What a week. We were successful in seeing lots of patients- many of whom had infected wounds and diarrhea from lack of clean water after the eathquake- patients who otherwise did not have (easy) access to other medical care.

It was heartbreaking to talk to some of the patients and learn more about their story- one man in particular had lost his wife, daughter, cousin, and uncle in the house he barely escaped from. I saw a beautiful 2 month old baby brought to the clinic by her grandmother because her mother was killed in the quake. Thankfully the baby looked wonderful. Really everyone had a story. . .and everyone was truly thankful to have escaped with their lives.

In so many was the Haiti I experienced was the Haiti I remembered from prior visits- the Haitian people were vibrant and gracious- something unchanged by the quake. Although we worked in the 'ghetto' we were welcomed for the work be came to do.

Today I said goodbye to the team other than one woman (a fellow cheesehead) who is travelling back with me. It was a stressfull and emotionally draining experience on one hand, and incredibly rewarding on another. Our team weathered many storms together! Unfortunately it was a 10+ hour bus ride back to the Dominical Republic today. We, for no clear reason, sat at the border for over 2 hours. That said, we are now safely back in Santo Domingo . . .watching the Superbowl in Spanish.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayer!

Extremes of Emotion

Hello from Port au Prince. My experience thus far has been intense to say the least- including high, highs and low, lows.

I'm not sure how to sum up the trip thus far. . . .

We arrived safely in PAP after a 7+ hour bus ride from the Dominican Republic filled with adventure. I saw my first patient in the bus station in the DR- a little girl who's mother had died in the earthquake who sustained cuts and burns to her eye and arms. Thankfully her family had the means to bring her to the DR to seek medical care which had been adequate.

Our first full day in Port au Prince our friend Alex took us around to many different neighborhoods just to take in the destruction of the earthquake. It was so unbelievable to see buildings I remembered from my prior visits to Haiti completely leveled. One of the first buildings like this was "Our Little Brothers and Sisters" Children's Hospital in Pettionville. I had spent a month there after my first year of medical school taking care of many orphaned kids and others suffering from both acute and chronic illness. It was a ?4 story building before. Unfortunately after the earthquake it is literally a pile of rubble. If you were passing by you would think it was a construction sit of a building that was yet to be erected, no a hospital that once housed so many young children. When I saw that building, I think I finally began to understand what had happened in Haiti.

During our tour of the city, seeing the Presidential Palace and many other great structures in ruins was intense. Alex (our good friend and Haitian interpreter) has a daughter that was in a school that collapsed and somehow most of the kids made it out ok. It was quite disturbing to see the lifeless legs of one child sticking out from what once was the school- the body too burried for anyone without heavy lifting equiptment to make a rescue, and remains too trapped for a proper burrial.

While out walking one of the neighborhoods we were reminded "The flies, the black flies" meant there were bodies still burried under the fallen buildings. Worse yet, we saw the charred remains of bodies which had had tires placed on them and were burned because people couldn't handle the stench of rotting flesh. . .and workers were overwhelmed with picking up the bodies.


I'm unfortunately out of time to write but will thankfully have positive things to say in my next post- yesterday was a Haitian soap opera filled with lots of drama as we tried to set up our clinic. . .but today was a great success! We saw 90 patients today- many of whom who had been injured in the earthquake and now had infected wounds.

Keep praying for Haiti- that as CNN and other news outlets are no longer providing 24 hour coverage, that the many, many, many needs of this country don't once again become ignored.

Hola From the DR

Leg one- well half of leg one of the journey has passed without too much craziness. Today I left Pittsburgh and flew to Miami and then the Dominican Republic. We are staying with a friend of a friend. . .and what a surprise to have a hot (well...not freezing cold anyway) shower and internet.

As we were driving to the place we we're staying I was absolutely amazed to see nicely paved roads and big, tall buildings. . .crazy to think we are just on the other side of the island from Haiti. Tomorrow, after a 7 (?) hour bus ride to Port au Prince the work begins.

Delayed but Determined

Due to the many planes trying to reach Haiti, and the US Gov controlling the Port au Prince airport, all commercial planes into Haiti have been delayed until Feb 2nd- that being said my flight leaves out of Miami early in the morning of Feb 2nd. It's been a little complicated with all of the changes seeing as I'm travelling with a group from all over. As a group however, we refuse to be discouraged. If nothing else it gives us a chance to be as prepared as possible for the trip (I'm still wishing I had 30 hours in the day and 2 secretaries to help with all I need to do).

With all that's being written and shown on television, I have a strong desire to get to PAP as soon as possible and trepidation about what we will encounter. The sights, smells and experiences will, no doubt, be intense.

I've heard from many people "I think it's crazy you're going to Haiti." In response I usually don't mention why now, more than ever, I feel called to serve in places such as Haiti. This past Friday I celebrated the one year anniversary of my diagnosis of breast cancer. Around Christmas time the year prior I had found a lump while doing a self breast exam; being a doctor I knew there was nothing sinister about that lump (no pain, no skin change, easily mobile, relatively small). Add to that, I was 29 with no real family history. I thankfully took the 'practice what you preach' approach and went to another physician for an exam. I was reassured at my initial suspicion that it would be nothing. . .but then, after a biopsy 'just to be sure,' learned I was not immune to the fact that bad things (unexpected diagnosis, accidents etc) happen to good people all the time.

