Tuesday, January 16th

Hello from Betty Krauss I am still enjoying the clinics very much. This year for the first time we are weighing the babies under the age of 3, therefore I got to hold so many very cute children. I was honored. My family came to the clinic, and I again got to see Daneilla, who is now 4 years old. She had on some of my granddaughter’s clothes and it has made my whole trip. I cannot go into detail, but there have been many people who would possibly not have made it if we were not here. It is amazing that these people were brought to our clinic and we got to see them. Again, thanks to Holy Spirit for all of your support.

From Shirley Mike finished putting in the new windows in the dental clinic today. They are going to be great at keeping out the dust. I did ask him to put in a line to hang curtains on to keep the kids from hanging on the window grate to see inside. Did a little hand holding today, which I enjoy doing to offer comfort and keep hands away from their mouths. Brice had a boy who was hanging onto him. So I unlatched him. A boy in the next chair was scared but he did great. The weather has been warmer this year just as it has been in Michigan. The dentists have pulled almost 500 teeth with a half day to go.

Kelly Ryan: Pharmacy Superhero – This week has been so great! In the pharmacy, we were able to see all of the people who came through clinic twice unlike the doctors who only get to see about 1/5. I’ve even gotten better at reading “doctor handwriting” which was a task that I thought to be impossible. Now instead of going to see certain doctors every half hour I see them every 45 minutes which is a great achievement. We have a lot of fun in our pharmacy and spend a lot of time either running to fill each prescription or just doodling. We ended up with a lot of backups because of the hypertensive medication that had to be split. If I never see lisinopril again in my life, I will be a very happy person. I get so excited to see orders with just Tylenol and vitamins that it could be considered criminal. It’s a competition between Izzy and me to get the easy orders and to avoid the difficult orders. Junior is teaching me Creole and I’m doing pretty well. I know the alphabet, basic verbs, and some nouns. I get a new list each night and I’d like to think that I’m improving. Maybe. I <3 Haiti so much and I can’t wait until next year!!!!!!!!

Anna Babkowski from the dental clinic ,day 3. Today I was able to see 5 kids and did 22 sealants. Yesterday the dental unit that I worked on broke for reasons unknown to me and I had to set up new one in the morning. All new to me, but if there is a will there is a way . Otherwise the day went smoothly, I got out a bit from the dental clinic and saw what was happening in other areas of the clinic. Got to hold an 11 day old baby, sooo cute. In the morning I was able to see a burn patient, a woman that has a history of seizures and fell in to cooking oil burning her legs pretty badly. All was so infected that Dr, Bruce had to send her to Jacmel to the hospital, she needed a lot of debridment and more care that we could offer her, here. After seeing school kids for the past few days I came to the conclusion that there is not enough brushing happening. Maybe a program to have them brush at school after lunch under supervision would be a good idea. We will look in to that. There are many more years to come of my services to this community, absolutely love Haiti. Love and peace to all of you at home.

Monday, January 16th

Jim Cwengros – Medical Jan 16th
God always reminds me when I’m here as to how He sees all and provides what we need. We started the day off with 3 motorcycle accident victims waiting for us as we arrived at the clinic – from 2 separate accidents. Two of our providers are an MD and PA specializing in emergency medicine. Many others were seen today and helped. Thanks to Holy Spirit support, dental clinic is receiving much needed new windows – thank you! All worked hard today and will sleep well tonight – after a game of UNO.

Bruce Murray- Had to amputate a baby’s finger today because of severe infection that was compromising the whole hand. I helped Mike today after clinic to put a tarp on the roof of a blind man here. He had a piece of tin to pull over his bed so he would not get wet when it rained. The people here are wonderful. A lady brought us fruit today in thanks. Church yesterday was amazing. The children singing Haitian songs was wonderful. I am amazed children here carry 5 gallon pails of water on their head. Pray tonight for all we have in the USA.

Lori DeBruyne – Triage. Jan 16th. It was a really tough day today- we worked from 8am until 5:15 and I sat for about 25 minutes total all day. It is hard to eat on the balcony as the kids climb the trees and then ask for cookies and rub their bellies. We had a lot of interesting patients today. I was able to hold a lot more babies today! We have a system now where we need to chart the bmi growth and so, I weigh myself- and then hold the baby with me on the scale and then chart their growth.– The papers will then be turned in to the government and we will get assistance for future trips. We have one more full day tomorrow and then on Wed. we will work a half day and then Thursday head back down the mountain.

