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
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Molly, of course you will make a huge difference - just by your being there.......
ReplyDeleteWhat is Success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
mh
Thank you, Marie. :-) Just made me cry.
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