Thankfully at no time after my cancer diagnosis did I panic or become paralyzed by regret regarding all the things I hadn't done in my life. Sure at some point I'd love to get married, have kids, travel to Brazil, become a one-hit wonder and be on VH1's "Where Are They Now" and "Oprah". . . but all things in good time. Thankfully up until this point I can say that I've done a good job of really enjoying life- appreciative of the wonderful family, friends, and strong faith that carried through my cancer treatment and that will continue to carry me through challenging situations, such as Haiti, in the future.

Haitian (Mis)Adventures

Those of you who know me well are aware of the mishaps that happen to me. . .most of which I know are God's way of reminding me to not take myself too seriously and to keep on laughing trough it all. My adventures in Haiti have been no exception. Here are a few of those that come to mind:

- During my first visit to Haiti we stayed in Port au Prince for a night before heading to Thiotte to do medical work. Of course the basketball junkie in me couldn't turn down an offer to play a game with some of the Haitian boys living at the house. The unfortunate consequence of the game was a blister the size of Texas on my heel. Fast-forward a week. . .I had a nasty cellulitis (skin infection) around the blister and could barely put on a shoe. A few of the docs that I was working with feared that I could have anthrax (?!?!) so I, like several of the patients, ended up with an IV and antibiotics. That being said I didn't let is slow me down too much; spent a day in a chair checking people in then got back to seeing patients.

- While in Haiti for the summer my friend Alex' brother unexpectedly died. Alex was working as my translator at the Hospital I was volunteering at and without him I was at a loss since I don't speak Creole/French. When he asked me to come with him to the funeral I didn't hesitate to accept the offer. We travelled part of the way in tap-taps; they are the mode of transportation of most Haitians. Tap-taps are usually small pick up trucks with 2 benches running lengthwise in the back. You hail a tap-tap the same way you would a taxi, and when it's time to get off you tap(tap) on the side to let the driver know you want to depart. You then pay whatever fare is determined by the driver's right hand man. After transferring from one tap-tap to another I had found a seat while Alex was paying the fare. When the tap-tap began to take off leaving Alex behind I had a moment of panic. I'm not especially a nervous person nor a nervous traveller, but I had a true moment of panic. Before I knew it I was crying. . .well bawling. . .and saying 'stop, stop, oh God, please stop' . . .I did not have the sense to tap to let the driver know to stop. With Alex running behind the tap-tap it did finally stop about 200 yards down the road. Even with Alex safely inside, and with him reminding me I looked like a fool, I couldn't get myself to stop crying.. . big, juicy tears flowed for miles. Later my Bridget Jones-esque moment did provide much laughter for the both of us during a difficult time.



I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS!! I'm so thankful for your support. Today I got great news from an independent pharmacy in Pittsburgh who is going to donate $500 worth of antibiotics and sell me more at cost. That is huge as much of what I anticipate encountering in Haiti is skin infections (after injuries) and diarrheal illness (due to the lack of clean water). Because of your donations I will be able to buy the medications and medical supplies needed for the trip.

Please continue to pray for those suffering in Haiti! At times when you feel helpless never underestimate your strength in lifting up another in prayer. The 6 week old infant who survived until today. . .that's a true miracle and a speaks to the power of prayer.

Potent Experiences in Haiti

Prior to my first trip to Haiti I considered myself a fairly seasoned traveler but I had never experienced a place like Haiti. The sights, sounds, and smells were intoxicating and the depth of poverty faced by so many difficult to fully comprehend. Despite the fact that many of the friends I made literally had nothing, their spirits made them amongst the richest people I had ever encountered.





I first had the opportunity to travel to Haiti during my first year of medical school at the University of Wisconsin with a fantastic group of medical providers working with the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin. We travelled to a town near the Dominican border called Thiotte to provide medical care to the community. It was during this visit that I began to truly understand the disparities that exist between the third world and home and was an experience that shaped my career. For so many Haitians it is a daily struggle to find the next meal or have access to a clean water supply. I was fortunate to be able to return to Haiti on 2 separate occasions before graduation- travelling and working in Thiotte, Port au Prince and Aquin.

When I learned of the earthquake I feared for the lives of friends in Haiti and those living in already difficult conditions. As I prepare to return in a few short days I'm filled with so many different emotions and pray that those desperately in need of aid are being reached.

A week from today...

I have traveled to Haiti several times on medical expeditions and have gotten to know and love the people, the culture and the country.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 left unknown numbers dead and wounded, leveled buildings, destroyed infrastructure and devastated the already impoverished country. I have several dear friends in Haiti not all of whom escaped with their lives.

Once I learned of the devastation I felt compelled to travel to Haiti to help in the relief effort.
In a few short days, on January 26, I will head to Haiti to provide medical support.

I will be going with a group of doctors based out of NY and DC- most of whom have worked in Haiti before.