Camelite was first seen at FOTCOH in May and had a blood pressure of 182/98 and started on medications for her hypertension. She was feeling ill for weeks before coming to FOTCOH. She was seen today and her blood pressure was down to 150/86 and she was feeling much better. She heard about FOTCOH from […]
Abandoned, But Not Alone
On Saturday, one of the patients we saw towards the end of the day was a little baby. He was dressed in a clean onesie and wrapped in a fluffy towel. Out in crowd the baby did not look as tiny as he did once assessed at triage and with a provider. After the baby […]
Another Baby Thrives With Medika Mamba
We first saw these twins in May and the male twin was malnourished and in need of starting on our Medika Mamba program. At their initial visit at FOTCOH we did education on how many packets of the plumpy nut peanut butter supplement was needed each day along with clean water. The baby was seen […]
Vitamins and Praise Go a Long Way with Haitian Mom
Twins!! I first met these twins (Grivensley and Grivenslene) working triage on my second trip to FOTCOH in May 2014 when they were only 15 days old and tiny…now they are 14 months old and doing great!! They both are happy and healthy and babbling. Mom is still breastfeeding both babies and we provide her […]
Quick Update from First-Time Team Leader
Made it to clinic in good time for the drive from Port-Au-Prince. All bags and supplies made it to Haiti. Pharmacy is all stocked. Medical staff orientation complete. Our team has 4 veteran volunteers and 10 first time volunteers. It is exciting to experience Haiti through the eyes of so many new people and makes […]
No Longer Described as Malnourished, Thanks to FOTCOH
FOTCOH first met little baby Makenlove on Friday, May 15th when he was seen during the first week of the May 2015 clinic. He was 14 months old and weighed only 8 pounds and 11 ounces . . . smaller than some newborns. He had no cry and was a skeleton. He was starving. He could not hold up […]
Our Valued Haitian Workers
The FOTCOH Clinic could not run without the help of our valued Haitian workers: interpreters are essential in helping the medical providers communicate with the patients; clinic staff help keep the facilities clean and food on the table for the 20 volunteers working so hard each day; security and maintenance workers keep the area safe, […]
Every Day Brings New People and Situations to the Clinic
As I type this, many Americans are settling in to watch the NBC Red Nose Day Comedy Special. Great Britain has been observing Red Nose Day for several years, but this is the first one for the US. The purpose of Red Nose Day is to draw attention to children in poverty around the world, […]
Ever Present Graciousness and Dignity
The Haitian cities appear chaotic to an American. Traffic flies in all directions, pedestrians and stray dogs wander into the streets, only imminent collision will cause another driver to yield. The Haitian mountain roads offer blind curves, steep drop offs, unmarked lanes and motorbikes commanded by fearless young men. The Haitian people are commonly impoverished, […]
Their Hands Tell A Story
The air surrounding the clinic is filled with sounds in the predawn hours: the rush of the surf, the drone of the generator and the call of a rooster in the near distance. As the clinic day begins, many of the Haitians are elderly. I take each person’s hand to check a pulse. I see […]