Traveling Light
We are all on a different road what we travel with is our choice. I choose to travel light; no stress or emotional baggage. I choose to travel to be a light. I choose to travel with arms wide open to meet new people, make new friends, and hopefully to change my part of the world. Will you travel with me?
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
The Sugar diaries… or sweetness interrupted
Monday, June 21, 2021
It happened again
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The little things
On my way
Captains log... LoL I always wanted to start with that... I am sitting here in the airport waiting for my flight to board for Haiti. Ever since I told my family and my friends that I am going to Haiti the one common question that I got was ... "are you excited" that is of course after the " are you crazy". Just to let you know a little about me, I am a traveler, not just a person that likes to travel. I think I am the ADD variety of travelers. I love traveling with a purpose for the most part (seriously I am not trying to claim sainthood, I just get board sitting around doing nothing)... told ya I have ADD. O.K . back to the original purpose of this blog. Am I excited? yes and no. I am excited about what could be done, the prospects of that lie ahead, but I am also terrified of others expectations of me. Usually when I am asked if I am excited I have no idea how to answer, I act as if it is not a big deal, while inside I am terrified of being a disappointment. Bet you did not expect that? With all seriousness, internally I am freaking out so any words of encouragement are welcomed, prayers are also solicited ...or better yet get your bottom out here and help me. :)
Haiti... It has been several hours later and I am finally in Haiti. I met some awesome people in the airplane... man I realize that I love to talk. Thank God I had an uneventful flight, love going places but hate flying. After arriving and navigating my way through the sea of bags haphazardly cast about in baggage claim I finally made it outside only to be greeted... no bombarded by men willing to "assist"me with my bags, all for a small fee of course. Seriously, I cannot find any fault with them ... these men are only trying to make a living, it's just that having five people offer to assist me with two bags is a little much. Anyhow, after waiting in the airport for what seemed to be an eternity (actually it was only one hour... slight exaggeration for dramatic affect), The hospitals driver and I finally found each other... Have I failed to mention IT IS HOT and HUMID here... I'm just saying...
I have been here for almost one hour and after having an extensive discussion with some of the volunteer staff I have think I have identified one area that I can begin to work on... how I will start, I have no idea... but by the act of reading this you have been drafted as my support staff, I am expecting full participation.... Please... : ) I will update later after I have had some time to investigate.
Day one of Haiti adventure... also known as the Introduction
R U ready for our adventure?
Peppaseed
Captains log 2019... Actually mommy’s log
Friday, October 28, 2016
Negative I & O
Today has been a negative I & O day. No breakfast, no lunch and just getting home for " dinner" only have strength to make a PB&J sandwich.
Lol how is it that every conversation I have had today with my team members have started with "we have a problem".
At least our program assistant (trying to make me feel better) started her statement at 7:30pm this evening with "I know there have been a lot of big problems today but we just have a small problem".
I am sooooo glad it is Friday.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Sweet and Salty
At the end of the meeting one of our nurses pulled me to the side as I was walking out of the room to say "Ms. Marc, did I ever tell you how much we like you"... That made my day after this meeting.
Sometime you never know how much you need those words of affirmation.
It as a good day after all.
Friday, February 6, 2015
A Life Well Lived
Sunday, February 1, 2015
And I'm Back...
Friday, January 23, 2015
Wisdoms cry
Monday, October 15, 2012
Code Blue....No Wait ..Code Milk
What The Mess...
So I am spending a quiet evening at home (finally) when I hear a tapping at the gate and someone calling my name (so goes that quiet night) the security guard say that Madame Lareche is calling for either Dr. Wise or myself and said it was and emergency ( we have a 27 week premature baby in the unit and so if Madame Lareche says it's and emergency it really is). So I quickly change into scrubs run to Joe and Anna's house telling them there is an emergency in NICU, and took off running to the hospital.
hmm... as I run through the hospital to get to the NICU, past the guard that warns me to stop running or I will fall (it had rained earlier and hospital has tile floors), so I do what anyone would do at that point ...I ignore him and kept on running to NICU cause it's and emergency right??? I get to the NICU where it is suspiciously quiet and madame Lareche is calmly walking away from the incubator... she opens her mouth and tells me "bebe a pa gen lèt" ....... WHAT THE MESS !!! she says that the baby does not have any milk,,, important but not an emergency.
