Friends of Haiti, Inc.

     It is too soon to have a summary report on where we have been and what we have been doing between October 7 and October 23, but not too soon to thank each and all for sharing in the experience!
     The 6 medical clinics, 1 dental clinic and the surgical clinic will eventually emerge into data for reports and study but they will not adequately capture and reflect having participated in the preparations; being there; conducting the events; responding to persons; sharing experiences; pondering questions; hearing roosters and dogs; sharing a Prestige (where available!); packing dirty clothes; returning to home-sweet-home, responding to "How was it?", facing re-entry and……. you know.
     Many have invested much extra effort on top of the essential diligent attention and preparation for every mission. Each and all need to participate in assessing the personal, the respective team, and overall experience
      We will have a de-briefing on November 16, 6:30pm Central Time at our Bellin site in Green Bay and via conference call. (Call In Number is:   1 (218) 862-6400 Access Code 630-5511).
      But, I will not wait to begin the process. From my perspective, it was all worth it. I was able to be there "the day after" the mission with the small mop-up crew to meet with Pere Suffrin, Domond, Ricardo, Sr. Mary, Lourdie, get to Terre Rouge to pay Charles and Giovanni, deliver medications and supplies for the clinics of Pere Suffrin and Dr. Brutus, retrieve our water filters, pile the tarps (one missing) and tent poles at Matthew 25 then meet Ed at the airport and then move toward Wisconsin, the farm and woods before re-entry. On the last day I was able to begin to review the weeks leading up to and being back in/with/present to real persons of memory as well as first-timers. I had not seen Emelienne for years. You wonder what happened to people when they are absent for years. In 2002 or 2003 she came to Dr. Ed bleeding with her 6th child within and with placenta previa and moving toward a breech delivery. After she was convinced that she had to go to the hospital but needed time to walk home (no road to her house) and pick up some clothes and tell her husband in the field where she was going, Bobby and I took her as gently as possible to pick up her brother to stay with here in the essential but notorious "General Hospital" of the University of Haiti – with no supplies… all necessary to buy at little pharmacies including gloves to examine her. She survived. The baby didn't. I saw here a year later as we drove in toward Thomazeau and she was at a junction to wave and welcome. The, she fell off the screen until this time in Thomazeau and she came up to me and I began to recognize her by her eyes and confirmed by her smile and outreach to hug me. She returned with confidence and trust – older, in need….abdominal problems….a new referral needed…. confirmed by an x-ray at the Centre de Santé up the street from St. Anne Church in Thomazeau … Centre that didn't completely exist in 2002/03 and without x-ray until about 3 years ago. She again will be served and hopefully saved via a new referral and follow-through. There are friends of Haiti. We are Friends of Haiti.
      Things have improved. Our good man in Haiti, Jean M, drove us to Mirebalais to stand outside the construction site and talk to the guards of the new Partners in Health 320-bed teaching hospital that will begin to come online in 2012. You have probably seen the pictures as PIH updates us. But, seeing it emerge, being birthed, is moving, encouraging, promising, consoling. It will be near – 23km from Fond Cheval; 25km from Terre Rouge and Grand Boulage – all with access to National Highway 3 – but still far in trail and time from the depths of Crochu and Trou D-eau. But things are improving. There are multiple reasons to be grateful… and I am…and not alone in gratitude. More to come. Thanks again. each and all.
       God bless all……….God blesses all.                   Pere Larry