Happy and sad reunion

Today the team worked hard. It was hot and dry. In the office Lizzy had QB tutoring while we made travel plans for the staff to go to the funeral tomorrow. 

In the middle of everything, Tali showed up. So many people had come to say hi. 

It was such a happy time and at the same time a very sad reason that she returned. 

Rick had a hard day trying to see if we could get baby surgery. But the car broke down and the news about the baby was not good. 

One old and one new sponsor meet their child

First day at work

The team woke up ready to go. While most of the team went to construction, Dr. Rick and three other stayed at the clinic. Later Dr Rick left with Patrick and Samuel to visit an organization that might help with meds and went to set up a meeting with a mother and hydrocephalic

Baby to go to the hospital. 

We met with the Canaan committee and talked about our future partnership. 

Everyone on the team chipped in for a present to help John's family with expenses. Really kind team. 

One team leaves, another arrives

This morning we said good-bye to the Upper Iowa team after a great week. The counselors spent their last morning seeing patients in the clinic, then went out downtown and to the museum.

This afternoon, the team arrived. They are a mixed group, the majority from North Shore Community College. We had an introductory meeting, then unpacked all of the supplies the team brought. The team will be doing most of their work in Canaan. We look forward to a great week together, getting to know each other and working hard and getting a lot of work done for the poorest of the poor.

Waiting for a Sponsor...

This boy has been waiting the longest for a sponsor, since 2011. His family earns only $6/day for 12 people!

A sad baby, a new house, another committee meeting and a birthday party

Today a little boy came into the clinic. He was a year old and he weighed 10 1/2 pounds. He is starving. When I looked at the little boy's face he was so sweet and his eyes so round, I wanted to cry. He doesn't deserve the life he has been given. His mother died shortly after child birth. He get passed around the family so all take care of him but no one really at all. He has fallen through the cracks. We have required him to come in 3 times a week now and be fed in front of us to see if we can make a difference. I am hoping that in two weeks we will see a big change.

The team had their last day and continued to work on the new house in Canaan. It is looking quite nice and two families will be very happy to live there very soon. However, it is a very hard place to live and to work. It is hard to do this job without John. He was the one who negotatied with the committee. He was the one who knew them the best. Tomorrow we will meet with the committee again to try to work out all the details.

Tonight we had a farewell meeting. Team members shared about their experiences. Mr Genois explained the programs. Sanitallia , Vania and Alexandra, sang and danced as we presented Lizzy with a birthday cake. This is her second birthday in Haiti. Happy Birthday Lizzy!

The meeting ended with one of the nicest comments that I have heard. One of the team members who worked the hardest of all according to the team, a tiny woman, had bruises on her legs. I said, "Sorry about all the bruises."  She said, " These are here as my honor."  I should not be amazed by the quality of people traveling with us, but I always am.

One more day of construction

The team spent another day at Canaan building a duplex. The mayor of the area showed up to talk about the building permit. Since John was the one to

Deal with them we are at a loss for what to do . But we passed the inspection. 

The clinic opened its doors with 100 plus people waiting outside. Dr Rick who decided he was going to observed soon was surrounded by patients. 

The directors had a meeting to talk about everything we need to figure out. But it was a good meeting that ended well. 

Construction Progess

Despite the rain the construction teams continued work on the bathroom and porch. The porch crew is waiting for tin to put on the roof and the bathroom crew continues to lay bricks for the walls.

the porch crew waiting for the tin roof

As I was walking to visit the bathroom site I passed the school in the North Section of the village. The kids were out on recess and were more than willing to pose for a photo or two.

The bathroom team working hard to get those walls up!

A cloudy day at the lake

Yesterday we headed out early to make our way to Lake Atitlan.  We had a few stops along the way - ice cream, the "haunted" piece of highway, the rock painted like Snoopy and the swinging bridge. We finally got to the lake and it was cloudy and drizzly, but we were still able to have a good time. We took a boat from Santiago across the lake to San Pedro. There some team members went kayaking on the lake while others went horse back riding around town. We met up for lunch at Dolphin's Cafe. Lunch was yummy and the view was spectacular. After lunch we got back on the boat and headed back to Santiago where the team was able to do some shopping and buy souvenirs.

As we were on our way back to the hotel it started raining and pretty soon the roads were flooded. Since Sergio's bus is pretty low and his engine can't get wet we had to find a parking space on higher ground and wait for the raging river that the street had turned into to calm down. It finally did and we were on our way back to the hotel for a late dinner and then off to bed.

Who cleaned the kitchen or was it the car?

Today while the team went to the beach I stayed behind to work. I ended up cleaning the kitchen which is usually what I do every couple of months. The staff does an excellent job cleaning but I do it to see if they have enough potholders, utensils, plates, cups and other necessities. Doing it reminds me of how hard the Haitian ladies work cooking  and cleaning when teams are here. Santillia works everyday for 12 hours with her helpers. Her legs hurt and so does her back but she keeps on going.  Some days she does breakfast, lunch and dinner for the team and then cooks for the children's program . Yesterday I looked out back and will we were eating dinner she was washing Lizzy's car. If you would like to see Santillia go to UTUBE and type in Partners in Development Haiti housing and you will see this amazing lady in person. Santilla cleans everything.

