Healing Rain is falling down!

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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Here comes the Rain!

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
Join our FaceBook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/ucthealinghands

Got a couple of messages from Stew yesterday and several from the team. This team is amazing as they are facing some really tragic things and are working nearly round the clock and now the rain has come. Many of them are so exhausted but their spirits are so good and they always try to find the positive in the emails they have sent. Although they are trying to have some fun while there, the reality of it all is still very real for the team. I admire them all so much.

Here's a couple from Stew:

3/18 7pm - Working at the miami university hospital pharmacy and it's raining hard. Darryl is filling scripts by flash light. We are well stocked. There is a man who will pass away tonight and his wife and family are with him. It brought me to tears tonight when the the people of the hospital sang to him.

3/19 12am - Most are asleep now and and Darryl can finaly sit down for a minute. He was really moving. The blisters bug bites and exhaustion are starting to become serious concerns for many of the group. Emotions are on edge and we have all been through a lot. The dying man is still gasping in the background and others are moaning in pain once in a while yet the Hatian staff are chatting and giggling. What a place and my hats go off to these doctors and nurses. 12hr shifts in mud and cots and doing things they would never be allowed to do in the US.

Message from Kathi:

3/17 - I think this trip has been one of my best. Even though the devastation is everywhere you look I see people working and helping each other. I see kindness and hurt. I talked to a girl who was afraid to touch her healing leg that looked like an artificial knee. I showed her mine and soon I had a crowd looking to see the scars on my leg. They wanted to know if I could bend it and if I could kneel. I told her she needed to do the therapy so she could walk again too. It's hard to complain when you see children with stumps. The good thing is I see families supporting each other with the tragedies.

The work is different this time. We are working around the clock and everyone steps up to take their turn. They will huddle around in a tent and share one meal. Everyone will take a few bites. This is a lesson we could all learn.

The pool is the hit of the day. Don't every complain again when buying a kiddie pool. They're a lot more expensive here! We were able to get 10 people it to play volleyball. Well sort of. Thank you Stew. There's nothing like a little water to get you cooled down.

Message from Joyce:

3/17 - Sad day today. Orphanages always make me a little sad. To much work there and not enough workers. The caregivers are constantly on the move, doing laundry, making meals, picking up, changing diaper after diaper. Usually these workers don't stop and I know they do there best but it is still sad to me when they must tie a child to a chair because they can't watch all of the children at once. Not all the kids are tied to a chair just a handful that were hard to watch. I went around and did the best I could to untie the little ones I could and let them out to walk or play, then I would try to let those out of their wheelchair etc...even if for a few minutes. There was another group of volunteers there with us from another NGO and they had 2 men that were on the group playing like a horse with these little ones. Each man took a turn with 5 or more kids climbing on their back at once. The children were laughing and giggling so hard. One of these men was making everyone laugh because he had 5 children around the age of 6 on his back and his friends were coaching him into trying to continue to do push-ups with the kids on his back. It is sad to see these kids, but for one day we made them laugh, gave them hugs, held them in our arms....I guess it wasn't all sad was it?

Those of you who know Stewart will appreciate this!

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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Check out what Stewart rallied everyone to go find! Yup, you guessed it...they found a blow up swimming pool. Leave it to my hubby to always try to have the "fun factor" in everything he does! Looks like he's found his "happy spot!"









I did get to chat with him early this morning and he was at an orphanage with 38 kids. He said 2/3 of them have disabilities. He just loved them. One was sitting on his lap while we were talking. It was really loud in the background and sounded so great to hear kids running around and playing.

He got pretty emotional about being there today. He said he almost felt a little self indulgent about it since he was getting so much from just playing with the babies and there is so much more not so fun work to do.

I told him to enjoy the moment because I'm jealous and that's right where I would want to be.

He wanted to let everyone know who has gave any type of donation or prayers, it IS making a difference for these people!

There are some funny stories about luggage that I need to write about but I will let Stew share that one!

From Joyce

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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What a long day. I worked at Miami Hospital for 12 hours and ran and ran. I can't believe that I was there 12 hours. I took care of mostly earthquake victims. Several with crushed limbs, one or 2 with amputations and 2 that were paralized. Life for many will never be the same in Haiti. One of my patients has been diagnosed with depression (surprise) and the Dr. ordered Zoloft (a antidepressant) for him. Obviously this Dr. has never been to Haiti before, this young man would never be able to stay on this medication at discharge. He wouldn't be able to find Zoloft here and he wouldn't be able to afford it is he could. Most people here never see a Dr. and if they do it is rare. I worry for the people here that come to depend on the hospital. This hospital is wonderful but it will not be able to maintain the level of volunteers for the length of time that Haiti needs help. Sad.

