I made it to Santiago, Dominican Republic

I was hoping to post a few pictures, but for some reason my computer isn't reading the SD card. I brought the cord and it doesn't want to read that either.

I left home Thursday night and took the red eye to New York. I got pretty nauseous, which has never happened to me before. Probably the combination of nerves, a very bumpy flight and the sleeping pill I took. Needless to say I didn't really sleep. I really thought I was going to throw up! Towards the end I had some nuts and ginger ale and that helped a lot.

When I landed in New York it was still dark. I forced myself to eat some breakfast, then enjoyed a beautiful sunrise.

The flight to Santiago was much better. I dozed off and on quite a bit. It was quite an experience to be on a flight full of Latino's. They are much louder than Americans. There were lots of little kids. And when the plane lands EVERYONE claps. It was so awesome!

Getting through customs was much easier than I expected. Though, I don't know what I expected. My shuttle was waiting for me when I walked out of the airport and I got checked into my hotel with ease. I spent the afternoon trying not to fall asleep (unsuccessfully), then finally gave up and shut everything down around 7pm. I got a great night's sleep and had a wonderful breakfast this morning.

This morning I'm feeling a little nervous again. As I was eating my breakfast sitting in this beautiful hotel I was pondering what the next two weeks will be like. Nothing like this I am sure!

I hope that I have brought the right clothes and equipment. I hope the language won't be such a barrier. I hope that I will be able to help those around me and be of help to them. I hope that I will be open to whatever comes my way. I'm trying to have an open mind, open heart and open spirit to what this journey may bring to me.

I have to say again how much I appreciate all the love and support that has been given to me. My family is so willing to make this sacrifice for me to do this and for that I am grateful. Please continue to pray for me, those I am working with and the people of Haiti.

Orevwa!

48 hours to go!

Today was a busy day! After a wonderful home visit with a client that I pray will wait three more weeks to have her baby, I stocked up on some frozen food for my family, bought a mosquito net, cleaned house for prenatal day tomorrow and finished packing.

I'm about 98% done packing and that feels good. Just need to load up my back pack for the plane and add a little more food and I think I'm done.

Tomorrow is a long day of work, so I'm grateful I will have Thursday to take care of last minute details. Need to go to the bank to get some cash, make a list of emergency contact numbers and I'm sure LOTS of other details that will keep me awake tonight. I'm not having any trouble falling asleep, just staying asleep. I'm still waking very early with my mind full.

Mario secured my hotel reservation in Santiago on both legs of my journey, as well as my bus ride. I feel much better knowing that is taken care of. The hotel has a free shuttle and asked for my flight information, so they will be waiting for me at the airport. I'm looking forward to a brief R&R by the pool before heading into Haiti on Saturday.

Can't believe this is really happening!

Wow!
Four days and I will be on my way.

I have begun packing my personal belongings and I'm proud to say that I think everything is going to fit in my small carry on suitcase. Packing the supplies that have been donated is another story. My office has been taken over and I don't know where to begin. Susan and Nancy are coming over Tuesday night and we will figure it all out.

I am so proud to say that I have raised $1165 in donations. I feel so grateful that my friends and family have shown so much support for a cause that I believe in. I do not have adequate words to express my feelings. So thank you!

I have been having some crazy dreams. They usually involve missing a flight or a bus, figuring out language or travel barriers, being late...the usual stress dream. Last night's was the best...I forgot to bring my camera so I was driving around Haiti trying to find a store that would likely speak English and sell cameras for a decent price. I found a camera but it cost $116 dollars and I thought that was way too much money. I was trying to figure out if the price was in US dollars or Haitian dollars. I then decided to try another store to compare prices (oh, my! This is sooo me.). I was then thinking about how ridiculous it was that I was even considering not buying a camera because of the cost, because how could I be in Haiti without a camera?

These dreams explain my extreme fatigue today! Melatonin tonight and hopefully a good night's rest. This week it is on to last minute details and crossing things off of my to-do list.

I've become overwhelmed by the Haitian Creole language tapes and have taken a break. I'm trying to decide if I should carry on, or just start over and get the basics down again. Any suggestions?

Thanks again my dear friends! I feel your love!

Donations are Coming in!

It's been a great week for donations! I have received boxes of goods (vitamins, medications, book, supplies, etc.) as well as several cash donations. I had a goal in mind of how much money I would like to raise and today I surpassed that goal.

$1090 to date!

Every time I receive a donation my heart swells with gratefulness. Grateful for the sacrifice you have made and grateful that you care. I have committed that 100% of the money donated will go to supplies and medications that my group will be transporting to Haiti. Whatever money is left over will be donated directly to MamaBaby Haiti.



Thank you again! It is not too late to still donate. I will be leaving one week from today.

Help for Haiti Shower

The fundraiser was few in numbers, but I had a lot of fun. Thank you to my friends who put it together and took care of the decorations, set up and food. It was wonderful. My basement began flooding as soon as I was getting ready to leave for the party, but we caught it quickly and were able to fix the problem before too much water got in.




