Random happenings of the week

The weather, mezami! It’s like we’ve been in the midst of a hurricane, but no rain. Well, rain a little at night, but the wind! I think it could blow a house away at times. And this morning the thermometer read 64 degrees. With the wind chill factor that’s probably about 52 degrees. I didn’t have a coat in the clinic on Thursday and felt like I was going to die (the Haitians were rolling on the ground laughing when I told them that).

It seems we’ve gotten into a little trouble with the Dept. of Public Health involving TB meds. They are a little angry at us at the moment, so we are waiting to see what they will do. We know we are in the right, but it’s possible we’ve caused them some embarrassment. I’m not sure how much I can write for the whole world to see, but know that we are ok, we are not in danger, but pray the clinic would be protected and this would blow over. (ps. They gave us a mondo box of TB meds that should last for quite some time. Mwen sezi! I couldn’t speak)

Two HIV patients that stayed with us for a very short time passed away after we sent them home. It seems to be raining HIV here.

My friend, Edmond, went home. He is a success story in itself. Came to us before I got here in January, skin and bones, skin all in rash, blisters, and infected, weak, not able to get out of bed. He has HIV. He wouldn’t even come out of his room and laid in his bed with a sheet over his head because he was so ashamed. He started with treatment at the big hospital but stayed with us to regain strength for a few months. His goal was to gain as much weight as possible, so every Friday (weight day) brimmed with excitement. Last Friday he weighed in at 57 kg. I think he came in at 48kg (105lbs) and he is probably 5’10”. The past few weeks have just been fun. He was always sitting outside making jokes with everyone. I was feeling down since he was leaving, but this morning I got up early and went running and on my way back I met Edmond on the road as he was starting his journey home on a mule at 6:00 in the morning! He had a huge smile on his face and said, I’m going home! It was a satisfying moment.

Things are changing at the hospital. The mass of TB patients we had in January will be going home in the next few weeks. It’s hard (ha! for me…)