We had a phone call!!!

It was great to hear from Angie this evening particularly after the text this AM:

8am Been up since 4am with the runs - it was bound to happen. Still no power or water. Don't worry they will give me an i.v. if I fall over.

I was a "little" concerned as you can imagine, so to hear Angie's voice was great. She was feeling much better, although still a little weak and had not eaten anything all day. Whatever the stomach upset that had affected her was now working itself through the whole team (Angie always likes to share :-) ). After 48 hours they finally had electricity and water so Angie was at least clean again! As we were talking the power went off again and they went back to total darkness, so that ended the call.

But in the time we did chat Angie gave me the following info: They are moving between 12 camps which house between 500 and 1200 people. They are working as 2 teams and she is the basically working the pharmacy. The local medical staff are weighing and taking the heights of the kids and then they go to the medical staff. After the diagnosis they go to Angie who is dispensing the necessary medication and having to do all the calculations for dosing etc.

They are dealing with infections, de-worming and malnutrition. Today they had a slightly quieter day - 88 children. The families have nothing, but they are friendly and give everything they have to the visiting medical team - hugs all round.

The conditions are poor - even the "fresh water" you would not give to your dog over here. There is no employment since even the sugar plantation closed down. The kids spend their day chewing on sugar cane which now grows wild. Their teeth are in terrible condition because of the constant sugar cane chewing.

Even with the heat, bugs, dirt, and poor conditions, I asked Angie if she would do it again and without hesitation she said yes. She was having a good time and the medical team were great fun, so they were all getting on well.

So with that I will sign off for today...and head to my nice clean bed with a warm shower in the morning. It puts life into perspective.

Day 4, of Angie being in the DR, and Oh, the Phillies won

Philadelphia is now going wild, not because of this blog but the Phillies have just won the world series. For those reading this and not from the USA, this is Baseballs biggest trophy (and yes it is called the world series but no other countries are invited to join!). The phillies have only won this once in 126 years and the last time was 25 years ago so quite the event. There are fireworks going off even in our area and car horns beeping!

Now I have put the world into perspective, there is a link.......it will be quite the night in the DR for Angie. Apparently most folks over there are really keen baseball fans and many of them support the Phillies. I can only imagine the celebrations that will be going on.

So to the texts from Angie - just the two (and nothing about a rooster......it must be dead or had its beak taped shut!).

8 am: So last night we turned Uno into a drinking game. Crazy game. Crazy people. About to go to another camp.

5.30pm. No power or water for 24 hours. I am disgusting. Really bad camp today - we saw 120 kids.

The last text says it all. I know she will be finding this tough and I have heard nothing else. Here at home, I think Biggles states it well.....he has taken to sitting outside in the cold at the end of the driveway waiting for Angie to come home.

Day 3: Hot or Cold?!

Its October and its snowing - when does that happen in Philadelphia?? Angie is roasting somewhere in the DR and we are freezing up here. Is there something she is not telling us?

The boys are excited however - it is nearer snowboard season. Joe was was texted by all of us and a few friends about the snow - it was a local effect and he was not seeing the white stuff which he loves so everyone was rubbing it in.

So whats the news from Angie you ask? Good question, I had 2 text messages:

8.07 am: There is a rooster. I want to kill him!
3.15pm: The camp is a black hole that kids get sucked into but I have found my calling and may never come home.

Editorial: 1) I would not want to be a rooster when Angie is sleep deprived and at "half past dark" in the morning - he does not understand! (I also feel very sorry for her house mates).
2) She will get home sick and come home eventually........BUT she is not allowed to bring any babies back with her........we have enough going on with 1 dog, 2 cats, 1 kitten 2 teenagers and I forgot to mention the 1 fish last night and the 1 student at UNH.

So it is time to log off as I sit here with one cat on my desk, another upstairs and both not enjoying life with the cold and the pesky kitten. The dog is outside laying in the snow!

Day 2 and a phone call

She called! After a couple of texts we had chance to chat this evening, albeit briefly as they charge $2/minute airtime (phew that keeps conversations to the necessities). All is going well, she is sharing a room (and bed) with Ann, one of the resident MD's. The whole team were all going to the local casino tonight to watch the Phillies.

