Michelle May

I had no idea what to expect working with project medishare- and glad that i did not.  As i wrote, thought I would be doing “logistics” work… which i learned means alot of operational stuff- not so much my forte but of course i can do it- and happily so.  However when they caught wind that i was a psych i was pulled into a few cases- I also ended up acting as physical therapist “technician” and a nurse assistant.  Much of the reason for this is that there is a dire need of nurses, PTs & OTs.   So if you know any please send them Project Medishare’s way.  I will do my best the next few days to fill you in a bit of what i have been up to the past week.  In a nutshell my experience has left me in awe of the people of Haiti’s resilience and the hard work that docs, nurses, and other medical staff put in at the hospital.  20 hour days seemed to be the norm. I have mad respect for most i met there- some who will be friends for life.  Thank you Project Medishare for putting together such an incredible group and for existing in the 1st place- what you have is Haiti’s biggest and most high tech hospital going right now- you are saving many many lives. 

Tags: Haiti, Project Medishare, relief work, University of Miami.

Strangely enough w/in my 1st few hours back in Haiti I ended up nodding & looking haggard for a few seconds at the end of this piece on NBC News with Brian WIlliams.  I had not slept the night before- keeping the same hours as the nurses & docs. 

More soon, beat tired…

Tags: Haiti, NBC, Project Medishare, relief work.

Okay Okay so we were told that we will have access to nothing- spoke to a man i will be working with who is very CIA-esque.. he had suggested bringing a free standing tent since we likely would not even have a stick or ground that could hold a tent up… I got advice on cleaning water using pens, filters, & the ole bleach & bandana method- but then i started receiving texts from Aaron (T-mobile & Verizon have waived roaming fees to & fro Haiti til 1/31.. AT&T has not- filthy bastards).  Here are Aaron’s texts:

logistically this place needs us.  Lots of people on the U of Miami base.  200 pax hospital and geraldo is next to me.

Phones work here.  Tmobile is free.  People have comps and I am working with a guy to set up wifi

Computers are likely safe here

Tent and mosquito net not at all necessary.  They have a huge communal tent w/ cots.

don’t need to bring water, maybe powered gatorade.  Maybe bring some water but don’t load up tho

There are pallets of water here.  At night it is COLD!  Sleeping bag is a must!

.. it was then clarified that it was so cold at night b/c they crank the AC in the tent at night!  so a bit different than we were bracing ourselves for.  I asked Aaron about coffee (if I have that i can do anything) he said there is coffee in the CNN tent- I was advised to bring makeup & be ready to bat my eyelashes.  Will keep you updated- clearly there is wi-fi.  When not working, i’ll blog.  xoxo

Tags: Haiti, Project Medishare, relief work.

You never know what is going to happen in life.  I was just sitting here watching the coverage of Haiti- feeling helpless and heart-broken, while also trying to recover from my trip to Rwanda, Uganda & the DRC… when a call came in from my friend Aaron.  Aaron & I worked together at www.hodr.org last winter doing hurricane relief work in Gonaives, Haiti- i have blogged about that here in the past.  Aaron is a bit of a Haiti connector/conduit… he speaks Creole, has many friends that he keeps in contact with back in Gonaives, and he also has this finger on the pulse of what is going on in the disaster relief world.  Aaron has now hooked up with a medical group, www.projectmedishare.org who sends doctors down to Haiti.  Many doctors from across the states have joined them on the groud in Port au Prince as soon as they could following the recent 7+ quake.   Aaron recruited me to join him in giving the medical teams logistical support on the ground.  He just arrived to PAP today & said that now aid is streaming in (the port is fixed!) they need some definite assistance in getting all the goods & people organized– enter: logistics!  I will blog & update from there while I can. 

above:  Myself, Jeanene & Tamara- girls i worked with last year in Gonaives, Haiti.  Tamara will be joining us in PAP- great to reunion with her and Aaron!

You may be asking how i can do this- well good question & I hope to answer a few of your Qs while also busting my butt packing & prepping for my flight toMiami tomorrow.  WORK:  yes, i do have a day job- but i also have saved up personal days, have a very compassionate boss with a big heart, and fortunately the ability to adjust my schedule in times of personal need.  VERY FORTUNATE- I KNOW! 

above:  when Aaron is not kicking arse, hauling rubble & saving lives, he is pole dancing at an auto parts store in Gonaives…

So the deal is we each need to bring every single thing we will eat, consume or need with us- that includes all water & food- we can assume that we will have nothing there- not electricity or a water source.  for days i have been obsessing on how i am going to take down enough drinking water- looking into filtering systems, etc. Food- i am going to be pretty sick of balance bars & nuts in due time.   Another thing is sleeping- where will be sleeping?  I don’t know… my own tent.  I am used to packing lite but this is just the opposite- i do not want to forget one thing.. and am not used to dressing for rain and also hard physical work- but it will all come together by Monday AM, have no fear… I do not want any of this to take away the focus from the utter terror that the every day Hatian has had to endure- even before this earthquake happened.  To be slightly inconvenienced (or at least that is the perception at home) is really is no big deal & puts many things in perspective.  In some ways, i wish everyone had to do this- just to appreciate what we have & have more patience & understanding for those who have been dealt a raw deal.  We are really lucky in life here in the N. America/Europe/Aust/NZ..  As far as I’m concerned it is our duty to serve others who have not been born into such relative wealth & luxury. 

above:  One of my favorite kids in Gonaives, New Years Eve 08/09.

Tags: Haiti, Project Medishare.