Apparently the guard decided to add emergency to the message.
Soon after I arrive Joe and Anna get to the NICU to assist in the "code" but I had to break it to them that it was not a code Blue but a code Milk ... yeah we just had our exercise for the night .
Don't get me wrong I am happy that it was not a real emergency but dang it my heart can not take this kind of excitement.
Until next time
Blessings
'
Marc J (S.A.L.T)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Gerilon's Miracle
at the airport to receive us. We were escorted throughout the trip by Homeland Security Officers, TSA, and afforded other privileges reserved for diplomats. All this for a young man from Haiti who lives in a small house without electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing. God is so good and He does things in a grand way. Our airline tickets were donated by a travel agency in Haiti and they sent us first class, Gerilon got to meet the pilots and sit in the cockpit of the plane.
I am sending you a picture of Geri right after the tracheostomy, and one with his mom.
Most of all please pray for this young man, his family and the doctors doing the surgery.
Monday, May 28, 2012
P. Harley Davidson
Sabbath afternoon |
Friday, May 25, 2012
HAH's First EMT Graduates
The Adventist Hospital in Diquine has four new EMT's as of Friday. Today I feel like a proud mom x 4. For eight weeks our students left their jobs, their families, and their comfort to attend the EMT program, an 8 week course provided by EMPACT-Northwest. Our students left their homes before 5am in order to reach school by 8 am, missed meals, reaching home sometimes after 7pm. Even on days where there were demonstration and people were cautioned to not travel on the roads, our students refused to miss a day of school. Out of the several weeks of demonstrations our students only missed 1 day, that's it.
They took motorcycle taxis in the rain, endured injuries and still made it to class without complaint.
To explain how proud I am of Exume, Josette, Pierre, and Rutza, I do not think I can begin to put it into words. Every Sunday they would come of their own accord to the hospital for tutoring, often staying 5 to 8 hours in order to grasp the concept. Every week they made a pact among themselves not to give up, to finish what they started in order to help change our ED and to make a difference in Haiti.
We often speak of how difficult it may be when we try to change an existing system, and how EMT's are not yet known in Haiti. We often speak of the challenges that they will face, but more so we speak of their desire, their determination to help things change.
I am so proud of our EMT's, If they are Haiti's future, we are on the right tract.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Mòn Dèyè Mòn-->Mountains Beyond Mountains
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I see a lot of celebrating in my future :)
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
MAMMA MIA!
1. WHAAAAT !!! I don't know.
2. Thank goodness we moved and I no longer live in the hospital
The next morning she found me and ask to take a look at him (sucker). Yup that is what I am, he is too cute. Immediately they began trying to get me to adopt him, it's like the hospital banded together and formed a get Marc to adopt this baby, they even put my name on his medical paper work.
We have been worried about him because the "father" said that he was a year old but he appears to be 7-8 months old and has some developmental delays. For the past week I have been taking him home with me for a few hours to give him bonding time and play therapy.
When he first came to us he did not respond to anything at all. He did not cry when left, or made any facial expressions or even move from the spot we put him. PT has been working with him (thank you Emily) and we have been giving him lots of good loving (thank you Nadine, Sirko, Amy and the awesome peds nurses). So today he laugh, turned over on his own several times, babbled, played with is toes, and sat up for a while on his own. I know that this seems like a simple thing, but for a baby that was not reactive and displayed behaviors that are consistent with being abandoned emotionally long before he was abandoned physically, for me it is a big thing and I rejoice.
The nurses are still on the "get Marc to adopt wagon" God will provide some parents for him but for now I am happy to be is temporary mommy.
So what does this mean? It means I get the phone calls when he is out of diapers , water or food, it means that I get the calls when a new prescription or lab test is ordered. It means that I get the phone calls when he does something new and amazing like, roll over, laugh, drinks his whole bottle, or starts to play with his toys. It means that I am get the pleasure of being his mommy.... well for now.
