Day 0

Bonswa
So the back story for our Non-Prosthetic readers is that our recently retired CEO, Van Sabel, set up the Hanger Ivan R Sabel Foundation. The announcement of Van's retirement and the start up of the foundation preceded the earth quake in Haiti by only about 9 mos.
Beginning early this year the foundation, together with the assistance of generous donations, several O&P manufacturers, and Hanger P&O, Inc. , set up a P&O clinic at HAS(Hopital Albert Schweitzer). The hospital is in Deschapelles, which is far enough outside Port au Prince to not have been effected by the earth quake.
For almost 9 mos there have been rotations of 2 practitioners or more going down for 2 week stays to man the clinic. Additionally, a lead practitioner has been stationed at the clinic for 3 mos rotations.
Good friends and colleagues including Todd Sleeman from Farmington, CT, Matt Mikosz from Southington, CT and Brian Heckathorn from Mass. have already preceded me on rotations through Haiti
My team leader will be Vern Hostetler, originally from Zainsville Ohio. I will join him along with Brendan Irwin CPO from Ocala, Fl.

I didn't sleep too well last night. Today, I am more anxious than I think I have ever been. I used to say I was scared. My friend, Paul, tells me that I am not scared, I am anxious. He's smarter than me.

I got to watch my daughter, Anna's soccer game this AM. She scored a goal, killing those meanies, as she says. I, of course, pretend the goal was for me. I will miss Ben's game, today.... Man it's tough

I will miss many games and many other things my kids will do for the next couple weeks. Saying goodbye to Ben, Anna and my wife Bonnie was pretty darn rough. I have gone on a few work trips, but the tenor of this trip is far different.

I have never gone this far, this long, to a 3rd world country...and for the moment, alone. It won't be easy on my Bonnie, but then again, she just might be tougher than me.

I am off to Miami today. I should be able to meet up with Brendan, there. We will catch the 6:50am to Port au Prince tomorrow.

To all travelers. I was accompanied on my 1st flight by a pair of 6mos old twins and a dog. They must speak the same language, cause they were screaming and yelping at each other for 2 hrs in the row right in front of me.

Like I tell everyone, I am a very lucky man. :)
PDA