A Prince George paramedic will be putting her skills to use in cholera-stricken Haiti.
For nearly three weeks, MY, 46, will be working 12 hours a day, six days a week, at a cholera relief station in Cite Soleil, a slum on the outskirts of Port -au-Prince.
Y, who will be flying to the Caribbean country tomorrow and returning to Prince George on January 28, made the move after her sister, a doctor living in Ontario, sent her an e-mail from Samaritan's Purse.
Best known for its Operation Christmas Child program, in which school children send shoe boxes of small gifts to less-fortunate counterparts in other countries, Samaritan's Purse also has a medical wing.
MY sent an application on Dec. 2 and a response came the next day.
"I was shocked and excited," she said.
A mother of four, Y, 48, decided against going over the Christmas break so she could be with her kids but is now ready to go though she remains a little nervous.
"I want to get going so I can stop thinking about it and just do it," she said and added she's purposely refrained from looking at videos on the internet about the situation.
"I don't want to really load myself up with a bunch of ideas and fears before (I go) that might in fact not be true," she said.
Y has been a paramedic for six years, and suspects that's why Samaritan's Purse responded so quickly.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Prince George Citizen Article - Return From Haiti
It may have been a trip to the Caribbean but it was definitely no vacation when Prince George part-time paramedic MY spent two weeks in Haiti last month helping to get victims of a massive cholera outbreak back on their feet.
For 14 hours a night, the 48-year-old mother of four, monitored the intravenous lines used to hydrate those who passed through the cholera treatment centre at Cite Soleil, a slum on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
MY returned home on Jan. 26 a little worse for wear as she came down an unspecified ailment she eventually recovered from with some rest and recuperation but also full of stories about the courage of the people facing dire circumstances.
"It was really intense," she said. "The people of Haiti are fantastic, resilient, joyful which was nice because facing the day-to-day grind just to live, I'm not sure that we would be the same. I know I wouldn't."
Hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake a bit more than a year ago, the country suffered a cholera outbreak in late October. Cholera is a bacterial infection, usually contracted through contaminated food or water, and causes diarrhea so intense victims can actually die of dehydration.
MY volunteered to help out after her sister, a doctor living in Ontario, sent her an e-mail from Samaritan's Purse. Best known for its Operation Christmas Child program, in which school children send shoe boxes of small gifts to less-fortunate counterparts in other countries, Samaritan's Purse also has a medical wing.
By the time she had arrived, a centre large enough to accommodate 200 people was treating between 70 and 80 at a time and by the time she had left, the number was down to 30 to 40.
It meant the volunteers could concentrate on teaching local medical people how to best treat such victims and MY took to using a practice arm made out of diapers rolled up and wrapped in gloving material.
About 40 per cent were children and most stayed about three days. But the more severe cases stayed a week went through as much as 80 litres of fluid by the end of their stay. "We'd be putting in [fluid] desperately fast and they'd be laying on the cholera cots, which had a hole with a bucket underneath, and you could hear it pouring out a litre at a time."
The volunteers got a day off after six days of work but rarely ventured off the compound.
"There was a really violent night one night where you could hear the gunshots and the other sounds accompanying that - people being wounded - but then the same night the people very close to the compound decided to have an all-night prayer singing," she said.
"You could hear the drums and the hymns and the Haitians rock it out, they like to dance and they sing. It was great because at first we thought it was somebody getting wound up to do something bad and then we realized it was praise music, it was pretty sweet."
The only side trip they took was to an old quarry turned into a mass burial site in which MY said between 100,000 and 200,000 people were buried following the earthquake to prevent the spread of disease.
"They planted hundreds of small black crosses in this quarry rock and it was powerful and disturbing and sad," she said.
It was anything but a holiday at an all inclusive but she said she'd do it again because it was so rewarding.
"Everyone stepped up their game," she said. "When you first go in you think 'oh, I'm such a pretender, I'm really not what they need' and then everyone becomes what's needed."