Marc
Sunday, May 13, 2012
I Have Learned
[I have to say that I am very proud of our soon to graduate EMT students (they are the 3rd group of EMT students to graduate in all of Haiti). As we were walking into the ER she immediately went to the patient's bedside to assist.]
We bagged the patient all during the transport to General Hospital. I have to thank our driver Michael who was awesome, almost killed us several times but he made a 2 to 3 hour trip (because of traffic) in 1 hour.
When we arrived she coded twice, Every time we stabilized her our (awesome) doc tried to leave. I was like heck no, you are not leaving me with this patient, ( I think the man was trying to kill me).
We continued to bag the patient for 2 hours after we arrived at General , finally we stabilized her enough to get her on dialysis.
Lesson for the day
1. Always assume a patient is unstable until you have verified for yourself
2. Make sure the your spare oxygen tank is not locked (forgot to tell you they placed a locked O2 tank in the truck).
3. An awesome team can make or break a code
4. NEVER let the doctor leave the room after he says "she is stable now" !!!!
5. Take a candy or granola bar (I was so hungry).
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Question: How many people do you think it takes to assess a patient?
Answer: 3
Had a patient that came into the ER today with severe diarrhea and vomiting (simple assessment right, NO) The problem, the patient only spoke Portuguese and the doctor speaks French or Creole (see the problem). We needed three people to assess this patient; The doctor, speaking French/Creole, me, translating to a friend in English, Her, translating to the patient in Portuguese and repeating the process in reverse. That was the longest assessment ever.
SO you want to know the kicker, as she leaves to get somethings to admit him to the hospital, I was left with Him to do his admission paper work, problemmmmm, or so I thought. I asked him is he understood any Spanish so I could fill out the paper work, he responds to me "oh, I rather speak English. WHAT THE MESS, that bugger spoke English the whole time.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sunday ...
Friday, February 24, 2012
The End is What Really Matters
Challenges at the start of the day
1. abdominal pain that ended up being appendicitis, that ended up perforating (one of the volunteers),
2. convincing a physician to doing a CT scan for us for a cancer patient,
3. and looking for O- blood for a patient with a hemoglobin of 4 (impossible)
Results at the end of the day
1. Successful appendectomy, just finished recovering the pt,
2. batting eyelids successful, patient had the CT Scan
3. got a call to go pick up the blood to day at 4 pm after we were told it was not going to happen.
No breakfast, no lunch, no dinner, but still full
Finally getting to bed...I wonder what tomorrow will bring... ehh scratch that .... Whatever tomorrow brings, with God I know we can handle it.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Update: Houston... We Have A Problem--> Haiti we have a problem
YEP... "is there a doctor, nurse, or paramedic on board, please press your call light" umm hummm third flight in a row. So I do what any medical professional would do, I crack open an eye to see if someone else responded, nope... here I go again. I head to the back of the plane where an elderly lady was passed out cold, pulse weak, could not find a blood pressure cuff (they had a new complicated one that you would need a rocket scientist to figure it out). We asked the family members if she had any medical condition..no help there... they didn't know. So I figured that at that time of the morning she probably did not have a chance to eat and her blood sugar was low. I asked the flight attendant to get the glucose paste, she said that they did not have it so I told her to go to the black pocket of the emergency bag... sad to say I knew what was in each the emergency pockets because of very recent experiences.
Thank God the lady responded after we place the paste in her mouth followed by a peanut butter sandwich and OJ.
Lesson learned:
1. Carry and emergency kit in my carry on
2. Never ask "whats next"
3. Always travel on American Air... they were the only ones that gave me frequent flyer miles (United and Continental just lost my business) LOL.
4. Take a later flight in the day.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Update: Houston... We Have A Problem
Houston...We Have A Problem
Hmm. Seizures and cardiac issues. I wonder what will happen next on this next flight.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I never though I would be happy about getting breast implants
Answer to first question no I have not upgraded, I am fine with the ones God gave me.
Answer to the second question, they were donated.
