bed bugs, malaria, dengue fever, oh my!

So yeah. It’s a bug hay day at our bases…when I came back it was like a mosquito family reunion, cousins and in-laws and long lost brothers were gathered around in my bathroom, throwing a party, awaiting my return. Eight bites later, I think I got a sufficient welcome home. I realized that the bathroom challenges are just as, well, challenging here…. although I have a flush toilet, I have to contend with interested mosquitoes around my bum each time I use it. Apparently dengue fever and malaria are going around, little gifts the mosquitoes are leaving behind for us. Thoughtful little jerks they are. There has also been an incident of (gulp) bed bugs at our other base, which are extremely difficult to get rid out once they make their debut. Our staff there are running everything they own through a dryer, freezing clothes and scorching their mattresses under the midday sun in order to kill them, as extreme cold and heat are the best ways to go. We are now sleeping under a net, this bizarre pop up net meant for full beds. I try to imagine it’s a canopy and I’m a sleeping beauty, but in the morning I remember it’s nothing more than a saggy net, and I’m hot.

Understandably the bugs are a bit of downer. But part of the deal here. And the rainy season isn’t even here yet. We came on the tail end last year, but I’ve heard it’s killer with the mosquitoes. We’ve had a bit of a incline with our cholera cases as it has been raining on and off, and there was over 50 people on IVs today, up from just under 20 last week. We really dont know what to expect this coming rainy season, if it will peak or not… regardless of what happens, our clinics will open and ready24/7…

more on Plumpy

I am happy to report that plumpy nut is doing very well. I spent a couple hours with him this afternoon. Perhaps I am bias, but I do think he and I have a little bond. Although I know that is a bit delusional, because he is an equal opportunity lover. He is learning to stand (see below) and is smiling fiercely. He has gained over 2 kgs already…and is thriving. He continues to capture the hearts of our staff.

Justin made a little clean space play area for him, with a rug and chairs around him so he can’t get out… he wrote up a little note on a clipboard that says “please do not walk on my rug with your shoes.. signed, Peterson.” It’s quite endearing, his little wing in our clinic. Our numbers continue to decline, though we are getting more sick children than adults. We are treating about 25 patients, and we continue to pray that cholera is on its way out.

jumbles of numbers

Most days things are pretty jumbled up here. I thought about the sheer amount of ridiculous things that happen in a day, and it made me shake my head. Absolutely never a dull moment. Here is a taste of the last few days, in numbers:

• 4:  number of car accidents in 4 days… no one seriously injured but still, one a day was a bit much
• 2: amount fingers that were lost when one of our Haitian carpenters had an accident with a skill saw..yeah, bad news
• 30: number of minutes that gun shots whizzed past our treatment center in Cite Soleil the other night when Justin was working
• 5: number of hours we were on lockdown due to manifestations because of Baby Doc’s return and other nonsensical political activities
• 2: number of precious grandchildren that were taking care of their grandmother who was sick with cholera.. warmed my heart (below)
• 400: number of kids that attend school in a nearby orphanage we’ve been helping- how can that many kiddos fit into a  space that small?
• Approx 20: minutes I blew bubbles with Plumpy yesterday
• 1: number of flip flops I have broken;
• 4: number of times Justin has told me I brought too many shoes
• 6: amount of guys Justin is watching Terminator2 with tonight
• 3: loads of laundry I’ve done to keep up with bleaching the clothes we wear to the clinics
• 2: amount of rats I think we have living in our bathroom and as a result: 1: pair of underwear has been chewed through; 2: bars of soap have disappeared; and 5: amount of rat terdlets I had to clean off our sink today

Yes, it’s a glamorous life here….

plumpy-nut Peterson

Peterson came into our lives over  a week ago.

He had cholera. He and his brother were brought in very sick. Mom, barely 24 years old, moved between two beds. She is pregnant, 5 months. Her house was destroyed in the earthquake and she lives in a humble tent.. a small, hot space with one bed and a small corner full with meager belonging. A pot, a toothbrush, a towel.

I can’t quite explain what happens when someone captures your heart immediately. Peterson and his mother have done this. The first time I held him I had a pang in my heart, deep, and I started crying. Holding him elicited such an emotional response, i had to walk away so others wouldn’t see my tears.

Peterson has a heart condition.. VSD. He is one years old and only weighs 5 kg. He had another sibling who died from the same thing, we believe, recently. His broken heart has made it impossible for him to grow as he should. We discovered this heart condition when he came in to be treated for cholera. He is cured from cholera, but is staying at our clinic under the watch of our team so can start gaining weight. He is eating lots of plumpy nut and protein, and is on antibiotics.  Justin was able to take him and his mom to a specialist to get a test done on his heart which was sent back to the states for review. He also has a strong affinity for this child, who sucks his two middle fingers just like Justin did when he was a baby. It’s quite endearing.

We are moving along the paperwork to see if he is a candidate for the Children’s Heart Project that our organization has… but it’s complicated. Taking a child out of Haiti comes with many logistical challenges.