Sunday, January 15th

Anna Babkowski- Dental Team – Jan. 15th- Hi everybody;
Our second day in Seguin. Day started with an early morning visit of a woman who was pregnant and in labor. All the medical personnel took her to the clinic to evaluate and see how we could help her. The rest of us went to church as usual for Sunday, praying for the young mother and her baby. Church as always was filled with people dressed in their Sunday best. I had a chance to take some pictures before church with some of the kids, and their clothes were crisp clean and may have been the only Sunday outfit they have. Then off to work in the dental clinic. I’m a dental hygienist and this is my second trip to Haiti. After last year’s trip I came home with a plan. I saw how many teeth we had pulled and thought about starting with the young generation and doing some prevention. It took months, lots of phone calls, determination and believing in my vision. With the help of many organizations and their humanitarian contributions, I was performing prophylaxis and doing sealants on school kids today. You imagine what kind of change we can see in a few years. I did about 17 sealants today in half day clinic. Andrea is an awesome assistant. The dental clinic is not one of the most pleasant places for kids to visit, so one has to take their time and not scare them and show them that it doesn’t always hurt like pulling a tooth, dental experience can be positive. Mother Teresa was asked how many people she can help, and her answer was ‘one at a time’. She had a vision, so do I. Please keep our team in your prayers. The pregnant woman was taken to Jamal hospital 3 hours away had a c section delivering two little girls who were quite healthy.

Lori DeBruyne – Triage – Jan 15th
We woke up at 6:30am and there was a woman at the rectory who came to tell us she was in labor and needed help. The men and the interpreters went to clinic to examine her. They realized she was ok, however, the baby was in distress. Eli, (a Haitian doctor) took her to the nearest hospital in Jacmel. At the hospital the doctor delivered TWINS. Needless to say, the woman was VERY surprised!- all was well and the mom and babies are great!. We went to church at 9am. Church in Haiti is 2 hours long. We started clinic and it was very busy! We worked until 5pm and had many interesting cases. One little boy came in with a huge lump on his head. It was the size of a small baseball growing out of the top of his head. Dr. Bruce Murray shaved the boy’s head and cut the tumor off. It was full of puss as it was a fungal infection. Dr. wrapped his head in bandages and now on Tuesday we will see him again to change the bandages. I got to hold a lot of babies today! It was a good day! We had a few cases of scabies. Most of all the people are needing vitamins and nutrition. Betty and I in the triage area with an interpreter named Tony. He was such a great help to us. I am learning a little Creole. I am looking forward to tomorrow! God bless!

Jim Cwengros – Medical
Another good day helping those in need – pregnant mom in distress, a number of abcesses, and fungal infection with secondary infection. Good team working well together. Saw Messenge today who is the farmer Rita and I have “adopted”. Felt good to see him and hear his family is doing well. I’ll see him tomorrow in the medical clinic. Thanks again for support of family and all the support of Holy Spirit to make these trips possible.

Thank you Holy Spirit from Betty Krauss
These people are in such great need of your help. I saw today so many people who had very poor quality or no shoes at all, and hardly any coats. They always do smile and are so appreciative of our clinic. The fact that we again helped a mother and her twins be delivered is such a miracle. Still waiting to see my little baby girl and her father. The church service today was beautiful, and we were welcomed with such great smiles. Please continue to pray for our team, and I love you all. Do miss you, Rita.

Good News!

Sunday morning a pregnant woman came to the clinic looking for help with a difficult pregnancy. The medical team was able to help her out and get her to a hospital down the mountain. The good news just came in Sunday afternoon: she had twins! Mother and babies are doing fine.

Welcome to Seguin, Haiti!

Bruce Murray MD- Saw a lady today 37 years old with liver failure and gangrene in the lower legs. Sent her to hospital after some meds. The people here are great. We also got to see a wedding where the people rode in on donkeys. Really cool. The trip up the mountain was neat, got to see an amazing sunset, GOD is wonderful.

Michael Petrella, manual labor – We had a great start to our clinic today. We set up the dental and medical clinic just after breakfast. After about an hour or two the doctors and dentists were seeing patients. I was able to perform about six small fix-it projects and started to wire and install a sump pump to get water up to the roof to the holding tank so our living quarters has water for the toilets and the showers. Very cold water I might add. The pump will take the place of Haitians carrying the water in a bucket up a ladder and pouring it into the holding tank. The kids in Seguin are so happy to see us and they love to hold my hand as I walk up the hill from the clinic to the rectory. I have fun trying to talk Creole with them and they teach me new words everyday. Everyone in our group works very well together, and I’m sure we are going to have a very productive week.