Amy Russell Lindsey, our volunteer coordinator told me that we had breast implants donated to the hospital---------------(pause)
Now I am proud to say we are happy about getting breast implants... well.. you know what I mean.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Lesson I Learned from Steve Job
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
30 and counting
I am happy to announce that we have had 30 training sessions since January of this year. Whoo hoo. Most of our trainings have been centered around resuscitation. We now have 6 nurses trained as BLS, PALS, and PEARS providers, and one nurse trained as a PEARS instructor and two volunteer staff members trained as BLS, PALS, and PEARS instructors. I am hoping to have another PEARS, BLA, PALS training in August with another 6 staff members.
PEARS class |
Sharrie Tall, helping out setting up for trainings. |
And Two Were Added
As I was leaving the PACU I began to talk to a friend of mine and decided to go to her house with her to pick up some clothes (she was the doctor on call for the night). As we were leaving to go with her to her house, no sooner were the words "I'm done for the night" out of my mouth when this man comes up in frantic but calm manner (hard to explain) saying that he needs help for his twin babies. Apparently his wife went into premature labor gave birth at another hospital/clinic. They stated that the hospital did not have an NICU to provide care or a pediatrician available that could take care of the babies. The hospital heard that we had an NICU ( which has been closed for over a month now until we can train our nurses), and we also don't have a pediatric physician at night nor could we call one in. Seeing the mans face when we told him that we did not have physician there to take care of the twins broke my heart. I began calling the other hospitals that had an NICU, either no one answered the phone, they were full or they did not have the personnel.
Dr. Spendie remembered that Dr. Regis had a maternal child clinic down the street so we went there to ask if the would accept the babies (by the way the family had no idea what heir gestational ages was, according to the dad, mom was either 6 or 7 months along). So... off we went down the street to Dr. Regis's clinic... guys if you know Haiti crossing the street is like taking your life into own hands... anyways, when we arrived at the clinic we were able to call Dr. Regis at home as asked him if he would accept the babies. Thank God he said yes (whoo, off the hook)... however only if we would admit them to our hospital (back on the hook :).
About an hour later the babies arrived, the first one a boy, weigh 1.36 kg the second baby, a girl, weight .65 kg. Both babies arrived on oxygen at 2 liters via nasal cannula wrapped like little mummies in cotton. Both had increased work of breathing, the baby girl's temp was 35.6 C and she was pursing her lips blowing puffs of air out.
Dr. Regis was able to place an umbilical catheter in the baby girl so she could receive fluids while we were able to get a peripheral line in the little boy. Since mom was still at the other hospital and dad was not around I decided to kangaroo the baby girl (well a modified kangaroo) I had a T-shirt on. Her temp finally came up and her breathing began to stabilize .
On Thursday night in the middle of bible study one of the nurse called me to the NICU the little boy began to have some problems breathing. His sats were in the low 50's I was able to use a bulb suction to do somewhat of a deep suction and remove some really thick secretions (Thank you Sinai/Rainbow team for thinking to bring them) . After about an hour his breathing began stabilizing. I had asked the nurse to call Dr. Regis to come in as soon as I came into the room when I noticed the baby's breathing... I have to officially say that he is now one of my favorite docs.... He came in less than 15 mins to assess the babies ( which in Haiti traffic is amazing).
It is now Sunday night and the babies are still holding on. Please keep praying for them.
Monday, May 16, 2011
It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times
It is 4am and we are still up. That beginning alone should alert you as to the type of night that we are having.
The Best of Times:
This past week has been a week full of celebrations. PULSE (Pediatric Universal Life Saving Effort) was here to provide a four day training course for the nurses and physicians at the Adventist hospital and the General hospital here in Haiti. By the end of the training several of us were certified as BLS (Basic Life Support) instructors, PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) instructors and PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization) instructors, the others were certified as providers. PULSE also donated several manikins to our training department so that we would be able to hold courses here at the Adventist hospital in Haiti, in addition they donated supplies for our NICU and Peds unit. Needless to say I was speechless with joy (speechless is not something I do very well, ha ha).
This week we also celebrated the birthday of one of our local awesome docs, Spendie. On Thursday we celebrated the birthday of Lynn our orthopedic coordinator, on Friday we celebrated Brian's birthday (a few day's earlier but hey), and today we finished the week at the beach for nurses appreciation week and the actual celebration of Brian's B-day... I told you there were a lot of celebrations. Ok, back to the story. It was an awesome fun relaxing day at the beach... then the fun ended.
