Good Byes

The year is over!! I arrived in Haiti on March 3, 2010 and left on March 10, 2011. It was hard leaving - and I can't say I won't return....... The staff at the Center had a "good-bye" party for me. We had sandwiches, cake, and cola. The top picture includes some of the key people with whom I worked: starting on the left, in the back - Dr. Bourdeau, the Medical Director of HHF; Ms. Nadege, our Nurse Midwife; and Mr. Arno Joseph, the Center Director. Next to me is Ms Calais (Elsie), the nurse in charge of our HIV program and the day to day supervisor of all the pre and post natal activities. In the next picture, Sr. Maryann looks on as I "cut the cake". Other staff sit around the sides of the room. And last, but certainly not least, I am holding one of the many babies that have been born to the women staying at the Center. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do what I did this past year. Not that I am saying it was easy -- no, at times the additional problems from the earthquake, typhoon, cholera epidemic, and political unrest, seemed almost overwhelming -- but always there were the people themselves and their optimism and trust in God that got us over the "humps". Now I am back in East Grand Forks. I think I am going through "reverse culture shock.' Of course, a winter snow storm and 27 degree temperatures when I stepped off the plane added to it! Now, what I need is time to process it all. Already I have been asked, "Are you going back?" We will just have to see what the Lord has in mind. To all of you who have followed this year - I hope it has made you a little more aware of those less fortunate than ourselves and a little more thankful for what you have. I would love hearing from you. My e-mail address is: mlaxen@haitianhealthfoundation.org Signing off - God bless. Mary Ann Laxen

Sunset

This was a daily occurrence - each night the sunset was beautiful at the place we were staying this past week.
The natural beauty of this country never ceases to amaze me!
Take care. Mary Ann

Port Au Prince

This past week I spent 4 days in and north of Port Au Prince. In PAP we took many back roads and we saw the continued devastation from the earth quake of January 2010. The roads are often uneven from the cracks in the ground. The roads, in many places, still have rubble lying in them. In other places, especially near the "tent cities", the refuse is piled high on the side and onto the road itself. Sometimes the road is barely wide enough for one car to get through.

The "tent cities" are numerous and crowded. North of the city, people have been moved on land that looks like desert. The small plot is now their own, but it appears in the middle of nowhere. And there are no signs of water or of latrines.

The hotel where we stayed last night has only half the building usable. Extra supports hold up the ceiling at the check in area, and as one walks toward the usable rooms, you see the ruined rooms with the roof completely collapsed. Are our rooms safe? We hope so, though we had to sign a waiver that we understand the building was damaged by the earthquake and won't sue if it should collapse and we are hurt!! Ah, well, it is in the hands of the Lord! There were again 2 aftershocks this past week.

Most of the week we were at a "resort" north of PAP and on the water. It was a 4 day workshop on grant writing. Though we were kept busy all day, we did end at about 4:30 and then could spend some time sitting by the water. It was very peaceful and very different from either Jeremie or PAP. And the food was wonderful with a great variety of fruits available at all meals.

I have just been called to check a baby, so I will end for now. Take care. Till next time. Mary Ann

Containers = Christmas!

Unpacking boxes from the container is like having Christmas on any day a box is opened! Though the outside might say "hygiene kits", we are never sure what will be included until the box is opened and unpacked. It could be soap, or shampoo, or wash cloths, or.... or... Underwear!
These last 2 weeks, between caring for mothers and infants, I have been unpacking and sorting boxes. In this picture, Bette and I have a little fun with the personal care items sent for the Women at the Center.
We are able to help people in need because of the help - both monetary and donations of items - from people like you.

For instance, today a grandmother came with a 3 month old baby, her grandson. The mother is in the hospital in Port Au Prince, very ill with a terminal illness. Grandmom has nothing to feed the baby and few supplies to care for him. When she left, she had: formula, soap, baby cereal, baby powder, a baby blanket, and some baby clothes. All this came from the materials sent in the last container. And I realize that the "merci", the "thank you so much" she utters is a thank you that goes out to everyone who has helped us with the mission here. And this scene was repeated 4 out of 5 days this week -- each story unique, but all in need.

So, gratefully, I say, "merci" to all who help us in serving our poorest of the poor brothers and sisters.

God bless. Till next time. Mary Ann

How fast things change!

