Weathering the Storm and a Small Earthquake

Sunday the team sorted through the supplies that were donated or purchased with donations. These supplies make such a big difference, and the smallest things are appreciated here. We will have some pictures to post as well as the week goes on so you can see what great value your support brings to the people here. Some team members departed from Port Au Prince to other parts of Haiti for their assignments for the week. Agnes and Louise went to Jacmel; Katie, Erin and Rebecca went via nondirect route to St Bonaface in Fonds DES Blancs, Victoria and Lauren got on a puddlejumper to Cap Haitian and the rest of the team planned to split between the orphanages, teaching hydrocephalus school to families of potential surgical candidates, working at the Kay kapab clinic and the medishare tent hospital.

Today the entire team went to work in orphanages, hospitals and clinics around Haiti. There was an intense storm in Port Au Prince last night and during the day today there was either an earthquake or an aftershock which was upsetting to the local population as it has been a month since the last aftershock.

The O & P team, Tom and Dave, were busy fitting braces and prostheses in a local hospital. The Healing Hands clinic, staffed by Lori, Cara, Dana and Liz, was busy treating a variety of crush injuries. They felt the aftershock this afternoon and were working with patients at the time. All turned out well though. Dawn spent the day at the Project Medishare tent, where the team there was recovering from a fire last night caused by a lightening strike during last night's storm. Patients had to be evacuated from one of the tents, but the Project Medishare team did a great job of maintaining order and by mid-day today things had settled down. Lori, Annelle, Cara, Dana and Liz also spent some time this afternoon making kits of stickers to give out to the children of Haiti. The families are tight units here and frequently accompany the patients whether in the hospital or in a clinic. Hence, there are many children about needing some entertainment. Barbara and Marielle visited an orphanage and when Barbara and Cara return tomorrow, they are taking some toys, a portable crib, and some hygiene kits that the orphanage really needs. The traffic has been challenging and it took them 2 hrs to return today. We heard from Katie, Erin and Rebecca who report that St Bonaface is an excellent facility and were able to give Dave some information to prepare for his visit there later this week.

Hopefully more to come on Lauren, Victoria, Louise and Agnes in the coming days.