Apparently it is very very hot and they have very large bugs! One text quote was "happiness is counting 35,000 vitamins out to give each kid a 2 month supply drinking a beer and listening to Jack Johnson."

So that's the news other than phone coverage is sporadic and text messages are also expensive, so we are now on messages as needed. Tomorrow they head to the refugee camp, so life gets really busy and contact will be very sporadic.

Other than that, back home I did role call.....there is still 1 dog, 2 cats, 1 kitten and 2 teenagers here this evening, so it seems everyone is correct and present. Everyone is fed and watered and it is now time to head to bed, so it is time for me to say goodnight and go Phillies!

She's there!

So, this is Angie's blog written by her husband. For those of you keeping an eye on this blog you will be pleased to hear that she arrived safely. I have received a number of texts so I can transcribe those:

2pm on Oct 25th: I am here and it is really hot and really Spanish.
2.45: We now have a 4 hour drive to the convent.
3.10: We are on a really rickety bus no air, bad roads.
5pm: Arrived at the convent - clean and basic. Village is here to welcome us. Miss you (that was for me :-) and I won't put in my text's to Angie!)

Sunday 1.30pm: Angie found a teapot and china plus a french press, so anyone who knows her will appreciate a couple of the home comforts will have made her happy! Her text goes on to say.....no one knew how to use them, so now I am house mother. Church was good - all Spanish (another editorial - they all had to attend the local Catholic church on Sunday to fit in with the culture.


So that is all the news from Angie. So what has a hubby been doing all weekend? I was up in New Hampshire at parents weekend with Elliot, to see Joe at UNH. We had a blast of a weekend ate well, and caught him up to date with shopping and food (thank goodness for BJ's). We watched him rock-climb on one of the walls, as part of the U demonstration rock-climbing team. Sat afternoon, the boys thought they would go and play racket ball and I would go along to watch. The racket ball courts were all used, but the squash court was available. Joe then said, "Dad you can teach us squash?"(which I used to play). So for the first time in maybe 20 years I went on the squash court and taught the boys. After giving them the basics, I left them to play....but of course they wanted to play me. Did I say it was 20 years since I last played? Joe and I are very competitive........we played 2 games and we both one one each, but they were long and competitive. He is a young fit teenager, and what he lacked in experience he made up in agility and strength. Did I mention that I had not played for 20 years?.....I came off the court, sat down for a drink and then could not get up! My lower spine totally cramped up......I am still in pain today, but bragging rights have been maintained - Joe did not beat me!

Elliot and I returned home leaving Joe at the rock-climbing wall, and pictures will follow when I have time to up load them.

More news when I get more texts from Angie. Watch this space!

Last Day In Civilization

So I just had a really lovely cup of tea, an extra long "hot" shower, enjoyed blow drying my hair, brushing my teeth from water right out of the tap - all the things that I may not be able to do for several days. I have been a nervous ninny all week, had several panic attacks about going on this trip and had to give myself a good talking to. But now, just hours before I leave for the Haitian Refugee Camp and I am strangely calm. I have been in a self reflective mood all week, asking myself why am I doing this. I have come to the conclusion it is coming from a deep passion for my craft of nursing and knowing I have the skills to effect change for a population of the worlds children that live in the worst conditions. I want to do, be a part of something bigger than myself and I want to live out my favorite quote of all times by that wonderful role model Gandhi - "Be the change you want to see in the world." I have taught my children to live that way, I need to be a model of it too and live it.

Also I just found out a media crew is coming down with us, a photographer and a journalist are accompanying us to document our trip. The hospital is making the most of the PR machine and their role in global health. Don't really like the limelight but have a feeling I will stick out with my English accent, anyways it may result in a series of articles in the local rag so watch this space, you may in fact be about to know someone famous!!!!

I am hoping for Internet and cell phone service down there but I am uncertain if that will be possible. In my absence Colin is going to be the gatekeeper of my blog, this could be both scary and amusing so know the keeper of this Blog is in no way responsible for what Dr Colin Miller may publish on my behalf but I am certainly grateful for his efforts.

So, my dear friends I bid you farewell for a little while and pray I come back enriched, amazed and parasite free!!!!!

