We said goodbye to Frank, Kristen and Julie as they flew back to the US today. The rest of the group got up early to walk from Jacmel up into the mountains to Bisson Bleu. It is a large waterfall with 3 basins of deep blue water. It took about 2 hours to get up to the spot where you hike another 30 minutes to see this beautiful place. We stopped for some coconut and then finished the hike. After spending that time in the sun we were ready to jump in! The water was cool and we were thankful for the relief from the heat. Mike and Erin climbed the water fall and jumped. Most of us jumped from the large rock, only because in going to the next basin the choice was climb the rocks with a rope or jump to the deep pool of water. For me the jump seemed most energy conserving! We had carried up our lunch of some peanut butter on bread and fresh mangos. Lunch was welcome. We then started back for our hike back to Jacmel. The views were breathtaking. We passed many villages and stopped to talk to many Haitians along our journey. The most difficult part of the trip is crossing the river that runs into Jacmel. It sounds silly but with bare feet the rocks really hurt! On the way up when we came to crossing a pick up truck had been behind us with a ladder in the back said climb in the back. We did and got a ride across. At least in coming back we gave all the Haitians at the river who were washing their motos, bodies and clothes something to laugh about. They were cheering us on.
Tonight we are all very tired and content with our experience. The students are a little sunburned, I used plenty of sunscreen, been there done that. I am sure everyone will sleep very well.
We have learned so much about the culture and the views about health and well being during this experience. The students are a very talented, capable, passionate and compassionate individuals I am so impressed.
Grateful, Barb
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
A Little tour a Little Beach
Today was a very eventful day. We kicked it off by meeting a man with a wheel barrow full of sugar cane who used a machete to cut us each a piece. Then we started our trek to CCH, the new clinic in Jacmel. On our way Michael was offered to buy a real live eagle! Sadly he declined. CCH was amazing! Such a nice facility with air conditioned OR rooms, new equipment, and a huge rehab room. We were all very impressed.
For the second part of our tour, we walked to St. Michel, the hospital here in Jacmel. There are no words to describe how devastating the hospital conditions are. We toured the grounds and saw the ER, OR, maternity, pediatric and internal medicine buildings. It was so sad to see how the patients were living. It was interesting that the family took care of the patients and brought them food, not the nurses or hospital staff. It really made us all appreciate all we have in the US and be thankful for our quality healthcare and caregivers.
We continued our tour on a more relaxed note. We took a "tap tap" to the local family beach. A tap tap is like a taxi service here in Haiti which entails a pick-up truck with a roof on the back and benches to sit on. To get the driver to stop for you, you have to bang on the roof making a "tapping" noise. The beach was beautiful! We spent the afternoon in the sun drinking coconut milk out of a real coconut and searching for sand dollars and sea glass on the beach. It was very well-deserved after a busy couple of days at the clinic.
We are all having such an amazing time and miss everyone back home.
Love,
Kim, Amy, Erin, Stephanie, Dianna, and Micheal
For the second part of our tour, we walked to St. Michel, the hospital here in Jacmel. There are no words to describe how devastating the hospital conditions are. We toured the grounds and saw the ER, OR, maternity, pediatric and internal medicine buildings. It was so sad to see how the patients were living. It was interesting that the family took care of the patients and brought them food, not the nurses or hospital staff. It really made us all appreciate all we have in the US and be thankful for our quality healthcare and caregivers.
We continued our tour on a more relaxed note. We took a "tap tap" to the local family beach. A tap tap is like a taxi service here in Haiti which entails a pick-up truck with a roof on the back and benches to sit on. To get the driver to stop for you, you have to bang on the roof making a "tapping" noise. The beach was beautiful! We spent the afternoon in the sun drinking coconut milk out of a real coconut and searching for sand dollars and sea glass on the beach. It was very well-deserved after a busy couple of days at the clinic.
We are all having such an amazing time and miss everyone back home.
Love,
Kim, Amy, Erin, Stephanie, Dianna, and Micheal
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Yet Another Day in Clinic
Today we woke up to pouring rain and no running water. We went to clinic were the skies started to clear. It was a very busy day. We had 245 Haitians enroll in the study we were assisting with. That is a lot of data and a lot of blood sticks. We do not have any more supplies with us so done for now. We also had a personal screening of the documentary Haiti Redux. It included the story of the orphanage and the positive future they have with new building.
After dinner we all went downtown Jacmel and enjoyed some time together. The water is back on can not wait to take a shower! Oh the simple joys in life!
God Bless and Grateful, Barb
Cold showers never felt so good! After the rain storm last night everything has gotten real muggy and the showers are a great way to cool off before bed. We were all very happy to be able to sneak away from the hotel tonight and go get some "sodas" at an old hotel in downtown Jacmel. The hotel was a rustic building built in 1884 and we had a good time exploring it and the local artwork on the walls. Today was another long day in the mobile clinic but we were happy to help so many of the locals. Hard to treat people though who you know you cant follow up with and have no real diagnostic tests to confirm an illness. We did our best though and the people were very grateful to have us come to their town. At the end of the day at the clinic we got to play with the local children. They really loved taking pictures with us. Back at the hotel we watched a documentary about the redevelopment and new construction in Haiti. It was very interesting and included footage from the LTR orphange. Tomorrow we are going to tour the CCH clinic, a local hospital, and the nursing school in Jacmel. Should be an interesting day and we will update you all tomorrow night. Thanks for the continued thoughts and prayers. We are having a great time.