For 14 hours a night, the 48-year-old mother of four, monitored the intravenous lines used to hydrate those who passed through the cholera treatment centre at Cite Soleil, a slum on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
MY returned home on Jan. 26 a little worse for wear as she came down an unspecified ailment she eventually recovered from with some rest and recuperation but also full of stories about the courage of the people facing dire circumstances.
"It was really intense," she said. "The people of Haiti are fantastic, resilient, joyful which was nice because facing the day-to-day grind just to live, I'm not sure that we would be the same. I know I wouldn't."
Hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake a bit more than a year ago, the country suffered a cholera outbreak in late October. Cholera is a bacterial infection, usually contracted through contaminated food or water, and causes diarrhea so intense victims can actually die of dehydration.
MY volunteered to help out after her sister, a doctor living in Ontario, sent her an e-mail from Samaritan's Purse. Best known for its Operation Christmas Child program, in which school children send shoe boxes of small gifts to less-fortunate counterparts in other countries, Samaritan's Purse also has a medical wing.
By the time she had arrived, a centre large enough to accommodate 200 people was treating between 70 and 80 at a time and by the time she had left, the number was down to 30 to 40.
It meant the volunteers could concentrate on teaching local medical people how to best treat such victims and MY took to using a practice arm made out of diapers rolled up and wrapped in gloving material.
About 40 per cent were children and most stayed about three days. But the more severe cases stayed a week went through as much as 80 litres of fluid by the end of their stay. "We'd be putting in [fluid] desperately fast and they'd be laying on the cholera cots, which had a hole with a bucket underneath, and you could hear it pouring out a litre at a time."
The volunteers got a day off after six days of work but rarely ventured off the compound.
"There was a really violent night one night where you could hear the gunshots and the other sounds accompanying that - people being wounded - but then the same night the people very close to the compound decided to have an all-night prayer singing," she said.
"You could hear the drums and the hymns and the Haitians rock it out, they like to dance and they sing. It was great because at first we thought it was somebody getting wound up to do something bad and then we realized it was praise music, it was pretty sweet."
The only side trip they took was to an old quarry turned into a mass burial site in which MY said between 100,000 and 200,000 people were buried following the earthquake to prevent the spread of disease.
"They planted hundreds of small black crosses in this quarry rock and it was powerful and disturbing and sad," she said.
It was anything but a holiday at an all inclusive but she said she'd do it again because it was so rewarding.
"Everyone stepped up their game," she said. "When you first go in you think 'oh, I'm such a pretender, I'm really not what they need' and then everyone becomes what's needed."
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Encourage others
A little note of encouragement left by my friend HA. I found this on my bunk after working quite a few night shifts in a row. I was tired, and my enthusiasm was flagging. But..... when I found this small note, I felt a renewal of energy and purpose. Thanks H - its a good reminder that we all need to encourage each other in what we do.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Fantastic dinner!
When the coutry director of Samaritan's Purse Haiti was leaving for another challenge, the staff put on a celebration dinner for him. Absolutely fantastic lasagna dinner!! The mess hall was decorated, and there were even candles! A special night!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Live Streaming
What does Live Streaming mean to you?
Probably most would say live streaming means data streams coming across on your laptop or PC enabling you to watch movies, TV shows, news, and listen to music.
It has a new meaning for me.
When I left home to begin the journey to Haiti, many thoughts and prayers went with me - but physically, I was by myself. At the same time, in Canada, the US, and the UK, others were preparing and beginning their journeys to Haiti as well. As the aircraft streaked towards the gathering points, I wondered how we would know each other - those going as part of the Samaritan's Purse team. I got as far as Dallas-Fort Worth Airport before I knew the answer. While waiting for my bag by the baggage carousel in the airport, I hear a voice asking, "Are you going to Haiti?", and turned to meet HA. Was excited to meet both H and J from Calgary, Alberta, who were also going to Haiti for Samaritan's Purse! yay!!
