This is my fifth trip to the FOTCOH clinic in Haiti. Each time it seems to hit me during the first few days of clinic just what these people must endure on a daily basis and what they must have to do to get themselves to our clinic. Young and old alike walk long distances […]
The House of Life: Chapter 4
Today, I am here in Haiti attempting to bring knowledge and medical care to individuals who have limited or no access to resources, which are basic essentials in my life at home, such as water, food, and shelter. As a pediatrician and human, I come to Haiti because it settles my mind and quiets my […]
The House of Life: Chapter 3
This is my third mission trip to Haiti, and it still affects me. I think I know what I will see, but I never truly know what to expect. The poverty is unmatched by many other countries. Being a country with very little money means that the people will suffer with hardly anyone to help […]
The House of Life: Chapter 2
I have been blessed to come to Haiti with FOTCOH six times now as a non-medical volunteer. I have been especially blessed to have a daughter of mine come with me for the first time on this trip. I love experiencing what has become routine for me through eyes that are experiencing Haiti, and the […]
The House of Life: Chapter 1
Today was a good day. We saw lots of patients, many of whom were getting better. The most remarkable patient I saw was a woman with diabetes and hypertension. I told my interpreter, Yougains, that her blood sugar was out of control, and her blood pressure was even higher. Although the patient did not speak […]
We can’t plan for all disasters, but together we can help
Dear Friends, This year, we have seen an unprecedented number of natural disasters around the world. From Hurricane Harvey hitting Houston, to Hurricane Irma devastating the Caribbean, and the earthquakes in Mexico, it seemed that every time I turned on the radio, I was hearing about people suffering in the wake of incredible devastation. It […]
You Can Help in Haiti
I am on my 10th trip to Haiti with FOTCOH and am co-leader of this team. I started coming in November of 2010. I still to this day cannot get over the level of poverty in this country. Driving through Port-au-Prince to make our way over the mountains I look at the piles of trash […]
The Reality of Medical Care in Haiti
We are 3 days into a 2-week medical mission trip in Haiti, near Jacmel, where a 2-week clinic is held 6 times per year. I saw a very sick 6-month-old baby today. The mother had no idea how sick this child was. Most likely this small Haitian patient probably had bronchiolitis – resp rate of […]
Having Pride and Enthusiasm for FOTCOH
Kay Shank, a long-time FOTCOH volunteer, is invited each spring to do a presentation about Haiti and the work of FOTCOH by Deborah Erickson at Bradley University. In preparation, Kay creates a powerpoint presentation which walks the class through a typical day at the clinic, while also covering the history of Haiti as a country, […]
Incredible Beauty in Haiti
In Haiti it is easy to focus on the difficulties and disease that you see, smell and hear from the moment you arrive. BUT . . . there is incredible beauty here. The mountains and ocean are breathtaking. Interestingly, I am not convinced that we are truly any happier here in the U.S. with all […]