I am woman....but I wish my man was here!

I am at the end of my one month survival in Haiti without Don.... not soon enough! I have achieved some things in my 50 years, but one thing has not changed......I HATE machines, I am not mechanical, I do not want to be. I have been shown how to change oil, tires, etc on a car and I kind of watch..... I do not want to know. One of the biggest hurdles for me here is being in charge of the mechanical 'stuff' that is just a part of living in Haiti. The battery inverter, generator, and......gas range : / We ran out of propane this week so Jean got me more, hooked it up (good thing I never could have, I would have thought it was going to blow up) but I needed to start the pilot lights. The ones for the burners -no problem but the oven, Take this off - move this - unscrew these screws -hold down count to 30........I did it! We will have the traditional home made pizza for supper and Corrie baked a cake!

The generator that is another thing. Lost power this morning, the batteries were dead and I NEEDED coffee before our 11 mile run, I was not happy. Battery on the generator was dead, but I put on the charger ( I watched John when he showed me, really I did!) but nothing! I gave up on the idea for coffee and decided I had better get ready to go run... DON GET HERE THE GENERATOR IS ALL YOURS!!!!!!

Sisters of Charity

I do not have pictures to go with this post. They do not allow pictures to be taken inside the Sisters of Charity's Children's hospital. I will do my best to paint a picture with words. Cribs lining the walls and down the middle of each of the several rooms. It is dark, but clean, plastic flowers hang from the ceilings, giving the children who are lying in the cribs something beautiful to look at. Crying and more crying. Sisters and volunteers holding, feeding,bathing, loving, changing, children. Children, the very sick ones are here, the ones whose parents have lost hope, or just do not know what to do - are here. I wandered into a room where a one year old caught eyes with me, her pleading cries and out stretched arms - I could not resist, she was in my arms in a breaths time. She clung to me, weighing almost nothing. Her hands clasped around my bag hung on my shoulder -tight. She put her thumb into her mouth and went to sleep but not before looking deep at me into some part of me I did not want touched. Shane had walked into the same room and he too had a child in his arms to comfort, we looked at each other with what was left of our reserve. we gave into the tears. So much hurt, and suffering. These are the lucky ones. Millions more like them out there in Haiti, hungry, sick, alone, Someone hold them.

today- Child Development class

Joyful! That is what today was! So grateful for this calling!

making choices

I know before I write this that some reading will be offended. It is easy to judge when your life does not reflect, in anyway the life of the one you are judging. Women in Haiti do not have a voice about sex. Sexual assault is not against the law- in fact the idea of sexual assault is translucent. We are wanting to empower women, with their health, their education and their financial situation. Yes we hand out birth control. Today Jonna taught Child Development class and spoke on spacing the birth of children, for health reasons for the mom and baby and other children that there might already be. Lots of questions - and many asking for condoms! We would say "bravo"! We want them to take responsibility for their reproduction as best as they can. It was exciting! So before you jump all over me for this - consider THEIR life.

Jinnetts birth

Many of the women we have the honor to take care of at the Women's Center are single. Many have very little voice and control over their lives - including their reproduction. Jinnette is special because she comes from an 'intact family'. The call came last night around 7:00 it was her husband calling Beth to let her know he was bringing his wife to the center, she was in labor. Beth first thought it was the guard from the WC calling because it is so unusual to have a husband involved. This is Jinnette's fifth child, and because she has done this before she knew to get to the WC before there were no "machines" available, even though she was not in hard labor. ( a machine - a tap tap; the mass transit of Haiti, colorful pick-ups with a cover over the back. You tap tap on the side when you want off. They are all but impossible to find at night) she continued to labor very nicely and at 11:03 last night she delivered a baby boy (of course no girls since I arrived!) I love this picture of Jinnette and her husband, he is so happy!

I

Thursdays -Love them!

