First post from Haiti

Hello from Haiti,

We arrived at the airport about 330.  The HHI team was there to greet me.  Our Haitian driver, Evans, told us about his experiences in the earthquake.  We had a relaxing evening and enjoyed a good meal.  Everyone is friendly and seems ready to get to work

I will be working with Tom, a retired orthopedic surgeon from Pennsylvania.  He has already been here 2 weeks and knows the ropes.  We will be working at the Bel Air clinic in downtown Port-au-Prince.  We will have 4 nurses with us, a few of whom have experience as well.  Apparently they diagnosed a case of measles and another of mumps last week.

I am sure I will have more to report and some pictures to post tomorrow.

Tom

Haiti eve

My flight leaves at 6am, in less than 9 hours.  I'm excited, but also a bit nervous.  I have not worked in a clinic for over 11 years.  I have no experience with tropical or third world medicine.  I have never been on a medical mission trip. In fact, I have never even traveled overseas!  I don't speak Creole.  Haiti is not a particularly safe place.  However, the sponsor for the clinic where I will be working, Heart to Heart International, seems very well organized.  There is a comfortable and safe place for me to stay, there will be security and translators, and I will be with other medical professionals more experienced in this type of work who I am sure will be willing to provide guidance.  The clinic's full time medical director is a Haitian doctor.  And it will be a long flight -- I will have plenty of time to study Handbook of Medicine in Developing Countries by Palmer and Wolf, the suggested reading for novices.

I have never blogged before, so be patient with me!

I am transporting 50 pounds of medical supplies for HHI.

I spent a large part of the day purchasing a notebook computer and figuring out how to use Google video chat.  (Joey gets credit for talking me through how to get that done.)  At least I will be able to stay in touch with Leslie and the kids while I am gone.

I better get to bed.  3:15 is just around the corner.

Tom