Thursday, February 07, 2008

post it quickly before the connection is gone


One photo posted. I am nothing if not persistent. If you remove the Haitian staff and people from our family from this photo, the remaining people only made it as far as Miami yesterday. They literally pitched a tent and slept in the airport. (They had a tent and sleeping bags and they made use of them.)
`
Yesterday Jen planned to see one baby, but ended up seeing a few people because word spreads and people tend to travel in packs. If you get an appointment it makes sense to bring your sister, niece, cousins and friends. One adult woman showed Jen a bad breast issue. Jen said it looked to her like someone thought they were removing an abscess but instead cut into a milk-duct. Ooooowwwww. Jen is not going to be getting into the breast abscess business. She is a Pediatrician. She will see children and in addition to that she will do wound (stitches and burns)care. We all agree that it is best for her to stick to what she is trained to do, and do what can be done well only. There is such an enormous need here that the temptation is always to try to be everything to everyone. But that compromises the quality and pretty soon you're doing a whole bunch of stuff sort of half-butt. It feels less daunting to start with some parameters. Thanks for your prayers for Jen, she will have a ton going on once the hours are set and the word-of-mouth machine begins to work.
`
Troy and Jen are on a medicine buying run today. I think they took the older, wiser; Zach along to help them.
`
Paige has already identified herself as a valuable player in the clinic setting. For a couple hours a day she will screen patients and do an intake type form with them. Jen said it was clear to her right away that Paige could be a huge help. I believe Paige has been offered $1.00 a day in payment, to which she excitedly proclaimed, "$1.00 a day is A LOT for someone with no place to go spend it!!!!" Next time you see her, she'll be filthy rich. ;)
`
We had a nice time with Dr. Mark Fulton last night. He shares a sarcastic sense of humor and has lots of Haiti medical experience. We picked his brain for a few hours before allowing him to head home.
`
There will be more photos when the birdog finally makes something happen with this goofy Internet problem.
`
We're anxiously waiting to hear that Laura M. gets her adoption visas ... is she does not she might come spend the weekend with us -- but for her sake we hope she is on a plane out of here.
`
Time to go get ready for another exciting day of Kindergarten. I have a whole new appreciation for Kindergarten teachers everywhere. Meanwhile, Tess is determined to get Lydia to take a bottle. Lydia is determined to NEVER take a bottle. In the absence of television and sporting events, this competition between Tess and Lyd is proving to be entertainment enough.
have a great day!
tara