Kelly Ryan, Pharmacy Master – Yesterday’s trip up the mountain was very eventful to the point of not even being able to say everything that happened. Today, our first day of clinic, was a success. I worked in the pharmacy where I distributed medicines. The average prescription was Tylenol, Pepcid, and vitamins. There were seven weddings at the church today which was very cool to watch since it was just outside the door. After clinic today a few of us went for a walk with a lot of the kids here. One girl was attached to Izzy and me and taught us a couple of words. Oh and on a final note Mimi, our Creole kitty, says hello.

Izabella (Izzy) Babkowski, Whatever they make me do – This is my very first trip to Haiti and I already feel at home. Everyone is so welcoming, especially the Haitian people. Our trip up the mountain was long but the beautiful scenery kept me distracted, except when our truck got stopped because we lost luggage in a village 45 minutes away. We waited up there for about 2 hours and then we negotiated with the man for about 30 minutes about how much to pay him. Not the best part. Today was the first full day in Seguin and the clinic was a great success. I worked at the pharmacy and escorting patients to and from the rooms. I picked up some basic Creole words pretty quickly. The people here are so thankful and patient. It’s such an amazing feeling to know that you made their day, possibly their week. I’m very excited to get back to the clinic tomorrow. I <3 Haiti!!!

Lori DeBruyne- Triage area. We had a very interesting trip up the mountain to Seguin.- we were about 1 hour away from the church, (our final destination)- when a man on a motorcycle was trying desperately to get our attention. Our driver pulled over and was told that we had lost a suitcase back down the road.. – 45 minutes back down the road, and he said that towns people were trying to claim it. Finally after about an hour and a half, our driver and the man were back up the mountain carrying this 50 lb. suitcase. Now, the driver wanted 4000 gouds for doing his great deed. (which is about $50 in us dollar) – we finally talked him into 1000 gouds and $20us. This morning we set up clinic and started seeing patients at 11am. We worked until 4:30. Today was a good day, not too many sick people. After church we will be working a half day. Father Fayant married 8 couples today. It was unreal to watch. The brides rode on horseback and the groom was in a nice suit. We were able to wash our hair today (which is a huge luxury) it was freezing cold. But at least we have clean hair.. LOL! 
I was told I snore a lot, so I need to use a breath right strip tonight so I don’t make my roomates mad.. Ha ha ha. We had good food today at the rectory. Our dinner, the goat is already tied outside to the tree for slaughter tomorrow. We are expecting to have a lot of patients tomorrow after church. I am so blessed to be able to come to Haiti! Xoxox

Betty Krauss Notes to all of her loved ones from Miss Triage. I have been working triage again with Lori and it has been great. Fun trip up the mountain as we dropped the plexiglass window off the truck but it was perfect. Also, our truck had to wait for a suitcase that fell off another truck, so we enjoyed the scenery. All the members are fantastic and we are having fun too. I do miss Leanna but know she is in good hands with Mark and the grandmas. P.S. family, I’m doing great with my health. Love you all.

Peg Stapf –Physician Assistant. After weeks of worrying that I would find myself in over my head, I learned today that I needn’t have been concerned. The team here is amazing. Everyone is so supportive and caring, and the Haitian people we are caring for are so grateful for our work. With Dr. Murray at my side and the wonderful Haitian interpreters, David and Junior, we were able to attend to various medical complaints ranging from severe to minor. I was honored by the obvious respect our patients have for us. They look like they were wearing their best clothing into the clinic. Some have traveled by foot for many miles. They wait in line sometimes for hours. One very sick woman was carried in by her loving and concerned family in a makeshift carriage made of a chair with carrying sticks roped to the side. I learned that there is a different pace here and that we can neither predict nor control events of the day. Lessons very much worth learning for me.

Saturday Night

The team set up the clinic and saw many patients. The newcomers are amazed at seeing ‘tons’ of stars in the night sky.

January 2012 Haiti Group

The medical and dental mission group arrived in Port au Prince on January 12, the second anniversary of the earthquake. On Friday they arrived safely up the mountain in Seguin, Haiti, after the usual bumpy rocky ride on unpaved roads. Today, Saturday, they are setting up the clinic in anticipation of providing medical and dental care to the hundreds who have been looking forward to their arrival.