Our preemie returned to the hospital on Monday night. Yesterday noon the mother returns with a note asking for an OXYGEN TANK!! The other volunteer and I went to find out what was happening. The baby looked bad. They had a full tank of oxygen but the top was broken and they couldn’t put a regulator on it without losing the oxygen. The 2 electric oxygen producers that we had given them sat not 5 feet away. But they had no electricity!! So we brought the mother and baby back to the Center. At least there the 24 year old mother had other women to support her and we had electricity to use our oxygen producing machine and would give mother and baby close attention. I knew the baby would probably not make it, but we would give it a try. He weighed only 1.8 kilos, and already his little hands were mottled.

The nurse called me 4 times between 7 PM and 2:30 AM. Each time I went over there, I saw that he was getting worse. He died at 2:30. The mother had fallen asleep and it was my job to awaken her and tell her that her baby had died. Though we had moved her and the baby into the hall, her wailing awakened the other mothers who stood silently by. I removed the bassinet with the baby and one of the women helped her put away the baby clothes.

The mother is from Charlette – a long ways away and no one would be coming for her. Besides, she was running a high blood pressure and needed close following. We kept her as calm as possible through all of this.

We had recently gotten new coffins, including very small ones, and the last container brought us little white dresses which can be used for either baptisms or burials. The Center director made all the arrangements and the baby was buried today. The mother did not want a funeral.

Then at 8 we had inservice with all the staff on how to use the oxygen machine. After, since it was Wednesday and “newborn” day, I went to check on all the newborns. We had 2 premies, each weighing about 2.3 kilos. Our specialist in breast feeding talked with the mothers and make sure both mother and baby were doing OK.

Then today we had two different women come with malnourished infants whose mothers had died. One was 1 month old and didn't even weigh 2 kilos!! Thank God for the formula that arrived in the last container!! She drank it up so fast, I had to stop her before she got sick from it But we were able to give the family some formula to help them through the next weeks.

As I now sit pondering all that has transpired in the last 2 days, I realize that I am very spent, both physically and emotionally. I have seen enough death of the young and the innocent to last me a lifetime. From undressing, and covering a dead baby in the back room of the kwash center with lightening illuminating the glass tiles overhead, to unwrapping and weighing 20 plus new babies in the morning sunlight of the gazebo, all in the course of a few hours, and then dealing with 2 more motherless babies today, sits heavy on the heart. But I am grateful for the small part I can play in bringing hope to these little ones. Tonight, when you go to bed, do say a prayer for these little ones.

Till next time, Mary Ann

And then there were 4!

Last night when I left the Center we had one baby. When I returned this noon, there were 4. Between yesterday, late afternoon, and this noon, 3 women went into labor, went to the hospital, delivered healthy babies, and walked back to the center!! When a woman goes into labor, she is taken to the hospital by our ambulance. However, when she returns, she walks back, accompanied by 2 or 3 of the pregnant women, one carrying the baby and the other 1 or 2 carrying her belongings (she must provide even the sheet used for her bed at the hospital/, water gallon, and food. One of these days I will get a picture of this "return procession"! The babies are fine, 2 girls and 1 boy, though the boy is premature and weighs only 1.8 kilos.
So, today, we celebrate new life!
And I have 4 tiny living valentines on which to share my love. Take care. Mary Ann

Cholera tents

In reviewing my posts, I realized that I had never included a picture of the cholera tents. In Jeremie, the tents are next to and on top of part of the city hospital. No cholera patients are allowed in the hospital itself. The tents are divided between the quarantine section and the "safe" area. Few are allowed in the quarantine area and when one comes out you must walk through a square container of chlorox and you are sprayed , front and back, with chlorox water. While the epidemic has leveled off, there are still new cases - and deaths - daily.
We have noticed that since the epidemic hit Jeremie, our number of pregnant women coming for prenatal care has reduced, as is the numbers of mothers with babies. Many are still very fearful of coming in contact with someone with cholera. We are trying to reverse this because now, more than any other time, pregnant women, babies and children need to stay as healthy as possible.
Well, this must be a record -- 2 posts in one day!! Take care. God bless. Mary Ann

Do they really get what we send?

