Eye team at St Vincents Day 2

Day 2 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)

Today got off to an earlier start but not without experiencing morning rush hour in Port au Prince. We really got a feel for the morning hustle and bustle that takes place within the city! Just before pulling into the gates of St. Vincent, we could hear the children singing and chanting. We were quickly greeted with smiles and waves from the children, eagerly awaiting the chance to have their eyes checked. We quickly set up our equipment and began our work. While yesterday's group appeared to have many students with visual disabilities, today's group of students were mostly physically handicapped or mentally handicapped. Both circumstances presented their own challenges but we continued to be awed by the students and their courage and independence despite their unique situations. Simply amazing!

Today we exceeded our goal (of 80 exams) and saw close to 100 patients! The breakdown of our patient encounters are below.

96 patients seen (students and staff) 

43 pairs of prescription glasses ordered/dispensed

52 pairs of sunglasses dispensed

7 ophthalmology referrals

13 patients with identified ocular pathology

The children and staff of St. Vincent continue to impact us, seemingly more than we think we are impacting them. I know with each passing day, it will become harder to accept that our time here is limited and we will soon have to say goodbye. But, that time has yet to come! We will have to take it day by day. With that said, tomorrow awaits!

Feyi

Eye doctor team visits St Vincent's

We have a team from Southern College of Optometry - SVOSH Eye Care team- working at St Vincent's this week. Feyi is a lead team member and is sending me daily updates about their trip.

Day 1 (Monday, May 9, 2016)

The day got off to a great start beginning with a tour of St. Vincent. We made our way to each of classrooms, with Jean Robert letting the students know that we are here to provide eye exams throughout the week. The students were very excited to see us and we too looked forward to working with them as well. We were given a brief history of St. Vincent Centre and its founder, Sister Joan Margaret. Soon after, we were introduced to Joseph Jean-Paul, who was once a student at Centre and is now on staff, playing an integral role in the centre's day to day functions.

The first group we examined ranged in age from 6 years to 67 years old. The breakdown of patient encounters are below:

47 patients seen (students and staff)
15 pairs of prescription glasses ordered/dispensed
29 pairs of sunglasses dispensed
2 low vision devices were dispensed (magnifiers)
10 ophthalmology referrals
30 patients with identified ocular pathology

Despite a delayed start, we came close to our goal number (50 patients) for the day. We are very excited for the rest of the week and look forward to a great start tomorrow morning!

05/09/16

Feyi

Another Day in Paradise

Good morning all,

I'm on the veranda enjoying a little breeze now. Mountains and bougainvilleas are everywhere. 

 

 

Yesterday our ride was late--a confusion with the language. We have a Haitian phone now so we were able to call. We gathered the kids and sang the song for a while. Everyone is excited about the USAID group coming on Friday. As we had hoped would happen, the teachers had wonderful ideas and have completely taken over the process. We have become the assistants. They Are very capably in charge.

 

 

Today we will be making paper fish as one of the crafts related to the Aquaponic garden, more bubbles (too much fun) and we might have enough time to plant the seeds. Taking things one at a time and hoping our driver arrives on time!

 

Yesterday we had so much fun with the pipe cleaners. 

 

 

My best experience--one of the kids I have loved for a long time sought me out and we were able to sit and sign for a while. She has graduated for St. V. and attends a school outside the campus, but she still lives there. Today I will attempt to get some video of the older students signing. We'll see what happens with that. And we are bringing musical instruments for the kids to play with.

 

 

Hilary and Alison are doing well. We've all fallen in love again with this funny place and the kids. There is a gecko in our room that makes kissing noises every night! 

I hope everyone is doing well. It's odd not to be able to pick up the phone and just contact someone. 

 

 

More tomorrow if I'm not too tired!!

 

Men anpil chay pa lou -- many hands make the load lighter,

 

Sherye. 

Anne's reflection

St. Vincent’s

In a broken city

in a broken country

in a broken world

A boy with no arms plays futbol 

and discovers a fun noodle

A girl with no arms paints a friend’s fingernails 

with her toes

A boy struggles to pray out loud and keeps saying “Alleluia” 

A precious girl, who can only smile, laughs when we sing “Frer-e-Jaques-- Margarette”

