Drowning

Staying up tonight to answer emails before I have to leave early a.m., going back to the USA for Easter with family. Many of these emails from people who responded to ND's fervent calls to service issued to alums last week. While we're working very hard to hire local healthcare providers, the need is so great and so urgent, that we must keep staffing the hospital however we can. Our rotating teams have been phenomenal.

A young woman in critical condition might be declining now. Already watched a 1-yr old girl code tonight. They did everything they could.

Visited several IDP camps today on a sort of reconnaissance trip for a friend seeking some information about camp coordination & management in Leogane. I asked to speak with the committee chair at each, was always offered a chair. They each told me of organizations coming to do some piecemeal work (build a latrine, or a water source), but all said they lacked direct, continual presence--empowerment of their leadership. I don't know the truth, though they seemed genuine, and not likely concerned positively or otherwise about a small girl with a flouncy skirt & frizzy hair. I don't look like a very official humanitarian.

But whatever the intentions of help, things are bad now... awful crowded lines of flimsy tarp shelters. Unsurprising so much malaria, presumptive typhoid. A doc suggested the girl who died earlier perhaps had meningitis. Wonder where she lived. I suppose it's basically all the same here.

And, just now, a rushing and pounding commences. Steady hard rain.