I my last trip to Haiti-November 2010 to March 2011-I did not update the blog as I was adjusting to a new schedule, and now a new home in Port au Prince. This next trip I will update my blog as often as possible (once or twice a week) given that my schedule stays busy.
Currently I am home in Raleigh, NC and am hosting two benefits before my return to Haiti April 19th.
The first "Bwè for Haiti" will be April 9th at The Well, 1620 1/2 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC, 9-12 pm featuring live music, and a DJ from 12-2am. The cover is $5 and will go towards funding my return to Haiti.
The second "A Taste for Haiti" will be April 12th at the Wilmoore,223 Wilminton St. Raleigh, NC, a new restaurant downtown. The event will be held from 5:30-9p.m. The cost is $10 per person and this includes food, coffee, and sodas. This event will feature Haitian cuisine along with some favorites from the menu at the Wilmoore.
Hope to see you there! Please read the previous post for more details about my work...and if you wish to forward this information on to others you may copy and past the letter posted.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Return to Haiti
Dear Friends and Family,
I have been volunteering in Port au Prince, Haiti as a Registered Nurse in the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS ward in l'Hopital de l'Université d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH) since July 2010. I plan to return to Haiti for another six months or more to continue volunteering. I work Monday through Saturday alongside other Haitian nurses under the direction of an American doctor. Each week there is an average of 40 inpatient Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS patients, as well as hundreds of outpatients.
I am needed in the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS ward for my knowledge of the importance of oxygen for patients, acting fast for critical patients, educating patients about taking their medication, and encouraging patients to eat an adequate diet with the resources available. I continue to volunteer in Haiti because I get more in return than I give, I have been blessed with the gift of good health and a great education, and I believe that through all of my blessings I have been enabled to serve others and believe that is why I am here. The Haitian people have welcomed me with open arms and I enjoy working for them and being around them daily.
I live at Grass Roots United (http://grassrootsunited.org) where I pay $15 per day to rent a space to put a tent, am provided three meals per day, and internet access. Grass Roots United is a safe, gated compound where I live with other volunteers. I commute to the hospital each morning to work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As a humanitarian aide volunteer I pay Grass Roots United $15 per day and in return receive a space for my tent, two meals per day, and internet access. My other costs for the next six months are $10 per day for reliable transportation, $5 or less for lunch while at the hospital, $100 per month for miscellaneous items and $300 for a flight home. The total cost for six months is $6,420, with an average of$35 per day, $245 per week.
In order to raise funds for my next trip to Haiti I am hosting a dinner event “A Taste for Haiti” April 14th from 5:30-9p.m. at the Wilmoore, a new restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The cost is $10 per person and this includes food, coffee, and sodas. This event will feature Haitian cuisine along with some favorites from the menu at the Wilmoore.
If you are unable to attend donations can be made to my Paypal account. My blog has a “Donate” link provided: jeannevodickarn.blogspot.com.
I hope you can join me to experience some Haitian cuisine and show your support for the Haitian people. Please feel free to pass along this email to family and friends. Thank you in advance for your time and support.
Regards,
Jeanne Vodicka BSN, RN
I have been volunteering in Port au Prince, Haiti as a Registered Nurse in the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS ward in l'Hopital de l'Université d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH) since July 2010. I plan to return to Haiti for another six months or more to continue volunteering. I work Monday through Saturday alongside other Haitian nurses under the direction of an American doctor. Each week there is an average of 40 inpatient Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS patients, as well as hundreds of outpatients.
I am needed in the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS ward for my knowledge of the importance of oxygen for patients, acting fast for critical patients, educating patients about taking their medication, and encouraging patients to eat an adequate diet with the resources available. I continue to volunteer in Haiti because I get more in return than I give, I have been blessed with the gift of good health and a great education, and I believe that through all of my blessings I have been enabled to serve others and believe that is why I am here. The Haitian people have welcomed me with open arms and I enjoy working for them and being around them daily.
I live at Grass Roots United (http://grassrootsunited.org) where I pay $15 per day to rent a space to put a tent, am provided three meals per day, and internet access. Grass Roots United is a safe, gated compound where I live with other volunteers. I commute to the hospital each morning to work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As a humanitarian aide volunteer I pay Grass Roots United $15 per day and in return receive a space for my tent, two meals per day, and internet access. My other costs for the next six months are $10 per day for reliable transportation, $5 or less for lunch while at the hospital, $100 per month for miscellaneous items and $300 for a flight home. The total cost for six months is $6,420, with an average of$35 per day, $245 per week.
In order to raise funds for my next trip to Haiti I am hosting a dinner event “A Taste for Haiti” April 14th from 5:30-9p.m. at the Wilmoore, a new restaurant in downtown Raleigh. The cost is $10 per person and this includes food, coffee, and sodas. This event will feature Haitian cuisine along with some favorites from the menu at the Wilmoore.
If you are unable to attend donations can be made to my Paypal account. My blog has a “Donate” link provided: jeannevodickarn.blogspot.com.
I hope you can join me to experience some Haitian cuisine and show your support for the Haitian people. Please feel free to pass along this email to family and friends. Thank you in advance for your time and support.
Regards,
Jeanne Vodicka BSN, RN
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Braids
8/6 JP/HRO
Spent one day at the hospital with Tuwanda and Ellen. I worked in the hospital...Ellen stayed in the clinic with a nurse from JP/HRO. The hospital is a big tent, they have xray and an autoclave (sterilizes instruments)-in Haiti it is big to have those two things. One of the first things that happened was a patient came in to deliver a baby...I think it was her 5th and so she was a pro. Later on in the morning the midwife came to help deliver the baby...I stood by the patient's side and as she was pushing one of the last times the nurses were telling everyone to move aside because her "water bag" hadn't broken yet and you could see it (yes do not eat dinner while reading this)...so she kept on pushing and the baby was born inside the "water bag" which I later learned from tuwanda is good luck! So as the babys head was out, still inside the bag the midwife and I were pinching the baby's head to break the sac. Eventually one of the other nurses grabbed some scissors and cut it. It was pretty funny everyone trying to pinch with gloves on while other people were hiding so they wouldn't get squirted with the water. The baby was named after Tuwanda! I was really happy for her because she has wanted a baby to be named after her for awhile!
Another patient came in with his finger smashed...he said that he was hammering and hit his finger. An ED doctor from the stats was there and gave him a digital block (took lidocaine, injected it into his finger near the first knuckle closest to the palm-into the nerves around there and so his whole finger was numb). When that happened I cleaned off his finger, pulled some dead skin off of him, and then the doc sewed him up. He got an xray and the finger was broken so they gave him a finger splint and sent him on his way.
Next patient was a young child, maybe 3-4 years old…she came in throwing up since the night before. She had a fever of 102.7 degrees Fahrenheit, stomach ache, and couldn’t keep pedialyte down while at the hospital. I first took the patient but was unable to do much because I am not the best at kids now. I learned a lot from this patient-she ended up having a UTI. I learned/remembered children present different than adults.
A young woman came in with an abscess the size of half a golf ball in her armpit. Tuwanda took this patient and we eventually decided to go ahead and drain the pus since she lives in the JP/HRO camp and they can follow her closely to make sure the incision doesn’t get infected. Tuwanda asked if I wanted to and I told her I will watch this one (since I have never drained one before). She put some lidocaine in before and then drained the pus-it was a decent amount! (once again do not read while eating) Then Tuwanda packed the wound with a long sterile strip (basically looks like a long shoe string but is sterile and is packed inside the wound). We gave the patient pain meds (as this thing was extremely painful) and some antibiotics. Tuwanda told me that anywhere else (places where the patients are not near a hospital) you would treat the abscess with antibiotics-opening a wound just puts them at risk for infection, especially in a place where clean water, good soap, antibiotic cream, and bandages are hard to find for some.
Later that day we got to have a little tour around the camp…we walked down there with a volunteer and it is amazing-he said about 52,000 people live there now (on the old 9 hole golf course- ). The country club where the camp is located has one of the best views of port au prince. It was incredible to see…the picture is on my blog, it’s a panoramic shot.
After JP/HRO we went to the Plaza Hotel for some Mango daiquiris!
Not sure when this happened but the crazy marine took a taser to himself…well two tasers. There are pictures of him in a diaper on the blog as well-we thought there was a possibility that if the taser was strong enough it would cause him to cop out and yes, possibly wet himself. The tasers were really weak as he tased himself multiple times. It was crazy, and good entertainment.