A doctor “happens” to meet a cardiologist from Ohio

in a hallway at a hospital

Physical therapists find a stroller and walker for a bed-bound child

A deacon wrestles with ten lively little ones at once

in a hot upstairs room

A med student is everywhere--saying what we can’t 

in words or signs

A man with no arms or legs paints works of art

A blind girl plays classic violin; a blind man, the accordion

Superman does the impossible all day

everywhere

A priest celebrates Eucharist

Children sing “How Great Thou Art” in French

A neuro-psychologist manages a pharmacy

Helpers soothe a crying child, escort patients, deliver prescriptions, 

feed little ones

Nurses and medical assistants play catch, paint fingernails, stick fingers

An American deacon assists at Eucharist (in French) at the rebuilt cathedral

A shepherd takes care of his sheep and plays hymns on his violin 

A man maneuvers a bus through impossible traffic on impassable streets

and delivers the team to and from a Holy Place

In this broken city

that overflows with color 

and tap taps named for Jesus 

and God’s children

In this broken country 

that keeps on keeping on

despite earthquake, fire, and flood

In this broken world 

Where Love lives

Re-entry

After swiftly downing half a cup of that fabulous Haitian coffee, we left the guest house at six am today. A smiling Jean Robert helped us load our suitcases and accompanied us to the airport. Moving through the Haitian airport is an exercise in multiple security checks. Present passport. Check bags.  Walk to next line.  Present passport.  Walk to next line.  Take off shoes belt hat purse.   Empty pockets. Collect things.  Walk upstairs to next line.  Present passport. Take off shoes belt hat purse.  Watch agent hand search your carry-on bag. Collect things.  Walk to jetway. Wait in line.  Board plane.  Switch seats w Drew so he can sit next to Maureen (we all did this at some point on the trip)

Arriving in Atlanta is the same process in reverse. By the time we went through customs, collected our bags, got our next boarding passes and re checked our bags it was noon and we were all feeling a bit "peckish". No longer satisfied with the trail mix and granola

bars we had eaten all week, we found a food court and had pizza, pita wraps, Mediterranean salad, hamburgers and a Strawberry mango smoothie (Alison)

We've been here 9 hours at this point, waiting on our final connection to Memphis.  A few have managed to get on standby for earlier flights.  But the rest of the faithful have spent the time calling loved ones, checking email, reading books and trying to ignore the constant chatter about DONALD TRUMP on the airport TV screens.  Is there anything else in the world's news worth talking about?

I have texted my friends back in Haiti to thank them for the wonderful week they made possible for us.  Their replies are full of love and gratitude.  

Susan and Alison (selfie)

Their friendship reminds me that there really is more in the world worth caring about than self centered political candidates who have never missed a meal, never known poverty or threats to their home, never felt want of any kind.

Drew in his element

Susan Nelson

The last 48 hours have been incredibly busy, including climbing waterfalls

Alricka Hannah and Ruth at Saut D'Eau

lunch at Hotel Woze with a wonderful swim in the pool, shopping for metal art work in Village Noailles and then a THREE HOUR BUS RIDE through Port au Prince.  An inside view of Port au Prince night life, complete with RaRa band and the most incredible traffic you've ever seen.  Cars making 5 lanes out of two.  Cars driving on the sidewalk against traffic.  There's nothing quite like looking out the RIGHT side of the bus and seeing a car driving on the sidewalk next to you in the opposite direction.   Taps (brightly colored/painted trucks used as taxis) which are lit up at night like floats in a Mardi Gras parade, sliding past each other with inches to spare.  Sometimes not even that much space.  Motorcycles with goats tied on either side. MACK trucks stopped dead in the road, or piled 15 feet high with sacks of who knows what, and often people perched on top of that.   Our Haitian guide and driver said they  had never seen the traffic so congested.  The Kreyol word for traffic is blokiss, ("block-ees"), an apt term. 

There is much to say but it is 11:00 PM and we must leave the guest house tomorrow at 6 AM to catch our plane to Atlanta.  I hope to use the long layover to post some more stories.   

Until then may I say this has been one of the best weeks at St Vincent's.  The children are happy and healthy, they love Pere Fan Fan  and they are being fed 3 meals a day. They have clean water and clean dorms and bathrooms.    They have a new library stocked with books, donated by Brian and Susan Donnelly, by way of their friends in French Canada.   

Note the Canadian stamp

 I have a bunch of new friends on What's App, so I teased Pere Fan Fan he cannot let anything slip by because the children will tell me.  He laughed and agreed that the children, especially Dieumene, tell him what to do and give him a list every day.

So happy to see them doing so well.  It was hard to leave today, but as I have learned to say in Kreyol, "A la pwochen!".  Until next time.

Hand prints on the wall with children's names

THINGS DONE AND LEFT UNDONE

Every time we pray the confession we say these words, asking forgiveness for things done and left undone.  Last day at St Vincent's is always full of regrets and hopes.

The  daily office reading this morning was from I Corinthians 13.  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am as a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I give away all my possessions and give my body to be burned, but have not love, I have gained nothing.  This  passage was read by Zara this morning, our OT from Fayetteville Arkansas, by way of England.  All of us listening, with the St Vincent's children on our hearts this morning, thinking of the one thousand things we wanted to do for them before we leave Haiti.  Knowing deep down that this is not possible.

Bergens is a boy with scoliosis who has one digit attached where his right arm should be.  He has no left arm  He is a beautiful and intelligent child who has won the heart of many a team member, including John Mutin and Sue Trzynka.  

