Doris-Owanda Johnson: I have arrived in Haiti!
### Greetings Everyone,
We had a very full day yesterday at HUEH and at home, all of which culminated in a great group meeting over delicious watermelon.
Emmanuel picked us up in an ambulance, and we wound up doing 62 treatments over 3 tents. We talked about adjustments we had to make, especially in terms of communicating the rules to patients—and nurses. We lost a few needles over several very different instances. One man writhed in pain and was washed by a nurse who was unaware of the needles. We recovered only 6 of his needles. Another man, apparently immobile, hopped in his wheelchair and went for a spin outside the tent. He lost one needle.
In the very first tent, there was one man who was very dehydrated and prostrate. His loved one wanted us to give him a treatment. I chose to wait a few minutes until he was a little better hydrated. He expired and his body removed before we finished working that tent. The man's loved one received the treatment in the interim, and I removed her needles as she realized the death of the man, tears gently streaming down her face.
There is definitely a system that has developed at HUEH. Despite the conditions, the nurses are doing their very best under the circumstances of heat, being outdoors, and relatively unsanitary conditions with close proximity of the patients with each other. It truly reminds me of a triage scene from MASH.
Back at the ranch, we are getting along very well. We had a wonderful dinner with Erick.
For today, Erick will take us to Matthew 25 House. Emmanuel and Ronald are unable to accompany us. There is a gas shortage, and they are simply out of gas.
Things are working out, with a few changes here and there. Time to go get ready for today.
Blessings, Doris-Owanda