8/7
Party at a friend’s house in the afternoon/evening
8/8
Beach trip with Tuwanda, Ellen, Riaan, Ralph, Foreset and some people from Grass Roots United (check them out http://www.grassrootsunited.org/). We went to the UN beach…instead of sand it was a rocky beach, pretty big rocks-not pebbles in other words. The water was really really salty which was strange. Tuwanda and I wandered off to find some food and when we were waiting for the food a UN from Pakistan took a picture of us with his cell phone. He was really glad to see us and take pictures with us…my thought was (which is straight out of a movie) what if taking a picture with this guy holding hands (yes weird I know) is some sort of weird marriage ritual, haha yeah it’s a weird thought, but it was a strange situation. We had chicken fights with Riaan and Tuwanda vs. me and a guy from grass roots. She won (yes Tuwanda I know you are smiling and flexing your muscles…Tia Tuwanda is tough). We rented a taptap to take to the beach…so we fit 12 people in the truck…3 up front and then 9 of us in the back…the way they design the taptap is they put benches in the back of a pick up truck and then put a roof over top. LUCKILY WE HAD A ROOF because it poured on our way home…Tuwanda and I used our towels to block the rain from coming into the taptap as we were pretty squeezed tight.
8/9
Chicago (a moto taxi driver) came to pick me up in the morning to take me to pick up some cell phones from Petion-Ville. Tuwanda left in the morning, and so Ellen, Riaan, Junior and I went to a tent camp in Cite Soleil to help with assessing some of the pregnant women there…as well as look at a child with possible cerebral palsy. We ended up assessing about 10-15 women and the basic need is for them to seek care at a hospital when in labor-problem…they don’t have transportation or money to get to the hospital, let alone pay for the visit to the hospital. So if a woman had a possible infection we would recommend that they go to see a doctor because if they have an infection it could be harmful to mom and to the baby. Once again, they don’t have the money or transportation to get there, let alone pay for the visit. They birth their children in the tents and do the best they can…in general these people do not eat well…if at all during one day. It was extremely difficult to hear that and while leaving it was the first time I cried in Haiti. Sitting in the back of the truck leaving the tent camp I cried and was surprised it was the first time.
8/10
Walked to the bank today-ATM instead of meeting a certain bank worker…I just kind of walked up and said I need to speak to Mrs. ___ (a lady that BP knows) and they eventually let me in front of a bunch of people. Ellen and Riaan were with me and we just walked in and used the ATM. I then got internet on my phone…was really excited and happy to talk to the girls from home via blackberry messenger (now I still talk to them and its great!) Ellen and I talked to BP about moving in with Mike, Jonathan, and Nick. We unloaded a bunch of Pedialyte with the North Carolina Baptist Men! It was great to talk about home with these men. They are incredible and worked hard with us. I was wearing my pink NCSTATE shirt with the breast cancer ribbon on it and they immediately started conversation. A couple of them went to NCSU…of course I had to tell them that I was born and raised, still am, an avid NCSU fan even though I went to UNC (yes sad I know…I am slightly leaning toward being excited about UNC, but its only at like 25%...im getting there-well maybe) ANYWAY these guys are great and do all kinds of things-build, distribute materials, etc. They are based out of Cary, NC! I loved hearing their accents and felt at home for a little while. We made a big dinner that night because some people from RU4Children came to hang out during the day.
The plan for the next day was to draw labs from almost all 55 tb patients. There was a rumor that President Bush Jr would be in the hospital…but as usual they tell people one thing and end up doing another for security reasons. On the way home from the hospital with Nick and Ellen we saw some nice chevy tahoes and I jokingly poked my head out the window and said “hey!!!” I figured if it was Bush, or anyone important they would see me because I am after all an American in Haiti (we stick out like sore thumbs sometimes).
8/13 (entry almost straight from what I wrote in my notebook)
Went to Medishare (University of Miami hospital’s program here in Haiti at a hospital named Bernarn Mevs). Ellen and I ended up hanging out in the ER after getting a tour of their hospital. They have a great program and they bring in volunteers each week. This was the first night we ate an American fast food dinner-a place called Epi d’Or…we got bacon cheese burgers, French fries, coca cola, and some ice cream…this place is right near the new house (dangerous). It is a wendys, subway, creperie (yes I made that word up but they make crepes), baskin robbins, oh and a bakery.
We heard about some demonstrations happening in the streets…which occurs about once a week here. On the way to Medishare we didn’t see anything, but while there we saw some dark smoke in the air=burning tires. As long as you stay away from demonstrations, or turn around if you encounter one, things usually are okay and no one gets in too much trouble (this is what I have heard, have not experienced it so don’t hold me to it).
Side note-Doctor Megan Coffee did a paracentesis (take fluid out of an outpatient’s belly because their liver, or something else has failed them). I told her I would sit there and hold the catheter (so it didn’t get squished, or move, or lose its place) for up to an hour or two…this patient’s belly was pretty big and so I figured it would help her out so why not. We ended up getting 2L out of her, and it was quick…less than an hour. We did this sitting underneath a tree, the patient was on a cot outside on the hospital grounds near the TB tents.
It is always nice having Ellen around because in certain situations she and I can look at each other and know exactly what the other person is thinking. It will be rough when she leaves but challenging to work on being on my own.
Street food=good!! Ellen and I get it almost every day-fresh fruit, candied nuts, brown sugar blocks, bananas, peanut butter on bread, etc.
8/14-8/16
Went to a CONCERN worldwide party which was fun and then got the new house together on Sunday.
8/16-8/22
Tb tents and working around the house getting mattresses and beds, coffee pot (or something that will do to heat up water for the French press-I love REBO, a brand of coffee down here…its my favorite-and Ellen and I like the same kind of coffee which is good…sweet and a decent amount of milk) Anyway, we got beds-frames they make and paint on the street-we got 12 and I rode in the back of the truck on the way home…the pants I was wearing now have silver paint all over them because the frames were not completely dry before we threw them in the back of the truck. Now my pants have some more character to them! Next day we went to get mattresses…12 of them. Cassidy speaks Creole well and so he was our big help negotiating prices. Basically, you can negotiate for an hour or so…not get to the price you want, start driving away, and then they give you the price you want. It is an interesting thing and happens all the time, whether it be mattresses or fruit (well that’s all I have experienced anyway).
8/23-8/29 TB TENTS, Megan visits the US
Two doctors from the states came in on Monday to work while Megan was in the United States. They were from Wisconsin and were great to work with throughout the week. It is a hard environment to come into but they did an great job and worked hard.
8/23-Ellen and I did a bunch of labs, Jameson, Lawrence, and James were at the hospital helping us out.
8/24-Ellen left for the US, it was sad to see her go…Mike and I woke up to say goodbye, we all miss her a whole lot…like I said, sometimes its nice to have someone to look at in situations and just know what the other person is thinking-or pretty much make sure you aren’t crazy because you both feel the same way. At the hospital our translators were asked to leave and we were to use some of the hospitals translators. There was a new patient that came in and I ended up having to put an IV in him…yes I do that for a decent amount of the patients but this patient was a big guy and I was nervous. A nurse from Adventist came to the hospital to get a pregnant woman’s TB meds (she was a patient of Megan’s and went into preterm labor so she is now at Adventist). Anyway, I was nervous because you could not see any of his veins-the trick is if you can feel it, its there and you can go for it most of the time. So this nurse encouraged me and helped me feel confident about sticking him, and what do you know I was successful. I am feeling more and more confident with each stick…the patients, and most of the people here have great veins that sometimes you could stick without a tourniquet.
8/25 MY DAD’s BIRTHDAY!
I am glad I got to call my dad and say happy birthday! I am so glad to have his support and was sad that I missed his birthday!
Throughout the rest of the week we worked hard, had a couple new admits, had a couple deaths, and learned a whole lot about what Megan does and how she keeps the place working and successful (which is a whole lot, again I cannot say enough about her and how much good she is doing here…the patients are happy, well fed, taken care of, look after each other, etc.-please send support her way! You can check her out on twitter and facebook).
I went around to some of the patients, asked them if I could look at their xrays, and then listened to their breathing. I told them I was learning when I looked at the xrays and then listened to them breathing. Oh and I got my hair braided this week…my whole head is in small tiny little braids-we will see how long they last, for now I enjoy them because it makes hair care easy. I hope I don’t get a burnt scalp-I need to remember sunscreen!
One of my favorite points of this week was hearing two different earthquake stories…most times I don’t really ask where people were, how it affected them unless they bring it up. I was very thankful they shared their story with me. Throughout listening to their stories I remembered making an effort to avoid the words “I know” because truly I do not know what it is like to experience such a devastating disaster…to see and smell death and destruction of your people and home. The people that experience any natural disaster are unique in their experience. Every once in awhile I remember what someone told me here: “These people are all survivors, the people you see here are survivors, we are survivors.”
