Quick note: for those who are curious as to what I'm getting into, feel free to check out the Midwives For Haiti Facebook page. In the discussion section, there is a post describing as much as is known about the Carrefour location. We'll be the first group there, so it'll be pretty bare-bones.
Still packing and re-packing and shuffling things around to fit in my bags. 4 days!
-M
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Finalizing plans
Well, it's all coming together now. 8 days until I leave, and I think I'm ready. Clarification: as ready as I am going to be.
I just spoke with the "stateside coordinator" who is organizing our transport from the airport in Port au Prince to Carrefour. While he confirmed that we'll be picked up at the airport as planned, he ended the conversation with a brief warning. "I hope you know what you're getting into down there...." Not sure exactly what that means, but it definitely amped up my nervousness a couple notches.
We have our living arrangements set (a spot on a floor for a sleeping bag) and a small idea of what will be provided for us in terms of food (one bowl of rice per day). Other than that, it's still all to be determined. I did find out that I should be able to use my phone for emergency calls, which was a good relief. Now to embrace the unknown...
Lastly, just want to say thank you to all of you who have listened to my mini freak-outs and momentary panics as I prepare for this trip. It's a good mix of empathy and support with a dose of "suck it up, cupcake" mentality. :-) I am feeling blessed to be able to help out down there....but it's human to doubt and have fear around this adventure. And for all of you who know me, I'm too stubborn to even consider backing out...
Thanks for listening,
M
I just spoke with the "stateside coordinator" who is organizing our transport from the airport in Port au Prince to Carrefour. While he confirmed that we'll be picked up at the airport as planned, he ended the conversation with a brief warning. "I hope you know what you're getting into down there...." Not sure exactly what that means, but it definitely amped up my nervousness a couple notches.
We have our living arrangements set (a spot on a floor for a sleeping bag) and a small idea of what will be provided for us in terms of food (one bowl of rice per day). Other than that, it's still all to be determined. I did find out that I should be able to use my phone for emergency calls, which was a good relief. Now to embrace the unknown...
Lastly, just want to say thank you to all of you who have listened to my mini freak-outs and momentary panics as I prepare for this trip. It's a good mix of empathy and support with a dose of "suck it up, cupcake" mentality. :-) I am feeling blessed to be able to help out down there....but it's human to doubt and have fear around this adventure. And for all of you who know me, I'm too stubborn to even consider backing out...
Thanks for listening,
M
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My Haiti pile
My 2nd bedroom has accumulated a pile of stuff I've obtained or purchased with donations. Thanks so much!
Contrast...
After a long night on call with several women in labor and a lovely birth, my head has had time to fill with the contrasts between how we practice obstetrics here versus what I'll see in Haiti. Nothing like being up all night thinking...literally.
Part of me is really excited that I'll be able to really get to the roots of midwifery; the essence of birth without all of the hub-bub of intervention and convenience. BUT with that also comes a lot more sadness and tragedy. We live in a culture where birth is supposed to be "perfect" and fit into a certain high expectation. We are not supposed to acknowledge that death happens with birth and that they are not mutually exclusive in most of the world. And of course, when something devastating happens, it MUST be someone's fault. As a contrast, I'm going to a place where women understand that childbirth is a dangerous proposition. 60+% of women don't have prenatal care and many don't have a trained provider there to attend the birth. With birth comes the chance of death, and it is understood that the "perfect" birth cannot be assumed. With an infant mortality rate of about 6%, it is just part of the risk of having a baby.
I had a great chat with my backup physician overnight about the experiences I might have in Haiti or on my upcoming Doctors Without Borders adventure in the fall. I have to say, I've been exposed to a ton of complications over the past couple years which I can only assume were put in my way to prepare me. Cord prolapses, vaginal breeches, eclamptic seizures, sepsis, etc... The "see one, do one" mentality very much applies considering where I'll be. Most of my fears come from the fact that I'll likely not have a physician available to take over if the shit really hits the fan. Just me. (Hence my mantra at the moment "I can do it I can do it I can do it") :-).
