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Ok, so I'm STILL trying to get the hang of this blogging thing.
I am excited beyond words to be going to Hati and assisting in the relief efforts as a Nurse. I was "venting" on FB about not feeling like I was able to do much...Next thing I know I have an email from a Friend saying that if I really am serious about going, to contact this person.
Wow~ It took me about 10 seconds to decide I wanted to go.
Well then my brain kicked in. YOU just had surgery, I tried to reason with myself (never very effective). So I decided I would call my Dr & then my Husband, Yes in that order. Afterall, there was no sense in getting my better half worked up, if the Doctor said I couldn't go. I called the Dr, and as a Nurse I don't know why we say that. You never actually get the Doctor, you get the Nurse! Left her a message, as to why I was calling and waited. Waited for the phone to ring. The whole time my mind racing with thoughts that I might actually get to go "do some good" and trying to think about all of the things that would need to be attended to before I could go. (notice no mention of healing/recovery?) Nurse calls back and states "Sure he said you could go, just no lifting"...WHAT? I asked her again, he said I could go? "Yep, did you have other questions or concerns?" she quipped. I did have a few, I did afterall have to think about my recent surgery and had prepared a list with a few questions I'd thought of. After hanging up with the Nurse, it REALLY started to hit me. I was going to have to ask my husband if I could go.
Well I thought I would have learned after oh 20 or so years of knowing this man, that he can STILL surprise me! He didn't miss a beat and right out of the gate said YES! Now my mind was really beginning to race as the reality that OH MY GOSH~ I am going to Haiti!
I called the point person for the group, and stated simply I heard you are taking a Pediatric team to Haiti, I want to go. Now, I live in the south, I haven't always. I've been here over 10 years now. I don't understand Southern Genteelness. So I am direct. It works for me and I like things that work. He said he would call me back that he was in the office today and was seeing a patient! Oops~ For the first time ever...I got a Doctor on the phone! When he called that evening, he asked if I had a passport, Yes. Asked me what I knew about the trip so far, and I relayed what info my friend had given me. I at that point, felt he should know exactly what he was getting. So in the theory of full disclosure, advised that I was off from work due to a recent surgery. I even gave fair warning and gave him some TMI, that I thought he should know. He asked for all of my contact info and said he would be in touch in a day or two. Wow, That's it? I'm in? He then stated that I would be the last person joining the team. He advised me to make an appt with my Regular Dr to get shots and anti-malaria medicine.
Well now I have a little more than a week before I leave. I have had 4 shots, typhoid prophylaxis, and start my anti-malaria meds in a day or two. I have ordered a bug net to sleep in, have ordered a nasty chemical that I am supposed to spray my clothes with. I have bought a personal water filtration device, and am now beginning to carefully select the items that I will be bringing.
Wow~ I know I've said that a LOT!
It really sums up what I have been feeling. It has been a whirlwind already, and we haven't left yet. I've still got a lot of things on my to do list...
Please Pray for the People of Haiti and for our Medical Team!