Side note (as usual)-I was happy to meet a fellow UNC nursing alum…we met at the Epi d’OR. She was here with AIMER Haiti. I previously worked at their clinic for one day…I recognized the translators that were with the women at the restaurant. I spoke with the translators and ended up talking to two of the volunteers-one pointed me in the direction of the UNC alum and we got to talking. It was pretty cool as she graduated 3 years ago and knew some of the same teachers (yes I still say teachers instead of professors).
I continue to learn every day and grow as a nurse. I am thankful for those that take the time to teach me-whether it be a lesson in TB, Creole, or Haitian Culture. I love what I am doing here... the people here, Haitians and foreigners, make it worthwhile.
Spent one day at the hospital with Tuwanda and Ellen. I worked in the hospital...Ellen stayed in the clinic with a nurse from JP/HRO. The hospital is a big tent, they have xray and an autoclave (sterilizes instruments)-in Haiti it is big to have those two things. One of the first things that happened was a patient came in to deliver a baby...I think it was her 5th and so she was a pro. Later on in the morning the midwife came to help deliver the baby...I stood by the patient's side and as she was pushing one of the last times the nurses were telling everyone to move aside because her "water bag" hadn't broken yet and you could see it (yes do not eat dinner while reading this)...so she kept on pushing and the baby was born inside the "water bag" which I later learned from tuwanda is good luck! So as the babys head was out, still inside the bag the midwife and I were pinching the baby's head to break the sac. Eventually one of the other nurses grabbed some scissors and cut it. It was pretty funny everyone trying to pinch with gloves on while other people were hiding so they wouldn't get squirted with the water. The baby was named after Tuwanda! I was really happy for her because she has wanted a baby to be named after her for awhile!
Another patient came in with his finger smashed...he said that he was hammering and hit his finger. An ED doctor from the stats was there and gave him a digital block (took lidocaine, injected it into his finger near the first knuckle closest to the palm-into the nerves around there and so his whole finger was numb). When that happened I cleaned off his finger, pulled some dead skin off of him, and then the doc sewed him up. He got an xray and the finger was broken so they gave him a finger splint and sent him on his way.
Next patient was a young child, maybe 3-4 years old…she came in throwing up since the night before. She had a fever of 102.7 degrees Fahrenheit, stomach ache, and couldn’t keep pedialyte down while at the hospital. I first took the patient but was unable to do much because I am not the best at kids now. I learned a lot from this patient-she ended up having a UTI. I learned/remembered children present different than adults.
A young woman came in with an abscess the size of half a golf ball in her armpit. Tuwanda took this patient and we eventually decided to go ahead and drain the pus since she lives in the JP/HRO camp and they can follow her closely to make sure the incision doesn’t get infected. Tuwanda asked if I wanted to and I told her I will watch this one (since I have never drained one before). She put some lidocaine in before and then drained the pus-it was a decent amount! (once again do not read while eating) Then Tuwanda packed the wound with a long sterile strip (basically looks like a long shoe string but is sterile and is packed inside the wound). We gave the patient pain meds (as this thing was extremely painful) and some antibiotics. Tuwanda told me that anywhere else (places where the patients are not near a hospital) you would treat the abscess with antibiotics-opening a wound just puts them at risk for infection, especially in a place where clean water, good soap, antibiotic cream, and bandages are hard to find for some.
Later that day we got to have a little tour around the camp…we walked down there with a volunteer and it is amazing-he said about 52,000 people live there now (on the old 9 hole golf course- ). The country club where the camp is located has one of the best views of port au prince. It was incredible to see…the picture is on my blog, it’s a panoramic shot.
After JP/HRO we went to the Plaza Hotel for some Mango daiquiris!
Not sure when this happened but the crazy marine took a taser to himself…well two tasers. There are pictures of him in a diaper on the blog as well-we thought there was a possibility that if the taser was strong enough it would cause him to cop out and yes, possibly wet himself. The tasers were really weak as he tased himself multiple times. It was crazy, and good entertainment.
8/7
Party at a friend’s house in the afternoon/evening
8/8
Beach trip with Tuwanda, Ellen, Riaan, Ralph, Foreset and some people from Grass Roots United (check them out http://www.grassrootsunited.org/). We went to the UN beach…instead of sand it was a rocky beach, pretty big rocks-not pebbles in other words. The water was really really salty which was strange. Tuwanda and I wandered off to find some food and when we were waiting for the food a UN from Pakistan took a picture of us with his cell phone. He was really glad to see us and take pictures with us…my thought was (which is straight out of a movie) what if taking a picture with this guy holding hands (yes weird I know) is some sort of weird marriage ritual, haha yeah it’s a weird thought, but it was a strange situation. We had chicken fights with Riaan and Tuwanda vs. me and a guy from grass roots. She won (yes Tuwanda I know you are smiling and flexing your muscles…Tia Tuwanda is tough). We rented a taptap to take to the beach…so we fit 12 people in the truck…3 up front and then 9 of us in the back…the way they design the taptap is they put benches in the back of a pick up truck and then put a roof over top. LUCKILY WE HAD A ROOF because it poured on our way home…Tuwanda and I used our towels to block the rain from coming into the taptap as we were pretty squeezed tight.
8/9
Chicago (a moto taxi driver) came to pick me up in the morning to take me to pick up some cell phones from Petion-Ville. Tuwanda left in the morning, and so Ellen, Riaan, Junior and I went to a tent camp in Cite Soleil to help with assessing some of the pregnant women there…as well as look at a child with possible cerebral palsy. We ended up assessing about 10-15 women and the basic need is for them to seek care at a hospital when in labor-problem…they don’t have transportation or money to get to the hospital, let alone pay for the visit to the hospital. So if a woman had a possible infection we would recommend that they go to see a doctor because if they have an infection it could be harmful to mom and to the baby. Once again, they don’t have the money or transportation to get there, let alone pay for the visit. They birth their children in the tents and do the best they can…in general these people do not eat well…if at all during one day. It was extremely difficult to hear that and while leaving it was the first time I cried in Haiti. Sitting in the back of the truck leaving the tent camp I cried and was surprised it was the first time.
8/10
Walked to the bank today-ATM instead of meeting a certain bank worker…I just kind of walked up and said I need to speak to Mrs. ___ (a lady that BP knows) and they eventually let me in front of a bunch of people. Ellen and Riaan were with me and we just walked in and used the ATM. I then got internet on my phone…was really excited and happy to talk to the girls from home via blackberry messenger (now I still talk to them and its great!) Ellen and I talked to BP about moving in with Mike, Jonathan, and Nick. We unloaded a bunch of Pedialyte with the North Carolina Baptist Men! It was great to talk about home with these men. They are incredible and worked hard with us. I was wearing my pink NCSTATE shirt with the breast cancer ribbon on it and they immediately started conversation. A couple of them went to NCSU…of course I had to tell them that I was born and raised, still am, an avid NCSU fan even though I went to UNC (yes sad I know…I am slightly leaning toward being excited about UNC, but its only at like 25%...im getting there-well maybe) ANYWAY these guys are great and do all kinds of things-build, distribute materials, etc. They are based out of Cary, NC! I loved hearing their accents and felt at home for a little while. We made a big dinner that night because some people from RU4Children came to hang out during the day.
The plan for the next day was to draw labs from almost all 55 tb patients. There was a rumor that President Bush Jr would be in the hospital…but as usual they tell people one thing and end up doing another for security reasons. On the way home from the hospital with Nick and Ellen we saw some nice chevy tahoes and I jokingly poked my head out the window and said “hey!!!” I figured if it was Bush, or anyone important they would see me because I am after all an American in Haiti (we stick out like sore thumbs sometimes).
8/13 (entry almost straight from what I wrote in my notebook)
Went to Medishare (University of Miami hospital’s program here in Haiti at a hospital named Bernarn Mevs). Ellen and I ended up hanging out in the ER after getting a tour of their hospital. They have a great program and they bring in volunteers each week. This was the first night we ate an American fast food dinner-a place called Epi d’Or…we got bacon cheese burgers, French fries, coca cola, and some ice cream…this place is right near the new house (dangerous). It is a wendys, subway, creperie (yes I made that word up but they make crepes), baskin robbins, oh and a bakery.
We heard about some demonstrations happening in the streets…which occurs about once a week here. On the way to Medishare we didn’t see anything, but while there we saw some dark smoke in the air=burning tires. As long as you stay away from demonstrations, or turn around if you encounter one, things usually are okay and no one gets in too much trouble (this is what I have heard, have not experienced it so don’t hold me to it).
