Has any one seen Stanley

It is indeed a funny world that we live in. 

Anyone that has spent time in the prosthetic clinic in Deschapelles can tell you that the techs here have special names for many of their tools.  When you step back and look at the tools in their literal sense...a hammer does not say hammer.  Just as a hacksaw has no label that says hacksaw.  You are just supposed to know.  Imagine how difficult it is when an an adult Haitian is handed a screw driver.  He is told it is a screw driver.  He knows he is struggling to learn English and work with these Americans and Europeans.  He is confused with this screw driver because he thinks it says Craftsman.  Not screw driver.  He does not want to tell his boss that he thinks it is wrong.  Instead, when the boss walks away, the hidden laguage of the techs comes to life.

Joel speaks the best of english of the tech bunch.  Though I have to say that the rest of the crew has either imporved significantly, or they were very shy 4 yrs ago.

Today, I was literally looking for the hacksaw.  I asked Tcho and Joel.  Joel responded, "I do not know anyone named Hacksaw."  I looked at him.  I knew he was messing with me.  He repeated," You know Paul, I have never known anyone named Hacksaw." He continued." Come on Paul....what is his name?  Come on my friend you know it is really Stanely that you are looking for."

And thus Stanely, his friend the General, Joel and I had a good chuckle and.....well.... I either have tools for friends, or some of my friends are tools.  Not sure if I should try explaining that to the boys tomorrow.

Bon Nuit

Chov Blanc  

Mwen Kay

Stanely.... Where's Ollie?

The General

Home Care in Haiti

Well, as you can see from the pictures the prosthetic clinic has been a little slow.  I am assured they are still in need of O&P volunteers.

Cornelia is my lead practitioner.  She has been here off and on for I believe for nearly 4 years.  Her time finishes in 6 weeks.  The new lead practitioner, Ralf, is also here.  He is getting the lay of the land from Cornelia.  Ralf will be here one year.

It was already planned that today would be a HomeCare visit...which as you can see from the photos, it is no easy task.  Prior to my arrival, the hospital had already planned to provide a wheelchair to a little girl in the mountains.  But as any one who has made home visits can tell you preparation is king.  In our case it meant brining physical therapists, prosthetists, technicians....and others.

If it were a helicopter ride I think it would have taken 10 minutes.  The ride in the HAS car took an hour...traveling mostly 10mph over simply crazy terrain.  I know what bobblehead dolls fee like, now.

I didn't take any photos of the little girl we were going to see.  It didn't seem right.  I think the one picture where you can sort of see her in the background gives you an idea of things.  She was 8yrs old.  She was the size of a 4yr old.  She suffers from cerebral palsy.  She doesn't walk or stand.

I don't know how to describe this lifestyle in the mountains.  I want to say simple.  Which describes the amount of material things, but I think life here is far from simple.  Here in such a remote area there is no real way to care for others in the way you need.  The mother is absent.  It is a couple of aunts that care for her.  There is no "child services". Life here is active. Natalie, the Haitian physical therapist said that when she visited the girl previously to evaluate and assess; she would often find her in the house, lying on a dirt floor...alone.

I know how difficult it is to imagine what this child knows and feels, but here is a person that is not being treated like a person.  I prefer to think that this is not because her family does not want to care for her.  Rather, they simply don't have the knowledge or ability.

Of course getting her fit with a decent wheelchair will provide a better natural resting position for her body and head.  Our bodies are healthier and happier this way this way.  Our hope is that this will be utilized a little.  I like to think that if she is upright, she will also be more recognized, engaged and loved.

Adime

Chov Blanc

  

Cemetery

The cemetery is in the foreground. People are not buried. The casket/ tomb or coffine is fixed above ground. 

You call this a road