Haiti the first few weeks

3/22/10
Hello, hello, hello!!

I have been at the job less than a week. I have been handling it okay. I am a little nervous about when my predessesor leaves, how I will handle the stress. Abbey is a medical student and in the same class as I am at U of Iowa. She and I are the World Wide Village coordinators for Leogane, Haiti. We represent WWV, University of Notre Dame, University of Iowa, La Hopital St. Croix, the Episcopal Church in Leogane, the United States... Needless to say I have to keep my temper in check and mind how I say things. Both are weaknesses I have to work on, so I welcome it begrudingly!

I am working with a Notre Dame volunteer, Brennan. She has taken a year off of medical school to help with Disaster Relief and Medical care. She speaks Kreyol very well, and is kind of my partner for scheduling, administrating, and coordinating. She is coordinating the surgical teams, and handling most finances. We are still feeling out our roles, but I am definately on supplies. I am getting a handle on our medicines and our medical supplies. Everyone has been generous but we did not know what we had. The Hands on Disaster Relief volunteers have come in and offered logistics support. I know now what we have in our pharmacy and our stock room. To say they are a God send is an underestimation!!


3/26/10
Hello everyone!!

I am alive and well in Haiti. I am busy, and my internet connection is sketchy at best. Whenever I get a chance to send an email it is to organize or request something with the hospital or clinic that I am working in. I am an onsite coordinator for World Wide Village Health Initiative in Leogane. (worldwidevillage.org)
There are two of us here, we have teams coming down every week to staff the hospital and clinic. We spend a lot of time orienting, addressing dire medical situations, translating, keeping diplomatic ties and relationships with Haitians, NGOs, and our partner organizations.

I just do not feel like fighting to post a blog with the internet on most days so I have not forgotten anyone, I have just been so busy trying to keep a field hospital and clinic affloat I have not had a moment to myself.

I have a few good things to say. My little haitian boy is a grown young man. ti gari, a little boy that came to live with us when I lived in this house 7 years ago is not a young adolescent man. He has the same beautiful face. My mural I painted is present in my old room and I am incidently in that room again. Most of the street kids I used to hang out with are older, a few died in the earthquake... One mother I knew lost 4 of 5 of her children. Her grandmother who is also my Haitian grandmother broke her leg. I got her into see the Orthopedist and she seems to be healing well.

I sweat all day long while I am running between clinic, hospital, and odd jobs. I get a run in most days to the coast where there is a group of children that join us for a little while. I am always watched where ever I go and little kids love to yell "blan!" which is foriegner or white! I like to teach them my name so they yell some version of my name as I walk or run by.

Overall my spirits are good. I am too busy to think or worry about my future. I am moving to Grand Rapids Michigan next year! I will be doing a one year transition program. I did not match in a General Surgery Residency, but I was strangely relieved to not have to do that. I do not think I like being in the OR as much as I thought I did. So I have a new leash on doctoring. I am going to take a year, get some experience, and apply to a program I would really like to do for my career.

take care,
much love and blessing!
kristina

Crazy Week

Hello from Haiti!!!

I made it here this afternoon. I have lost a pound sweating but gained two pounds of rice, beans, and fried plantain... (okay I really have not but by the time I get back!!)

However I cannot share any pictures with you because my cord to connect my computer and camara are in my checked luggage that is somewhere between here and Chicago!

As are my clothes, my other cool stuff, and some other supplies I was bringing. oh well. I have a couple pairs of underwear and people have scrubs. My tennis shoes are checked as is my big towel. so I am using my hand towel until then, good thing it is micro dry.

I have a room, its actually the same room I lived in when I was here. It still has the mural I painted!!
I did not bring my tent so I was glad to have a room!

I have seen Ti Gary, my little boy that came to live with us when I was here in 2003. He has grown a foot at least, he looks fantastic, he told me he does not know how to read yet. I made him promise me to learn, but I also told him I would not forget my Kreyol. I have forgotten most of it, so I will have a steep learning curve over this week.

I started working almost right away. I am going to be running around administrating the hospital, and getting teams through their week.
Luckily I have a fellow classmate this week until next friday to orient me. I also am working with University of Notre Dame, my former employers here in Haiti!! There is one ND grad and current medical student who will be coming and going while I am here. I am grateful for the support and encouragement!

More info as this week comes to a close!

Take care,

blessings and Irish Cheer!!

kristina

Haiti Bound

Hey everyone!!

I took a little break from traveling to finish up my last rotations in Medical School!!! Hahaha, looks like I am gonna be a doctor!! There were a few times I did not think I would make it! Its been tough mentally, emotionally, and physically. So if I can make it to Graduation May 14 I think I might become a real MD.

As for starting a job that has a paycheck, I speak of residency, I find out monday, the ides of March, no joke!! if I matched or if I am one of the select few who has to scramble into a program next year. It means just that, beg everyone for a spot!
I find out where I matched on Thursday the 18th!
However I will be in Haiti on Skype at that time hopefully!
I leave for Haiti on the 17th! I am gonna ask everyone to drink a guinness for me!
I will be blogging about my experience. But I am basically going to be an onsite coordinator for the World Wide Village NGO organization (Worldwidevillage.org) The University of Iowa is the medical team that is responsible for it being in Leogane Haiti. They are located in the exact same place I was back in 2003. It is really gonna be good to go to a place I called home for a time.
Anyway WWV is setting up a long term hospital for the Leogane people since the hospital collapsed. I will be coordinating teams, administering the clinic, hospital and OR. I am not sure how much medicine I am gonna get to do but I speak Kreyol could volunteer 2 months, and they need some organization, so that is what I will do and get into the OR when I am able!
I will be posting when I am able I appreciate the prayers, support, and the comments!! thank you all for getting me this far on my life journey!

The pictures are of the Hospital and the newly renovated Catholic Church I attended when I lived there. It and the school were leveled and several priests, nuns, and students died in the collapse.