Side note-Doctor Megan Coffee did a paracentesis (take fluid out of an outpatient’s belly because their liver, or something else has failed them). I told her I would sit there and hold the catheter (so it didn’t get squished, or move, or lose its place) for up to an hour or two…this patient’s belly was pretty big and so I figured it would help her out so why not. We ended up getting 2L out of her, and it was quick…less than an hour. We did this sitting underneath a tree, the patient was on a cot outside on the hospital grounds near the TB tents.
It is always nice having Ellen around because in certain situations she and I can look at each other and know exactly what the other person is thinking. It will be rough when she leaves but challenging to work on being on my own.
Street food=good!! Ellen and I get it almost every day-fresh fruit, candied nuts, brown sugar blocks, bananas, peanut butter on bread, etc.
8/14-8/16
Went to a CONCERN worldwide party which was fun and then got the new house together on Sunday.
8/16-8/22
Tb tents and working around the house getting mattresses and beds, coffee pot (or something that will do to heat up water for the French press-I love REBO, a brand of coffee down here…its my favorite-and Ellen and I like the same kind of coffee which is good…sweet and a decent amount of milk) Anyway, we got beds-frames they make and paint on the street-we got 12 and I rode in the back of the truck on the way home…the pants I was wearing now have silver paint all over them because the frames were not completely dry before we threw them in the back of the truck. Now my pants have some more character to them! Next day we went to get mattresses…12 of them. Cassidy speaks Creole well and so he was our big help negotiating prices. Basically, you can negotiate for an hour or so…not get to the price you want, start driving away, and then they give you the price you want. It is an interesting thing and happens all the time, whether it be mattresses or fruit (well that’s all I have experienced anyway).
8/23-8/29 TB TENTS, Megan visits the US
Two doctors from the states came in on Monday to work while Megan was in the United States. They were from Wisconsin and were great to work with throughout the week. It is a hard environment to come into but they did an great job and worked hard.
8/23-Ellen and I did a bunch of labs, Jameson, Lawrence, and James were at the hospital helping us out.
8/24-Ellen left for the US, it was sad to see her go…Mike and I woke up to say goodbye, we all miss her a whole lot…like I said, sometimes its nice to have someone to look at in situations and just know what the other person is thinking-or pretty much make sure you aren’t crazy because you both feel the same way. At the hospital our translators were asked to leave and we were to use some of the hospitals translators. There was a new patient that came in and I ended up having to put an IV in him…yes I do that for a decent amount of the patients but this patient was a big guy and I was nervous. A nurse from Adventist came to the hospital to get a pregnant woman’s TB meds (she was a patient of Megan’s and went into preterm labor so she is now at Adventist). Anyway, I was nervous because you could not see any of his veins-the trick is if you can feel it, its there and you can go for it most of the time. So this nurse encouraged me and helped me feel confident about sticking him, and what do you know I was successful. I am feeling more and more confident with each stick…the patients, and most of the people here have great veins that sometimes you could stick without a tourniquet.
8/25 MY DAD’s BIRTHDAY!
I am glad I got to call my dad and say happy birthday! I am so glad to have his support and was sad that I missed his birthday!
Throughout the rest of the week we worked hard, had a couple new admits, had a couple deaths, and learned a whole lot about what Megan does and how she keeps the place working and successful (which is a whole lot, again I cannot say enough about her and how much good she is doing here…the patients are happy, well fed, taken care of, look after each other, etc.-please send support her way! You can check her out on twitter and facebook).
I went around to some of the patients, asked them if I could look at their xrays, and then listened to their breathing. I told them I was learning when I looked at the xrays and then listened to them breathing. Oh and I got my hair braided this week…my whole head is in small tiny little braids-we will see how long they last, for now I enjoy them because it makes hair care easy. I hope I don’t get a burnt scalp-I need to remember sunscreen!
One of my favorite points of this week was hearing two different earthquake stories…most times I don’t really ask where people were, how it affected them unless they bring it up. I was very thankful they shared their story with me. Throughout listening to their stories I remembered making an effort to avoid the words “I know” because truly I do not know what it is like to experience such a devastating disaster…to see and smell death and destruction of your people and home. The people that experience any natural disaster are unique in their experience. Every once in awhile I remember what someone told me here: “These people are all survivors, the people you see here are survivors, we are survivors.”
Side note (as usual)-I was happy to meet a fellow UNC nursing alum…we met at the Epi d’OR. She was here with AIMER Haiti. I previously worked at their clinic for one day…I recognized the translators that were with the women at the restaurant. I spoke with the translators and ended up talking to two of the volunteers-one pointed me in the direction of the UNC alum and we got to talking. It was pretty cool as she graduated 3 years ago and knew some of the same teachers (yes I still say teachers instead of professors).
I continue to learn every day and grow as a nurse. I am thankful for those that take the time to teach me-whether it be a lesson in TB, Creole, or Haitian Culture. I love what I am doing here... the people here, Haitians and foreigners, make it worthwhile.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Pictures!
Check out some new and old pictures. The newest ones are from a photo shoot in the TB tents...it was pouring down rain, thunder and lightening, and so what else did we do but take pictures! Everyone loved it and enjoyed themselves.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2028281025/a=3472723025_3472723025
its quick and easy to make a snapfish account! ENJOY!
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2028281025/a=3472723025_3472723025
its quick and easy to make a snapfish account! ENJOY!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Big update...more to come
7/29 and 7/30
Worked in the TB tents all day until about 7:30pm. Pierre was with us and we did our usual dressing changes, labs, and IV checks. Megan also wanted us to talk to the HIV positive patients about their meds and make sure they understand they will take medicine for life. The main thing was to tell them that when they leave the hospital they still need to get meds and continue taking them every day. One patient was pretty defensive about how he got HIV-he wanted us to know that he is a good guy and that he has never had sex with anyone other than his wife. He wanted us to know that he has children and that he works very hard. As I was hearing this I was looking at a man who can’t walk and is extremely thin…I am picturing his children hugging him and sitting on his lap. His wife comes to the tent often to help take care of him. It was hard for him to accept his diagnosis…in Haiti HIV/AIDS has a really bad reputation for its association with promiscuity. We told him that we believe he is a good man and that since the test was positive we have to focus on the future and how he can be healthy and take care of his children. Another man we spoke to had a more positive outlook. He knew it was important to be a good example for other people with HIV. He also proceeded to ask us for some support, a new mattress, food, or anything we could give him. (Mary as I was writing this I thought of the song “Black and Gold” when I was singing it in your car at the beach-I love you). Another woman we talked to was extremely upset…Megan talked to her and Pierre was amazing. They both helped explain to her that with medication and following treatment she can live a good life. We moved on to some heparin flushes (drug to put through IVs so the blood doesn’t clot up the line). Cassidy came to the hospital to pick us up. In the meantime a patient came into the ER with TB and so Megan was called because no one else at the hospital really treats the TB patients. He had an oxygen saturation level in the 70s and it moved up to 85 or so with 5 liters of oxygen. He refused to keep the oxygen on his mouth. Megan was a little distraught and kind of had her hands full with this patient because she knew if he didn’t keep the oxygen on he was not going to make it through the night. The assumption was that he had a very low saturation level for an extended period of time and so his mind was not functioning properly-he was being aggressive as I tried to get some saline out of his IV…a needle was stuck in the bag and he yanked it away from me as I was sticking it. He then proceeded to pull out the needle and hold it like a weapon towards anyone that stepped near him (I am not exaggerating). The patient was 24 years old and probably had multiple drug resistant TB. His mom eventually came to the ER...Megan explained to her that if he didn’t keep the oxygen on he was going to die that night. Even after she told the patient and his mom repeatedly; he continued to refuse oxygen. The patient continued to refuse the oxygen for about 2-3 hours. His mom acknowledged that he made the decision to not use the oxygen and she respected it and let him make the decision. We thought of administering Haldol at one point but Megan decided against it because she knew it might decrease his respiratory effort. We couldn’t transfer him to another hospital because he probably had MDR-TB. Eventually Megan wrote a note saying that she did all she could and the patient refused treatment. One of her favorite TB nurses was working that night and so she felt better leaving.
