Colombianos!

At times, the diversity of the international peacekeeping force here in Port-au-Prince can be overwhelming. While mostly consisting of Brazilian, Jordanian, Chilean, and Argentine forces, there are small contingents from every country imaginable.

I was lucky enough to meet some Colombian soldiers that operate a small, basic hospital here. They were in need of supplies, and we were happy to oblige. Unfortunately I never made it to their base to enjoy a nice "sancocho", but took full advantage of the opportunity to practice Spanish!

Visit to Cite Soleil

I was lucky enough to visit the home of one of our best workers, and a good friend, Junior Lerolien. His family lives in Cite Soleil, which is regarded as the largest slum in the Western hemisphere, and the most dangerous place in Haiti. We, however, were treated like kings. In addition to enjoying some amazing fried fish and plantains, we toured Cite Soleil and managed to make plenty of friends along the way.

To keep the experience authentic, we left in a "tap-tap", which is the common mode of public transportation in Haiti. It is basically a pickup truck with two benches and a roof on the bed.

The Damage

Greetings! I've had mixed feelings on whether or not to post pictures of the destruction here in Port-au-Prince. It is ubiquitous and all consuming, but it does not necessarily define the city. Here, as with any place after a disaster, life goes on. People eat, shop, pray, visit loved ones, and try to find happiness in any situation. However, after a visit to downtown to see the Presidential Palace and National Cathedral, I realized how necessary it is for everyone to see the damage that remains three months after the earthquake!

Three months has passed and it still amazes me how little rubble has been removed. It is a sobering realization that under every destroyed building and pile of rubble there are bones of those that perished.

The National Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, was completed in 1914, and completely destroyed on January 12, 2010. In addition to its religious significance, the cupola also served as a lighthouse, guiding ships into Port-au-Prince harbor.

The Presidential Palace was also severely damaged by the earthquake, and has really come to symbolize the extent of the destruction. Here are two pictures: soon after I arrived, and now that renovation has begun.

Zo!

This past week we received, literally, the biggest star to pass through our hospital: Alonzo Mourning, former Miami Heat star, is a big supporter of Project Medishare and has been pivotal in fundraising efforts. In addition, Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff, Cheryl Mills, visited on the same day that Michelle Obama was in Port-au-Prince. Thanks Zo!

The Kids

Friday April 9 was a sad day at the hospital. The last of our orphans, Macken, has finally gone to an orphanage, and there is definitely something missing. Two wonderful volunteers from Ohio are trying to adopt him and we all wish them the best of luck. Here are some pictures of the kids that have graced our presence in the last several weeks (and some that are still with us for medical reasons):

Visitors

Greetings all! We have received some high profile visitors in the last week, which has added some unnecessary chaos to the mix here. However, they are shedding light on the situation and hopefully will produce some positive change.

On Tuesday April 6, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited our hospital. It was a pretty quick trip; they were in and out in 25 minutes. They spent most of their time visiting with patients. Unfortunately, there was no time for photos.

On Wednesday April 7 we were invaded by Katie Couric and CBS News. They spent 6-7 hours onsite and focused on the amputees that are currently at our hospital. The majority of time was devoted to the prosthetics lab that we have and the lucky patients that received new limbs. Here are some pictures of the visit:

This guy is truly an inspiration. Before the earthquake he was a soccer coach and player, now he's on his way back!

Photos - St Claire

Photos - Cap Haitien

The Gator Nation is everywhere!

Leaving Cap

French colonial architecture

Lunch! Goat in sauce

Cathedral

Flying to Cap

Puddle Jumper

Salsa Air!