Many people ask me if the things they send to HHF in Connecticut really get to the people who need them. These are 2 pictures to show that they do! The sleeping baby is wearing a hat knitted by a woman from Connecticut. The smiling, and happy pregnant women have each received a maternity kit/layette put together by women of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and the Shelby Lutheran Church in Northern Minnesota.

If you are worried that things you send ever get to us- they DO get here! This past week I have been sorting boxes and boxes of everything from soap to baby clothes to diapers to toothpaste to formula.

This week a grandmother came to us with a 2 day old baby. The mother is mentally unstable and refuses to allow the baby to breast feed. The child had had NOTHING since birth. Luckily we had just received a case of formula, enough to get the baby started. We told the grandmother to come back when she is running out and we will assist her some more. Since she lives in the mountains and has access to cow's milk, we will help her transition the child to that. This was the best we could do for her since she had been unable to find a woman willing to wet nurse the baby.

Every day here I come upon a situation that is, for me, a first! Last week I got to see, up close and personal, a dugout canoe made from a tree trunk that is used to fish on the high seas! You would never guess how they seal the cracks in the wood to make them waterproof. They melt crayons on to a rag and rub the wood with that. It makes a perfect seal! And when they throw their homemade nets on to the water, they don't have bobbers - but use pieces of old flip flops to serve as floaters! Nothing goes to waste!!

Well, it is a quiet Saturday afternoon and I now plan on sitting on the porch with a cup of tea! Such moments are few and far between.

Take care. God bless. And do pray for the people of Haiti. Till next time -- Mary Ann

Saturday

On the last Saturday of each month we distribute food to needy families with children under 18 in the household. We gave food for over 300 people. And, because we recently received additional donations from the US, each family got a 1/2 gallon jar of peanut butter besides the usual soy bulgar, beans and cooking oil. We had just begun when there was a downpour. Hurriedly we pulled the open sacks into shelter and covered the other sacks sitting out in the open. When the rain subsided we began again. In the moving of sacks, etc, some of the beans and bulgar fell on the ground. Even though it was covered with water and mud, some of the children went on hands and knees trying to gather up every bit they could. I also saw a thin grandmother doing the same. It is difficult for me to watch that - and realize I am so blessed in this world!

I wanted to add a few pictures to this posting, but the internet is too slow tonight and it wouldn't upload - so it will have to be another time. We continue distributing cholera supplies - and "begging" organizations like UNICEF and AmeriCares - for additional supplies. Our biggest need is for chlorox, soap, and buckets. They are handed out as fast as they come in.

Time to call it a night. Don't forget to thank the Lord for your daily blessings - and say a prayer for the Haitian people. Peace. Mary Ann

The past weeks in perspective

Right outside my house is an orchid tree - yes, orchids do grow on trees! After the rain, one had fallen to the ground. So I took a picture of it where it lay. Isn't it beautiful?

I saw my first tree with leaves that turn color before falling. And only a few fall at a time, so there are always green leaves on the tree. It is an almond tree.

We have a new volunteer - her name is Emily and she is an RN. She will be working mainly in the Gazebo with the feeding programs. But, like all of us here, she will also be involved in a "gazillion" other things! We are happy to have her join us. And she lives right next door to me.

This past week a container of supplies arrived from the U.S. In preparation, we had to clean out the depot under our apartments. So, over a period of 3 days, the yard men and I got to work. We cleaned, organized, distributed - and cleaned some more. We had everything from food to mattresses and box springs to pipes to chairs to nails to furniture to RATS - and more rats! The men killed 22! If I never smell another rat's nest again I will be one happy lady! :o) But the job got done and the depot was ready when the supplies arrived.

I also got boxes of supplies for the Center and am in the process of sorting them in another depot. Opening each box is like a little Christmas - baby clothes, shampoo, onesies, sheets, soap, washcloths, toothbrushes, and so much more - everything we so badly need. Our job would be almost impossible if it weren't for all the support we get from back home.