Megan is an incredible doctor and getting to know her has been a blessing. I am learning an incredible amount from her throughout the days at the TB tents. Most times I don’t even have to ask questions…she explains things as she goes. We eventually got a ride from her driver and headed home. Once home I jumped in the shower and ate quick because I knew we were going to listen to Cuban music and then head to the Oloffson to listen to the owner’s band. We ate spaghetti and I noticed that the ghetto sled was gone officially. We were off…Alex drove and we got down the hill from the house when we noticed a flat tire on the truck. We stopped at a gas station and got the tire fixed-we rigged the flat tire to Cassidy’s bike and him and Chicago went to get it fixed. Willie a friend of Mike’s from IMC came to hang out for the night. Once the tire was partially fixed we made it up to Petion-Ville to go to another tire repair place on the side of the road. The place with the Cuban music was fancy and a lot of fun…it was packed, and the band played some Buena Vista Social Club which made me really happy! Off to the Oloffson around 11-we rode with Willie this time and Alex packed his car with some friends. The guys at the front door said it was $10 US dollars per person and eventually everyone got in except for Nick, Tuwanda and I so we just paid the money. The place was packed and a lot of fun.
In general when people tell stories about other volunteers or workers they meet in Haiti it begins with “so and so is crazy..” and I noticed that almost everyone says that about everyone they meet. My thought is we all are crazy for being here in the first place-not in a bad way, just in the sense that we all are doing something that others would call crazy while we are completely content with the decision to be here. I keep thinking about how/why God puts these people in my life…I know He has a plan and I realize that one day I will be able to figure it out (well…maybe).
8/2
Friday-worked at the TB tents until about 3 and then relaxed the rest of the night at home
Saturday-Went on a walk with Ellen, Tuwanda, and Ely. We originally wanted to just take a walk and get out of the house for a little bit, stretch out legs…but it ended up taking us to the plaza. We went and hung out on the roof for a bit. Tuwanda was making a beat for Ely and he was dancing away as usual. He loves Michael Jackson and can dance just like him…seriously the kid is a good dancer. Saturday was pretty laid back…we ended up going to Grass Roots United for the night. We had a good time there listening to music, socializing, etc. Just figured I would let you all know that we do get to hang out and decompress from time to time.
Sunday- we relaxed some more and did some organizing and planning of the next week.
Monday-Not sure what day this happened but two US marines joined us for a little while: Sully and Riaan. One stayed only a couple days but the other one stays until the 17th. They are both great guys and all I could think about was growing up hearing the rumors about how the marines go through some of the toughest training. They had a decent amount of gear on them and we had fun learning about the purposes of all their bags and things (not the best description, sorry).
Tuwanda, Ellen and I worked at a clinic set up in an old amusement park-the organization’s name is AMIR Haiti. There were only 2 doctors there: Tuwanda and a Haitian doctor. Usually there is a big group of people from the states and they see 300 patients per day. This Monday there were only two doctors and 4 nurses. Ellen and I can’t do much diagnosing so we helped obtain vital signs from everyone and aided in filling prescriptions. I did a couple IVs and ran around helping Tuwanda the best I could. Tuwanda ended up seeing 50 patients or more-which is amazing, she was exhausted. It was a long day and we made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for dinner!
8/3
Breakfast was really good…we had bananas, peanut butter and granola. I think I am going to phase out eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). Working at the TB tents. Lina died last night, her body was still there when we arrived around 930. Ellen and I did some dressing changes, labs-11 labs and 1 IV. I brought Megan a cliff bar because I know she doesn’t get a quick break to eat too much. The Haitian nurses feed her in the afternoon usually but I thought a cliff bar couldn’t hurt. We had to draw a lab from a 15 year old patient today…she was crying, upset, and nervous. We have developed a really good relationship with her and so we tried our best to distract her and tell her it wouldn’t take a long time. The marines picked us up from the general hospital/HUEH (where the TB tents are located). Ellen was on this one and so we eventually got a smaller needle and when she stuck her the patient didn’t even flinch…I don’t think she even knew it happened. We told her she did great and was very brave. There is a patient we draw blood from a lot and the first couple times we drew blood she would jump pretty bad. When I say jump I mean move her arm as the needle is going in her vein. She was really sick, throwing up most days and she received normal saline (fluids) almost every day. She has improved dramatically and did not move when I drew the blood this time. I told her I was very proud of her and that she is looking a lot better. She walks around now and is doing great.
Another patient-an older man-lights up every time we bathe him. He likes to feel “fresh” he says. After lunch we asked a list of patients about the amount of sputum cups they were given. Megan was starting a new round and to have a good sample you need to do 3 sputum (spit) cups, one each morning, and cough into a cup before you eat, drink, or brush your teeth. This is one of the best ways to diagnose TB and to see if a patient is still infectious.
8/4
One of the marines left and Ellen, Tuwanda and I were off to Partners in Development for two days. Junior and Riaan drove us to Medishare where we met the PID people. The boys picked up a 16 year old boy with a mandible fracture (jaw). We got some egg sandwiches for everyone because Heather told us about an egg sandwich lady that works outside of Medishare. They were really good egg sandwiches. Once we got to PID they linked us up with some translators and we began seeing patients. Once again Ellen and I cannot diagnose so it was more or less triage work for us. Tuwanda and an experienced nurse at the clinic helped teach me how to do a vaginal exam. It was my first time and I am so glad they were there to teach me! PID does amazing stuff in Haiti and Guatemala. They are doing a major parasite study in Guatemala that has been successful in decreasing the amount of parasite infections in a couple towns. We ate really well at PID, they had some good authentic Haitian food as well as some good pasta with meat sauce. We talked a lot about parasites…which I learned is one of Tuwanda’s favorite topics. On a side note, Tuwanda is so much fun and I can’t wait to visit her in the states. She told us that she does the centipede in the office where she works…her patients have seen her do the worm on the floor before, man I wish she was my doctor growing up. She would fit in well with my family because that girl is crazy (remember what I said earlier about crazy people in Haiti).
I am truly grateful for everyone I am learning from down here…I am not sure they know it but at night I am in awe of how much they know. I realize I will hopefully be there one day, but for now I am blessed and thankful for everyone who is willing to teach and answer all of my questions.
8/5
Prenatal day at the PID clinic-Ellen and I are not great with prenatal stuff so we hung with Tuwanda all day and learned how to do a full prenatal assessment. The questions to ask, feeling the fundus (top of the uterus), feeling baby, using a Doppler to hear the baby’s heartbeat., etc. We got picked up around 7, 8 at Medishare.
Random culture thing I wanted to share-One day at the TB tents there was a woman in distress, her clothes were every which way and so I straightened her clothing up to cover her breasts. Megan told me later on that it isn’t necessary to cover anyone up here because in their culture being exposed is not a bad thing. I should have known this because all around the tents people take baths/showers out from under the tents and do not feel ashamed in any way.
We went to a tent camp to see a child with Cerebral Palsy. Tuwanda was supposed to take a look at his meds to make sure he had the right ones and was taking the right ones. While in the tent camp I had to hold it together…as in hold back tears. It is extremely hard sometimes to stand in the tent camps and see how these people live. Their energy is incredible despite their living situation. This particular camp shares grounds with a hog farm. Most children run around barefoot on the mud. Truly it is hard to describe…thinking of how unsanitary it is, how unhealthy it is, and how they struggle getting food day to day. I have a hard time describing the situation…it breaks my heart at times, but other times I realize that they do not know anything more than what they live with every day. The wealth and abundance of the American life might be unknown to them and so for them, family and some sort of roof over their head is enough. These are just my observations as a 22 year old American girl working in Haiti. The smiles and energy from the people help me get through the day.
Worked in the TB tents all day until about 7:30pm. Pierre was with us and we did our usual dressing changes, labs, and IV checks. Megan also wanted us to talk to the HIV positive patients about their meds and make sure they understand they will take medicine for life. The main thing was to tell them that when they leave the hospital they still need to get meds and continue taking them every day. One patient was pretty defensive about how he got HIV-he wanted us to know that he is a good guy and that he has never had sex with anyone other than his wife. He wanted us to know that he has children and that he works very hard. As I was hearing this I was looking at a man who can’t walk and is extremely thin…I am picturing his children hugging him and sitting on his lap. His wife comes to the tent often to help take care of him. It was hard for him to accept his diagnosis…in Haiti HIV/AIDS has a really bad reputation for its association with promiscuity. We told him that we believe he is a good man and that since the test was positive we have to focus on the future and how he can be healthy and take care of his children. Another man we spoke to had a more positive outlook. He knew it was important to be a good example for other people with HIV. He also proceeded to ask us for some support, a new mattress, food, or anything we could give him. (Mary as I was writing this I thought of the song “Black and Gold” when I was singing it in your car at the beach-I love you). Another woman we talked to was extremely upset…Megan talked to her and Pierre was amazing. They both helped explain to her that with medication and following treatment she can live a good life. We moved on to some heparin flushes (drug to put through IVs so the blood doesn’t clot up the line). Cassidy came to the hospital to pick us up. In the meantime a patient came into the ER with TB and so Megan was called because no one else at the hospital really treats the TB patients. He had an oxygen saturation level in the 70s and it moved up to 85 or so with 5 liters of oxygen. He refused to keep the oxygen on his mouth. Megan was a little distraught and kind of had her hands full with this patient because she knew if he didn’t keep the oxygen on he was not going to make it through the night. The assumption was that he had a very low saturation level for an extended period of time and so his mind was not functioning properly-he was being aggressive as I tried to get some saline out of his IV…a needle was stuck in the bag and he yanked it away from me as I was sticking it. He then proceeded to pull out the needle and hold it like a weapon towards anyone that stepped near him (I am not exaggerating). The patient was 24 years old and probably had multiple drug resistant TB. His mom eventually came to the ER...Megan explained to her that if he didn’t keep the oxygen on he was going to die that night. Even after she told the patient and his mom repeatedly; he continued to refuse oxygen. The patient continued to refuse the oxygen for about 2-3 hours. His mom acknowledged that he made the decision to not use the oxygen and she respected it and let him make the decision. We thought of administering Haldol at one point but Megan decided against it because she knew it might decrease his respiratory effort. We couldn’t transfer him to another hospital because he probably had MDR-TB. Eventually Megan wrote a note saying that she did all she could and the patient refused treatment. One of her favorite TB nurses was working that night and so she felt better leaving.
