Midwif's Haiti trip

[jim-ratliff]

Lynn leaves this Friday for two weeks in Hinche, Haiti so I thought I would share some of what she has learned.
The focus of the group she is volunteering for http://www.midwivesforhaiti.org/ is training/mentoring local midwives (sort of a teach the man to fish rather than merely giving him a fish approach).? In Haiti, 76% of all deliveries are done by non-qualified persons, contributing to the highest infant and maternal mortality in the western hemisphere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinche
Hinche is accessible either by a 5 hour 4-wheel drive ride on dirt roads or by airplane charter (hopefully Harrison Ford isn't the pilot).? Lynn is deathly afraid of flying on small planes; unfortunately that's all that can land at Hinche's airport and its 2500' dirt runway.? Calming drugs are in order.
The water in the hospital is not suitable for drinking.? Hospital might be a bit of a misnomer, since no one works or stays there overnight.? I'm not sure what the women who are in active labor do in that situation?
She will be staying in an orphanage run by a couple of Catholic Priests - no other safe accomodations are available. Mosquito nets are required, but at least the water in the orphanage is drinkable, but brought in by bucket from the well.
Electricity is only available part of the day.? I don't know if this is city wide or only the hospital/orphanage, and whether it is regular or sporadic.
Very little English is spoken, her team has to pay/provide their own translators.

While she is a bit apprehensive about the situation, she remains pretty excited about the opportunity to offer help in a place where it is so badly needed.? And she is looking forward to the mentoring part.

[Ron]

she is my hero!  I have so much respect for Lyn, lots of good thoughts and vibes for you. I look forward to hearing the details. this will be a life changer! 

[jbotti]

Kudos Lynn. The world is better place because of you!!

[Perry]

Good on ya Lynn,  a bitterSWEET, powerful, grace filled, meaningful time awaits you.  I will pray for you that you will feel His presence and peace and that you will be an effective teacher.  Who knows how may times what you teach will be passed on to other health workers.

Perry

[LivingProof]

Lynn,

Just want to add my best wishes for you and the other midwif's performing this noble service. Many "talk the walk" of serving those in need, you are "walking the walk".

Take care and may the experience be profound.

Makes ski discussions minor in the big picture.

Mike

[midwif]

Good on ya Lynn,? a bitterSWEET, powerful, grace filled, meaningful time awaits you.? I will pray for you that you will feel His presence and peace and that you will be an effective teacher.? Who knows how may times what you teach will be passed on to other health workers.

Perry

I am looking forward to feeling Her presence. A chat would be nice too.

Seriously, thanks everyone for your well wishes. I am a bit apprehensive, but glad to be doing this.


Lynn

[SnowHot]

I'm in awe Lynn.  Will keep you in my prayers.

[Ron]

He/she too funny!   

if it makes anyone relate better, have at it!

a chat's nice but a simple realization is all that's necessary. Chat's are over rated

Good on ya Lynn,? a bitterSWEET, powerful, grace filled, meaningful time awaits you.? I will pray for you that you will feel His presence and peace and that you will be an effective teacher.? Who knows how may times what you teach will be passed on to other health workers.

Perry

I am looking forward to feeling Her presence. A chat would be nice too.

Seriously, thanks everyone for your well wishes. I am a bit apprehensive, but glad to be doing this.


Lynn

[Gary]

Lynn...my hat's off to ya!....I think it's extremely commendable and a beautiful thing to do.

I'm sure for as much as you put into this adventure,....you'll receive 3X's back....

The satisfaction of knowing you'll be helping so many is such a great gift.

Wow them with your wit and sense of humor and don't be too big toe dominent...

Hugs and All the best Lady!

G

[jim-ratliff]

Ok, I just got back from a bike ride and decided to post this little trip summary for Lynn.? My guess is that she will be a bit embarassed, but I think its pretty objective and captures the essence of her frustration.

I think it is natural for all of us to take our individual uniqueness and characteristics/gifts for granted, and always have higher expectations of ourselves.? From that perspective, even though she had a really good question and answer session one day, Lynn's exposure to Haitian hospitals and (at least) this set of midwives was very disappointing.

But somewhere in an all boys orphanage that is run by a couple of Jesuit Brothers and is, therefore, missing motherly love, there are two little boys who felt so loved by Lynn practicing their English with them that they painted some very nice pictures (one in the shape of a heart) as going away presents for her.

And (this is the sad one) somewhere in Haiti there is a man who will always know that this rich (by everything he understands) white lady from America cared enough about his wife that she gave a pint and a half of her own blood trying to save her life.? What he may never know is that, for some reason, the native midwives didn't think that a woman laying in a pool of blood from head to foot with more pooled on the floor was a situation that needed attention.? By the time Lynn's roommate found out about the situation the woman had effectively bled out and didn't have the ability to clot.? It should never have gotten to that point except for the lackadaisical care and lack of concern of the Haitian midwives.? ? ? (At the time Lynn left the woman was still alive, but in renal failure and dialysis is not available in Hinche.)

You can teach skiils and provide medicines, but how do you change a culture or a person's heart?

[Ron]

thanks Jim, I don't think I have anything to say other than my respect and admiraton for Lyn is of the upmost and I can only encourage her to look at the picures drawn by those boys and the appreciation expessed by that man to find any kind of solice.. the story you tell regarding the woman is horiific but only uderscores the need and desparation of the people. I don't have anything helpful or clever or smart to say. i am profoundly moved by her story and her courage to help others. I am humbled by her.

[jbotti]

Jim, Lynn's story is a painful one, and this is clearly being repeated all over the the developing world daily. Yes it's sad and disturbing. What it does for all of us is give us great perspective, the perspective for all of us to live grateful lives in a grateful state every day!! This is the lesson that I try to live and learn every day!! Amazingly, in places that have so little is where we tend to see poeple living with unbridled gratefulness every day!! Compare that to so many that are well off in this country that find a way to complain about their lives and their country every day!!

Thanks to Lynn and Jim for sharing this.

[Gary]

THanks Jim...very touching and I can see how painful this would be for Lynn ....heck..me too!

G

[midwif]

I have been cogitating on my time there and am glad I have waited to write anything. In fact, I am not yet ready to give a synopsis
because I want to wait for my roommate to send me the pictures she took, a few of me in Haiti, to go along with the  write-up.

A country of great need. And so close to other countries who could help. And yet, the long history of corruption and graft makes it difficult to give
without great hesitation.

Jim makes me out a hero. Not. Just someone doing a little bit. My little bit.
Don't worry guys, I'll help you get over the guilt when I do write it up!

Lynn

[LivingProof]

I have been cogitating on my time there and am glad I have waited to write anything.

Jim makes me out a hero. Not. Just someone doing a little bit. My little bit.

Lynn

Lynn,
Cogitate. I love it when an e-post sends me to the dictionary to expand my vocabulary. I cogitate all the time!

Welcome back to the world of posting! Tell your story in your own way and in your own time. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

Hero, hmm, I think it's a word often with little meaning to those to whom it is applied. Making a difference is what counts. You done good!