From Katie

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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Getting ready for my wonderfully ice cold shower tonight I discovered that two spray downs a day with insect repellent only serves as a basting for the bugs' feast. I am covered with red itchy bug bites from my ankles to mid calves. Thank you Lord for benedryl cream.

From Darryl 3/16

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
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I'm up again and working hard as a pharmacist. Stew helped me alot in the pharmacy today. He is awesome and having a great time. I cannot believe my night at the Miami Hospital. In 3 days, I got about 8 hours of sleep. I worked a 12 hour shift at the hospital, slept 1 hour, then went to the pharmacy in the clinic. I think stew is in his element. He is soooo great with the children, and willing to help whatever he can. All of the nurses and Katie really like him and his help.

The country has tents all over. No bodies, just alot of sorrow of the people. Everyone has been affected somehow by the earthquake. Not too much play, stew is trying to make a portable pool. I don't sleep much,the heat and I have a hard time without you.

I cannot believe how much I miss you. I get soo tired that I sleep any chance I get. There is no diet coke even. Very different. alot of work to be done here. I could work 24 7. They need a pharmacist at the hospital every night and day.

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Stew just called me! YEAH!

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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So all of a sudden, I walk in the room and my cell phone is vibrating with a strange phone number. I catch it too late and think...shoot...I bet that was Stew. So yup! I get a message (so great to hear his voice) saying to call him back at this number. So I dial the number and it says "the number can't be completed as dialed."

Dang! I start praying, please call me back but in the meantime I remember about the international calling code so dial 011 and then the number and such a huge relief to hear his AMAZING Voice on the other end!

He sounded so good and alive! He was just full of laughter and joy! He said that right now he is helping in the pharmacy in sorting out vitamins. He's had a ton of kids (ages 9-12) helping him out too. He gave them some balls and candy but at one point he had to get a little stern with them and break up a fight. One of the staff members' sons (that is from a different neighborhood) was getting a little picked on by the rest so... papa Stew had to break it up! (Boys will be boys here or in Haiti)!


He said that he has his safari hat on and everyone has been calling him Captain. LOL

He had the most miserable night sleeping last night (for those that you know him and heat--its not his friend). And he's on the bottom of a bunk on a 2nd floor and the power is out now so no a/c so he finally went down stairs to a couch but someone else got smart too.

He says Darryl SNORES LOUD and needs to see a doctor about it! LOL Gotta love brother in laws!

Darryl piped in for a minute and said Stew has taken over his job...they think Stew is the pharmacist! I can't wait to see a picture of him in scrubs!

He is a little lost without me taking care of him though he says as he's lost his Ipod and the head-light I got for him... (I think this is good for him to learn to be responsible FINALLY! NOT)

He's going to try to call back tonight when the kids are home so hopefully he'll have more to tell us!

His spirit is good! He loves Haiti and their people!

Haven't heard from Stew or Darryl today but heard from Katie!

From the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
http://www.stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com
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"Katie from Haiti" reports:


I'm sitting on my bed in the heat of the night in the dark with no fan as the electricity has gone out. I got a ton of mosquito btes last night at the field hospital and they are the itchy type! I did get a good d hour sleep after we got home today. Cory is our expert at night shift work and I did pretty well with his coaching and got up feeling pretty good. Went with the night shift back to the field hospital and made sure they got their assignments and were good to go. We noticed some of the kids didn't have blankets so took some of the ones people sent with us over to the peds unit. We are doing a ton of networking for HHH as we get the hospital to refer the patients on discharge to our services. The peds units had amputees, hydocephalic kids, club feet repairs, birth defects and adults had SCI (some of the patients from the USNS Comfort) and earthquake and MVI limb injuries, wounds and amputations. Sandy did a lot of SW with staff today and says we have some fragile ones and others that are stronger than others. We are distributing tents to employees that still don't have them and they are very grateful. We have 3 bags that still have not arrived so gail goes to the airport everyday and getting one or two more each time.we sang happy birthday to Rick Call tonight and had a special dessert the kitchen staff made. The tent clinic was up and fully staffed today, one group went to Notre Maison orphanage, and Linda (PT) went to CTSI to work. Jim (PT) went to Handicap International but was told he wasn't needed there tomorrow. We are needed so many places but it is not always easy to get matched up. Although it is too hot to sleep and the dogs are barking and howling I will close for now and try to get some rest. We are where we are needed and that is a great feeling. Hugs, Katie

Kathi also sent a couple photos yesterday:










I wanted Stew to smuggle me back some babies but after the missionaries were put in jail I thought that wasn't a very good idea ;) but I wish I could just save them all!