Mike, Kim, Dianna, Stephanie, Erin, and Amy
After dinner we all went downtown Jacmel and enjoyed some time together. The water is back on can not wait to take a shower! Oh the simple joys in life!
God Bless and Grateful, Barb
Cold showers never felt so good! After the rain storm last night everything has gotten real muggy and the showers are a great way to cool off before bed. We were all very happy to be able to sneak away from the hotel tonight and go get some "sodas" at an old hotel in downtown Jacmel. The hotel was a rustic building built in 1884 and we had a good time exploring it and the local artwork on the walls. Today was another long day in the mobile clinic but we were happy to help so many of the locals. Hard to treat people though who you know you cant follow up with and have no real diagnostic tests to confirm an illness. We did our best though and the people were very grateful to have us come to their town. At the end of the day at the clinic we got to play with the local children. They really loved taking pictures with us. Back at the hotel we watched a documentary about the redevelopment and new construction in Haiti. It was very interesting and included footage from the LTR orphange. Tomorrow we are going to tour the CCH clinic, a local hospital, and the nursing school in Jacmel. Should be an interesting day and we will update you all tomorrow night. Thanks for the continued thoughts and prayers. We are having a great time.
Mike, Kim, Dianna, Stephanie, Erin, and Amy
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Another Day in the Clinic
Hello Friends,
Today we spent another full and hot day at the mobile clinic. Some students did vitals, others admitted patients and the rest helped with the Malaria study. We were able to get through about 100 patients today which took 7 hours. Once again we saw many different Haitian health concerns that helped us understand the health care needs of this country. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the land that Love Takes Root is building the new orphanage on. It is filled with baby goats, baby chickens and skinny cows! There is so much open land for the kids to run around on and it is going to change the lives of Mama and her orphans. We decided to imitate the Haitians and stand in the bed of the truck while we drove back to the hotel. We are all so tired and have to wake up early in the morning to return to our last day at the travel clinic.
Bonsoir!
Michael, Stephanie, Amy, Kim, Erin, Dianna
Greetings From the rest of the Gang,
Kristen, Julie, Frank and Barb are doing well. Kristen taught classes to the Haitians today about the importance of hand washing and brushing teeth. Julie stuck many people and Frank our none medical assistant filled and placed correct labels on all the vials of blood! Barb recorded all the data for the Malaria study. Long day and much accomplished.
Last night Frank and Barb went to the land with Dave Bird and his wife. We then went to the orphanage he is presently building ready for the children to move in on Friday. This is the orphanage that was next to our land but displaced by the new airport project. The orphanage that Dave is finishing is amazing. It brought tears to my eyes. The buildings are utilitarian but nice looking, Windows with screens everywhere for cross ventilation. The inside has wonderful finishing work. It is Haitian built with much learning of skills for future building. Dave and his wife are a delightful couple who are living out there calling from God. I am thankful that LOVE Takes Root has the opportunity to work with them.
We all spend our nights on the roof of the Isaiah House discussing and processing. Tired, hot and content. We have quickly forgotten our first world, fast paced, Facebook lives back home.
Many blessings, God Bless. Grateful, Barb
Today we spent another full and hot day at the mobile clinic. Some students did vitals, others admitted patients and the rest helped with the Malaria study. We were able to get through about 100 patients today which took 7 hours. Once again we saw many different Haitian health concerns that helped us understand the health care needs of this country. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the land that Love Takes Root is building the new orphanage on. It is filled with baby goats, baby chickens and skinny cows! There is so much open land for the kids to run around on and it is going to change the lives of Mama and her orphans. We decided to imitate the Haitians and stand in the bed of the truck while we drove back to the hotel. We are all so tired and have to wake up early in the morning to return to our last day at the travel clinic.
Bonsoir!
Michael, Stephanie, Amy, Kim, Erin, Dianna
Greetings From the rest of the Gang,
Kristen, Julie, Frank and Barb are doing well. Kristen taught classes to the Haitians today about the importance of hand washing and brushing teeth. Julie stuck many people and Frank our none medical assistant filled and placed correct labels on all the vials of blood! Barb recorded all the data for the Malaria study. Long day and much accomplished.
Last night Frank and Barb went to the land with Dave Bird and his wife. We then went to the orphanage he is presently building ready for the children to move in on Friday. This is the orphanage that was next to our land but displaced by the new airport project. The orphanage that Dave is finishing is amazing. It brought tears to my eyes. The buildings are utilitarian but nice looking, Windows with screens everywhere for cross ventilation. The inside has wonderful finishing work. It is Haitian built with much learning of skills for future building. Dave and his wife are a delightful couple who are living out there calling from God. I am thankful that LOVE Takes Root has the opportunity to work with them.