Alright, enough for now. Forgive my ramblings....lack of sleep will do that to a peson.
More later,
M
Part of me is really excited that I'll be able to really get to the roots of midwifery; the essence of birth without all of the hub-bub of intervention and convenience. BUT with that also comes a lot more sadness and tragedy. We live in a culture where birth is supposed to be "perfect" and fit into a certain high expectation. We are not supposed to acknowledge that death happens with birth and that they are not mutually exclusive in most of the world. And of course, when something devastating happens, it MUST be someone's fault. As a contrast, I'm going to a place where women understand that childbirth is a dangerous proposition. 60+% of women don't have prenatal care and many don't have a trained provider there to attend the birth. With birth comes the chance of death, and it is understood that the "perfect" birth cannot be assumed. With an infant mortality rate of about 6%, it is just part of the risk of having a baby.
I had a great chat with my backup physician overnight about the experiences I might have in Haiti or on my upcoming Doctors Without Borders adventure in the fall. I have to say, I've been exposed to a ton of complications over the past couple years which I can only assume were put in my way to prepare me. Cord prolapses, vaginal breeches, eclamptic seizures, sepsis, etc... The "see one, do one" mentality very much applies considering where I'll be. Most of my fears come from the fact that I'll likely not have a physician available to take over if the shit really hits the fan. Just me. (Hence my mantra at the moment "I can do it I can do it I can do it") :-).
Alright, enough for now. Forgive my ramblings....lack of sleep will do that to a peson.
More later,
M
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A big thanks!
I really just want to acknowledge everyone who's helped me so far. I've had so much support from friends, family, and even people who don't even know me! I'm so appreciative and touched by the help. Many many many thanks!
A virtual hug and heartfelt thanks to the following (for money, donations, music, etc):
Julie Nathanielsz
Leia Raphaelidis
Erin Cross
Linda James
Joel Tepp
Kate Gilday
Ananda Babineau
Joe Vinikow
Teresa Crawford
Joyce Leslie
Judith Aissen/Jim Clifford
Michael and Mitzi Aissen
Claire Deem
Nathaniel Altman
Robert Altman/Lisa Flanders
Jason Zimmerman
Jeanne James
Chi Sherman
Liz Norton
Mahrie Moore
Cayuga Medical Center
Sara Kabakov
Shawna Black/Margot Chiuten
Ellen Ziegler
Lindsey and Dave Chaffee
Jen Papest
Jen (Vesey) Schauer
Heather Hedges
Laurie Ward
Amy and Steve Wexler
Barb and Tom James
Kate Pierce
Pamela Hathaway
Jody Haring
A piece of you is coming with me to Haiti.... of which I am so thankful.
More later,
M
p.s. You know, I forgot to give credit to all of the wonderful people who have wished me well and sent me love in lieu of money (for those who don't have the resources currently). It means just as much to me as any material thing. So thank you!
A virtual hug and heartfelt thanks to the following (for money, donations, music, etc):
Julie Nathanielsz
Leia Raphaelidis
Erin Cross
Linda James
Joel Tepp
Kate Gilday
Ananda Babineau
Joe Vinikow
Teresa Crawford
Joyce Leslie
Judith Aissen/Jim Clifford
Michael and Mitzi Aissen
Claire Deem
Nathaniel Altman
Robert Altman/Lisa Flanders
Jason Zimmerman
Jeanne James
Chi Sherman
Liz Norton
Mahrie Moore
Cayuga Medical Center
Sara Kabakov
Shawna Black/Margot Chiuten
Ellen Ziegler
Lindsey and Dave Chaffee
Jen Papest
Jen (Vesey) Schauer
Heather Hedges
Laurie Ward
Amy and Steve Wexler
Barb and Tom James
Kate Pierce
Pamela Hathaway
Jody Haring
A piece of you is coming with me to Haiti.... of which I am so thankful.
