Day 6

Well, today was certainly an interesting day. As many of you have heard, there has been an outbreak of cholera in the area. You can look it up, if you want to know what it is.
It seems to have started in St.Mark's, which is about 45min from here. There have been between 130-160 reported deaths. The hospital here, HAS is full. Vern's wife Janet has been like mother Theresa, helping to start IVs and keeping patients hydrated.
I haven't been to the physical hospital here. I hear it isn't a pretty sight. They are fortunate that Janet is here.

As of now, no people from DesChapelles have been effected. The hospital compound has it's own water supply, and I am surrounded by medical professionals. The patients in the hospital have been brought in from the outside.

As a result of the outbreak, patient transport to our clinic has significantly decreased. Today we did a few follow ups and discharges, but that was all.

Brendan has opted to go home early, as patient transport to the clinic next week is expected to be significantly effected. His steadfast assistance will be missed.

To make use of the time today, at Vern's suggestion, we enrolled the 1st class of the Haitian extension of Newington Certificate Program....we taught class. Relief work is supposed to be about creating a system that works towards self-sustaining. Rotations of clinician's from the states shouldn't continue indefinitely.

With the assistance of our 2 Haitian translators, Ronny and Yvener, we taught class to the techs. They are a sharp bunch, and I dare say that they know the BK limb as well as most of my other students. Their questions and demonstration of understanding, we're outstanding. Can you name the 6 primary regions of plaster removal for a BK socket? They can. Can you tell me which modifications work together? They can. Can you find them on yourself as well as the person sitting next to you? They can.

We are also fortunate to have with us another super PT, Suzanne, from Minnesota. She has her PhD and has instructed in gait quite often.

If the cholera issue continues to be a problem for us getting patients, then Vern, Suzanne and I will use the time to further train the techs here.

Never before has there been an actual down time like this. The techs haven't been able to simply step aside as a group to learn something. In a way I think it could be a very good thing.

Thanks for everyone's concern with emails and phone calls. We really are fine.

Chov...I can't give you guys everything. You got to work for it. Haiti speaks Creole. They spell it Kreole. It is close to french. Oui?

Za mi mwen
Chov Blanc
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