Megan is an incredible doctor and getting to know her has been a blessing. I am learning an incredible amount from her throughout the days at the TB tents. Most times I don’t even have to ask questions…she explains things as she goes. We eventually got a ride from her driver and headed home. Once home I jumped in the shower and ate quick because I knew we were going to listen to Cuban music and then head to the Oloffson to listen to the owner’s band. We ate spaghetti and I noticed that the ghetto sled was gone officially. We were off…Alex drove and we got down the hill from the house when we noticed a flat tire on the truck. We stopped at a gas station and got the tire fixed-we rigged the flat tire to Cassidy’s bike and him and Chicago went to get it fixed. Willie a friend of Mike’s from IMC came to hang out for the night. Once the tire was partially fixed we made it up to Petion-Ville to go to another tire repair place on the side of the road. The place with the Cuban music was fancy and a lot of fun…it was packed, and the band played some Buena Vista Social Club which made me really happy! Off to the Oloffson around 11-we rode with Willie this time and Alex packed his car with some friends. The guys at the front door said it was $10 US dollars per person and eventually everyone got in except for Nick, Tuwanda and I so we just paid the money. The place was packed and a lot of fun.
In general when people tell stories about other volunteers or workers they meet in Haiti it begins with “so and so is crazy..” and I noticed that almost everyone says that about everyone they meet. My thought is we all are crazy for being here in the first place-not in a bad way, just in the sense that we all are doing something that others would call crazy while we are completely content with the decision to be here. I keep thinking about how/why God puts these people in my life…I know He has a plan and I realize that one day I will be able to figure it out (well…maybe).
8/2
Friday-worked at the TB tents until about 3 and then relaxed the rest of the night at home
Saturday-Went on a walk with Ellen, Tuwanda, and Ely. We originally wanted to just take a walk and get out of the house for a little bit, stretch out legs…but it ended up taking us to the plaza. We went and hung out on the roof for a bit. Tuwanda was making a beat for Ely and he was dancing away as usual. He loves Michael Jackson and can dance just like him…seriously the kid is a good dancer. Saturday was pretty laid back…we ended up going to Grass Roots United for the night. We had a good time there listening to music, socializing, etc. Just figured I would let you all know that we do get to hang out and decompress from time to time.
Sunday- we relaxed some more and did some organizing and planning of the next week.
Monday-Not sure what day this happened but two US marines joined us for a little while: Sully and Riaan. One stayed only a couple days but the other one stays until the 17th. They are both great guys and all I could think about was growing up hearing the rumors about how the marines go through some of the toughest training. They had a decent amount of gear on them and we had fun learning about the purposes of all their bags and things (not the best description, sorry).
Tuwanda, Ellen and I worked at a clinic set up in an old amusement park-the organization’s name is AMIR Haiti. There were only 2 doctors there: Tuwanda and a Haitian doctor. Usually there is a big group of people from the states and they see 300 patients per day. This Monday there were only two doctors and 4 nurses. Ellen and I can’t do much diagnosing so we helped obtain vital signs from everyone and aided in filling prescriptions. I did a couple IVs and ran around helping Tuwanda the best I could. Tuwanda ended up seeing 50 patients or more-which is amazing, she was exhausted. It was a long day and we made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for dinner!
8/3
Breakfast was really good…we had bananas, peanut butter and granola. I think I am going to phase out eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). Working at the TB tents. Lina died last night, her body was still there when we arrived around 930. Ellen and I did some dressing changes, labs-11 labs and 1 IV. I brought Megan a cliff bar because I know she doesn’t get a quick break to eat too much. The Haitian nurses feed her in the afternoon usually but I thought a cliff bar couldn’t hurt. We had to draw a lab from a 15 year old patient today…she was crying, upset, and nervous. We have developed a really good relationship with her and so we tried our best to distract her and tell her it wouldn’t take a long time. The marines picked us up from the general hospital/HUEH (where the TB tents are located). Ellen was on this one and so we eventually got a smaller needle and when she stuck her the patient didn’t even flinch…I don’t think she even knew it happened. We told her she did great and was very brave. There is a patient we draw blood from a lot and the first couple times we drew blood she would jump pretty bad. When I say jump I mean move her arm as the needle is going in her vein. She was really sick, throwing up most days and she received normal saline (fluids) almost every day. She has improved dramatically and did not move when I drew the blood this time. I told her I was very proud of her and that she is looking a lot better. She walks around now and is doing great.
Another patient-an older man-lights up every time we bathe him. He likes to feel “fresh” he says. After lunch we asked a list of patients about the amount of sputum cups they were given. Megan was starting a new round and to have a good sample you need to do 3 sputum (spit) cups, one each morning, and cough into a cup before you eat, drink, or brush your teeth. This is one of the best ways to diagnose TB and to see if a patient is still infectious.
8/4
One of the marines left and Ellen, Tuwanda and I were off to Partners in Development for two days. Junior and Riaan drove us to Medishare where we met the PID people. The boys picked up a 16 year old boy with a mandible fracture (jaw). We got some egg sandwiches for everyone because Heather told us about an egg sandwich lady that works outside of Medishare. They were really good egg sandwiches. Once we got to PID they linked us up with some translators and we began seeing patients. Once again Ellen and I cannot diagnose so it was more or less triage work for us. Tuwanda and an experienced nurse at the clinic helped teach me how to do a vaginal exam. It was my first time and I am so glad they were there to teach me! PID does amazing stuff in Haiti and Guatemala. They are doing a major parasite study in Guatemala that has been successful in decreasing the amount of parasite infections in a couple towns. We ate really well at PID, they had some good authentic Haitian food as well as some good pasta with meat sauce. We talked a lot about parasites…which I learned is one of Tuwanda’s favorite topics. On a side note, Tuwanda is so much fun and I can’t wait to visit her in the states. She told us that she does the centipede in the office where she works…her patients have seen her do the worm on the floor before, man I wish she was my doctor growing up. She would fit in well with my family because that girl is crazy (remember what I said earlier about crazy people in Haiti).
I am truly grateful for everyone I am learning from down here…I am not sure they know it but at night I am in awe of how much they know. I realize I will hopefully be there one day, but for now I am blessed and thankful for everyone who is willing to teach and answer all of my questions.
8/5
Prenatal day at the PID clinic-Ellen and I are not great with prenatal stuff so we hung with Tuwanda all day and learned how to do a full prenatal assessment. The questions to ask, feeling the fundus (top of the uterus), feeling baby, using a Doppler to hear the baby’s heartbeat., etc. We got picked up around 7, 8 at Medishare.
Random culture thing I wanted to share-One day at the TB tents there was a woman in distress, her clothes were every which way and so I straightened her clothing up to cover her breasts. Megan told me later on that it isn’t necessary to cover anyone up here because in their culture being exposed is not a bad thing. I should have known this because all around the tents people take baths/showers out from under the tents and do not feel ashamed in any way.