We all spend our nights on the roof of the Isaiah House discussing and processing. Tired, hot and content. We have quickly forgotten our first world, fast paced, Facebook lives back home.
Many blessings, God Bless. Grateful, Barb
Monday, March 18, 2013
Day 4
Today we went to a travel clinic in a small rural town in the mountains above Jacmel. We assisted with a Malaria study from the University of Florida as well as collecting vitals and providing care with pharmacist and physicians from the University of Minnesota. Forty six Haitians consented to participate in an experiment testing rapid malaria, hemoglobin, G6PD deficiency and sickle cell anemia. Currently we have not found positive results for malaria but the test will look back three months once they get the blood back to the lab.
It's so amazing working with the Haitian's. They are so stoic, patient, and easy to communicate with despite the language barrier. Not even one child cried during blood draws which is so different from what you see in American children.
On the way back we had to stop because the guy behind us was honking like crazy only to find that we were about to lose our wheel and they had to hammer it back on. Long day but it was a great experience with an even more amazing view at the top of the mountains.
From Haiti
Erin, Mike, Amy, Stephanie, Kim, Dianna
It's so amazing working with the Haitian's. They are so stoic, patient, and easy to communicate with despite the language barrier. Not even one child cried during blood draws which is so different from what you see in American children.
On the way back we had to stop because the guy behind us was honking like crazy only to find that we were about to lose our wheel and they had to hammer it back on. Long day but it was a great experience with an even more amazing view at the top of the mountains.
From Haiti
Erin, Mike, Amy, Stephanie, Kim, Dianna
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Haiti Day Three
Today we woke up early had breakfast and packed up to head to Jacmel. Before our trip though, we stopped at the orphanage again to drop off supplies for the kids and Mama. We left lots of vitamins, antibacterial ointments, and what seemed like a million toothbrushes and pairs of eyeglasses collected in Colorado. Thanks to everyone who donated for our trip. Mama was almost to tears with joy when she saw what we had brought. After visiting the orphans, we crammed into a little van and started the 2 hour drive across the mountains to Jacmel. Jacmel is a beautiful coastal town. Lots more trees, lots less traffic, and feels much safer then port-au-prince. We spent the day just walking around the city getting a feel for the culture and lifestyle in Jacmel. Tomorrow we will head into the mountains to run a research study on the prevalence of malaria in Haiti that is sponsored by the University of Florida. Should be another long day, but we are all well and having a good time. Miss you all back home!
Mike, Dianna, Kim, Stephanie, Amy, and Erin
Message from the rest of the gang. Beautiful day in Haiti, sunshine and a little breeze. Thanks to Katie Gibson from Sioux Center High School all the children loved their notebooks and pens! We received many hand written Haitian notes of thanks from the children. We also handed each of them their sponsor letters which they proudly cared around and had Mama read them over and over. Gretchen and Mark they loved the dog picture a big hit!
I will say 13 people and all our luggage in a small van was an interesting trip to Jacmel. GOOD news no one was car sick this time.
Jacmel feels like home. The town is quiet and has a peaceful feel. We went on a walking tour after checking into the Issiah House. And we had an afternoon soda pop at Hotel De La Place. We will have a early start on long day tomorrow. We will also stop by the land on our way out of town tomorrow. Barb, Julie, Frank and Kristen are going strong. God Bless.
Mike, Dianna, Kim, Stephanie, Amy, and Erin
Message from the rest of the gang. Beautiful day in Haiti, sunshine and a little breeze. Thanks to Katie Gibson from Sioux Center High School all the children loved their notebooks and pens! We received many hand written Haitian notes of thanks from the children. We also handed each of them their sponsor letters which they proudly cared around and had Mama read them over and over. Gretchen and Mark they loved the dog picture a big hit!
I will say 13 people and all our luggage in a small van was an interesting trip to Jacmel. GOOD news no one was car sick this time.
Jacmel feels like home. The town is quiet and has a peaceful feel. We went on a walking tour after checking into the Issiah House. And we had an afternoon soda pop at Hotel De La Place. We will have a early start on long day tomorrow. We will also stop by the land on our way out of town tomorrow. Barb, Julie, Frank and Kristen are going strong. God Bless.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thoughts from the second group arrival
Barb Wilkerson, Frank Brooks, Kristen Potts and Julie Buettner arrived late on thier Miami flight to arrive in PAP a little after 5 pm. We were picked up in the infamous no door van from the Sept DSN trip! We then had a 3 1/2 hour ride to the Hotel in stand still traffic. The sun set the streets were full and it was hot. But after a few hours it started to rain. The streets quieted down the traffic slowly moved past the flooded pot hole and we arrived at the Hotel. We took our 60 minutes to check in and 2 hours to get our food and hit the pillows hard. It was a drive to study the culture and as Frank said it gives him perspective on the 405. God Bless
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