The new mothers and babies are all doing fine. Last Wednesday we saw over 120 newborns in one day. Because we were closed for 3 weeks over the Christmas and New Years holidays, and because the previous Wednesday was set aside as a day of remembrance of the earth quake victims, mothers with new babies weren't able to come for vaccination and newborn checks for 4 weeks. Thus the huge number. But all were seen - even if the last one did not leave until 5:30 PM

Well, time to sign off until next time. Take care - and don't forget to pray for the people of Haiti during this time of political unrest, and the ongoing cholera epidemic. Peace. Mary Ann

A Year Ago Today

It was a year ago this evening that, in 54 seconds, close to 300,000 people died in the earthquake. For the entire country, it has been a day of prayer and remembering - thousands and thousands of people gathered throughout the day in a field about 4 minutes walk from the Center to pray. Some were there for over 6 hours! Schools, businesses, and, of course, our clinic was closed as we all stopped to remember.
A reminder to all of us that life can change FOREVER in only a matter of seconds.
Do remember to pray for the people of Haiti. Mary Ann

Unexpected news

This young, expectant mother had her picture taken next to our Christmas decorations a few days before Christmas. Little did we know that this would be the last picture of her. Yesterday she went into labor and went to the hospital. Last night she delivered a healthy baby girl and early this morning she died. She was only 17. Since autopsies are not done here, we will never know why she died. The best "guess" is she might have had an unknown congenital heart problem or she might have had an embolism that went to her heart, lungs, or brain.
She was at our Maternal Waiting Home only because she was young. Otherwise, she was perfectly healthy.

Even though we deal with death a lot here in Haiti - especially with the cholera epidemic - one like this is so unexpected and much harder to accept. The only "blessing" I can see at this moment is the fact that her family appears close-knit and will give the baby girl good care and lots of love.

Here in Haiti we consider all pregnant women at risk - and today's event - sadly - bears this out.

Do remember her family in your thoughts and prayers. Take care. Mary Ann

Castillon continued - Fire in Jeremie

These are some of the pictures from the trip to Castillon. High on a mountainside is the Spanish Fort - or what remains of it.
As you can see, the mountain is very much rock with little soil. For that reason, one of the main crops in this area is the planting of beans. It is now harvest time for them and the entire small vine with the beans on them is pulled out and then hung up to dry.
And the 3rd picture shows how the cobs of corn are weaved together and then hung to dry - here on wooden sticks. Then banana leaves are laid over the top to protect them from rain. As I said in my previous blog - 3 sights I had not seen before.

Last night there was a fire in downtown Jeremie, close to the water. It was an old school building that is no longer used as a school, but some people live in it. A cooking fire got out of hand and the building started burning. The area is very poor, with the buildings almost touching each other and many (most) of wood, cardboard, and the like. So the fire quickly spread. One of our employees who lives near the area called Sr. Maryann and she quickly dispatched our water truck. A number of our employees also went to help. One other private organization also sent their water truck. Everyone helped and finally got the fire under control - I understand that a total of only 5 houses burned. Today someone told me, "Jeremie is blessed by God. If HHF were not here, much of Jeremie would have burned down last night."

When the fire was mostly under control, the UN truck arrived. Several of the people angrily asked, "where were you?" "Why do you come now when it is under control?" etc. They spoke in Creole and were not understood by the soldiers. Soon rocks were thrown. The UN soldiers, fearing harm, started firing in the air. The confrontation did not last long - and our employees said they left as soon as the first shots were fired. But today the anger against the UN is increased.

The people are frustrated as they do not understand why the UN has been here so long and what they are supposed to be doing. Many of the people blame them for the cholera and for not doing something during the elections since many believe the election results were fraudulent. There still has not been an official announcement on who the 2 top candidates are or when the next part of the election will be held. When that announcement comes, there will undoubtedly be more protests and violence, primarily in Port Au Prince. If that announcement comes soon, there could be more violence here in Jeremie - as the memory of last night's fire and the UN response will still be fresh in the peoples' minds.

So, do pray for all the people of this country and for the men of the various countries who serve in the military and were sent here under the UN. Violence and confrontation is not the answer.

Take care. Peace to all during this new year. Mary Ann

Castillon

Castillon - it's a name I have heard many times over the years of coming to Jeremie. It is one of the farthest HHF villages one can reach by car - taking about 3 1/2 hours, one way, on a good day. Usually staff go for an entire week to complete all their activities.
Especially for the last hour and one-half, the road is very rough, made of boulders and rocks and almost no ground, wide enough for only one vehicle, with a drop off straight down the side of the mountain.
I had always wanted to go - and yesterday I had the opportunity. We needed to bring more cholera-prevention supplies. And the car would be returning the same day. So, with camera, water, and something to eat, I joined the driver and nurse supervisor - both men - and we set off. The 3 of us shared the front seat and the back was filled with buckets, chlorox, oral rehydration serum, aqua tabs for purifying water , and soap.