This is the women that did not make it to the clinic.......baby born outside in the dirt! pa bon. All is well, she and baby were rushed inside the clinic and cared for. Baby was bathed and started nursing in no time. This mother tested positive for Hep b so we were able to treat her baby so he will not be effected by it. This picture is was getting a postpartum check by Beth, one of the many perks of having your baby at Heartline (or out front) is the continued care. For the next year she will be part of the Child Development class where she will receive a meal, and check ups on the baby and teaching about ---child development : ))

The other pictures are of our lovely pregnant women. Each Thursday they come and are weighed, and vitals taken. They are given a full prenatal once a month until 32 weeks then every two weeks, then every week starting at 36 weeks. Lab work is maintained, HGB is

monitored.

The women in the purple dress (holding her side) had a blood pressure of 200/135

and a HGB of 6. she has missed class six times - shows that she is not taking her vitamins and iron that we give out. It is very sad that we had to tell her because she is so high risk we could not deliver her at our clinic and that she needed to go to Doctors Without Borders Hospital right away. We sent a photo copy of her prenatal records with her. She cried. it is a very serious situation and I am sure if not for the knowledge she has received through our program she would have planned to birth at home unattended, for her that could have been deadly.

We have set the protocol for the women that if they miss more then three meetings then they will be removed from the program. Might sound harsh, but we have a long waiting list of women wanting in, and all we ask is for them to be there on Thursdays get their vitamins and iron and take some responsibility for their health. These women love it, they are blessed their babies are blessed and we are blessed!!!!!

Birth

As a midwife birth is very invigorating. It requires a lot of energy but is such an adrenalin rush. that rush helped me to keep moving through the night. We had lost EDH (electricity) earlier in the evening. The inverter was not working at the birth center, or the generator. We used flash lights. Sun came up before the baby was born, but it was still quite dark in the room and of course hot without fans. The mother was just 17, she had delivered a still born just a year ago. Knowing how young she was and the emotional condition of having lost a baby, she was given much attention and love. Beth stayed right with her and later Paige came to help. It was a beautiful uncomplicated delivery. A baby boy born at 8:13 a.m. weighing 7lbs 4 oz. We had prenatal's that day so we just continued on, caring for the mom and dong prenatal's. By the end of the day I was really shot, and my kids would tell you I was not very nice! I fixed dinner, took two Ibuprofen and went to bed at 7:00! so grateful for a healthy baby boy born at Heartline Birth center!!!!!

A new day

I survived what has been the most difficult 24 hours thus far for me in Haiti. Wednesday evening we were sitting around reading emails and watching the movie "Amazing Grace" Damian included (more about her later).... anyway it started to rain, kind of normal for this time of year. I happened to walk into my room and noticed some water on the floor, threw a towel down, walked down stairs to check things out down there --- if you are going to have a flood it should start on the first floor right???? The sky lights were dripping, threw some more towels down. Joe was with me on this search , we revisited the up stairs....... water coming in the doors off the patio at an alarming rate. In no time water was standing in my room and the landing where we watch movies and sit with out lap-tops. We quickly got all electronics up and started grabbing towels. It was obvious that we were loosing. Water was cascading down the stairs to the first floor. I went out on the patio in the pounding rain to see what I could do to keep the water from coming in. The two very small drains that were on the patio could not keep up with the amount of rain and added to that was all the water coming off the roof through pipes onto the patio----- just a small design flaw! I tried to push more water into the drains but there was nothing I could do, water was 6 - 8 inches deep there and rushing into the house. I 'plugged' up the space under the doors ---- nothing helped. Made a call to Beth, like she could help. She kind of laughed, I don't think she had any idea what was going on and everyone here has had a flood or two ; It was my turn. We worked for two hours, mopping up with towels and wringing them out into 18 and 20 gallon tugs, then when they were full we would bucket the water to the sink (Joey's job) We filled up at least four of them in no time. Our house help who lives here with us , came into help so there was Corrie, Shane, Damian, Joey and I and Alexis. When we could not get a brake from it I called Troy, he said he did not having any suggestions..... Finely the rain slowed and so did the river in our house. We started cleaning the first floor.... more tubs and buckets and towels. Looked into the guest room by Corrie's room, we could not believe our eyes... at least six inches standing. At that point I thought this is crazy I need a pump (still thinking like an American) Called John, I think he thought it was funny but he did say he would give the situation some thought and call back. Just that day I bought some trash cans, Joey started bucketing water into a 18 gallon tub with the trash can - I jumped into help. The others were cleaning up the kitchen and Damian's room. We had dumped 8 tubs of water out of that room when Troy and John showed up. They went out side to look at the situation there and what could be done top prevent this from happening again. I think last count of full 18 gallon tubs from just that room was 13 could have been more. We finished up with towels and wringing. Exhausted! I think it was around 10:30 at this point.
At two I heard it start raining again and made a run through the house looking from more water...none! Fell asleep around three a.m. At 4:15 a.m. my phone rang - this could only mean a labor, yes Beth was coming to get me we had a young girl only 17 in labor at the Birth Center!

