Nine trip members traveled to Hopital Ste Croix, Leogane, Haiti on May 16, 2009 to provide mobile medical clinics, work at the hospital, visit PaZaPa and teach at the school of nursing (FSIL).  Trip members include Lisa Kerr Johnson, PharmD, RN, Rudi Ansbacher, MD, Deb Hutton, clinical psychologist, John Macorkindale, engineer, Katie Johnson, prepharm/premed student, Guerda Harris, translator and FSIL board member,  Sue McKenzie, PaZAPa board member, and Bob Sloane, MD and his wife, Robin from First Pres Ft Worth, Texas.   On Mon, Wed, Thurs, Friday we conducted mobile medical clinics.  We were joined at our HSC clinic on Wednesday by 2 students from FSIL to complete our team.  Our clinical team evaluated and treated 567 patients in the clinic setting and another 33 at the hospital during our week.

Sunday we worshipped together with our friends at Ste Croix church in the AM.  I introduced our team from the front of the church during announcements and sent the love from First Pres Ann Arbor to all of them. We informed them of the clinic at HSC on Wednesday. After church I took everyone on a tour of HSC hospital. Delson Merisier, MD came to see us and 3 members went to see his new clinic.  We unloaded and reorganized our clinic supplies, new members were taught to take BPs and John was introduced to the HSC infrastructure staff as they came to see us.   Late in the day, we journeyed over to FSIL for a tour of the school, new dorm and Gates house on the property.  The school was closed for a 3 day holiday (Haitian Flag Day) and Hilda was in the US.  New members were able to see into classrooms, cafeteria, library and new dorm facility. I left school supplies and medical accessories for the students donated from pharmaceutical companies.   Gates house had no occupants and we could not go inside.

On Monday, all team members joined together at a mobile clinic in the village of Carrefour Croix where we treated 114 patients.  This trip we also screen for cleft lip/palate with poster from Smile Train and leave the poster after we go with the village Agent Santé to inform the people in the area of available services.

On Monday evening we were joined at the HSC guest house by 3 PaZaPa members; Charlie (co board president), Nancy his wife and graduate assistant, Will and Sue McKenzie. They speak to the group about the current plans at PaZaPa and Kara, Children's Nutrition Program agreed to speak to our group about the CNP activities in Leogane.  Kara and I treat a newly diagnosed child who has seizures and needs phenobarb.    There is a fire in the men's room with flame and sparks that has resulted from an extension cord used with an air conditioner. Rudi discovers the fire and puts it out, but the entire room is filled with smoke.

On Tuesday, the new team members traveled to PaZaPa with them to see the school, meet Marika MacRae, observe the children at the center. Sue McKenzie's report will include a full report of the activities of that day.  Rudi visited FSIL, I worked at HSC in the clinics with Haitian MDs, RNs and met with Pere FanFan, current hospital administrator and Dr. Delince, in charge of the medical clinics at HSC. We had a good discussion of many topics concerning the hospital, its future, our role there, planning for future trips.  We discuss the fire in the guest house last night. Tuesday afternoon, I go to new clinic with Dr. Delson Merisier.  Kern Mathieu, pediatrician, joins us there. He will begin to serve peds pts there next week.

Tuesday evening, we meet with Roody Joseph from nearby orphanage in Gressier. Deb Hutton and Robin and Guerda will go there later in week.  He will bring some sick children to our clinic at HSC in the AM.  One of his orphanage girls is now a first year FSIL student, Elta. Hilda tells us later in the week, she did not make the grade after the first round of tests and is not a student there.  Bob and Robin went to see CoDep today.

Wednesday is our clinic at HSC, which is not free to the patients this time, but half price per P. FanFan. I feel badly as I announced it in church as free. We are always willing to see anyone who can not pay, however. We work with 3 Haitian MDs today, which allows us to see 178 patients today. We start the day seeing 23 very thin children from the orphanage.  Using CNP measurement tool, they are determined not to be in the high risk category, but clearly not getting enough calories. We treat them with Vitamin A supplement, vitamins with iron, worm medicine and scabies treatments. I give them each new underwear after they are swabbed with medicine and they smile the biggest smiles I have seen in Haiti.  Only one out of them is 5 years old, CNP program is for kids 6mos-5yrs, rest are 6, 7, 8 yrs old.

I also am able to offer EKG evaluation at the clinic today as HSC now has a technician available daily. I negotiate a price and we pay for 4 studies. Casnell, Haitian MD(cardiologist) and my friend is here today to work with us. He is seeing a regular load of scheduled pts. I give him meds I have brought for a chronically ill baby with a congenital heart defect and digoxin for other patients.  We have brought him a PDR for his office, too which he has requested and it makes him happy.

We identify a girl with possible malaria and pay to send her to lab for a malaria test. I do a BS on my glucometer that is 509 in a 60yo man and treat him with oral diabetes meds, rare in Haiti.  I will add him to my list of chronic pts to serve each time we come, through the Haitian MDs.  John is able to work with Carlos and HSC maintenance staff today on electrical and water issues. His report will cover all of his work for the week.  Rudi lectures at FSIL this afternoon.

Thursday we go to C'Ira and treat 167 patients. Two of the young Haitian MDs join us today to see more pts.  I share some of our medical supplies for them to use in their ER and clinics. I invite them to join us on our next trip to HSC and they are eager to join us whenever they can.   John works with Albert today to do a well repair.

Thursday pm we have planned a party for Hilda's birthday, but she is delayed on her flight back from US. It is also Katie's bday this week so we have her blow out the candle (Hilda comes for breakfast and her cake!)  Kara and Guesly offer a taste of Haitian culture to the group and do salsa dancing and lessons for us tonight.

