Clinic Work

It's been a challenging few days but I have never felt more alive. So sorry our posts aren't more frequent but we have been very busy.
To give you a brief overview of the last few days, let me begin by saying it is Tuesday afternoon around 4:00 PM and I snuck out of the clinic to write this. We could go on for hours but Dr. Mike said we will stop taking in new patients at 3:00 because yesterday we waited until 4 and didn't get out of the clinic until 7. And as those of you who have been here know, it was quite dark.
We traveled on Sunday starting at 6:00 AM but needed to wait for a money changer. So we weren't on the road until 8:30 AM, typical Haitian time! We left Port au Prince behind. It was so difficult seeing the buildings where we know people died. Our driver helped explain many things and showed us the government buildings that were destroyed.
We also heard the story of Jacqui, our travel agent in PauP: How she survived, how her best friend did not.
The trip took six and a half hours, very slow going. We were hot and tired by the time we arrived in Petit Trou. It was Sunday afternoon and we hadn't met with the clinic staff or set up the pharmacy. So we did the best we could and decided to finish Monday morning and open the clinic in the afternoon.
Monday morning went very well. We have the six new village women helping us and they were all trained on the blood pressure cuffs and thermometers. They have been absolutely amazing but more about that later. The pharmacy took shape and Beverly, our nurse/pharmacist began to form a team with her large group of helpers. It takes some time to develop a team with lots of guys who don't speak English and a new pharmacist learning her way. But I think they are doing great today the second day into the clinic!
So when we started the afternoon, our first clinic, we were all ready and pretty excited. I do have to say that six hours later and sixty six patients later, we were a bit frazzled. But it was great to finally see the team working after the preparation from us and everyone at home and the three days to get here. I think we all felt accomplished.
At the same time, we feel the overwhelming need. It seems we are only a drop in the bucket and there is so much more we could do. But as we decided this morning at prayer, we are at least a drop in the bucket, the first drop these people have had. And for every person, we sit with, we are very important. And we can feel the whole arms of CHP wrapped around us. We are only a little part, yes, but we are part of a much bigger partnership with the people of Petit Trou.
Today has been long and hot but I think we are starting to develop a rhythm. Father Kesner is here now and he took the huge job of speaking to the people waiting outside to be seen. They were angry and it was so, so hard every time we opened the door. Well, he had never been out there before and it was so good to have him see, to speak with the people and to come up with a new plan to help with managing the crowd.
About the village women. We have changed some things in the clinic this year. We have fewer of the translators and staff from before and now have six of the women trained in public health by Warren Berggen. This has been the best change. They are delightful to work with, eager to learn and very helpful. Two of them have the incredibly hard job of staying outside with the crowds. They had to choose the very sick from the general population and usher them in first. This was a heroic thing to do. At least they are my heroes! The rest work amongst us at the clinic, with providers, in the pharmacy and two or three at check-in. I feel like we are melding as a team.
On a personal note, I have helped now with two minor surgeries and it's been so exciting. Actually, I'm pretty sure the patients didn't think it was exciting at all and probably want nothing more to do with us: A little girl and a little boy.
That is it for now, please be patient with our lack of communication, there is very little time and it's difficult to get on line. Teresa