Danielle's signing off from Haiti

Day 5 at University of Miami Hospital was really great. Basically this is 180 degrees from my last hospital. Again it all boils down to MONEY. I don't have every detail, but this is what I understand. After the earthquake the University of Miami set up a massive effort which included this hospital, which is modeled after the hospital in Miami. Several large circus tents all strung together represent an operating room, ICU, NICU, ER, Recovery for adults, Recovery for kids, lab, and supply area. On arrival we checked in and had a brief orientation from PT staff. Well the guy who had been there the longest (5 days). I marveled at the organization. Hillary Clinton's aide was there Tuesday as they are asking for 40 million to help continue this hospital long-term. Based on my 8 hour experience, making me the expert I'd be in favor.

Even with all these kudos I do want to mention that each patient is assigned a bed sheet on arrival. It belongs to them for the duration of their stay, be it 3 days or 3 months. Maybe they will be lucky enough to have a family member wash it by hand. From what I could tell they were not being washed. We are donating everything we have left to various groups on our departure. Kimberly even bought a pair of sandals on the street so she could give her shoes to a patient today. I am sending mine with my Arubian friends tomorrow.

I treated all my patients for about an hour. Luxury really. My favorite patient of the day was a 34 year old woman who has a T4 Spastic Hemiplegic. Basically she will never walk again functionally, will require assist for transfers into her wheelchair and she has legs that spasm into flexion. My interpreter said that she cries at night because her boyfriend said he did not want a crippled woman. She is all alone with the exception of a sister who lives far away and sounds like she has not yet visited since the earthquake. She had a bright smile 5 minutes into our treatment time together. We worked for about 45 minutes and she smiled and said she liked to work hard. Always makes a PTs day. I spoke to the MD about anti-spasmatic medication and she said there was not any. They have her on Flexeril which is a muscle relaxer which will only make her drowsy and not touch the neurological spasticity. The patient indicated she had an injection at her last hospital that relaxed her legs. The MD said they could give her some anti-anxiety drug, which could have a placebo effect. Unbelievable. On my second visit with her in the afternoon I gave her an hour massage. Why not, who cares that Medicare won't pay for a massage. I work for free. I am quite certain that she had not felt any such physical touch in all her life. She was so relaxed and peaceful. She smiled several times as to say thank you. No need for interpreters. Tomorrow my friends will deliver her my shiny white satin sleeping bag (Dreamy) that I have been sleeping with all week. I hope she feels pampered.

I also worked/played with 2 children that seemed to be in a PTSD daze. I took them outside and tried to play with my homemade balloons made from my gloves with them. It was really hard to get them to smile and they were both so floppy. One of them was recently hit by a car, as the cars drive fast/quickly/wildly with little regard for any other cars/people in the road. Even worse than me. I gave one of the girls a lollipop and was concerned there would be a riot. Apparently when you give a candy or blanket or any clothes to a child all the other Mom's mob you to get some for their child. Keeping up with the Jones in Haiti.

I spent an hour feeding/holding a premature baby which was such a highlight. She was a good little eater and the RNs are working to death and often don't have any time to just sit long enough to hold the babies. At night American soldiers can be found taking sweet turns holding these little ones.

My friend Ann wears a necklace that says Kindness Matters. I thought of this phrase often throughout our time in Haiti. That was my major contribution - treating others with respect, love, compassion and letting the Haitians I met know the are valued as human beings. I think about how crushed Megan felt from feeling defeated when trying to help the young mother get her daughter more medical attention. That mother had probably never had someone work so hard to help her. That is a gift that will last a lifetime. Rachel met a little boy who had terrible pain in his hip for 2 years. She organized a transfer so that the boy could get more medical attention today. The time she took to follow through on a promise she made to the mother is the act of kindness the mother and son will feel for a lifetime.

Will I return to Haiti? I am not sure if I will, but I will return to a third world country with my children when they are old enough to value the many lessons there. I want them to know that people all over the world live differently but all share the common need for love and compassion.

I feel very blessed to be an American. Megan spoke of the Haitian born American soldier we met in the airport. He is so proud to be an American. He seemed to glow with pride. His story brought me to tears followed by chills to see the honor he felt and the responsibility he felt to serve our country.

It was all inspiring to see our American soldiers at work in Haiti. Just their presence made me feel safe. As we run through our days in Colorado Springs we live amongst our military men and women and probably do not realize what their days are like. I can tell you the days are hot and long in Haiti. I can tell you they jump into action at a moments notice with great intensity and you feel honored to have them on your side representing your country.

So how did 5 very strong women with 5 very strong personalities do?? I estimate if we had been on a vacation to France in one small room and bathroom we would have killed each other. Five strong women in Haiti works. It is amazing what happens when you share a common goal to just give give give all day. The end result was 5 women who all had very different stories to tell but all feel our time in Haiti was of value.

We have all spoken at length about what to do to help Haiti. How to solve the problems that seem so vast and so endless. Education is the key. Haitian's have to pay for school for their children which translates to lots of uneducated people when the unemployment rate is staggering. The young men that served as our interpreters give me hope that change can come to Haiti. As I have mentioned in prior blogs they are very ambitious, smart, respectful and kind. Many American's during our week in Haiti have pledged to send a few to Medical school (15K over 5 years) and are working on foundations to build a nursing school in Haiti. These are the steps that can spark change.

Thanks to all who listened as we all journaled our thoughts as they unfolded during our Journey. I am the last one awake in our cozy hotel in Miami. The hotel with warm showers, safe water, soft beds and most importantly no ROOSTERS.

Danielle

Pictures may be added in days to come. First things first - sleep - fly - hug our families!!! Can't wait!!!!!