A Working Week

Have not blogged for a few days because one I have not had much time and two not a great deal has happened in my life - for a change. Colin and Elliot went to England for the weekend because they can so I spent a very quiet weekend on my own catching up with housework, homework and a good book, I even managed to sneak a massage in there which was just glorious and I left thinking I need to do this every month.

I am in another one of those challenging graduate school classes, well they are all challenging but I am not particularly enjoying it. This class is about writing learning contracts, rigorous, measurable objectives, resources and strategies and how to use an annotated bibliography - what the heck is that anyways. I am so much more about psycho-social dysfunctional family issues (because I come from one and I am in one!) and the nursing implications of such. So this class is a stretch for me but of course I am doing my best. This is the last week - phew, I am in my last year of graduate school and after 2 years I have to admit it is getting a little old, not sure what I will do with all that time when I am done.

Last night was our last orientation meeting before my Dominican Republic trip. It was a night of infectious diseases, basically telling us how to spot but not get TB, Dengue Fever, Typhoid, Dysentery, Malaria.... the list goes on. Half of me is thinking "What were you thinking signing up for this!!" half is me is thinking "I cannot wait, this will be a life changing experience." Whatever this will be a stretch for me. I am a homebody, I do not like to wander too far from home, even when I am on vacation with my family I tend to get homesick and yearn to see my dog and my own bed - so we shall see.

Today I am dropping Kate off at the airport as she is going to see Joe for the weekend, lucky girl wish I was going with her!! She has never really flown before and even though its only an hours flight to New Hampshire I took the day off to walk her through the airport process. However I also want to take a long walk in the local State park, it is a glorious day and the colors are spectacular right now and my life is going at such a warp speed sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses.

Kittens and Firstborn Visits

A whirlwind of a week, trying to fit what I do in 7 days into 5 because Katie and I planned to take a college road trip. At the beginning of the week we saw the arrival of 2 adorable kittens to the house. Only one is staying, the other is going to Katie's sister who will pick it up in a few days. The humans in the house love these cute kittens, the resident animals are furious, the two existing cats who do not normally talk to each other stand together in solidarity at their disgust of more felines in the house - they are such divas. Biggles, who will a heavy sigh could blow these kittens of course runs for the hills as soon as they approach him - total wuss! But they are very sweet and Katies cat (called Todd) seems docile and very cuddly, very good for a girl that needs something to hang onto.

Work was its usual maniacal pace but I managed to get most of what I wanted to achieve by Thursday afternoon. Thursday evening Katie and I set off for Connecticut, after sleeping well in a local hotel we visited a University that offers the Equine Studies program Katie would like to do. To say it was total disaster was understatement, they were surprised to see us (even though I set up the visit over a month ago) the buildings were tired and run down and they just did not have their act together - we did not stay long.

So, we hopped in the car and did what we both really wanted to do anyways, go to Durham, NH to see Joe. What a sight for sore eyes he was. Tall and handsome, I swear he has grown 6 inches and lost 10 pounds, all this outdoor life must suit him. How good it was to hug him and kiss him and just be around him for a few hours. It is very obvious he is settled and happy, everywhere we went he was saying hi to people and introducing us. First order of business was a haircut as I am not into the shaggy dog look too much and then we did some essential student shopping, great dinner and then rather late on a Friday night for me, Joe dragged us down to the Student Union to see a concert his friends were playing in, Asian Hip Hop meets Acoustic Rock...hmmmmm only in college, it was actually good. What I was not expecting was how hard it would be to say goodbye to him, I only thought that happened the first time you drop your kid off at school. That sense of loss and missing him returned and I think took us both by surprise, but it is tempered by the fact that I know he is very very happy and I will see him in 6 weeks for Thanksgiving.

Then Saturday, it was off to Vermont to see another equine school. The drive to Vermont in October was worth the price in admission all by itself. To say the ride was spectacular would not be doing it justice. And smack bang in the middle of all this glory is Vermont Tech, a smallish school in beautiful surroundings. We loved the school, loved the equine program and all that college life has to offer so that definitely will be high on our list to apply to.

A longish 6 hour drive home and now it is Sunday and I am facing a wonderful day of laundry, groceries, watching the Eagles and the Phillies play simultaneously ( whose idea was that to schedule them at the same time) oh and writing that paper that is due by midnight that not only have I not started I have not even thought about it - I had better get on with it!