Running for Women

www.heartlinerunners.blogspot.com

Lisa and Shane will be running in the Disney Marathon in Orlando in January. They will be joining many other volenteers who are running to raise funds to purchase a transport (ambulance type) vehicle for the women's center. We need a large and reliable vehicle to transport women that may have complications to a hospital in Port Au Prince. It will be fitted with equipment for the midwives and mothers.
Paige and Jaeda our daughters will be joining the group of runners as well. It will be a great time for a needy cause. All the runners are paying their own way and entry fees so all of your support goes to the purchase of the vehicle.
Please visit the blog site to see more about this run, the vehicle, the runners and the need for this vehicle. When you enter the blog site you will have several ways to pledge for the Women of Haiti.

Going it alone

Before I got this wonderful mosquito net I was 'sleeping' or trying to sleep in...long sleeve Tshirt, long P.J. pants, socks and my 'Bells'running gloves -no joke. There is nothing worse then having your fingers bit by mosquitoes, then you are up scratching and scratching terrible. Bill Moxon was here and suggested we get some nets, I really kind of 'poo pooed' the idea because the one experience I had with a net was not positive. I was willing to try anything. I was sweating so much at night being dressed like that I was not sure what was worse, no sleep from sweating or no sleep from being eaten by mosquitoes. Bill hung the nets... No bites not one! We all suffered from chemical burns on our faces and eyes but we did not suffer from mosquitoes! Note; shake out the nets to get some of the chemicals off before hanging, and do not touch your face after tucking yourself in at night! We had a good laugh the next morning with everyone reporting their own chemical story, well, except Corrie who some how did not suffer.

Thank you Bill! We really do love the nets now that the chemical load is not so Strong...life in Haiti.

I have been on my own here since Don returned to the States on the fifth of October. I think it has been a month but only one week ---cannot possible be true! I do believe this is the most difficult thing I have ever done, I miss him and Trent so! Get here soon Don and Trent!!!!!!

running in Haiti and Disney Marathon training

I think these pictures are blue because of the pollution that we run in!!! hack hack cough! Blahh, It is really bad when you drink your Gatorade and it tastes like Diesel fuel. {sigh} Oh well this is Haiti.

There are around 14 of us running the Disney Marathon January 10 in Orlando Fl. Some people are running the half marathon (Shane is one of those) and the rest are running the full (insane me) There is a great cause behind this madness, we are raising support to purchase a much needed transport vehicle - Ambulance, for emergency situation when we need to transport from the Birth Center to the National Hospital (that is another story). We will have much more information soon on just how you can become involved in pledging $ per mile or for the entire race. All Very exciting.

So far (two weeks) I do not like running in Haiti ( I am being nice with my adjectives here). Gone are the quiet, pristine, tranquil runs along the river trail there in Colorado. Now I have noise, pollution, people and dogs and a few goats, rocks, holes in the road, gravel, mud, trash and more trash.... to maneuver around, It is work. I have to run looking at the ground to make sure I do not trip and fall (I have a history of this), this makes for really bad form. When my training log states that "today's run; work on form and speed" I have to laugh! The worst of it for me is the heat. I stress every day about my run, not running long enough completely off my training guide that I was so religious about before leaving Colorado. This morning I had about convinced myself that I was done with this whole thing and would rather not run then be the last one across the finish line. I will do it because of the cause -- I need to raise lots of $ to make the sweat and humiliation worth it : ))
So help out here Please!!!!!! Shane and I along with our daughters Paige Greiner and Jaeda Buxman will be representing the Buxman's in this.

