Last night was a great evening on the roof followed by a good night sleeping…for most. I have to share that our experience on Ile a Vache has definitely been a surprise this time…we have running (trickling) water showers fed by water tanks on the roof, we have flushing toilets, we have better cellular service than what we had in Port au Prince, and…wait for it…TWO fans per room. It’s like the Ile a Vache Ritz Carlton!! But more importantly, we have been treated to the same exceptional hospitality by our hosts…what an incredible connection we have made!
So, after a delicious oatmeal breakfast we loaded into the back…and the front of the truck and headed to the clinic in Madame Bernard…otherwise known as the temporary Project Starfish-Haiti/WNY Impact Foundation Clinic. Once we arrived, we quickly set up and began doing what we do…treating the people.
We started just before 10AM and finished at 2PM. We had seen 98 patients, and for those counting, that’s 100 average per day. We did not have any surgeries in clinic but did have an elderly gentleman with the worst congestive heart failure I have ever seen, that Chelsea identified, and within an hour we had facilitated his transport to the mainland hospital. At the same time in clinic, Carey was attending to a young asthmatic girl in respiratory distress…and we had NO inhalers in our supplies…but we managed to obtain one from a local pharmacy and after several treatments she became much more relaxed…crisis averted! In case you are disappointed, have no fear, Kitty excised a large splinter, deep in a young boy’s thigh…on her balcony, where the lighting was best! This just illustrates the necessity of our project and our ultimate goal!
Once we got home and had a delicious tuna salad lunch, some went to the ocean to rinse off the sweat and then scurried up the hill to meet our other family members at Timizou’s new establishment. We communed well!!
We were lucky enough to have a late afternoon downpour and Russ and I took the opportunity to rinse off in fresh water…wish we had some soap! We were treated by Big Boss to fried plantains and my favorite, piklis… a great appetizer for our evening meal of fried fish…delish!!! Russ and I even took part in a Haitian delicacy…sucked the eyeballs…not sure I will go again, but now I feel even more connected to my friends! And Russ surprised us with trick or treat after dinner!!
After dinner, I had the best conversation with our hosts, and know more than ever, this relationship is going to stand the test of time. I only wish they could have known Peter….I hope we are doing his memory justice!
Tomorrow we return to Bwa Bouton…and expect to be HOT…but we will do what we do until we are done treating everyone in need. I am so proud of this team!
That’s all for now! More tomorrow night as always.
Love to All,
The Team
Thanks for the daily updates. Sounds amazing. No question the need for a permanent clinic is profound. Gods speed. Mike
Keep up the good work! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers
Love to all,
Jenny