First Blog from May Team!

We arrived late in Haiti...around 9 pm and we had figured out who was working the night shift while we waited at the airport in Miami. I won! Actually it made sense for me to work it.
The first night went pretty well, Some of the translators remembered me and gave me big hugs...yeah, pretty wonderful feeling worked in the adult tent and we all got a row of patients. Our charge nurse had been there for a few days and did a great job of orienting everyone and helping. . Things are the same but different. A little more attempt at organization, but the execution still is tough and you have to be realistic in what you are able to accomplish. I ONLY had 15 patients this time!
Sleeping the next day was a challenge...a very HOT day even with AC in the tent and actually getting a bed in the day sleeper section. I woke up at one point and felt like my skin was burning. Quickly remedied that with a shower in my clothes and went back to sleep. The second night really started out nicely everyone with their same patients and feeling very comfortable we actually thought we would haveea smooth night. Boy were we wrong. First the pediatric tent had an electrical fire around midnight? and we evacuated the whole tent outside amidst billowing smoke. Then just after we moved all the ICU patients into the wound area of the adult tent the adult tent also had an electrical fire and we hauled cots w/patient s outside as well. This sounds much more controlled and orderly than it actually was...people were going out the sides of tent into the mud (it had rained earlier that day...torrential downpour). Eventually all patients and family and staff out, shut the power got all sleeping volunteers up to help out and we settled outside. We were outside for several hours. The adult tent was put back together (floor even got washed!!!!) and we ALL moved back in peds, and adults...yep, interesting but we all fit, plus, of course, families. I have respect for the Haitians, such troopers, I can't even begin to explain....It was not as smooth by any stretch as it sounds but it went well. The army helped move all the patients back in.
All are still in the adult tent but making progress with the return to normalcy...whatever that is.
Today no AC in the sleeping tent so most of the day sleepers moved to peds tent (still no patients in it) to sleep because it did have AC and there are a few staff members dropping like flies, getting IVS etc.
A small group of us did manage to go into PAP yesterday. We rented a tap-tap. We visited a tent city...again humbling. I don't think I could live in those conditions and be as gracious and smiling as the people we met and shared a little bit of time with.
Today I visited New Life Childrens orphanage. It is a beautiful place and I will share more thoughts on it later.
My heart is full content and happy to be here again. Not that it isn't difficult and sad and challenging but..... it feels so right.
Lots of love to everyone

Connie