Friday, December 31, 2010

Yesterday , I met with Brooke and she will be staying until May or June 2011. Hurrah!! Lizzy will leave for Haiti on jan10 to be our new intern until may 15th. She will be a team leader for construction teams and will help with child sponsorship.
I also met with Lisa and she will be doing the newsletter!!
It is looking good for a Happy New Year. Happy New Year to all !

New Year's Eve in Haiti


Robin got a lesson in skimcoating walls from the Haitian masons Gilbert and Deufaux on Friday morning.


 




The clinic closed at midday to celebrate the New Year holiday, which is also the Haitian Independence Day, so our medical volunteers visited the construction site in the afternoon. Here, Jason, Amar and Sarit, assisted by Robin’s friend Junior, are storing sifted sand to be used for mortar.



Amar worked w/ Nurse Bennet, treating two patients with abscessed infections. Medical supplies arrived just in time for the drainage procedures. Med school, here he comes.


Thuy has been working w/ Dr. Sem, treating emergencies, diabetics, pregnant women and children for a variety of illnesses and prenatal care. The highlight for her was helping to deliver a baby on Tuesday.


Brett and Christine have been volunteering in the lab at the clinic. They have been consulting with clinic staff about testing to be used here.


Max, Allie, Megan, Ken and Robin have been sweating it out at the construction site. Work consists of sifting piles of gravel to make sand for mortar and then using the remaining stones to fill the floor holes. Max is convinced he has a Haitian twin, also named Max. Too much tropical sun for Max.


We are lucky to have Martha here to keep us working and instruct us proper disposal of TP. She has a great heart for this work and love for the Haitian people.


Weather is hot during the day and comfortable in the evening, which is cold by the Haitian standards. We are having a quiet New Year’s Eve in Haiti. We wish all of our loved ones at home a happy new year.



 

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Today 4 more people arrived in Haiti as Dru and Billy left. Martha reports that all is well and the team is great.



Guatemala gets ready for a team of 25
Arriving on Jan 2 and 3 to work on the new clinic and run another children’s program!! 200 more kids/ villagers love this program.

Dec. 27 Team to Haiti

Today Ken, Megan, Sarit & Jason arrived safely to the PID compound and Delta Airlines never asked for the PID credit card - go figure! The rest of the team had another great work day.  The construction crew worked on Woodman and Daphne’s house sifting lots of sand to make morter to skim coat the walls. Robin had a little helper named Junior that she fell in love with.  I think she is going to hide him in her suitcase to take home! She was amazed how hard this little boy worked all day long. Max work hard on his construction tasks, but even harder learning Creole from his Haitian co-workers.  Five years of French is paying off.  Max and his Haitian buddies did have fun teasing Allie in Creole! She was a good sport about it and they were able to get a lot of work done.


Our pre-med students are loving their experience assisting in the clinic.  Thuy has been working with Dr Sem and Amar has been helping Bennett.  Christine and Brett ran tests in the lab…. they said they stuck many fingers! 


We are looking forward to another rewarding day.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Martha, Allie, Brett, Christine, Robin and Max made it to Haiti today!!
Got a call from Delta at 4:30AM. “You need to come with the Credit card or the team can’t get on the plane. ” Tonight after 2 hours on hold and 4 customer service people I was no closer to solving the problem that I had to be in NY to show the cc so the team could get on Delta tomorrow. Looks like no more flights on Delta:-(

Dec. 27 Team to Haiti

Six members of the “Dec. 27 Blizzard” Team to Haiti arrived safely today - Dec. 29! This included Martha, Allie, Robin, Max, Christine & Brett.  We had fun getting to know the others (Thuy, Amar, Dru & Billy) who were here over Christmas.  It will be sad to say goodbye to Dru & Billy tomorrow - we are trying to talk them into staying another week! Tomorrow half the team will work on a PID house and neighborhood bath house.  Thuy and Amar will continue assisting in the clinic and Christine and Brett will work in the Lab. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2010



galehull:



The team of four continues with the Christmas parties for the kids in the villages.Thuy( premed student) passes out treats. This team used their Christmas to have fun with the kids in Haiti. Thuy will start work in the Clinic tomorrow.



The team of four continues with the Christmas parties for the kids in the villages.Thuy( premed student) passes out treats. This team used their Christmas to have fun with the kids in Haiti. Thuy will start work in the Clinic tomorrow.

Monday, December 27, 2010

galehull:



Well, four people made it to Haiti . Two people are on a bus to Florida to out of there to get to Haiti on Weds. Three people are driving back from NY to New Hampshire to see what we can come up with. Two others are in NY and will fly out on Thursday. Four more team members will fly out of Boston on Weds. Such is the current status of our team.

Well, four people made it to Haiti . Two people are on a bus to Florida to out of there to get to Haiti on Weds. Three people are driving back from NY to New Hampshire to see what we can come up with. Two others are in NY and will fly out on Thursday. Four more team members will fly out of Boston on Weds. Such is the current status of our team.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Team Travel Status Update

Four members of the latest PID team made it to Haiti safely today, while the other thirteen still await their departure, which was delayed by the blizzard that has hit New England and the rest of the east coast on Sunday.



