Taking hope to Haiti; Part Two

The search for survivors
Part Two…Our first week in PAP held full days of mobile clinics. We would pile in the back of a flat bed truck drive for a while, sit in traffic for a bit, come to a part of town where people were waiting for… well just waiting for anyone to come and help. Along the road we would see signs that read. “We Need Help” “Water Help no food” there would be kids on the side of the road with palms up and such a distressed look in their eye’s asking for water, food or anything we would give them. As we drove around the city it was hard to keep focused as we passed piles of rubble where building once stood. Down town where all the government buildings were, it was like a western ghost town. The eerie silence, papers blowing across the street, and the smell, oh it was like a rotten dump and death with a hint of smog… if I didn’t know any better I would say it looked like a war zone.

We would head to parts of town where the people had not had medical treatment. We would set up in a fairly clear area, use bricks and wood for a bench or tables and set up a “check in” point. Get vitals if necessary and a chief complaint to Triage if you will. Then 3 or 4 stations armed with a doctor nurse and medic and a translator if available, we would start seeing patients. We had a table of supplies and medicine, mostly just used the bandages. There was one day we visited an orphanage, (“the Broken house” we called it because it was / is broken.) our non medical team members stayed with the kids and the rest of us went just down the street to a school and set up a clinic, outside of cores, part of the school had collapsed and from what we heard there were some deaths there. It was such a surreal moment, knowing were we stood, not two weeks prior children ran and played and were just being kids, their whole life changed, and now in that same spot, we were bring a hope and what healing we could. I was reminded once again how precious life truly is… that was a recurring theme in Haiti. That day I was teamed up with Kerry and Michael. I learned so much from them over that week and had the blessing of getting to know Kerry as she returned to Haiti later in February… but that’s another story.

We saw, oh about 60+ patients as a group; mostly wounds’ that needed cleaned and dressed, and some broken bones. Those were the easy cases, and then we would see stomach pain and headaches and other internal medicine complaints. Let me remind you we are set up out side on old pieces of wood and bricks with some Band-Aids and Tylenol. We had a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and thermometer… that was it! We would listen to their problem, hear their story of what happened thru broken English and poor Cerole, cry with them, some times laugh and we would pray and give one of the best band-aids I know of. A hug. (I do have to tell you that at the close of that day we sat and played with the kids that had gathered there. It was such a blast playing hand claping games and teaching each other different words. We would laugh and dance a little. So refreshing…)

At he end of the day we would dive down the long drive way to New Life Children’s home it was like entering a different world. We would come thru the gates and you would see the Mango tree and green grass and kids playing. Such a place of respite. We’d go to our tents, “clean up” and meet for dinner, true camping style, under the friendly mango tree and share stories and MRE’s. Then it was off to bed, ready to do it again in the morning.

The night sounds of Haiti included but was not limited to, Roosters, airplanes (we were one field and a wall away from the runway) dogs and goats and the mating call of the gecko and the giggling of our tent… we had some story times of our own, right girls

One day I was asked to go with Joulio our team mate and local Haitian to his side of town to take care of a few people he knew. “They’ll just need some dressing changed Sarah, that’s all.”… Ok, no problem.” famous last words right. Well during the cores of preparing for this little field trip Miss Rachel (tent mate and supper hero nurse) offers to come along and lend a hand, ‘Ya know, just incase.” She says. … Oh was this an adventure!We pack a bag full of wound care supplies some Tylenol and pad of paper. Climb in the car with Bryan; videographer, Steve; prayer warrior, Joulio “the Man with a plan” and his brother, Off we go. We drive for a while, stop for an oil change, drive a little longer and turn down some random side road where we run over a mans foot, get out and Rachel and I “treat ‘em and street ‘em” if you will, hop back in the car and dive a few more yards to out destination where there are no patients. Humm we think. While there is some conspiring going on in Cerole for a plan D at this point, we walk over to this little 10x10 hole in the wall room with no windows no electricity and a small door way, there is a table and we find two chairs. “Here you go gals.” Joulio says with a big smile. “We’ll just set up shop here.” As we look around and see the crowd form outside, Rachel and I look at each other, take a breath and say, “bring it on.” Steve and Bryan attempt crowd control Joulio finds us some translators and about 50 patients, 1 transport, 1 nurse, 1 EMT and 5 hours later, we call it a day when we run out of bandages. (Little side note, I swear that bag had the blessing of the 5 loafs and 2 fish… ) Just about an hour into our “grand opening” the rest of our team stops by, “just to say hi”. Their timing was perfect. A man in his 40’s was brought in with a head and left leg injury and quite sick. The team became a big ambulance. Some of the doctors jumped in and saw a few patients while details were worked out, and from what I hear there was quite a party going on out side. Bree and some of the others were entertaining the kids while we took care of the inured. We mostly saw foot and leg injuries, and oddly noticed all on the left side of the body. We had some sick kiddos and there was a lot of prayer going on in there as well. As we were winding down, a man came in asking for some medicine and advice as to what to do for his kids who were too sick to travel to the clinic. He told us the symptoms and his family’s story of survival and with a broken heart almost begged for help for his kids. I ran thru the inventory in our little bag in my head searching for anything that would help, there was nothing that would even remotely help this mans’ family. We all gathered together and prayed. Steve and I during our prayer both thought of the centurion man who came to Jesus asking him to heal his servant. The soldier said, just say the word Master, and I know it will be done. I told this Man that I had nothing to give his children, but what I do have I give in the mane of Jesus. So we encouraged this father, blessed him and left there believing that his children were healed. I don’t know the end of that story, but I do, with all that I am believe that Jesus met that man at his home and his children made well.

Day after day we would come back to base camp beat, tired, torn and full from the day. Hearing the different stories and personal encourters from the team was the momentum I think we all needed to know that we were making a difference in the lives of those around us… and we later discovered that the greatest change was inside us.

Part 3 coming soon

Saying Good Bye... for now