I invited two women who have already been to Haiti and worked at MamaBaby Haiti. I was so grateful that Kim and Korina took the time to come and share their experience with us. The slide show they gave was wonderful. I was soaking up the whole experience and it felt surreal to think that I would be there in just two weeks from then!

These two ladies were fun and entertaining and I can't wait to hang out with them again!!

We didn't have enough time to make the hygiene kits so the kids at church made them on Sunday. I am very sad that I forgot to bring my camera and take pictures of them.

Updated list of needed items

I'm looking forward to our fundraiser tonight! A friend that adopted a child from Haiti is making us some Haitian food and there will be other goodies, too. I will try to remember to take pictures and post them tomorrow.

I am so grateful for all the donations received so far!

Today I received an updated list of items needed at the clinic. Highlighted items are those of most need.

Fracture pans (Edie thinks these would be great for us because they would fit between a woman's legs and you can catch all the blood and after birth right in it)

Ear Specula for peds & adults (lots and lots to fit a 3.5v MacroView Diagnostic Otoscope)

Tongue depressors (can never have too many!)

Temporal thermometers - preferably the ones with the silver ionized antimicrobial tip

Epsom salts - we've lowered a few BP's with this alone - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Sharps Containers - at least 3-4 - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Acupuncture needles in various sizes but especially 1 cun, 1.5 cun & 3 cun

Auricular acupuncture needles (preferably ones with a guide tube)

Normal Saline IV's

IV Start Packs - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

More hygiene kits (usually include a toothbrush, toothpaste, wash cloth, bar of soap & sometimes shampoo/conditioner) in a plastic bag - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Bars of soap - the more natural the better

Bottles of shampoo & conditioner - the more natural the better

Toothbrushes & toothpaste

Medium sized gloves - the most popular size & the size we have the least of - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Soy based formulas for babies who need formula but are sensitive to dairy - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Syringes - especially 1cc, 3cc, 5cc, & 10cc

Needles - especially 18 gauge, & something smaller like 22-23 or even a 25....also butterflies are awesome but expensive

Surgical scissors (could really use surgical kits but we're really low on scissors for some reason)

Scalpels & blades (sizes 10, 11 & 15)

Glucometers with lancets & strips (would be awesome to give out to patients if we could but I know how expensive the strips are) - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Snacks :)

Other canned/boxed foods - the more American the better :)

Drink mixes

Supplements we'd like so far (again this isn't yet complete but it's a start)

5-HTP

Vitamin A Drops

Bio-Vegetarian (Priority One) - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Artemisinin

B-Complex

B-6

B-12

Vitamin C (we like the 500mg chewable ones from Costco or something with lots of C per cap that tastes good for the kiddos)

Calcium/Magnesium supplements

Charcoal Caps

Chromium

CoQ10

Vitamin D3

DHEA

Vitamin E

Fiber Flow (Wise Woman Herbals)

Folirinse/Folate

GABA

Glutathione

Glycine

Thyroid Support (Pure Encapsulations)

Iron

Magnesium supplements

Trace Minerals (liquid)

Pregnenolone

Selenium

Tyrosine

Zinc - not super urgent but want in the next month or two

Digestive Enzymes (Papain & bromelain)

Urinary Defense Formula (Priority 1)

Cranberry

D-Mannose

Adult Multi Vitamins

Prenatals (I know Jennifer sent another email about this and we'll take all the adult multis people can cram in their suitcases - we can never have too many since we would love to be able to give pregnant mamas enough multis to have them every day and not just one or two weeks a month)

Juglans Nigra - tincture or caps are fine

Clove - tincture preferred

Blood pressure meds - Methyldopa & Libidolol are best for pregnancy & could also use some HCTZ & Nifedipine for hypertensive crises

Vitamin K (Christine McGraw is bringing some but we can always use more)

Garlic capsules or gel caps (lots, we use this all the time)

Augmentin

Not so urgent but we need more clipboards, pens, a 3-hole punch & page protectors like the ones that Des sent for charts (like a few hundred since we have so many patients)

Donations

First of all I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to those who have already donated money. I am making a plan of what items I will purchase and bring with me to Haiti. I plan to bring as much as I can carry!

I just added a Paypal donation button
to this blog.

I'm hoping this will make it
easier for those who wish to donate funds!

(look to the right)--------->>>

Things are falling into place and though I have some nerves I am mostly getting excited! It looks like I will be traveling into the Dominican Republic and meeting up with a group of Naturopathic students from Seattle. They will also be working at the MamaBaby clinic with me, and we will be able to travel by bus together from Santiago, DR to Cap Haitien, Haiti.

This week I am looking forward to a shopping trip with my friend Susan and her friend Nancy, who will be joining us at the clinic. We will be looking for both personal and clinic items that we need for our trip. Susan found some Creole language CD's that I will be downloading and listening to the next couple of weeks.

My most pressing things to do in the next two weeks will be:
*Finish my CPR and NRP classes that I stupidly let lapse and need to re-certify in before I leave.
*Figure out if I can find a phone that will work in Haiti.
*Gather supplies

I won't bother to list my never ending list of other things to do. Besides, I might start freaking out if I look too far into the future. One day at a time!