A walk through Cite Soliel. Woodman , John and I went for a walk to see Woodman’s house and Daphne’s MOM’s house before we started building their new houses in Blanchard.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time. Our Christmas has been full of family. I am happy to be home. Bill and Dru arrived last night and had a christmas party for some children at a handicapped orphanage. Tomorrow Thuy and Azar will arrive and continue
With parties for the kids from the village. Pray the rest of the team leaving on Monday doesn’t get delayed too long, they will begin medical, housing construction, and more Children’s programs.

Dec. 27 team to Haiti

We are watching the developing snow storm closely and hoping that our flights out of Boston and NY Monday morning are not cancelled!

Thursday, December 23, 2010



Just received word that the third baby ( a boy) was delivered in the clinic today. I am nervous that we are turning into a maternity hospital in the short time Brooke and I have been gone.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Today our dog died. She would have been 15 on Christmas Day.

We are busy preparing for the Dec. 27 trip to Haiti!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Thank you to everyone for their kind words about Daphne. We are making a card for her family and it will include all your thoughts and prayers for them .

Monday, December 20, 2010

Today is a sad day. For all of you who know Daphne or have read about our 21 year old diabetic on this blog , she died unexpectedly this weekend. It is such a difficult time for the PID clinic staff, her family and for all of those who loved her and worked so hard to get her healthy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her mother and sisters.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

I am realizing just how behind I am from being out of the country so much.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Oh!! News from Haiti just in. Another baby delivered at the clinic yesterday.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Today , I was overwhelmed when thinking about all the amazing people that work to make PID what it is. The donors, travelers, volunteers and employees are unique and giving individuals. I opened Christmas cards to see donors who include their sponsored child in their family photos.
People traveling to do childrens programs for the kids in Haiti over Christmas. Too many examples of pure selflessness to write.
Thanks to all of you for your care and love for those we work with. They love you too.

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Blanchard area still remains quiet. The biggest obstacle to travel is the airport closing. They will reopen the airport tomorrow. We have suspended trips through Dec 24th. We will then make decisions trip by trip depending on political climate. Our area, Blanchard remains safe. You have an option to travel with PID to Guatemala instead of Haiti. If you wish to change your destination, please contact the office. Thank you for your commitment to working in Haiti.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Well we are all back home. Ashley, Brooke , Jaime and Matt are still working. Blanchard is still quiet.

Friday, December 10, 2010

We are on the Dominican Republic waiting to leave tomorrow for home. The team has once been a wonderful
Team. They accomplished so much medically and with construction.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The last twenty four hours have been different. Last night we kept a sick woman overnight. Totally non responsive , we could send her out because the road was blocked to the hospital. This morning she was fine. Then our mother in labor can at 6:30 and had the baby at 9:05. Tonight at 8:30 after having our flights cancelled after rebooking twice I decided to take the team out through the DR. Long trip home but since they were projecting
The airport exit would not be before next Thursday we decided to leave a different way. So at 5 AM we will drive to the border, take a bus, stay overnight at the airport and then fly home. Jamie, Matt and Dr Ashley will stay as they are not under pressure to leave.



The mom and new baby.

ITS A GIRL. First baby born today at 9:05 AM in our clinic.
Pictures later.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Just want everyone to know , in spite of the news you are hearing we are in a very safe place. We have stores, food and a very nice neighborhood. We have been listening to the Haitian Christmas party music in this neighbor
Every night.
It lasts from 8-2 every night until Jan 5 . As of this moment the party started early.

Today is a bad day in PAP . People ate not happy with the election results. Riots in Port au prince and other places. We are blessed to be in a very safe. The clinic is running and we are building woodemans and dahphne family a new house. Hope to be finished for Christmas. Working on new ultrasound and eye room.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Today the mobile clinic saw 120 people at the pig farm. We found some kids to go into the medika mamba program.
Results of elections where supposed to at 9 but we haven’t heard anything .

Monday, December 6, 2010

Finished giving out almost all of the Christmas bags and presents today.
We had moms and baby group party today. In the afternoon we had 20 kids from the pig farm come for crafts, songs and dance. It was really a great day. The whole team is finally arrived.
The organic gardening plan is in place.
Many very sick patients today.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Went to the village today. Good news from the Mayor. If all goes as planned he will give the people in the tents at the pig farm the land to build on. And PID will build. Can we build a village?
I think we can!!

The new team is wonderful. Medical and construction. Brought tons of meds and toys. We had good news today that the cholera is dipping. Hopefully it will be gone soon! That would be a nice Christmas present.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

This Dec will be the most active December we have ever had in the history of PID . Over the next two days
11 people will join me in Haiti to have the children’s party, help with the clinic, plant a garden and do mobile clinics. After we leave 4 more people will arrive, to build and have a Christmas party in the ten village for the kids. In Guatemala they are working non stop on the new clinic so we have someplace to go at
The end of Dec . They are also having a Christmas party and planning another children’s program . The one in Nov had 200 but the one for Jan is already full with 200 new kids.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010