Haitian Hangover

When we first got in Port-au-Prince, the doctor at the YWAM clinic base warned us about a sickness they affectionately named the "Haitian Hangover." They said it takes people out flat on their back for a few days.....well.... I found out what that felt like!

Got a little achy during my Friday night shift and came back to the Macoul's (Missionaries with Heartline Ministries here) house to sleep a bit. I became freezing cold (which I'm told doesn't happen here) and woke up from my nap burning up and could barely walk out of my bedroom to the table a few feet away--definitely never had something hit me that fast. Ryan came in to walk me back so I could go work at a clinic and took my temp which was about 102, so I found myself being a patient at the clinic and hooked up to an IV. I was brave and let Ryan get some IV experience...didn't get it (in fairness I think he hit a valve)..so I got stuck again. The doctor freaked me out and told me she thought it was Dengue fever, thankfully it wasn't and needless to say after a few days of laying in bed, I'm alive.

Today Ash and I moved over to Jon and Beth Macoul's house so I can pop in and out of the clinic. Saw my little girl, Esther I mentioned in my last post. She looked somewhat better!! :) :) I actually got her to smile by tickling her feet! I carried her around a bit and her mother wouldn't take her back which is hard to see and she just cries and cries to be left alone on her cot. Wish I could bring her home!

Back at the hospital (turned into a hospital from a boys orphanage) I had to laugh while watching the craziness of medical care here around me: IVs hanging from the ceiling, running Nitro in without a pump & guessing at the rate, the physical therapist showing a paitent how to dance, tons of mosquito spray, and in the middle of people everywhere...a dog almost knocking an IV pole over while playing fetch with the doctors and patients.

Good day today. I needed that. We got to go to the big dinner that other missionaries put on for all the medical personel. SUCH GOOD FOOD! SO HAPPY :). There are so many amazing stories from the doctors, nurses, and EMTs here. Some just picked up and showed up, others know each other, some don't know if their jobs will be waiting when they get home..... One nurse is a comedian in Brooklyn and said she gets paid more for her stand up gig than nursing :). It's awesome being around such amazing people.

Bon nuit ( my limited creole)