Alexis

I had read the statistics and even spoke about them but I was surprised to met one of the statisitcs, and to have her working in our home. Alexis is one of the more the 50% illiterate people here in Haiti. She is 19, never been to school and we are the first internationals she has ever worked for (white people). It has taken me the two weeks we have been here to try to get my head around that. 19 and never been to school. Developing a relationship and investing in Haitians is a great joy. I have also heard that over 60% are unemployed, and living here I do not find that hard to believe. She is happy to have the job and I am happy to have her much needed help. We cannot communicate very well, with my little Creole and she speaks no English, but once I am in language school I look forward to this changing. I also would like to get her enrolled in Heartline's literacy program, it would open her world up.

Sunday:

We are with out a car so that makes us dependant on all others with wheels. This morning we were blessed with a ride to church with Debbie and Tim. This was their first time to PAP Fellowship. It was nice to spend some time with them, I look forward to getting to know them better. Church was wonderful as always! Joey went home with Bill and Suzette to play with their boys - he was thrilled. The rest of us (Corrie her dad Bill, Shane and I) decided we needed a litter adventure- and the fact that I had very little food in the house ( another draw back of not having a car) we decided to take a Tap Tap to the Deli Mart and eat at EpiDor; something close to a McDonald's. It is great to have Bill around with his Creole skills!!! So helpful! Tap taps are the mass transit of Haiti. Many of the Tap Taps are brightly colored pick-up trucks with a shell over the back. You are crammed in with as many people as possible - the driver wants to make a living at this, so the more paying passengers the better. Haitians are used to having NO personal space! We also picked up a plunger at the Deli Mart (closest thing to a grocery store) Evey home needs a toilet plunger!

Womens program at Heatline

Beautiful women in the Heatline women's program. Every Thursday 20 + women come, they are weighed, temperature taken. pulse, Blood Pressure, HGB (when needed) then given a meal and a weeks supply of vitamin and iron pills. They are then instructed on subjects dealing with pregnancy. This class is on the importance of iron. After the class some of the women are given a complete prenatal , this alternates weeks and depends on where they are in their pregnancy. Most of these women have never had prenatal care with their other pregnancy's and would not now if it were not free. They love the interaction and care they receive. Just this week we delivered a 8lb baby boy, this is an example of what good care, and nutrition can do. I love being a part of loving and caring for these women.

This is the patio off our master bedroom. I like to leave this door open because it lets in a breeze, it also let in a cute tarantula --the door is shut for now on. Bill Moxon has been her since last Wednesday, he brought in a couple tubs for us and is enjoying being with his daughter (our teacher for the boys) Bill and Darla lived in Haiti, have been back in the States for 12 years. Bill has amazing Creole and it is SO helpful to have someone who can talk with our Haitian staff. He can get us around on a Tap tap and order food etc! Thanks Darla for letting us have his help! Joey went into my room last night and saw the Tarantula.... What did I do? "Bill!!!!!" What would I have done if he were not here? Corrie and Shane will have nothing to do with killing one and Joey thinks they are cute, I think that leaves me to deal with any more unwanted 'visitors' : (

Semone Pelle

Wednesday - went for a fast short run with Beth, nice to know I can survive a run here even if it is just three miles.