We went to a tent camp to see a child with Cerebral Palsy. Tuwanda was supposed to take a look at his meds to make sure he had the right ones and was taking the right ones. While in the tent camp I had to hold it together…as in hold back tears. It is extremely hard sometimes to stand in the tent camps and see how these people live. Their energy is incredible despite their living situation. This particular camp shares grounds with a hog farm. Most children run around barefoot on the mud. Truly it is hard to describe…thinking of how unsanitary it is, how unhealthy it is, and how they struggle getting food day to day. I have a hard time describing the situation…it breaks my heart at times, but other times I realize that they do not know anything more than what they live with every day. The wealth and abundance of the American life might be unknown to them and so for them, family and some sort of roof over their head is enough. These are just my observations as a 22 year old American girl working in Haiti. The smiles and energy from the people help me get through the day.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
TB Tents
Monday Ellen, Jameson (our translator) and I worked in the tents for about 11 hours. It was a pretty usual day-wound dressing changes, cleaning people up, starting IVs, drawing labs, etc. Then a woman came in who had really bad respiratory distress and Megan wanted to get an IV started asap, then get her on oxygen, do some fluid resuscitation, and start on a thoracentesis (her right lung was filled with fluid up to around her heart...the procedure goes in through the space between your ribs and pull fluid out with a syringe). Megan wanted to get 500ml out and we ended up getting around 150ml in around 1 hour and a half. We tried to start multiple IVs but she was extremely dehydrated and so almost every IV we started infiltrated (her arm blew up bc the IV was not in her vein, it was in her tissue space). So as we are trying to get fluid in her, we are having two people hold the syringe...one steady the bottom and the other pulling the plunger (an hour and a half in the TB tents with no break you lose a ton of fluid and most of it seems to come out of your head and in your mask) We wear special masks when working with TB patients to decrease the transmission. Anyway, after the thoracentesis was finished we tried to put in a internal jugular line (on your neck, close to your carotid artery). Eventually we got one in and left the patient and her brother to watch the line. With that line in you have to stay extremely still or it will pull out easily. We had to use an ultrasound to find where it is and place the catheter.
So we were walking outside of the tents and someone came up to us and said "Dr. Coffee?" and pointed to their neck. Immediately I dropped my bags and sprinted to the tent where the woman had the line in her neck-I thought that it had come out and it was potentially squirting out. IT WASN'T but I figured it was a good first reaction, an amateur one, but still a good thought. The IV came out of her neck but she was not bleeding. Eventually they put a line in her femoral artery (leg). She passed away later that night and it was sad to hear. Her brother was an amazing man who helped out a lot in the tents with anything and everything. He should have been getting paid but of course was not. Generally in the tents if you have family you get taking care of, cleaned up, etc. If you do not then you hopefully get lucky and have ellen, megan, or I clean you up...BUT sometimes other families help take care of other patients without families. The nurses here do not clean patients, it is up to the family.
Tuesday we ran some errands, and today we worked in the tents again. Ellen and I are kicking but at putting in IVS and drawing labs. Pretty awesome considering it was our 4th day.
I love everyone and will hopefully update again soon.
PS went to an orphanage tuesday...that is my high for the week when we go and get to play with kids. I will post pictures on snapfish from the orphanage, http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2372139021/a=1455062021_1455062021/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/.
ENJOY!!
So we were walking outside of the tents and someone came up to us and said "Dr. Coffee?" and pointed to their neck. Immediately I dropped my bags and sprinted to the tent where the woman had the line in her neck-I thought that it had come out and it was potentially squirting out. IT WASN'T but I figured it was a good first reaction, an amateur one, but still a good thought. The IV came out of her neck but she was not bleeding. Eventually they put a line in her femoral artery (leg). She passed away later that night and it was sad to hear. Her brother was an amazing man who helped out a lot in the tents with anything and everything. He should have been getting paid but of course was not. Generally in the tents if you have family you get taking care of, cleaned up, etc. If you do not then you hopefully get lucky and have ellen, megan, or I clean you up...BUT sometimes other families help take care of other patients without families. The nurses here do not clean patients, it is up to the family.
Tuesday we ran some errands, and today we worked in the tents again. Ellen and I are kicking but at putting in IVS and drawing labs. Pretty awesome considering it was our 4th day.
I love everyone and will hopefully update again soon.
PS went to an orphanage tuesday...that is my high for the week when we go and get to play with kids. I will post pictures on snapfish from the orphanage, http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2372139021/a=1455062021_1455062021/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/.
ENJOY!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
First week...couldn't be happier
Okay okay finally I am going to update, please excuse the bad grammar...We got here Saturday and I hung with BP (Big Paul) and Heather (bad ass nurse from Brooklyn, born and raised). We went to a gas station to hang before picking up Ellen. I met a guy name Sam from Grass Roots United, another group down here doing work. We have gotten to know them even more over the week...everyone else knew them pretty well before, but it seems like the connection is growing and will continue to grow.
List of people at the house for the past week: BP, Ellen, myself, Heather, Lauren/Pig Pen (if you read Bp's Blog you will know who I am talking about), Mike, Chelsea, and Mickey. The other people are some boys from Haiti, a couple that can speak English which is great because without them we would be pretty lost-Junior, Ralph, Ellie, Billy, and Forest. Lauren left this past Friday and Cassidy and Tuwanda came in Saturday. Tuwanda is a family practice doctor from Chicago and Cassidy is an EMT from NYC. Tuwanda will be hanging with us for two weeks (and she is a great merengue dancer! last night we went dancing and it was a whole lot of fun...I danced with the smallest man on the dance floor-he came up to my shoulder. Ellen, Cassidy, Heather, BP, Tuwanda and I went dancing and Cassidy and Heather were cracking up the crowd with their excellent white people dancing!)
First off I felt pretty overwhelmed with just how many people and groups these guys know. It is truly amazing how well everyone collaborates together here in Haiti. I was pretty nervous about how exactly I was going to get all these names and groups down. So far I have met a lot of people and have been doing well remembering names and faces. Soon I will have a Haiti phone which is gold pretty much here when it comes to getting work done. The group does this: whoever is here we work clinics, that other groups are trying to run, or we try to run our own at different locations. The rest of the time we find out what hospitals/groups need medical supply wise and try to get them and distribute them. Soooo a couple groups have HUGE warehouses of supplies that just sit...early on it was easy to walk in and grab what you or whoever else needs. Now people have to have more strict inventories to be able to continue being funded...aka here is what we have, here is who we gave it to and what they are going to do with it (Red Tape, important red tape because if it wasn't there then no one would be able to be funded well-p.s. we need funds!!!!!!! visit mmrc-us.org)
If you are confused then please let me know and I will try to explain better-one of our latest projects-getting 60,000 condoms to distribute and to use for sexual education clinics. We might run some of the clinics ourselves but we also will probably collaborate with other groups to set them up as well.
This week-
Sunday-organized the house, ran through supplies sitting around and set it up in a somewhat orderly fashion. Went to a restaurant Mun Cheese-got some REALLY good pizza and hung out. Then rode home in the back of the truck in the pouring rain and got drenched to my undies.
Monday-Clinic at a church, each patient would come in and you would ask them why they are here, take their blood pressure, temp, pulse, etc. Then as a nurse we would make a decision whether they needed to see the one doctor we had working there, or we would just give them tylenol, or meds for reflux. A LOT of women came in for yeast infections/probable STD infections.
Tuesday-Ellen and I stayed home while Lauren and Heather went to the same clinic because they were a little bit better at making decisions and understanding the history. We organized some more and delivered some supplies
Wednesay-I think that day we went around to a couple orphanages to check them out, give them some food we got, and see what they need. One place had a bunch of kids with the same type of rash and so the next day we got one of them and the adult there to go to the hospital to get checked out. That way we could find a treatment for all of them and teach them about how to clean their area/clothes, etc. The orphanages are my favorite ( I know you aren't surprised)because I get to hang out with these little girls and boys that just smile and run up to you. Sometimes not all of them approach us at first, but then they warm up and we have a great time taking pictures, drawing, and just hanging out.
Thursday-Ellen and I worked in the TB tents with Megan Coffee who is an amazing doctor from Harvard. She has about 50 patients. Ellen and I change wound dressings, draw labs, clean people up, and show them some love! These people are very sick and Megan does an incredible job keeping them healthy. So then Ellen and I get picked up in the truck as usual and we ended up getting drenched again. This time it felt like getting slapped in the face by small pebbles. We were trying to hold down a tarp on some supplies so they wouldn't get drenched. Meanwhile Mike and Heather open the back window and stick their cameras out and take a picture of us, laughing their butts off...so sweet. Then we went to Grass Roots United to say hey, hang out, and network some more. They have a hole in their wall around their place where you can ring a bell and get beer! Yes, incredible I know. I was so dehydrated and hadn't eaten much...drank 3 beers (yes I am sure you are thinking ooooh goodness) and I was pretty tipsy. I was definitely hungover Friday...to the point I drank 2 gatorades and took an anti-nausea med...hahaha typical.