The WORST of times:
On our way back from the beach we came upon an accident. We stopped to see if we could help but not much could be done. Three people were dead on the road, another was in the ambulance with a head wound and several more were transported to a nearby hospital. I have seen death before, but I was not prepared for what we saw. For some of the others in the car it was the first time that they saw death ( I pray that the image does not stay in their head).
Later that evening an orthopedic surgery a patient threw a pulmonary embolism, fortunate it was a small one. He was started on anti-coagulation therapy and is doing well.
A few hours later a three day old infant in our NICU began having respiratory difficulty. She is stable now...
Sorry for the brevity of the post, but as I started it at 4 am and we are still up... I am going to bed... ops.. I meant I was going to bed, just got a call off to NICU
Later.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Another Example Of How A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
Judges 8:1-3
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Unshed Tears
This evening two women working at a local orphanage explained to me that several of the children at the orphanage were left by parents who were unable to take care of them. The mother of one of the babies who was a patient at our hospital came every day and night to take care of her baby, yet had to leave her when she was discharged from our pediatric unit because she does not have a place to live, much less money to care for her.
I spent the better part of one hour listening to one of the hospital employees telling me how she is beginning to get discouraged, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. My conversation with this strong beautiful woman started when I saw her studying English, within 15 minutes of our conversation I could see that my friend was not her normally happy self, that something was bothering her. When she began to share with me her discouragement I had no words, saying "I'm sorry" felt inadequate and "I understand" did not ring true either. She is currently living in a tent on the hospital ground with her only son.
It is eight months after the earthquake; money is scarce , food even more so and people are still living in makeshift shelters or if they are lucky under a tent.
Almost every day it rains here in Haiti, when I ask how they endured the night the common response is " we survive".
I wish I could end this blog on an upbeat note, give me a day or two... but for now... ;(
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Singing does help after all
Tuesday Night
Tonight one of my patients who is a paraplegic was crying because she was in so much pain because of the spasms in her legs. The mother of another patient and I decided to sing to her as I massaged her legs. We told her that the singing would either be really good or just bad enough to make her forget her pain. At that point the only thing we could do was make her laugh. We sang for almost an hour until she fell asleep. I'm not sure if she the singing was good or bad but thank God something worked.
Not to be a downer, but for some reason tonight my heart hurt as I looked around and saw all these children with serious injuries, some orphans, and some with parents living in the hospital
with them because they have nowhere else to go. I keep thinking of what is going to happen to them when they have to get discharged... where will they go...
Wednesday Night.
Last night as I was in another patients room having a small worship with them, in the middle of singing I saw a big stinking spider crawling around the room... that was it for me... I swear I almost tossed the kids off the bed trying to get away from the thing...that is until this 11 year old boy with this massive wound on his leg with metals and screws coming out of every which way asked me "do you believe in God?" I replied "yes" (all the while keeping an eye out on the spider), then he asked "so why are you letting the devil distract you with fear?" Dang it... that little bugger was right. What came into my head was Philp 4:6-9 be anxious for nothing...
I am sitting here worrying about so many things and forgetting to give it to God. Why am I letting the devil distract me...
This morning I woke up with a song in my heart and for at least one hour before I left my room, before I interacted with anyone else... I decided to sing.
Marc
S.A.L.T (sisters actively living the truth)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Living Love Out Loud
For a long time Mai Mai's (pronounced my my) family were unable to come to the hospital to visit or take care of her for various reasons, Two ladies that are in the hospital saw that she did not have anyone to take care of her decided to cook for her, buy her food, clothes and even wash and turn her several times a day. The amazing thing is that neither of the women knew the young lady previously and neither had any source of income. Out of their meager savings they decided to share what they had with Mai Mai. One of the women has a baby girl in the hospital to take care of and the other is a post op patient who still has not regained her full strength. Both of these women saw a need and have quietly gone about to take care of this young lady to the point that I believed them to be family. It was only as I was giving out some instructions pertaining to the girls' care that they quietly informed me that they were not related to her.
I wish you could see how these women are treating this young lady as their own, with such tenderness, they treat her like a beloved family member.
"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing,therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
- Stephen Grellet,