Day 8 in Haiti

Hello Everyone and sorry I haven't been able to post anything recently. I've tried several times and either the computer isn't available, the generator providing electricity at the mission isn't running, or I've been busy in the bathroom. Yes, I developed wonderful traveler's diarrhea, and maybe picked up a bug in Peds, plus had heat exhaustion from the remote clinic on Sunday. After diarrhea every 15 minutes, nausea and vomiting, and trying to push through and work in clinic for 3 days, I asked for an IV and fluids last night. I FINALLY had to go to the bathroom after 3 liters of fluids which shows how dry I was. I feel so much better ...lots of Cipro to kill whatever has invaded my guts, Imodium to control the "runs", and drinking lots of water with electrolytes-so far I'm on my 4th liter today.

The remote on Sunday was a true adventure. We set up a "clinic" under a tarp in an alley in a remote section of Port-Au-Prince. People started coming from all over to line up for medical care and to receive the food that Ommi had brought. We think a lot of them only wanted the food and we told them they didn't need to stand in line to see a doctor to get food, but they didn't seem convinced. Most people here are probably only eating 1x/day so food and water is so important to them. However, these people have very little medical care so they are taking advantage of the opportunity.

You don't see many old people here and the ones we do see are ancient. I don't know what the life expectancy here but I suspect it is low. I do know the infant and child mortality is high. One of the pastors took a couple of members of our group to visit a family with a 18m beautiful little girl named Virginia...how appropriate! However, it is a sad story. Her mother had abandoned the family and the father would leave the girl by herself all day only returning late at night. The shack was filled w/ filth...both human and otherwise. The father was found and agreed for our group to take the girl for a day back to the mission to clean her up, check her out medically, and get food and clothes for her....and the father wanted us to pay HIM to come pick her up the next day! However, it worked out and we all enjoyed her for a day. Her father did return to pick her up and is suppose to return her to the mission tomorrow so she can be placed into an orphanage.

There were no bathroom facilities in the alley so after asking if there was anywhere to go a couple of times, I stopped drinking. We were gone for 8 hrs and by the time we left I was so nauseous. I developed the severe diarrhea and then vomiting afterwards and spent most the next day lying on a cot in the shade by the bathroom. I felt rotten and was trying to drink but it was difficult even with meds on board. The next AM I awoke light headed and dizzy but worked for about 2 hrs until I almost passed out and then started vomiting again...back to the cot. Anyway, the IVs last PM were a true blessing! I've been on a diet of crackers for days so maybe this will be a blessing too! I think my last meal was on Sunday breakfast...dry cereal and the goat livers for Sunday night was certainly not appealing!

Time for maybe my first meal in a while tonight plus someone needs to use the computer. If I can, I will try to get back on since I have so much to tell. Continue to pray for our group and our mission here. Love you!