreience was far from fun, it taught me to be more patient, to have to learn to ask others for help more than I do and that it's okay to do that, and to just sit and be with myself at times.

Before heading off to Hawaii with my mom this morning, I wanted to thank everyone at Burnaby Hospital. The two nurses that stand out for me are Meredith and Paige. The OR nurses were fantastic and made me feel like I was in good hands! Dr. Tarazi is amazing! Not only did he leave me with a scar that after only 7 weeks is barely visible, was so kind, gentle and supportive and explained everything to me along the way. Edgardo in the cast clinic is the best tech I've ever met!! Not only is he very knowledgable, he went far beyond what he needed to when re-casting me 5 weeks ago to ensure I'd be comfortable and in alignment. He made me look forward to my cast clinic appointments!
Overall, this experience has been positive thanks to the great team at Burnaby Hospital! Thank you for helping me heal well enough that I am heading to Hawaii cast free!

Mom and I in Hawaii and I only have a walking cast!

A month later

2010-12-15T21:23:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a month since returning from Haiti. While I can't believe that an entire month has passed, it also seems like it's been an eternity. I went in two weeks ago to have my post-op plaster cast removed fully expecting to be placed in a walking cast and was shocked to find out that I had to put in another 4 weeks non-weight bearing. Needless to say, it was not a proud moment for me and I am now sporting a bubble gum pink fibreglass cast which is much more comfortable and less heavy. Mom arrived 3 days ago to help me out and already we were able to get out and get all of my Christmas shopping completed. It felt so good to get this accomplished and I am noticing that I am getting stronger and can go much further on my crutches.
Mom went into a few stores for me that had too many stairs, but I ventured into a few and even learned how to go up a curb with crutches which was a big deal for me. I called in advance, and found out that Walmart has complimentary wheelchairs and despite it not always being my preferred place to shop, I was appreciative of this service. It felt really good to be out and about for 3 hours and being able to navigate around on my own. A taste of freedom I haven't experienced in 3 weeks. That said, I also felt very guilty watching mom make 5 trips from the car into the house bringing in all of the gifts and groceries we purchased.
Daily activities are getting less exhausting and I can be on my crutches for a while now. I feel much more safe leaving the house with crutches. My foot doesn't like being down and regularly goes quite purple and swells badly before I can get it elevated enough to see my regular skin tone return. My shoulders still ache alot but I am starting to feel like if I can just make it through next week, I'll have turned a corner and the end will be in sight.
I'll keep in touch and let you know how the cast removal went on Jan 7/11. Mom and I leave for Hawaii the next day, so hopefully I will be feeling the sand between all 10 toes!!

Bon bagay!

Update

2010-11-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

So, I have a lot to report since my last blog entry.

I went to the hospital last Thursday morning and found out that I did in fact fracture my left fibula in two places (spiral fracture) just above my maleolus (ankle). It was a clean break and in line, but had shifted 2mm to the mid-line and the ER doctor referred me to the on-call orthopedic surgeon. This meant a 45 minute drive to Burnaby Hospital where Dr. Dunwoody who is amazing told me that he would recommend surgery due to the nature of the break and my age. I certainly wasn't expecting to hear that I needed surgery, so I left the hospital needing some time to process the information. I also felt that this was all quite dramatic considering I had been walking on a broken ankle for 9 days and it seemed to be improving. After consulting with a few friends in the medical profession, I decided on Friday morning to head back to the hospital and be added to the "add-on" list for surgical repair. Alethea and Robin drove me to the hospital on Friday evening and helped to get me settled in my room. I was admitted to the 4th floor Unit 4C where the nurses were fantastic. The hospital was as clean as I have seen and I was the youngest patient on the orthopedic unit by about 40 years.

Saturday morning arrived and Nelson, Alethea and the girls brought me Tim Hortons (the first since returning from Haiti) for breakfast and spent 2 hours with me which was wonderful. I was hoping that I would be called in for surgery later that day, but I was presented with a brown paper bag around 8pm that evening that contained a sandwich and applesauce......... obviously I wasn't going for surgery.

Sunday came and went, the same drill, maybe by lunch, then maybe by dinner and again, the same paper bag was offered. At this point, I had not eaten for more than 24 hours, I had an IV in my hand since Friday night and was feeling very weak, tired and lethargic. Nelson, Alethea and the girls came back to see me for a few hours but I know I wasn't very good company as I was feeling pretty sick and frustrated that I had spent more than 48 hours unable to go further than the end of the hallway while awaiting surgery.

Finally, on Monday morning, the nurse let me know that I was officially scheduled for surgery between 10 and 11am and sure enough, at 10:45am, I was wheeled down to OR. I was never so happy to be going for surgery. The anathesiologist commented that I looked nervous, and I quickly responded that the reason my pupils were so dilated, was because I was starving so he should hurry up and put me to sleep so we could get this over with. I woke up about 1.5 hours later in the recovery room to a wonderful nurse who gave me some fantastic medication for my post-op pain which was downright horrible.

I was returned to my room feeling like I couldn't keep my eyes open and fighting several waves of nausea but the best friends in the world, Nelson and Alethea again came to my rescue and brought me a "girl" happy meal for dinner. I fought through throwing it up in front of them a few times from the nausea but fell into a drug-induced coma shortly after they left. I received three more rounds of antibiotics through my IV before being discharged the following morning.

I am now at home using a walker to get around. I feel like one of the residents that resides in the facility that I work. It is very hard to use a walker and only weight-bear on one side. I find that I can only go short distances before fatiguing and needing to rest. This has been an eye-opener for me and makes me realize how quickly your independence can be taken away! I went back to work on Thursday and Friday this week and I'm feeling very frustrated and a bit depressed. I'm tired of not being able to to anything that I want. Not properly showering or washing my hair is just downright gross and outside of Haiti not socially appropriate. I want to nap all of the time and my house is slowly falling apart.

I have an appointment scheduled at the cast clinic this coming Friday (6 more sleeps) and I hope that if I am told I can't start walking on my left foot, that I can at least start wearing my aircast again and weight-bearing. I want nothing more than to get rid of this walker. My shoulders hurt and I've gotten into the habit of counting the number of steps it takes me to get to various locations around the house. Right now, I regret making the decision to have surgery, so I am living on the hope that I will be cast free in less than a week so I can at least start getting out of the house and doing the simple things we all take for granted. The irony, all I wanted to do is come home and be able to take hot showers, and since being home I've only been able to take one..... I feel like I'm back in Haiti again!!