After one last visit to the newborn and mother, we enjoyed our favorite dinner of chicken, rice and beans, then we retired to the rooftop as planned. When the moon rose above the horizon and clouds it was once again bright enough to light the entire countryside around us. We did not have a round 2 of cards but we certainly did not miss the opportunity for team bonding – chatting, singing, sharing stories of family, brainstorming new fundraising opportunities and laughing throughout. At some point the days events caught up with us and we called it a night.
This is where the story gets difficult. Before breakfast, Carey and Kitty made an early house call to check on baby and mother, only to learn that the baby had passed in the night.We are crushed.We try so hard to provide care and assistance, all the while taking great care to respect cultural practices, and yet our efforts have failed this time. It made for a very somber start to our day, but Léon reminded me that we are not always in control and that sometimes this is how the story ends. I think back on all of our trips to this country and despite many encounters and some close calls, we have never been touched in this way. That is probably near 5,000 patients seen….it is no less difficult to accept.
For me and I think the rest of the team, those here with us and those now reading this at home, I believe this just illustrates how important it is to forge ahead with our plans. No one can know if this situation would have ended differently with an established clinic on the island, but I can’t help but think that helping to improve the general health of the population will result in better outcomes generally.
So, back to work we went. We loaded our waning supplies and headed off to Bwa Bouton for round 2. The 30 minute ride was a bit longer today as it must have rained last night creating muddied and more rutted “roads”. The heat today was at its greatest and there was not even a whiff of breeze coming through our cozy clinic space. Crowd control was managed much better and the patients were afforded the privacy they deserved. We only saw about 80 patients today, but the heat and the events of the day sapped all our energy.
We did rest at lunch and with our 7th wind we went to the beach to cool down and recharge for the remainder of the trip. It is amazing how being surrounded by 20 plus energetic kids can be restorative. We needed this today! Now, as we wait for dinner, we are enjoying a good cool breeze on the roof, reflecting on our experiences as we consider what the future will bring. My hope is that we will all find peace and remain ever more committed to our mission. After all, our story is still just beginning.
That’s all for now.
Love to All,
The Team
The news of the Mom and the loss of her baby is heart wrenching. So very sad but, I hope you all find a little comfort knowing all the good you bring to these people. Your team is amazing, compassionate, dedicated and such a blessing to all the lives you touch here and abroad <3
Heartbreaking! It’s always so much harder when the babies and children die, as they are the hope of Haiti’s future. I have to wonder, also, that if this poor, grieving mother had been able to receive some prenatal support, good nutrition, and a clean safe place to deliver her newborn, it the outcome could have been different. This clinic can’t come too soon to this island! Thank you for all the hard, heat intensive work this week, and all the Love and support you bring the people in Haiti! Can’t wait to talk to you when you get back ! Much love, Jennyma