Our therapists Ruth and Zara were concerned enough about this child that last night  I sent an email to Dr Beauvoir, who is a Haitian  orthopedist who works at St VIncent's once a week.  Dr Beauvoir dropped by today....that is the first amazing bit of story, that Dr Beauvoir, a successful orthopedic surgeon in Haiti, dropped by today in response to my email to examine this child.   He agrees that the boy needs major surgery and will see him in clinic next week, make xrays and send them to me.  Then we will begin the hard task of determining where this major surgery can be done.

Later this afternoon, Ruth and Zara were working with Bergens, trying to figure out how to design a prosthesis to help him use the small (and only) digit he has for an arm.  They have brought foam noodles (the kind you play with in swimming pools) and used them for all manner of purposes, including cushioning bars on wheelchairs, making supports for kids with poor trunk stability, and the like.  Ruth told me she heard this BANG BANG BANG across the room, and looking up she saw Bergens banging this 6 inch piece of foam noodle for all it was worth.  He had shoved his single digit into the central opening of the foam noodle and was banging it against the chair.  Ruth realized with a shock that he had designed his own prosthesis.  She placed a spoon into the other end of the noodle and VOILA he could now feed himself!  She put a paint brush in it and now he could paint.  Magnficent! For $1.99, Bergens has a working prosthesis.

At day's end we sat on the steps of St Vincent's and listened to Mackenson, Geraldo, Konbit and Reginald sing for us.  

 

Mackenson, Reginald and Geraldo

All the boys except Mackenson are blind; Geraldo and Mackenson played guitar.  Geraldo has a beautiful falsetto voice.  The boys are about 20 years old, handsome and tall, singing in four part harmony.  The team sat on the steps, surrounded (and covered) by children of all sizes.  The deaf children sat with us; I don't know how much they can hear but they enjoyed the music with everyone else.  Jan sat with a series of children, taking turns on her lap. 

Edie rested her head against Anne Boykin and I sat next to Marie Carmelle, my favorite place at St Vincent's.  

 

Susan and
Marie Carmelle

Anne and Edie

As I looked at the faces of the people I had seen in clinic during the week, I thought for the thousandth time that I bring such a little offering to these wonderful people, and yet they welcome me and my friends and team members with love and  music and kindness. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

So why are all the team members grinning?

Working for a week at a school for handicapped children in a poverty laden country like Haiti may not sound like a vacation to most people.  So why are all the team members grinning and laughing and telling stories about the fun they had all day? 

Anne standing next to St V students, all in uniform

Wednesday morning began with a church service at the school as soon as we arrived.  Drew read the gospel of Mark and preached, with on the spot translation into Kreyol by Pere Wiclen. 

Drew and Pere Wiclen

One of the older blind boys gave an impassioned prayer of praise, while Jean Robert and Professor Simeon (who is also blind) played the violin softly and Jimmy played the accordion.  How Great Thou Art, as beautiful in French as in English. Followed by Seek Ye First, a song which I have heard too many times before, but sounded fresh and beautiful when sung by Haitian children.  Alleluia!

JEAN ROBERT PLAYING VIOLIN IN THE MIDST OF STUDENTS

I have learned over the years that it is as important for the team to play with the children as it is to run a medical clinic.  So we bring jump ropes, rubber balls, nail polish, bubbles, beads, and all manner of entertainment.

Anne Boykin skipping rope.

Yes, that's our St Mary's Cathedral DOK president skipping rope in the courtyard with the girls.  

Dieumene painted toenails on some of her friends (mind you, Dieumene has no arms) and the boys played soccer and dodgeball.  Alison described herself as  impromptu goalie, when a soccer ball suddenly bounced into the pharmacy, knocking over a few bottles of vitamins in the process.  Edie told me the highlight of her day was watching Dieumene paint someone else's toenails, using her feet.  Oh, and the privilege granted of feeding Dieumene some peanut butter crackers.  Dieumene has more dignity than most people I have met, and she grants her subjects rare privileges if we behave properly.  

Under the shade tree in the courtyard, I cherish the moments I can stand and feel the breeze (YES THERE WAS A COOL BREEZE TODAY) and watch the children playing.  There is something addicting about coming to St Vincent's over and over again, learning to know the children by name and seeing them grow up.  My friend Rochelle came to see me today and played her violin for us.  Rochelle is blind and I have known her for 8 years.  She completed school at St Vincent's and is now graduated from Port au Prince University with a communications degree. Today she gave me a thank you card, in which she wrote a message and signed her name.  How she does that with no sight, I do not know.  But I watched her do it.  

Tomorrow will be hard because it is our last day at the school; Saturday we will take a small day trip outside of Port au Prince to see some of the beautiful countryside.  I have already warned my team that they will leave St Vincent's feeling overwhelmed at all the things they wish they could have finished or done better.  That is the humbling part of our work here; there is no way we can accomplish all the tasks we think up in our heads.  I have come to learn that that is God's way.  If we could do everything we set our mind to do, why would we need God?  Why would we need each other?