Med team + Patricia update + orphans

Having another extremely exhausted kind of week. Last night I went to bed before 7PM. I didn't mean to go to bed that early, it just happened. :) I was SUPPOSED to go on a date with my husband last night, but I was just too tired. (Sorry Nick.)

We've been busy for the past two days with a medical team from Crosspointe. They have been kickin' it down here. It's insanely cool. They are seeing about 300 patients each day in a field tent in the middle of a "tent city" (refugee camp) in Jacmel-- most of the medical needs are typical Haiti needs-- scabies, malnutrition, fungal infections, bacterial infections, worms, etc. etc. etc. But we've also seen other things that are earthquake related-- mostly follow-up wound care. And then there's also been several serious things we've had to transport to a local hospital-- a old woman in heart failure, a baby with a high fever and COMPLETELY covered in impetigo, a girl with a 104.5 fever that wouldn't come down with Tylonel, Motrin and cold packs all over her, a little girl with a SERIOUS huge abscess that has disfigured her face... we're hoping for good outcomes. We're also working with a local midwife to do prenatals on all the pregnant ladies. I personally love this aspect because it means that local women will be able to receive the followup care that they really need--especially at a time like this.

In the midst of this, we've all had our hearts torn from us time and time again, and yet we've still seen hope. I love Haitians. (Have I ever mentioned that?) I LOVE THIS PLACE I GET TO LIVE! Love it.

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Patricia update...
I didn't go see Patricia yesterday. Half of the reason is that I was really busy, the other half of the reason is because I was sort of sensing that Babette (Patricia's mom) was sort of getting tired of me coming over all the time. And I also wanted to give her time to bring Patricia to the clinic herself. (Which she hasn't.)

BUT, yesterday Babette came over to see me at the tent. Just to say hello and to wonder why I hadn't been to visit Patricia. That made my heart smile. I told her I would come and see her today.

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Have met a few babies and children who've been orphaned by this tragedy. So far they are for the most part doing well. We're sharing contact information with the caregivers (mostly extended family) to see how we can support them on a longer-term basis so they can be better resourced to keep these children in their families if at all possible. One specific story is of a little baby girl (8 months old) name Luca (pronounced Leeka). She was in a home in Port au Prince with her whole family when it collapsed. Luca's aunt was devastated when her sister's family was just wiped out. And she was there as they were digging through the rubble to find their bodies. On day three they found Luca--unharmed--under the house. They came to Jacmel to live since it wasn't hit as hard and have only been able to give her water and crackers since the tragedy. She was a bit dehydrated but otherwise mostly healthy. We're giving her pedialyte, formula and baby food. And hope to be able to continue to do so. The aunt Lucana loves the baby very much and says she reminds her of her sister.
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Hit the 4 week mark yesterday evening. It was commemorated with a largish aftershock. (A real one, not one of the phantom ones I have been feeling.)

Sorry there's no photos today. I forgot my camera yesterday. I will have it with me today.