I'm Going Back!!!

So, a couple of weeks ago I was asked to consider being a team leader with the medical team that is returning to the refugee camps in the Dominican Republic. My immediate answer in my head was "Yes Yes Yes" but I knew I had to ask some other significant people in my life before I could commit. My husband had the wisdom to know it was not so much a question as information - having handled a 2 week stint on his own already this is old ground, and this time it will just be him and Elliot at home, they are fine, they will eat drink and be merry its more my dog I'm worried about! Then I had to ask my boss, Mike, because last years trip really took me out for the best part of 3 weeks and that's alot to ask to do again just a year later, honestly if Mike had said no I would have shut the whole project down there and then because I am very very committed to my job, but Mike was very supportive (bless!) and so with great excitement, I met with Gerri, the Global Health Director for the Caribbean and fast becoming a close friend and we have started planning. My team will go Nov 1-14th, to date we have about 4 physicians, 3 nurses, still looking for an OT and PT and will maybe take along a nutritionist (badly needed). I feel in someways like I am going home to see family, to pick up with the resident medical team in Consuelos, Dr Judy, and Abel and others but more than that I am so privileged to administer in some small way relief and healing to those precious children in the camps, cant wait to get my hands on them again. From the first time I set foot in the camps (Bateyes as they are known in the DR) I felt I had become a nurse for this purpose, I have thought about all my experiences down there almost daily, look at my photos often and had a yearning to return. I am sooooo excited I am getting this huge opportunity. Only hope I cut it as a leader and take everyone down and back safe and sound.

In June, me and Gerri and another team member Karen are going for a 5 days trip to scope out some new projects, rekindle some old relationships and create a vision and strategy for our November trip. So the blog lives on, the purpose for which is was created still exists - I am more than happy.

One of the requirements from my husband and I reluctantly know he is right is I need more investigations from a cardiologist. After last years trip I ended up with persistent palpitations which my cardiologist thinks was from being persistently on the edge of dehydration for 2 weeks which screwed up my magnesium and potassium levels, however, 4 months later I have been unable to wean myself off the beta-blockers, so Colin, yes I will go and get a stress test and an echo done and talk to Dr Hylricht one more time!!!

My head is spinning with possibilities and scenarios, another fun and busy year in that strange world of Angie

PS Oh, almost forgot, Joe is home for Spring Break, 10 days of him, yeah - we did buy that house in Dover. And so the next 3 months will be a project of getting it student renter ready - what fun. Can I go to the Dominican now please!!!!