Itinerary for Team members

We will be flying out of Fort lauderdale at 7:10 a.m. Due to the time change (one hour) we land at 8:30. After clearing customs we will try and grab lunch at one of the reliable Port-su-Prince hotels before heading out to the clinic, which is about 30 minutes from the airport.

Once there we will set up our quarters, get briefed by Barbara Walker -- who runs the clinic -- and figure out logistics. By this time women will be lining up to be seen already. We will try and get the clinic up and running as soon as possible.

Each doctor will be paired with a nurse and a layman. The four laymen -- myself, Jennifer, Danny and Craig, will work 90 minute shifts assisting the docs. During the rest of the time, it would be good to interact with the children, etc.

If anyone feels overwhelmed at any time, please see myself or Joe Hurston. Hurston and Joe Prussel will spend the majority of their time doing maintenance work at the compound including working on the water purifiers.

We will repeat this on Friday and for much of Saturday. We will try to get away from the village for a nice dinner on Saturday night.

We depart Port Au Prince around 9 Sunday morning.

A few reminders:
-- Bring baby wipes and hand sanitizer
-- Expect to bathe with cold water a bucket
-- Water is fine as Joe has had purifiers there for years
-- Bring snack food that is rich in protein
-- It will be hot, dress accordingly
-- Bring bug spray
-- BRING EARPLUGS -- My wife tells me I snore!

Children of Haiti

The children of Haiti have many reasons to be angry. There is little food and they are hungry. There are many illnesses and little medicine. Their water is dirty and carries disease. It is difficult for them to go to school. Many can not afford to go.
They have many reasons not to smile, but oh how they want to. It takes very little effort -- a smile from you, a wave, a balloon, lollipop or peanut butter sandwich.
Let's make sure to take the time next week to make the children smile. They need it.

Rib not broken/Call for baby forumala and supplies

My wife's rib is not broken so it looks as if she will be able to make the trip after all. This is great news. Thanks for the prayers.

Right now we are feverishly trying to gather the supplies mentioned by Millie Badolato in her comments below my first post. Please check out what she has to say. But the bottom line is we are looking for baby formula, prenatal vitamins, baby clothes, tooth brushes, etc...anything and everything will help.

Stay tuned. Itinerary and photos to come.

Team Member may be forced to stay behind

As I write this, my wife Jennifer is at Dr. Stephen Badolato's office being examined for what she fears is a broken rib. (Dr. Steve is one of the team members going on the medical mission!)
With the trip in only eight days, I pray that she will be alright to travel. The roads in Haiti are bumpy enough without having to worry about a broken rib.
Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer, will ya?
p.s. I promise to pose some photos from last year's mission very soon. Stay tuned.

Thank You for making this Happen

This blog is being created for all those who gave so generously to make this medical mission a reality. Without your donations and your prayers this would not be happening.

Africa has become the new cause celebre and it should be because Africa's needs are many. I was fortunate enough to spend nearly two weeks in Zambia writing about AIDS orphans and the unique challenges they face.

But Haiti has many of the same problems and is barely a 90 minute flight from Miami. I think the people there think the world may have forgotten about them.

Thanks to your help we will prove them wrong.

Did you know that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere?

Check back on this site for periodic updates and tons of photos once we get back from our June women's healthcare clinic.

God bless you.