Because of violence and kidnapping this area was closed and barricaded by UN three years ago when we lived here. Today we not only were able to go in but to continue the prenatal program started there last month. We are 'escorted' by a young man that works for Heartline and lives in the area. He is our connection to the community and his presence gives us legitimacy and an element of safety. We drove deep into the crowded ghetto, masses of people, small shanties and small children,most were barely dressed. The fact that so many children were running around during the day is evidence that few go to school. White people coming into this area is not common so we had a crowd around us.
Once the pickup was parked (as close as we could get to the location) the streets narrowed even more - people cooking in out side pots, selling charcole, mudcakes. We entered a small church where women were already waiting for us.
We are caring for 30 women, that is all we can handle right now. Beth spoke a short welcome and introductions, Aghott opened with prayer, Jonna taught about Eclampsia; what to look for and what can be done. The women listened intently! Then we started doing exams. Beth and I did all the vitals and then the women went to Jonna and Stephanie for their 'bellies' to be measured (fh) heart tones and general exam. We enquire about their general health, signs of STD's or infections etc. These women live in conditions unacceptable to us foreigners, but normal to them. We are able to treat infections(UTI) and direct them where to get treatment for a suspected STD. This was just our second time in there, we go once a month. The need is so great and our care appreciated - hard to put it into words;;too much for me to express. One women had gone to a clinic to get pills to abort the baby, but she said it did not work. She said she wanted the baby but had no way to care for it....sad... this is one of the many reasons we are doing what we are, we will help her in every way we can. All of their stories are hard, their lives are hard. They were like sponges receiving our care and love.

Still cannot find my camera, will need to start using Shanes - too much to not share with you here, you need visuals!

Still not sleeping much : / Taking Valerian and Ashwagandha herbs, hope they start helping soon. Boys are doing well, doing their school. Joe loves it here. Shane is a HUGE help.

Today is Heartline Prenatal here in Port, I will walk down and spend the afternoon caring for some lovely Haitian women : )

'Natasha"

I have lost my camera so the pictures will have to come later : / I know that I had it when I walked home from the clinic because I was taking pictures but after that it is all a blur.

I was not here in Haiti for the first chapter of "Natasha's" story, but I was privileged to be a part of this chapter of her and her sons life. Here is what I know. "Natasha" came to Heartline's Women's program to get birth control. After the routine pregnancy test she was told 'sorry no birth control it is too late.' Let me explain as best I can - women's rights are not the same here as in the US. Women do not have a voice and rape is not against the law. If a women needs a place to sleep, she's expected certain services. I do not know exactly what the situation was for "Natasha," but as the result of a one night stand she found her self pregnant. Do not fool your self, the father of the child could not care less not only was he married, he was married to one of the other expectant moms in our program. "Natasha" was not happy about the pregnancy. She already had six children four of which family members were 'caring' for (this is very common in Haiti) she was with out a home, job and had two children to care for. She wanted to abort the baby. Because of another families blog some church group wanted to cover her expenses -rent on a small home, provide food. She maintained the pregnancy with every intent to abandon the baby at the public hospital. As is routine for our women we have their lab work done. STD's are common place here, we need to know the general health of the women including her HIV standing. "Natasha" went for her testing, the results were positive. If a women tests positive we have them tested at least one more time, false positives are very common." Natasha" was HIV positive with out a doubt after three tests were positive.
This women not only got pregnant but was given HIV- devastated cannot even touch how she felt. The 'family' at Heartline poured out their love and care to her over the next months. Caring for her in her depression and many bouts with infections - loving her. She was encouraged to come to the clinic when she went into labor, since we are finely staffed and starting to do deliveries. No one was sure if she would come to Heartline or go to General Hospital where she said she was going to abandon the child.
Yesterday evening "Natasha" came to the clinic in labor-we were thrilled to care for her and help her through this difficult time. Labor was slow through most of the night, but by morning she was beginning to labor well. We as a team prepared our roles and were ready to practice Universal precautions. We prayed for an uncomplicated birth and a healthy baby. At 9:30 this morning "Natasha" delivered a 8lb baby boy. We worked as a team and did everything possible to minimize expose to the baby. "Natasha" had made it very plain that she did not want anything to do with the baby, did not want to hold the baby, name the baby; nothing, we had that worked into the 'plan.'
The baby was born and lovingly held by Jonna, bathed by Stephanie and loved on by all of us. Later I am happy to say, "Natasha" did want to see her baby. She was happy that he was big and healthy. Later in the day with Stephanie's care "Natasha" named him David. This evening we drove to Heartlines children's home and left David, he will be tested for HIV and cared for. David will be placed for adoption and be one more of the several hundred children that Heartline has placed in loving homes in the States. We drove "Natasha" home. How distressful to leave her there without her child. Pray for ""Natasha and David - well , for all of us here in Haiti as we work to be His hands of love to those so in need. It has been an emotional day for all of us.
As soon as I find my camera I will post some pictures. Be mindful that "Natasha" could be one of the many women we have the privelage to care for here in Haiti.