H was making her second trip to Haiti, and her husband J, his first. Ahhhh it so settled my nerves to meet them! To travel with a veteran very sweet!
The next day we met up at the airport in DFW, and continued our journey to Miami. On the plane, I was sat next to a physician on her way to Nicauragua to work in a clinic assisting women who have been damaged by sexual assault in Managua. Wow! In front of me, an older lady, very enthusiastic, and on her way to supervise the building of a church in Columbia. WOW! Help on the way, so many different places!
In Miami, J, H, and I enjoyed a quick meal together, and had the opportunity to start to get to know each other. I felt so shepherded by their presence, and willingness to chat and share.
When it was time to board the flight to Port au Prince, the flight was very full. As we made our way down the bridge to the aircraft, I started to notice the people. And the t-shirts. So many different 'missions' - Habitat for Humanity. Unicef. Samaritan's Purse. And many smaller ones - individual church groups and organizations. The plane jammed with them all!
As I tried (without success) to jam my backpack into an overhead bin (Thank you J for helping me out here!) I had a great view of everyone on the plane. A huge mosaic of helpers....and I felt so humbled by it. All this help streaming to Haiti...... LIVE STREAMING!!
Obviously an emotional journey, and to see so many others going as well, amazing. When the Captain of the aircraft welcomed the humanitarian folk on board I had a hard time not losing my composure.
Humbling. Exciting. Pride in the people who would come and work. WOW!!!
My hope is that Haiti will stay in the news and in people's minds. We cannot stop helping.... it is making a difference!
Probably most would say live streaming means data streams coming across on your laptop or PC enabling you to watch movies, TV shows, news, and listen to music.
It has a new meaning for me.
When I left home to begin the journey to Haiti, many thoughts and prayers went with me - but physically, I was by myself. At the same time, in Canada, the US, and the UK, others were preparing and beginning their journeys to Haiti as well. As the aircraft streaked towards the gathering points, I wondered how we would know each other - those going as part of the Samaritan's Purse team. I got as far as Dallas-Fort Worth Airport before I knew the answer. While waiting for my bag by the baggage carousel in the airport, I hear a voice asking, "Are you going to Haiti?", and turned to meet HA. Was excited to meet both H and J from Calgary, Alberta, who were also going to Haiti for Samaritan's Purse! yay!!
H was making her second trip to Haiti, and her husband J, his first. Ahhhh it so settled my nerves to meet them! To travel with a veteran very sweet!
The next day we met up at the airport in DFW, and continued our journey to Miami. On the plane, I was sat next to a physician on her way to Nicauragua to work in a clinic assisting women who have been damaged by sexual assault in Managua. Wow! In front of me, an older lady, very enthusiastic, and on her way to supervise the building of a church in Columbia. WOW! Help on the way, so many different places!
In Miami, J, H, and I enjoyed a quick meal together, and had the opportunity to start to get to know each other. I felt so shepherded by their presence, and willingness to chat and share.
When it was time to board the flight to Port au Prince, the flight was very full. As we made our way down the bridge to the aircraft, I started to notice the people. And the t-shirts. So many different 'missions' - Habitat for Humanity. Unicef. Samaritan's Purse. And many smaller ones - individual church groups and organizations. The plane jammed with them all!
As I tried (without success) to jam my backpack into an overhead bin (Thank you J for helping me out here!) I had a great view of everyone on the plane. A huge mosaic of helpers....and I felt so humbled by it. All this help streaming to Haiti...... LIVE STREAMING!!
Obviously an emotional journey, and to see so many others going as well, amazing. When the Captain of the aircraft welcomed the humanitarian folk on board I had a hard time not losing my composure.
Humbling. Exciting. Pride in the people who would come and work. WOW!!!
My hope is that Haiti will stay in the news and in people's minds. We cannot stop helping.... it is making a difference!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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