The ride was everything I had heard it would be: breath-taking; bumpy, VERY bumpy; slippery at times; scarey when it was slippery near the edge; over many high mountain peaks, so high my ears popped; and, for a short time, driving along a peak with the drop off on BOTH sides of the narrow road. Then the driver said, "we are coming to Castillon," and, as we rounded the corner, I saw the village before me. The entire village is comprised of what you see - though, including all the homes in the surrounding mountains and hills, there are about 2,000 to 3,000 people.

It has no school and no church, so HHF build the building you see in the second picture. It contains rooms for meetings and health posts and has a covered, but open gathering space. A latrine is built next to it.

Because of the lack of a school and church it has been harder to educate the people on health matters. There is a higher illiteracy rate and many children do not go to school. It is a long walk up and down the mountains to the nearest school.

A honk of the horn and people, including the Health Agent living there, soon arrived to unload the supplies. After an update by the Health Agent on the cholera situation in his area, we got back into the SUV and headed home.

On the way back we stopped at Bigarade, another larger village under HHF's health care umbrella and delivered supplies to them. HHF had a larger building there with housing for the Health Agent and family. Again we got both an oral and written report on the extent of cholera in that area.

Three things I had never seen before: the remains of a Spanish fort high in the mountains; the unique way corn is hung to dry; and rows of beans still on the vine and in the pods, hung to dry. I will include pictures of all three next time.

After Bigarade, where the road was wider, we almost had an accident. A motorcycle, coming around a "blind" mountain corner, was in our lane, and, instead of turning Right (back into his own lane), he turned Left (right in front of our car), slipped, and upset the motorcycle, all 3 on the motorcycle tumbled off. Only because we have well maintained vehicles and excellent drivers, were we able to stop in time, both us and the motorcycle just feet from the edge. Everyone was too grateful to be upset, none on the motorcycle were hurt, and the two drivers shook hands before each was on his way.

We got back about 5:30 PM. It was a wonderful day! And I am so glad I finally got to see Castillon!

Till next time. God bless. Mary Ann

They start learning young!

This little 3 year old is imitating the adult and helping to wash clothes! I have often seen this. Helping wash clothes, carry water, sweep -- children learn to do simple household tasks early in life. Some also try to help cook - stirring the food over the open flame when an adult is not watching - and getting burned in the process. Ordinarily adults are very careful with the open cooking fires, but toddlers, like toddlers the world over, can get into trouble so easily!

Children appear well loved in this country. Even neighbors will help out with little ones, especially if they are crying. If one of our newborns start to cry and the mother might be outside bathing or washing clothes, or getting food, another woman will immediately come to pick up the baby and comfort him/her.

It is New Year's Day and pretty quiet. I can't say the same about last night! It is customary for many to spend the entire night celebrating with friends. Even the electricity - which is usually on from 7-10:30 or 11 PM - was on until 4:30 this morning. It quieted down about 5 AM. Needless to say - the Church wasn't exactly "FULL" for 7 AM Mass this morning!

And today people celebrate with pumpkin soup! That is their New Year's Day special. It goes back to colonial times when their ancestors were slaves and the "masters" had pumpkin soup on special occasions. It is sort of like our turkey and cranberries for Thanksgiving -- not everyone would say turkey is their favorite kind of meat. but, for most, it is not Thanksgiving without turkey!

I stopped at the hospital after Mass this morning, and both the obstetric area and the childrens area were almost empty. Everyone went home who could -- they didn't want to begin a New Year in a hospital! We have 4 women in, 3 who delivered yesterday and one who is still waiting to deliver. The ones who delivered came back to the Center later today. I must mention that I saw almost no staff - only one person in the pediatric area and one in the OB area.

I went past the cholera tents, but had no idea how busy they were since the ones on the ground have 6 foot fences surrounding them, and the ones on top of the hospital are not accessible. I have heard that the rate of new cases is diminishing. We all hope that is true.

Well, time to sign off. Happy New Year to all and don't forget to pray for each other and for the people of Haiti. God bless. And may your new year be filled with many wonderful surprises!
Mary Ann