Tim Ryan – April 26, 2011

Every time I go to Haiti at least one thing will happen that makes me realize that I am doing the right thing.  Tilus my friend and interpreter approached Dr. Mike Bergquest and me separately with a problem that he needed help with.  His wife was having some health issues and was in need of a hysterectomy.   Tilus was very concerned that this operation could not be done in Haiti without major concerns for his wife.  Those who have been to Haiti would mostly agree with Tilus’s assessment.  However, his wife is 39 years old and most hospitals in the states are more willing to offer their services for free if the patient is a child.  I assured Tilus that when I was back home that I would check to see if someone would help but really felt it would turn out to be a dead end.  This isn’t the first request for help with a health problem from someone in Haiti and if our teams or the hospitals can’t help then prayers are the only thing I can offer and to someone who is desperate they would like to hear more from me.  And to be real honest it is hard leaving knowing someone needs more then what Haiti can offer and knowing I can’t help.

So, God got involved!  We were at Matthew 25 and Mary Ann Vicini was outside talking to doctor who was leaving for the airport.  She came inside and was telling Dr. Mike and me about this doctor and that his team would be back in Haiti to perform surgeries the first of May.  What kind of surgeries you ask, Hysterectomies.  At this time Mike and I were not aware that Tilus had asked both of us for help so it seemed that both of us started talking at the same time.  To make this story even better, sitting next to me at the table was Kathy, a nurse that was on the doctors medical team who knew how to get ahold of the doctor.  We starting doing some power networking and have just learned that Tilus’s wife is on the schedule for May 2, 2011 to have her operation.

It’s all God Driven!

Tim Ryan April 11, 2011

It was a fantastic trip with the students from Catholic Central and West Catholic High Schools.  God always knows who to send on these trips because they all worked well together and each one made a difference in someone’s life in Haiti.  There were many experiences that they will not soon forget.  While coming down the mountain one day we were greeted by about 100 people on the road.  These people were part of a Ra Ra which can be one of two things in Haiti.  It can be a Voodoo practice or a celebration in anticipation of Easter.  This particular Ra Ra was a celebration of Lent.  What they do is surround the cars while playing music and if you wish to pass you need to make a small donation.  It was a lot of fun and safe being that I knew most of the people in the crowed.  Several of the team member’s blogged about having a little diarrhea.  No one was sick from the water but more from a change of diet.  We had spaghetti for breakfast and rice/beans for supper.   You can always tell when a team as bonded when you have conversations about diarrhea.  As soon as they landed in Miami they were able to get back on there healthy diet of hamburgers and French fries.  Once again, it was a great team and I look forward to leading the next.  God Bless this exceptional team and the people of Haiti.

April 8, 2011

Val Stacey

This spring break went by so fast; it felt like we just got here. It has been such an amazing experience that I will never forget. All of us students  got along really well and had a lot of fun together. Despite the roosters that woke us up around 4 in the morning every day, the dogs that howled periodically throughout the night, the diarrhea, the greasy hair; it really was a great trip because at the end of the day, none of that mattered. What mattered was that we were all there to help people who truly deserve everything that they are given. I am very proud to have helped the people in Haiti. They are all so appreciative of everything that we did for them. This trip made me realize how spoiled we all are back in the United States. We all complain about the economy, but at the end of the day, we all have a roof over our heads that don’t leak, a clean bed to sleep in, water to drink, food to eat, and a toilet that flushes. We are all so blessed with so many opportunities; opportunities that the people in Seguin would die for. What amazed me the most is how they make the best of what little they are given, and always seemed so happy with smiles on their faces. I will never forget the faces I saw, the memories that were made, and the lessons that I learned. I hope to have another opportunity some day to come back here. I am very sad to leave, but it’s time to go home now.

Rachel Golembiewski

This Spring Break has forever changed my perspective of the world. Everything you see on the news and the internet does not adequately portray Haiti. Even though there is a lot of poverty, destruction and filth the people are still extremely happy. They are so thankful for even the littlest things it makes me appreciate what I have even more. Going on this trip was one of the best decisions of my life. Even though not showering and getting waken up five times a night by roosters and dogs may not be some people’s idea of a perfect Spring Break, the trip opened my eyes and my life wouldn’t be complete if I wasn’t able to experience it.  The people of Seguin completely welcomed us into their city. Everywhere we went we were constantly waved to and asked to play with. Even when we were just sitting around little kids constantly surrounded us. They were amazed to see us and learn stuff from us What surprised me the most was how much we learned from them. They taught me to fully appreciate everything I have, especially the little things, and to always be happy. I will always be thankful to the people of Haiti for giving me the experience of a lifetime and also to everyone that helped support my trip! Love and miss you all.

