Mission complete!

Sorry for not writing, but the internet went down after the first day. We ramped up to be very busy until late last night. One baby died, I will tell you more next entry...quite the story. Several beautiful faces were created, and entire families relieved, if ever so slightly, of their burdens. I haven't gotten sick, although several members of the team have fallen with myself and the the remaining team members to take care of them. We completed approximately 80 cases, and performed some general surgery procedures that didn't turn out favorably. I am covered in mosquito bites, and unfortunately didn't get a net to cover my bed until the last few nights. I am sitting here writing at my desk in my room that I am sharing with three others, dorm style, breathing in citronella candles and the aroma of burnt garbage. The sky is sunny, it's hot but not too humid. The team has been a slick operating machine, and we are off to see some waterfalls in a few minutes..sante!

Screening

Wow...so a little tired right now! Spent the day screening patients and setting up the Operating room and Recovery room. So far we only have 30 patients..a lot of the babies that have shown up had massive malformations and abnormalities, which we can not operate on. Several efforts were made to connect these babies with programs in Boston through some surgeons here. Saw some fascinating yet sad things, like unrepaired cerebral palsy with severe hydrocephalus, a rare facial cleft with a complicated cleft lip. We will be doing many procedures on adults, and teenagers. The hospital and our accommodations are all very close, making everything convenient. We lost for most of the afternoon and we are saving the generators for tomorrow because it uses a lot fo gas and in painfully loud. The afternoon was filled with the smell of burning garbage used for cooking our dinner, the days are warm but not too hot and the sun is shining! Gotta go to a team meeting, more later..

Camp Op Smile

We are here! After a 4 hour drive that has readjusted my lumbar spine, all is well. The sleeping accommodations I compare to a china town B&B, minus the hot shower. Lots of tile, and clean. I was pretty impressed! Not enough beds for all, but so far seniority rules and I'm in a bed (not for long I so feel guilty). My pillow was "removed" from my bag somewhere in transport for who knows what reason. I've been graciously given some chloroquine due to the fact that malaria is very prevalent in the area, and I can't take anything else...so please pray for all of us, that no one has an rare encounter with a most infectious mosquito (and there are a lot of them!) All seems to be a little surreal, noting that we have wi fi that's better than my NYC apartment, but no hot water and no diet coke. Excited for tomorrow, as we will be screening for patients to see what we will be operating on this week. Please share my blog address with anyone you want. this site can be reached at www.kiminhinche.blogspot.com. 'till tomorrow...

Miami

Its a perfect 78 deg. Just met a lot of the team over dinner. Lot's of northerners...Wisconconites and northern Michiganians. Nothing like feeling close to home (Canada) while at the tip of the panhandle. Off to Port au Prince in the morning, will post when I can!