First Day in Working in Port au Prince

by Jim Morgan

February 9th 2010

Family and friends,
First day working in Haiti. What can I say but how moving an experience it was. The drive through the city with its crowded conditions and degree of poverty is beyond imagination or what a camera can capture. You need to see it, hear it, and smell it (I say this not because it was offensive, but just the gas fumes, dust, charcoal burning on streets, and dust).

When we arrived at school where we were to have our first clinic, its destruction was very apparent. Abner had everything arranged for use of 2 concrete rooms and we hung tarps for extra shade for the patients. Then the children just came out of nowhere. Some with parents, some not. I was anxious at first, not about catching anything, but realizing I might be seeing things I had never seen before. I was correct when my second patient had malaria as did one of Megan. What a joyous feeling when we had Chloroquine to Rx both of them. One child may have had TB. Wound and skin infections.

Heart arrythmias. But most of all, lots of gastroentestinal illness and URIs we see everyday. Difference, they don't have a clean home (if one at all) to go back too. Always smiling, they left with saying "mesi very much" even if we did nothing more than tell them they were going to be OK. Back at base camp. Spaghetti and a cold beer never tasted so good. Listening to Creole choir in night behind me so I'll say bon yuit (good night). Mesi for everyone's thoughts, support, and prayers.

-Jim

Here We Go

by Megan Cavanaugh

Sunday, February 7th, 2010 from the JFK Airport

Here we go. I'm sitting in the airport, waiting for the rest of "wave 1" of our team to arrive. I'm so glad this day is finally here. About a thousand emails and a few weeks of planning (and then replanning), logistics, packing, plane and bus tickets, procuring, budgeting... What an incredible group effort this has been already.

I can't explain how many people- family, friends, friends of friends of friends, coworkers, neighbors, teachers, complete strangers, all had to come together- be flexible with their lives and generous with their time- and money- so that we could all make this trip. In the midst of this tragedy it has never ceased to amaze me how many wonderful and kind people I have in my life who want to help in the haiti relief effort- and support Haiti Marycare. I am SO grateful. And now to be able to go and help the people of Haiti when they need our support and presence more than ever- to have been given that opportunity and ability, is a true and simple blessing. I have no doubt this will be as successful a trip as it could possibly be.

We are loaded up with medications and supplies (we are carrying few hundred pounds in total!) we have our destinations, team and contacts in place and we are all eager to get to work. And to hug our friends and team members in Haiti. I have no idea what to expect from here on out- this is a different trip entirely than ever before. I don't know how I will deal with all that I see, what I will take from this experience, how it will challenge me as a person- as a nurse- as a person with deep faith in God- but I am sure it will. Haiti always does that to me. Thank you to everyone that made this trip possible, please stay tuned to find out how your support and donations will be used to directly impact the lives of the many in need, on this trip and the many to come.

-Megan