Friday we go to Mathieu, where they have built a larger church since Rudi and I were last there in 2004. We serve 108 patients today in clinics. We distribute hygiene supplies, soap, tooth paste and brushes and toys to the children.  At the end of clinic we leave 100 X 30 days kid's vitamins with an American RN and her team who are going to their orphanage.  Had they made arrangements earlier we would have welcomed their sick children into the clinic, I tell them we are at HSC and to bring anyone over tonight if they find fevers or kids who need to see the MDs.

When we return to HSC I see a few more sick patients that come for follow up care each time I come to Leogane.  One of the former MDs brother comes and is very sick with liver disease.  We share our meds and supplies we have remaining that have been ordered for him. He is a 4th year med student also.  I donate our BP cuffs to the 2 Haitian interns who have worked with us for 2 days of clinic and they are happy. We exchange email and will keep in contact.  Kern and Delson come to see us and have a coke. We renew our relationships and give them medical supplies we have brought for them, their clinic and patients.  Delson  could use a new lamp/light source if possible on our next trip for the delivery room.

We were able to work with the hospital, community MDs and FSIL and renew the many relationships with our Haitian counterparts. We treated chronic patients, clinic patients and partnered with the Haitian doctors and nurses in their care.

We packed up for our trip home and know we have done a good week's work this trip. We have seen 600 pts=425 adults and 175 kids.  The team clinicians worked in our 3 areas of focus at the hospital, mobile clinics and FSIL well with our Haitian counterparts, furthering our relationships and partnerships and healing the sick. John Macorkindale made new relationships to carry on the work of Dick Stuber before him. Sue McKenzie and new members renewed relationships on site at PaZaPa.

The coordination of the week's activities prior to the trip is at an all time low. Pere Fan Fan does not respond to email, does not intend to and will not provide a phone number where we can talk with him either. He clearly does not want to coordinate teams, but does desire the revenue raised by the guest house. The HSC board is aware of the problem and is working to hire a guest house manager, which we strongly support.  We asked to reserve the dates of October 24-31 and they are available.  Pending the hiring of a manager, the schedule keeper will not make commitments yet. The physical facility remains barely tolerable, we again had no water for showers or toilets much of our time at guest house. We get by filling buckets when there is water to use later.  The fire was unacceptable and I made that known to management ASAP.  The food was wonderful and the cooks outdid themselves, as Guerda was a most welcome addition to our team. They insist I bring her every trip with me.

We spent approximately $4900 on the trip; $2200 housing (donation to HSC), $1688 on medication, and $1000 on weekly trip expenses during the week in Haiti. I utilized a new medical supplier this trip: Blessings International , as International Aid no longer supplies needs of short term mission trips.

Thank you to Project Hope for their continued support and the members of the First Pres congregation and mission committee for your continued donations, prayers and support of the Haiti MMTF.

In Christ,

Respectfully submitted

Lisa Kerr Johnson, PharmD

Trip Leader

Haiti Medical Mission - Team Member Reflections

Nine trip members traveled to Hopital Ste Croix, Leogane, Haiti on May 16, 2009 to provide mobile medical clinics, work at the hospital, visit PaZaPa and teach at the school of nursing (FSIL).  Trip members include Lisa Kerr Johnson, PharmD, RN, Rudi Ansbacher, MD, Deb Hutton, clinical psychologist, John Macorkindale, engineer, Katie Johnson, prepharm/premed student, Guerda Harris, translator and FSIL board member,  Sue McKenzie, PaZAPa board member, and Bob Sloane, MD and his wife, Robin from First Pres Ft Worth, Texas.   4 days we conducted mobile medical clinics in villages around Leogane.

Our clinical team evaluated and treated 567 patients in the clinic setting and another 33 at the hospital during our week.   This trip we also treated 23 children from a nearby orphanage at clinic one day.  They were poorly nourished, all had scabies infestations and were scared and alone together.   We saw the biggest smiles when new underwear was given to them after treatment with medication.

We worshipped with the congregation of Ste Croix Episcopal church on the hospital compound on Sunday of our week in Haiti.  We shared the love of this congregation with 300 members of their church during announcements as we fulfill God's mission as a sent people and invited them to medical clinics.

4 new members joined the team this trip and one shares these memories of her time in Haiti:

As I reflect on my week in Haiti, the overwhelming memory that I have is of the dignity and warmth of the Haitian people. Despite adverse living conditions, they invariably presented themselves at our mobile clinics with pristine clothes and respectful demeanors. This dignity was remarkable to observe in the face of so much poverty and destitution. Equally memorable were the children of the villages constantly laughing, breaking the language barrier with pantomimes and games. All these people, grateful for our help, will remain in my memory for a long time.

Equally significant for me were the many talents and enthusiasm that each member of the group brought to the mission trip. All of us were distinct individuals, yet each of us was united in our desire to extend God's help to people who need and appreciate this work.

-Deb Hutton

As always, (I can never tell you the First Pres congregation often enough!!), we thank you for your generous contributions when we ask for soap, ibuprofen, etc  that fill our bags and make the work we do there possible.  The hugs, God Bless yous and thank yous we get are meant for all of you.

Our fall Haiti trip dates are October 24-31, 2009. Consider joining us to serve God by serving our Haitian brothers and sisters.  Talk to John, Deb, Katie, Guerda, Sue, Rudi or Lisa about their experiences.  Join us at a medical mission meeting the first Tuesday each month (next is August)

-Lisa Kerr Johnson, Trip Leader