~Kimber

First message from Stew!

from the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
www://stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com

I made it to Haiti. we had a good tour of Port au prince this morning in an old van looking for lost luggage and getting volunteers out. Hot humid and dusty and I love it. what a beautiful country the people are all dressed in sunday best , clean and happy and want to talk about it. The people at the compound are awesome... 6 women cooking and 15 or so interpeters drivers and guards with shotguns. little boys playing down the hill by the river. we have been up 24hrs and 2hrs sleep sat. these people are animals we are working 7 to 7am at the miami hospital. I am sorting donations in the pharmacy and helping mix iv shots for about 40 people in the tent. It feels so good to serve these people. I went out to the well to get water for the tent and it turned in to an hour of filling the water bottles of the patients and families. I feel so blessed and so greatful for this opportunity. I wish you were here thank you so much.

First update today from the team!

from the BLOG, Stew & Darryl Go to Haiti
www://stewanddarrylgotohaiti.blogspot.com

FROM KATIE: All 22 members of the team have arrived safely after numerous rebookings, reroutings and even cancelled planes en route. One team member hit 5 different airports yesterday, many of us became familiar with the carpet pattern in airport waiting rooms ( I actually slept nearly 4 hours on one) and the last 4 arrived this morning. We are still missing 6 bags which we suspect are somewhere between San Juan Puerto Rico, JFK and Miami. ONe of the vans just left for the airport to see if they have arrived yet. 5 team members went to Holy Angels today and did assessments, some wound care and first aid. Range of motion on all the kids with disbilities and medical records on all there. Another group attended the LDS ward in Petionville and were surprised that the church has successfully resettled all the campers that were there a month ago, helping them decide where they wanted to go and what they needed to "move" and get situated. It was awesome. I went to the airport and picked up the last team members to arrive and we went to the University of Miami field hospital to find out their needs and at their request will be sending 5 nurses, pharmacist and assistant, and social worker for the night shift (7PM to 7AM). Their "CNO" today is an EMT 1 from Oakland and told me he got the job because he doesn't mind making people mad to get the job done. I'll bet he isn't over 24 years old but doing a good job! Usually we have our schedule set for the week, this year it will be a day to day, if not hour to hour flexible schedule. We know we will have the HHH tent clinic open everyday and the rest is flexible. We can tell we will all be busy and working hard. Found a source for soda pop, cold water showers are availble and so far the electricity is working! Such luxury and you better believe we all appreciate it and know how good we have it. Thank you all for your interest in our team and work here, for your thoughts and prayers and especially for your love and support. bold

FROM SANDY: Darryl, Stewart, Joyce and I arrived today. Was pretty simple to get through customs. katie and Gail picked us up and we went to the Miami hospital to see if they needed some of our staff. Katie, Cory, Joyce, Stewart and Darryl will be working the all night shift tonight, our crew has not had much sleep, they are resting now. We met with the interpretors and we will begin work tomorrow. It is very hot here and no airconditioning. We got our rooms set up and hopefully will get into a good routine. Hated it that we missed church today, those who went really enjoyed it. Lots of rubble but they are cleaning it up.

Thoughts from Julie!

Hi I'm Julie (Darryl's wife). I talked to Darryl a little while ago. They had quite the stressful day just getting to Florida. The simple part of the trip took 16 hours. With delays and a lot of hours in airports. Tomorrow they will be in Haiti.

This is the 4th year for Darryl to go to Haiti with this group. Every year it has been a different adventure. But this year there is a lot of unknown. With the earthquake things have changed so much they are not sure what to expect. It will be so different. I feel so much better having Stewart with them. He will be a great help and knowing there is another man with the group. But at the same time, Now I have two men to worry about. I just pray they are safe.