Jennifer Moments

Well, you may be wondering why so long since posting? Well, our internet is very very patchy the past few days, very slow and inconsistent, or, not here at all!! Maybe clouds? There are many theories passed around...
Wednesday brought a slow clinic day, only about 9 patients total, which was good, because Amy was all by herself in the afternoon so I could go to the NGO (Non-Government Organization) meeting in the afternoon. There were what seemed eight to ten countries represented, presenting and discussing issues related to a new proposed document for Emergency Aid Plans. There was lots of talking and discussing, much in French and Creole. Hopefully the minutes sent to Donna will be in English!!
Today is Thursday, which we had heard was market day, but apparently our many many patients needed us more than the market! We saw nineteen patients today including three inpatients. Yesterday and today I became a hand specialist, which is a first. I practiced my joint mobilization, distraction and ranging techniques with three patients, all earthquake crush victims. They are so tough, sitting there letting me do my thing and gritting their teeth. I am glad to see them progress and be able to use their hands in small functional ways in only a few days. My moment of the day came at the end, when I went to see an inpatient stroke victim who came in over the weekend. She is a fairly dense hemiplegic and we had only been able to sit her up or stand her twice. Her family had been attentive but I knew she needed so much more than we could provide. I went to work with her and to my surprise the nurses said she was being discharged today. I took a deep breath, scooped up all my emotions and set them way over to my right. I grabbed Alex and told him to "buckle up" (new slang I'm teaching) that we were going in to try to do some basic teaching for her family. Our translators have been having some issues with modesty with inpatients who need care but have little in the way of covering...they are not comfortable and we are trying to work on this. We ended up together, me, Alex, our patient and her son and daughter, helping them quickly learn how to dress her, transfer her to a wheelchair which I found in the storage and gave to them, discussed turning and supporting her arm, and most importantly coming back to see us as soon as possible. Thankfully, we know from others who have gone before, they will return to our clinic, and they will care for their mother. I am told there is only one nursing home in all of Haiti.
I have a new understanding of the previously explained concept of "Lost in Translation." My favorite new examples are when our translator will have a rather lengthy exchange with a patient, back and forth a few times, clarifying a question I needed answered. For example, I might ask, "How long has it been since he has not been able to walk?" They discuss it for a long time, I will then ask the translator, "What is he saying?" He will say, "Two weeks." Hmm...I know there was more there....
Oh well....
Days are hot, but more bearable than I'd imagined as long as we drink water. We are very busy, and I have learned the Creole words for "Sweaty" and "Flies" and "Squeeze it!"
Amy and I laughed hard on the van ride home, singing some American songs to Arnold and pointing out the polar ends of the spectrum of beauty on the Haitian streets. Tonight we are listening to one of the house workers play his guitar and sing for us. I will remember this...