Jean Remie, one of the artisans, made me my very first shingle that's now hanging on my door.

Recently, several of us, representing NGOs, clinics and public dispensaries in the Les Cayes area began meeting monthly to coordinate efforts.

Several of our visitors from the health team that will be here for 10 days

Taking blood for a rapid malaria test

Checking out the malaria test results

I went to La Charite this morning with some of the visitors including Dr. Todd. He’s a family physician that originally wanted to be a missionary doctor but ended up starting his own private practice. After many years of that, he moved into the prison system and has been working there for almost 5 years. He really wanted to be able to get into one of our prisons here in Les Cayes while he was here. After working with the director of the prison to get the visit approved, the visit was canceled a few days ago when there was an APB sent out saying that no white visitors should be allowed into the public jails until further notice. So instead of being there, we went to Mother Theresa’s place. They are always more than happy to see us. We came with some more pain meds for them and they were ecstatic about it. I am sure to never visit them empty handed and though they have what seems to any other NGO, an unlimited pool of resources, they always reach out beyond their capabilities and are in need of whatever help they can get. There are several sisters there who I’ve become very close with, including the mother superior Maria Filo and Sister Guadalupe. I can’t even put into words how extraordinary the work they do is. Sister Guadalupe has asked me on more than one occasion why I didn’t stay with them for a year and work as their doctor. They are well aware that I’m not even a medical student yet but are convinced that I am a doctor.

I’ve had quite a bit of experience since being here, especially regarding hypertension, first aid, diabetes, parasites and the many diseases associated with poverty. My understanding of treatment is based solely on experience and not on research or official knowledge of the medicines. If I encounter a disease that I’m unfamiliar with or a condition I’ve never seen, I look it up or I call/email a doctor in the states who can help me. I reference absolutely everything. I even reference the things that I’ve seen one hundred times. I can’t live with the idea that I may have over looked something or that I may have given the wrong dose or worse yet, the wrong drug. I’ve seen cases that are considered jewels in the states; nephrotic syndrome, schistosomiasis (blood flukes), shigella (bacterial infection), filariasis (elephantitis), cerebral malaria and advanced TB. I’ve been forced to step up to the plate, often before I felt ready. There’s usually very little time to be nervous. I’ve found that there is nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know.” However, I am never content with not knowing something. Even if it is the very first case that I have ever seen, no matter how rare it is, I feel the need to understand it, study it and know it like the back of my hand, so, should I ever see it again, I can recognize it and treat it. I don’t want to have to say “I don’t know,” twice for the same disease or condition. But I understand that it’s important to recognize your weaknesses and be comfortable saying that you don’t know something when you truly don’t.

While I was in town today, I handed out a couple dozen toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to street children and the homeless. Each person received a tube of toothpaste, a good toothbrush and 15 gourdes. The stores were out of apples after I bought them all yesterday, so I supplemented them with a little money that could get them a plate of food. I told each one how to brush their teeth and that they should continue even when they run out of toothpaste. I told them to brush their teeth every time they finish eating. Some of them started brushing as soon as I gave them the brush. They were so thankful.