The day we DIDN'T get soaked in the rain

Today the team worked in the village in the morning. The construction team continued working on the porch and the bathroom. Miguel and his crew installed one filter and washed a lot of sand.

After having lunch at the clinic we loaded into the bus and headed to Reu to see the Mayan ruins at a site called Tak'alik Ab'aj. When we arrived it looked like it was about to rain - and rain hard - but it held off and we were able to have the complete tour. (Our drive home was another story all together - lots of rain!) We had a great time touring the ruins and learning about the Mayan culture.

PPI and PID and continued heat

Today, the construction team continued working in Canaan. It was a very hot day. The counselors
continued with their study with kids and the parents from the Blanchard area. The medical people and a few other reorganized the depot and worked in the pharmacy. In the afternoon they took a tour of Blanchard and then they hung out  at the bunkhouse. Tomorrow they wil go to the beach and then downtown and out to Epidor.

Lizzy, Genois , Isabel and myself went up the mountain to work on a new assessment tools that PID is studying to help us be able to evaulate those coming in to our program . It will help us track their progress as they continue through our programs. Chris, a friend of PID from many years ago, helped us through the process. He has been in Haiti for over a month as a consultant to a small business company and offered to help us with the process. We are so grateful for his help. We finished the work today. Patrick will work on the spreadsheet and Monday, Mr Genois will begin to use it in the entry interviews . Isabel and Samuel will also learn how to use it as an accessment tool.

It was a very successful day.

The construction teams have turned on each other!

Tonight at the team meeting I found out about a little feud going on between the two construction teams (bathroom and porch). There was a small issue about the sharing of tools - but all in good fun! The group is working hard and starting to lay the blocks for the bathroom and the porch. Their only complaint is that the village kids keep snatching their work gloves.

Suze saw less patients today, but they were sicker than yesterday. A woman with very high blood sugar and a young lady who claimed she was in labor! Both were sent off to places where they could be adequately cared for.

The filter crew continued sifting and washing sand and then installing filters. They were even offered a cold beverage from a very thankful mother.

Tomorrow we will work half a day and then visit some Mayan ruins.

What do you say when you can't give out water?

Today was another hot day on the mountain. The team worked so hard on the new duplex in Canaan, in almost desert like conditions. It is hot, dusty and so dry. It was an emotional day as kids lined up asking the workers for water and food . They could not give out water or there would be none left for the team If they gave out one cup they would be mobbed by hundreds of people.

It was an emotionally hard day for the team as the reality of working in a very poor area as the second day there became to unfold. At the meeting we talked about how hard it is to be the first teams in. You have many people staring at you while you work. You have so many kids and others asking for water and food. If you are experienced it is hard enough but for new team members it is very hard. conflicting emotions abound.

The counseling group offered  support . The experienced people shared past experiences. The new team came up with many great ideas and are so excited to go back. It is wonderful to see a new generation of people who have so much to offer and who care so much.

Rick , one of our medical advisors, arrived safely . Jack was off to help out PIH for the weekend.

All of the staff and family of John continue to work through all of the emotions that we are feeling.

We are grateful to have Jack and as well as Patrick, our intern, working so hard to figure out the construction. Allie has been so helpful leading the teams.  The staff is working hard to fill in the void.

This is a great team. We look forward to a good night's rest and an early start tomorrow.

Post-Op Portraits

Carlos one week after surgery

Paula one week after surgery

A great first day with a few showers

The team had a really great first day. Suze started seeing patients in the clinic and was able to see around 30 today. Things went really smoothly and she worked well with Maria our translator. The rest of the team was working outside. Miguel and his filter crew installed 2 filters with families of sponsored children. The construction team did a lot of hauling materials - which means moving a pile of sand/blocks/cement/rocks to the construction site and making a new pile of sand/blocks/cement/rocks. We enjoyed a lunch cooked by Marcelina, a woman in the village. In the afternoon it was back to work and a few of the education students helped Daniela with her after school tutoring classes. During lunch there was a little rain shower which lasted for about 15 minutes and cooled things down for the afternoon. The team made it back to the hotel before the real heavy rain started.

The new team has arrived and Paulita is looking good!

The team has arrived safely (after some delays and just barely making their connecting flight) in Guatemala City and are on their way to the hotel with Sergio. Daniela is there waiting for them and she will be staying there all this week acting as team leader. They will be installing water filters, working in the clinic and building a porch for one family and a bathroom for another. I think it's going to be a great week!

And Paulita stopped by today to visit. She had her cleft lip repaired one week ago and she is looking so beautiful.

Here in Haiti

Yesterday I arrived in Haiti. It was a bit of a tough day because of all the emotions the staff was experiencing over John's death. 

We had a great last meeting with

An excellent team. 

Today we had a staff meeting to

Talk about John and how to continue 

With PID given the huge hole his passing leaves. The rest of the day 

We met with Guetchine. We talked, cried ,laughed and planned on what to do next. 

She is brave and an amazing person. She decided to go to talk to staff individually to encourage them. 