Mary Ann Vicini

Interesting things happened throughout our visit to Haiti and I wanted to share with you one example that happened yesterday.  One of our interpreters that travelled with us talked to Dr. Mike and Tim and indicated that his wife had fibroid tumors and was in need of a hysterectomy and was hoping that there would be a way that his wife could get medical treatment from a US doctor. This morning while having breakfast at the Matthew house I was having coffee with a retired OB/GYN surgeon and his wife from Green Bay WI that was telling me that they had just completed a medical team where they performed numerous hysterectomies at a hospital outside of Port Au  Prince for woman that had fibroid tumors and that they were returning in early May to do another clinic.  I mentioned this to Tim and he spoke with the group leader and low and behold, they maybe able to take care of our interpreter’s wife when they come down in May.  God works in mysterious ways and this is only one small example where he has brought us together to help our friends in Haiti.  This has been a  very humbling experience and one that I will never forget.  If you are considering taking a mission trip, I would strongly recommend it. 

Joe & Kathy Leeuwenburg

We’re on our way home.  What an extraordinary experience this has been and one that should be repeated as often as the Lord can make my way clear. This morning on the way to the airport, I asked the interpreter if he thought the children of Seguin would think of us.  He said, “What do you think?”  I said I hoped they would think of us as often as I would think of them.  He said that while we are visiting there is someone to play with and some excitement.  Now life would return to being the same every day. That gives me pause to think for a very long time.

Joe says so much happened this week, he can’t put it into words. 

Gerri  Farley

It was a great trip with a great team.  These are priceless kids and I was honored to be a part of this Haiti experience.      

 

 

 

Katy Miller

This spring break is definitely an experience I will never forget.  Being able to help people with my closest friends helped us to grow not only closer but more mature together.  Haiti portrays a completely different aspect of the world than we see every day here in the United States.  The amount of poverty that they live in is unbelievable.  We take little things like running water and electricity for granted.  These people suffer daily to survive and raise a family, but you would never know it by their attitude.  They are the happiest, most positive people I have ever met.  They welcomed us into their homes with open arms and treated us like family.  The look on their faces when they saw a new tarp on their corn stalk house or their children with new clothes was priceless.  I will never forget the experiences I went through.  Just the people seeing us helped to make it known that there are people out there who care about them and their future.  The children followed us everywhere we went.  We became quite good friends before the end of the week.  The smile on the their faces as we gave them something so simple as a brand new soccer ball made all the sacrifices worthwhile.  I feel so blessed that my family helped to make this trip possible for me.  It changed my life forever. 

Leah Vicini

Haiti is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Not only the landscape, but the people. There was not one time I did not feel welcome during the trip. Each person I met has changed how I look at life. I am so much more appreciative for the wonderful life I live in America. We are truly blessed with what we have here. In many ways the people of Haiti helped me become a better  person. I will forever have the image of the little boys face who we gave pants to. Whenever life seems like it is getting challenging his face will keep me going. Never have I seen  people so grateful for having so little. Everyone can learn so much from the people we helped. I am honored to have been a part of making so many people’s lives better. I have left my heart in Haiti with each and every one of the children I have met. I have fallen in love with every aspect of Haiti.

 

 

Shea Farley

This spring break was a spring break to remember.  It was amazing to see how the Haitian culture compares and contrasts from the American culture.  In comparison, people of Haiti and the United States both have the same hopes and dreams.  For example parents want better lives for their children.  Parents want to give their children the best education possible for their child to succeed.  In contrast Haiti does not have the same opportunities that Americans are given and that are so easily taken advantages of.  Some of the children of Haiti have to walk two hours just to go to one day of school.  Most kids who attend school are given one meal a day.  One of the most memorable moments with my stay in Haiti was when we visited the orphanage.  It just amazed me to see a toddler eat their meal which was a bowl of beans and rice.  With their hands they would eat every single grain of rice that was placed in their bowl.  It’s crazy to think about what a blessing it is to have been born in the United States, to be placed with all opportunities.  I am thankful to be given an opportunity to visit Haiti because I believe Haiti has given me more then I had given it.  In the beginning of the trip I thought this mission trip was going to be all about helping people living in poverty but throughout the trip I learned that it was almost like a reverse mission trip that the people of Haiti made a bigger impact on me than I made on them. 

Jake Bergquist

This Spring Break was not about letting loose and screwing around. It was about helping others  while having fun. My experience in Haiti was great and I’ll be able to remember it for the rest of my life. I enjoyed our projects that we accomplished for the people, playing with the children and getting to know the interpreters. I had a great time with the people of  Seguin, and my friends who came on this trip. The parts of the trip that I enjoyed the most were playing soccer with the kids and the time we spent at the beach. This trip has taught me many things, and to be grateful for the things we have. We are fortunate enough to live in a country with enough food, running water, reliable shelter and electricity, and we should never take these things for granted. I truly had a great time on this trip and I’d gladly do it again.