On a lighter note....Shane is on a rampage in his room killing cock-roaches {sigh} Joy!
Lisa

Eggplant tree! No joke!

broken glass

Corrie killed her first cock roach! I found what I first thought was a dead mouse under the sink. We are learning to live with biting ants, the heat and being consumed by mosquitoes = life in Haiti. Friday spent our first night in our house. Midnight power came on (we did not know) and water was being pumped into our holding tank on the roof.....sounded like a water fall at three a.m. Sent Don out to find out what was going on - he turned off the pump....Haiti. We have been very spoiled with electricity 12 hours a day. Because this is not going to be the normal and it will be a big shock when it changes!!!! Learning to use the generator and inverter and all that is required to go with that... New education! For some reason I am not able to add pictures of all of this - will get them on later. Thank you to all of you that make this possible! We really do love it and are sooooo happy to be here! Cannot wait until Wednesday to do prenatal visits in the inner city!!! Women who have never had any prenatal care!!!

day two

We stayed with the Mchoul's Wednesday night, then went to our house to keep working, stopping first at the clinic. I had no makeup on and looked like I was in shock; I was. Anyway dear sweet Jonna said "did you get your hair colored?" That was all it took - melt down. On to our house -full of tubs to be unpacked sorted-cleaned etc..... at one point Don was looking through some tubs and found what he thought was rags, pulled on one and out dropped two glass goblets---these had been my mothers and for some reason seeing this I just fell apart. Sitting on the floor sobbing. Some how having them meant a part of my mother was with me here in Haiti. I still have six of the eight. Byron must have seen me because he left and with in thirty minute was back with his wife Shelly and two of their helpers ANGELS! Angels with food and encouragement,help. They washed all of my dishes, mopped floors with our helper Alexes. {sigh double sigh}.

first few days back in Haiti

We touched down in Haiti already emotionally charged. Saying good-bye to so many loved ones left me raw. I was not prepared for what was a head. We lived in Haiti for 10 months 2005 - 2006. We lived in a new home that we had built, picked out and purchased most everything in the home. Everything worked! We are living in Port Au Prince now and renting a home in a nice "middle class" area. This home is owned by a Haitian man who lives in New York. The house is beautiful from the outside and inside is not too bad, but behind all of that it is a Haiti built home, those who live here understand. I knew better, but I just did not expect for so many things to be wrong with the house. We were greeted with Beth and Stephanie and Megen who were cleaning the house and helping to get it ready for us. We were also greeted by Larry our Mastiff and Nora our mastiff/lab puppy. Ohhh soooo cute did not last too long as we realized that Nora only likes to pee inside and not out. I have no screens on the doors so I cannot keep her out. Larry loves to find the mud lie in it and come and 'show ' us what he has been up too. Larry I do not mind so much because he is a watch dog and worth his mud!

We went to work on the house and unpacking. Checking out the house, unfortunately finding what did not work : ( Joey came in to wash his hands at the kitchen sink and said it hurt to rinse- we thought he was just goofing off. Then I touched the sink and got a shock - yep it hurt. Long story - Many electrical problems, plumbing issues... and there is NO place for a washing machine!
The owner came over the next day to meet us and when asked why there is no place for a washing hook up he said " I forgot". Most Haitians have someone doing their laundry in tubs so I guess that is what he was thinking - mind you this man has lived in the US for 20 years, I bet he does not do his laundry in a bucket in New York! So on and on it went. Too many melt downs to count. I am so grateful for my husband who is able to fix almost anything! We had wonderful ministry friends helping too. Byron spent many hours working on the funky electrical issues.... In order to turn on the entry way light you must --- go in, the up stairs and too the right and flip the switch! (all in the dark) Oh I would have thought of that!!!!!