Tomorrow we will go to Canaan as we continue to build houses. 

A hard week and a great team

Today was the team's last work day. The team has done a great job this week, working hard both in the clinic and out on mobile clinics every day. The team members working construction out in Canaan worked extra hard in memory of John. The foundation is almost finished. Today's mobile clinic was out in Canaan so the medical group could see the construction group's work site and progress. It was a very difficult week for all of the staff here at PID, but the team was exceptionally flexible, cooperative, and hard-working throughout it all, and we thank them so much. Mr. Genois stopped by this evening's team meeting to extend a special thanks to the team in John's name and the name of all the PID leaders.

Gargi arrived on Sunday with 7 psychology students who will be here 10 days doing counseling here at PID. Monday they did a class for the staff on stress coping and relaxation techniques, and today they began working with our hypertension patients. They look forward to a great week offering much needed counseling services here at our clinic.

Update from Haiti

The team went to the beach today. We are grateful to Alison, Jack  and Allie for trying to help maintain balance during this sad time in Haiti, as the staff struggles with overwhelming grief.  Tomorrow the team will continue to work in the clinic and build a house in Canaan. My son will have is PHD awarded tomorrow. Early Tuesday , I will leave for Haiti . While I am there we will work on a memorial to honor John. Although no memorial is enough to reflect his leadership, dedication to his family and commitment to the poor of Haiti. So many people loved and respected him.

A sad farewell

It is with great sadness that I just received the news from Haiti that John

died today. Please continue to pray for the family and all of those who have known and loved John. No words can express the loss that everyone is feeling now. 

Carlos and Paula

Paula Griselda before and after

 

 

Carlos Agusto before and after

(for more pictures from the surgeries, check out the album on facebook: Cleft Lip Surgeries)

Wednesday from Haiti

During a very hard rain the whole community has come for the second evening in a row to sing and pray for John. We continue to pray at our lunch break as well. People are feeling hopeful tonight because we have news that he will have surgery soon to repair his broken femur. Everyone hopes this is a good sign, and some movement towards his recovery.
Thirteen people arrived today to help us with our work here. The UMASS Nursing school, several nurses, a nurse practitioner, a PA student, and construction workers all arrived safely, as well as our friend Jack, who will lead construction for 3 weeks in John's absence. We had a lively orientation, despite everyone being tired from travelling. Andrea, Wilson and Sarah continued to see patients in the clinic today, and Lynn and I had our safebirth class. We taught alot of strategies for handling emergencies during labor and delivery and had our usual fun doing role plays. Emma helped in both the triage and pharmacy, as well as visiting the children she sponsors. Despite our worries for John, we continue to work, pray, be hopeful, and do our best to help Haiti.
The rain is cooling everything off.
Signing off for tonight, Alison

The power of prayer

In the clinic today, with the 3 new residents from Canada- Wilson, Andrea and Sarah, joining  Dr Paul, we were able to treat many patients. The Safebirth classes also started today with Lynn as our visiting midwife to teach alongside myself. We had 13 students today and expect more tomorrow.  Emma visited the boys she sponsors and helped in the pharmacy for today. Everyone is a bit weary from travelling but happy to be here, some visitors for their first time.

Despite the great work the new team now has started, it is a very difficult time here at PID Haiti. Many of you know John, our construction director. He has been in a serious moto accident and is in Medishare hospital. He has a brain hemorrhage, a broken femur, and is in a coma. Lizzy and I visited him in the ICU today and learned that he is now having seizures and has a fever. They have been unable to repair the fracture due to his condition. All of the PID Haiti  family and staff is very upset. All our staff gathered at lunch today in the clinic to have a group prayer. There was not a dry eye among us. We will be having daily prayer circles together here until he recovers, and we ask that you all join us around 12:30 so that we can form a large circle of prayer around him from Haiti throughout the US to support the recovery of our beloved John.

We thank you in advance. With love and hope, Alison

Team arrives in Haiti

Today the team arrived safely in Haiti. Alison and Lynn, a nurse midwife, will be holding midwife classes, 3 doctors will be seeing patients in our clinic, and one construction volunteer. We look forward to a great week together. Today I took the team for a walk around the neighborhood to see the PID houses. After dinner, we had an introductiory meeting, and the team settled down early after a long day of travel.

Cleft Lip Operations

Today I traveled with Carlos, Paula and their parents to the hospital in San Felipe for consultation with the surgeons from Smile Network International. They will both receive surgery on their cleft lips.

Carlos is up first and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

Goodbye Parties need a Piñata

Over the past two weeks we have had to say "adios" to a few members of the PID Guatemala team.

Doctors Jon and Kate spent three weeks working in the clinic seeing patients, organizing our systems, updating the protocol, feeding the village dogs and making us all smile. They are great doctors and wonderful people to work with. GRACIAS Jon and Kate for all you've done and all you are still doing.

Shelby has been interning since last September. During her time here she helped lead teams, organized children's programs, did a ton of work on our database and started our after school tutoring program. Her kindness and servant's heart will be missed by the whole village. GRACIAS Shelby and we can't wait to see you back here in Concepcion!