More later,
M
p.s. You know, I forgot to give credit to all of the wonderful people who have wished me well and sent me love in lieu of money (for those who don't have the resources currently). It means just as much to me as any material thing. So thank you!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Getting ready...
15 days to go....
So far I've received over $500 in medications from my hospital (thank you Cayuga Medical Center among other donors!), a bunch of baby clothes, miscellaneous hospital supplies, and a lot of monetary support for my trip to Haiti. I am just so pleasantly surprised to see how much support I've received! Thanks, everyone! I'll post a list of all of my supporters in a bit...you all need some recognition!
The past few days have been a bit intense for me. It's finally sinking in that I'm going to Haiti. And more, I'm going to one of the hardest hit places after the earthquake. I really don't know what to expect other than devastation and extreme poverty. I'm so glad I have skills and experience that make me useful down there...but my biggest fear is that I'll take in all of the pain and suffering and not be able to help everyone I see. I know it's unrealistic to think I can really make that much of a difference, but I keep trying to remind myself that if I can make even one person's life a little better I've done my job. If I can save one baby's life, or help one mom through her labor, or give one person some needed medications, I've done a service. Sigh...
The organization I'm going with, Midwives For Haiti, has been wonderful in helping coordinate the trip. I'll be travelling with 2 other CNMs (from PA and Vancouver, CAN), which is a big plus for safety and security. We'll have all transportation arranged once we get to Port au Prince, and will have a place to stay (tent) and food with Haiti Family Ministries, a missionary group lending support to the hospital. The hospital where I'll be working is called Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti, and you can see pictures of it (before the earthquake) on the Loma Linda University webpage. At this point I believe we'll be just staffing the hospital tent and attending deliveries, but who knows what else might come up before then. In an email I received recently from the director of the Ministries, she just delivered a baby against a concrete wall with a flashlight and a tarp for privacy... so I'm realizing that flexibility and adaptability might be my greatest asset down there.
That's it for now... Again, thanks to all who've helped me out so far! So many good people out there. :-)
-M
So far I've received over $500 in medications from my hospital (thank you Cayuga Medical Center among other donors!), a bunch of baby clothes, miscellaneous hospital supplies, and a lot of monetary support for my trip to Haiti. I am just so pleasantly surprised to see how much support I've received! Thanks, everyone! I'll post a list of all of my supporters in a bit...you all need some recognition!
The past few days have been a bit intense for me. It's finally sinking in that I'm going to Haiti. And more, I'm going to one of the hardest hit places after the earthquake. I really don't know what to expect other than devastation and extreme poverty. I'm so glad I have skills and experience that make me useful down there...but my biggest fear is that I'll take in all of the pain and suffering and not be able to help everyone I see. I know it's unrealistic to think I can really make that much of a difference, but I keep trying to remind myself that if I can make even one person's life a little better I've done my job. If I can save one baby's life, or help one mom through her labor, or give one person some needed medications, I've done a service. Sigh...
The organization I'm going with, Midwives For Haiti, has been wonderful in helping coordinate the trip. I'll be travelling with 2 other CNMs (from PA and Vancouver, CAN), which is a big plus for safety and security. We'll have all transportation arranged once we get to Port au Prince, and will have a place to stay (tent) and food with Haiti Family Ministries, a missionary group lending support to the hospital. The hospital where I'll be working is called Hopital Adventiste d'Haiti, and you can see pictures of it (before the earthquake) on the Loma Linda University webpage. At this point I believe we'll be just staffing the hospital tent and attending deliveries, but who knows what else might come up before then. In an email I received recently from the director of the Ministries, she just delivered a baby against a concrete wall with a flashlight and a tarp for privacy... so I'm realizing that flexibility and adaptability might be my greatest asset down there.
That's it for now... Again, thanks to all who've helped me out so far! So many good people out there. :-)
-M
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