Getting ready to leave for Haiti in one week. As always there is a flurry of activity and anticipation. It is particularly exciting this April as an OBGYN MD from United for Global Health is coming to assist me in the midwifery classes. This is a big medical team who has been to Haiti before, now joining with PID for a trip together. It is great to know I have someone with a lot of expertise, both with maternal and child health, and Haiti coming with me to teach. She has the manual in advance and we can do a lot of planning in advance to be organized and concise. I only hope it is as much fun as the last class. I have spent all my free time since January developing the manual for this class, as well as getting a manual for the midwives who participate translated into Creole. Since all of this is in the early stages, I'm sure the manual will transform and develop over time, adapting to the midwives, Haiti, and whatever the special particulars may be.
I have felt really supported and assisted, especially by my daughter Sadie, who typed and formatted the whole manuscript, and by Susan Kamin, Certified Nurse Midwife from the PID Medical Advisory Board. Since neither typing and formatting, nor midwifery are my areas of expertise, I couldn't have done it without them. I know that all over Haiti midwives are delivering babies with so little support, no supplies or adequate supportive healthcare, with no plan or resources for referral in the event of an emergency. I cannot imagine being called to do more important work, and despite my lack of formal training or education in this field, I am trying my best to step up to the plate. It seems this has gone on since I first set foot in Haiti- that I am asked to work with mothers and babies. I thank God that I have the resources here to even be able to attempt to help Haiti in this way. From the group of women who meet in the church in Ipswich, preparing the safebirth kits to send with me to Haiti, to the midwives who place their trust and faith in me, it is an amazing experience to be part of- and it feels like so many of us are in this together.
And speaking of babies- my Goddaughter Alison has a new baby brother, born via Cesarean section in the crazy rainy season of Haiti. After several days in the hospital on oxygen, he is home with his loving family. Angelo, named for an angel, as his mother Edmonde says- another angel in her life. Her last one. We are still hoping to raise enough money to buy a small piece of land to build them a house. With Massachusetts lottery up to over 600 million, I wish there was a way to portion a bit of it to Haiti. Maybe if I win......
Alison
I have felt really supported and assisted, especially by my daughter Sadie, who typed and formatted the whole manuscript, and by Susan Kamin, Certified Nurse Midwife from the PID Medical Advisory Board. Since neither typing and formatting, nor midwifery are my areas of expertise, I couldn't have done it without them. I know that all over Haiti midwives are delivering babies with so little support, no supplies or adequate supportive healthcare, with no plan or resources for referral in the event of an emergency. I cannot imagine being called to do more important work, and despite my lack of formal training or education in this field, I am trying my best to step up to the plate. It seems this has gone on since I first set foot in Haiti- that I am asked to work with mothers and babies. I thank God that I have the resources here to even be able to attempt to help Haiti in this way. From the group of women who meet in the church in Ipswich, preparing the safebirth kits to send with me to Haiti, to the midwives who place their trust and faith in me, it is an amazing experience to be part of- and it feels like so many of us are in this together.
And speaking of babies- my Goddaughter Alison has a new baby brother, born via Cesarean section in the crazy rainy season of Haiti. After several days in the hospital on oxygen, he is home with his loving family. Angelo, named for an angel, as his mother Edmonde says- another angel in her life. Her last one. We are still hoping to raise enough money to buy a small piece of land to build them a house. With Massachusetts lottery up to over 600 million, I wish there was a way to portion a bit of it to Haiti. Maybe if I win......
Alison