Friday-TB tents again, a little faster this time, and then we went home and relaxed for the afternoon. Mun cheese again for some internet and relaxation.
Saturday-BP came back in town, he left for a couple days to "rest" and get some work done. We organized some IV fluids and went out to eat at a nice restaurant. Went out dancing last night as I mentioned earlier, I was in Heaven.
Sunday-chillen at the hotel/pool and letting you guys know what I have been doing!
Two quick funny stories-sadly I was not there for either one but they are great (and yes I am not the best story teller)
We picked up 25 wheelchairs...Mike and Heather were driving along with another truck. They stop at a stoplight and see a woman with one leg missing, dragging a 40lb bag of rice on her lap. They jump out of the truck, grab a wheelchair and head for the woman. They then proceeded to lift her up (no way of telling her what is about to happen) and put her in the wheelchair. Later that day we drove by, the wheelchair still there but the woman was missing. The wheelchairs are from a group that has an assembly line that turns these things out quick. They are made from nice big bike tires, those plastic chairs you keep outside on your deck, and have a wrench built in for emergencies.
Next story-Heather and Mike again.
So Forest is walking outside around the house getting a Coca Cola or something-some cops stop him and ask him why he has a couple cell phones in his hand (his, Ralph's, and Juniors). He explains whose they are and then the cops ask him how old he is...Forest says 15, and they ask when he was born, he says 1985! Then they took the phones and Forest went home to tell everyone. So then Heather, who you do not want to mess with AT ALL, and Mike walk up to the cops. Heather points to the cop shows some hand signals that basically mean "YOU GIVE ME CELL PHONES NOW!" They do not understand English and eventually the cell phones were returned. These are the stories that keep me going...Heather has an amazing talent for telling great stories. Her Brooklyn accent is one part of it, but the other is the way she can put together a story and add in her own punch lines. I will miss her dearly. She has been an ER nurse in NYC for 10 years or so and I am learning a shit ton from her.
I am truly blessed here with these people. They are fun, caring, intelligent, driven, and welcoming unlike any other. The Lord is always on my mind and with me every day. I ask him for strength and patience (which is truly needed here for it is an island, and the people are on island time). I am so thankful for everyone that supports me and could not do this without you all! I miss you and am sending love your way always. Please send me good vibes!
List of people at the house for the past week: BP, Ellen, myself, Heather, Lauren/Pig Pen (if you read Bp's Blog you will know who I am talking about), Mike, Chelsea, and Mickey. The other people are some boys from Haiti, a couple that can speak English which is great because without them we would be pretty lost-Junior, Ralph, Ellie, Billy, and Forest. Lauren left this past Friday and Cassidy and Tuwanda came in Saturday. Tuwanda is a family practice doctor from Chicago and Cassidy is an EMT from NYC. Tuwanda will be hanging with us for two weeks (and she is a great merengue dancer! last night we went dancing and it was a whole lot of fun...I danced with the smallest man on the dance floor-he came up to my shoulder. Ellen, Cassidy, Heather, BP, Tuwanda and I went dancing and Cassidy and Heather were cracking up the crowd with their excellent white people dancing!)
First off I felt pretty overwhelmed with just how many people and groups these guys know. It is truly amazing how well everyone collaborates together here in Haiti. I was pretty nervous about how exactly I was going to get all these names and groups down. So far I have met a lot of people and have been doing well remembering names and faces. Soon I will have a Haiti phone which is gold pretty much here when it comes to getting work done. The group does this: whoever is here we work clinics, that other groups are trying to run, or we try to run our own at different locations. The rest of the time we find out what hospitals/groups need medical supply wise and try to get them and distribute them. Soooo a couple groups have HUGE warehouses of supplies that just sit...early on it was easy to walk in and grab what you or whoever else needs. Now people have to have more strict inventories to be able to continue being funded...aka here is what we have, here is who we gave it to and what they are going to do with it (Red Tape, important red tape because if it wasn't there then no one would be able to be funded well-p.s. we need funds!!!!!!! visit mmrc-us.org)
If you are confused then please let me know and I will try to explain better-one of our latest projects-getting 60,000 condoms to distribute and to use for sexual education clinics. We might run some of the clinics ourselves but we also will probably collaborate with other groups to set them up as well.
This week-
Sunday-organized the house, ran through supplies sitting around and set it up in a somewhat orderly fashion. Went to a restaurant Mun Cheese-got some REALLY good pizza and hung out. Then rode home in the back of the truck in the pouring rain and got drenched to my undies.
Monday-Clinic at a church, each patient would come in and you would ask them why they are here, take their blood pressure, temp, pulse, etc. Then as a nurse we would make a decision whether they needed to see the one doctor we had working there, or we would just give them tylenol, or meds for reflux. A LOT of women came in for yeast infections/probable STD infections.
Tuesday-Ellen and I stayed home while Lauren and Heather went to the same clinic because they were a little bit better at making decisions and understanding the history. We organized some more and delivered some supplies
Wednesay-I think that day we went around to a couple orphanages to check them out, give them some food we got, and see what they need. One place had a bunch of kids with the same type of rash and so the next day we got one of them and the adult there to go to the hospital to get checked out. That way we could find a treatment for all of them and teach them about how to clean their area/clothes, etc. The orphanages are my favorite ( I know you aren't surprised)because I get to hang out with these little girls and boys that just smile and run up to you. Sometimes not all of them approach us at first, but then they warm up and we have a great time taking pictures, drawing, and just hanging out.
Thursday-Ellen and I worked in the TB tents with Megan Coffee who is an amazing doctor from Harvard. She has about 50 patients. Ellen and I change wound dressings, draw labs, clean people up, and show them some love! These people are very sick and Megan does an incredible job keeping them healthy. So then Ellen and I get picked up in the truck as usual and we ended up getting drenched again. This time it felt like getting slapped in the face by small pebbles. We were trying to hold down a tarp on some supplies so they wouldn't get drenched. Meanwhile Mike and Heather open the back window and stick their cameras out and take a picture of us, laughing their butts off...so sweet. Then we went to Grass Roots United to say hey, hang out, and network some more. They have a hole in their wall around their place where you can ring a bell and get beer! Yes, incredible I know. I was so dehydrated and hadn't eaten much...drank 3 beers (yes I am sure you are thinking ooooh goodness) and I was pretty tipsy. I was definitely hungover Friday...to the point I drank 2 gatorades and took an anti-nausea med...hahaha typical.
Friday-TB tents again, a little faster this time, and then we went home and relaxed for the afternoon. Mun cheese again for some internet and relaxation.
Saturday-BP came back in town, he left for a couple days to "rest" and get some work done. We organized some IV fluids and went out to eat at a nice restaurant. Went out dancing last night as I mentioned earlier, I was in Heaven.
Sunday-chillen at the hotel/pool and letting you guys know what I have been doing!
Two quick funny stories-sadly I was not there for either one but they are great (and yes I am not the best story teller)
We picked up 25 wheelchairs...Mike and Heather were driving along with another truck. They stop at a stoplight and see a woman with one leg missing, dragging a 40lb bag of rice on her lap. They jump out of the truck, grab a wheelchair and head for the woman. They then proceeded to lift her up (no way of telling her what is about to happen) and put her in the wheelchair. Later that day we drove by, the wheelchair still there but the woman was missing. The wheelchairs are from a group that has an assembly line that turns these things out quick. They are made from nice big bike tires, those plastic chairs you keep outside on your deck, and have a wrench built in for emergencies.
Next story-Heather and Mike again.
So Forest is walking outside around the house getting a Coca Cola or something-some cops stop him and ask him why he has a couple cell phones in his hand (his, Ralph's, and Juniors). He explains whose they are and then the cops ask him how old he is...Forest says 15, and they ask when he was born, he says 1985! Then they took the phones and Forest went home to tell everyone. So then Heather, who you do not want to mess with AT ALL, and Mike walk up to the cops. Heather points to the cop shows some hand signals that basically mean "YOU GIVE ME CELL PHONES NOW!" They do not understand English and eventually the cell phones were returned. These are the stories that keep me going...Heather has an amazing talent for telling great stories. Her Brooklyn accent is one part of it, but the other is the way she can put together a story and add in her own punch lines. I will miss her dearly. She has been an ER nurse in NYC for 10 years or so and I am learning a shit ton from her.
I am truly blessed here with these people. They are fun, caring, intelligent, driven, and welcoming unlike any other. The Lord is always on my mind and with me every day. I ask him for strength and patience (which is truly needed here for it is an island, and the people are on island time). I am so thankful for everyone that supports me and could not do this without you all! I miss you and am sending love your way always. Please send me good vibes!
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