Sherye's reflections working with our medical team in April

Another trip finished! We are on the plane and on our way to Atlanta from the Port au Prince airport. It struck me on this trip that we focus so much on the beautiful children at St. Vincent’s that we don’t realize the changes we have made in ourselves. We are different in large and small ways—many of these we may not realize until much later.

I don’t believe I have never made a trip that I managed to give more than I got. I try to be more patient with people who are doing their best. I find I am less patient with complainers and I am trying not to be one. The Haitian people just do not complain. I spend money more carefully, and I recycle, reduce, reuse, and repair more.

This trip had 15 medical people and 3 who were not. I am the interpreter for the deaf students and adults at the school. As usual, I am completely amazed and dazzled by the medical team. The nurses from CBU are always remarkable and this time was no exception. They were so flexible and willing to do anything. It can be “interesting”dealing with sporadic electricity, schedules that don’t stop changing, various backgrounds and personalities, and a really short time to get to know each other.  But because we have one focus, one goal, by the end of the day we are functioning like a family and everyone manages to keep smiling and laughing.

I hope everyone on the team is more likely to approach a handicapped person as easily as we are to approach a non-handicapped person and start a conversation. These seemingly subtle things are important.

Sherye Fairbanks

April, 2014