Far-Flung Villages in Haiti

Over the years that I’ve been flying back and forth between Port Au Prince and Jacmel I’ve wondered about the people who live in those far-flung villages in the valleys and mountains below that make me think of Peru. There are no roads just trails leading to the houses that are clearly not accessible by vehicle. I’ve wondered about medical care and how they handle emergencies and education and food. I’ve wondered if the innocence I sense in Ridoré exists in these far-flung villages; I wonder what it will be like when I get there.

 

Leaving Jacmel

 

Heading toward Port Au Prince

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Port Au Prince

Eye Surgery at the Hospital St. Joseph’s in Haiti

I met Dr. Anika Michael on her first mission trip with AHDH in the summer of 2007; she was the very first Ophthalmologist at the Hospital St. Joseph in Ridoré. She brought with her a couple of large suitcases and several boxes of donated eyeglasses, which she handed out to her patients. Now a few years later Dr. Michael is doing eye surgery at St. Joseph’s; her specialty is in Cornea and Refractive surgery. She was able to equip an eye clinic, which is quit impressive, and an operating room at the Hospital and with the help of other volunteers they are able to not only give out glasses, but also prevent blindness by treating glaucoma and doing cataract surgery.

Dr. Reynold Monsanto who lives in Jacmel, is the only Ophthalmologist in the entire southeast department of the country. He assists with eye exams and the post-op care after we leave.

Dr. Michael and Dr. Monsanto work so well together if I didn’t know better I would think they had been doing so for a very long time. In February 2009 they performed their first cataract extraction with a Port-au-Prince ophthalmologist, Dr. Ritza Eugene.

In the summer of 2010, Dr. Michael and Dr. Monsanto were finally able to do the first Phacoemulsification cataract extraction at the Hospital St. Joseph’s allowing them to treat cataract patients much earlier and thus avoiding years of debilitating blindness waiting for the cataract to mature.

Our last mission trip was the most successful of all. Dr. Monsanto and Dr. Michael were able to do record number of eye surgeries – 19!!  Nilam Patel, a hard-working Optometrist from Texas saw over 200 patients in the clinic and distributed over 200 much-needed glasses and diagnosed and treated countless cases of glaucoma.”

Dr. Anika Michael, Dr. Arshi Michael and Dr. Belizaire check out the equipment

Engineers making the equipment ready in the OR

Everyone works getting ready for the people. Carl cleans the floor and makes sure its ready for the first patient.

Dr. Michael and Dr. Nilam Patel check the supplies for the next day making sure they have what they need.

hundreds of eye glasses file the bins and most or all of them will be given out to the patients on this mission trip.

Dr. Patel checking the patient for glaucoma and cataracts.

Dr. Patel works hard at her job. Checking as many patients as she possible can before leaving for the night.

She checks people of all ages including children.

The eye clinic stays busy. People line up and wait for hours to see the Doctor.

Dr. Michael and Dr. Monsanto prepare their first patient of the day

Dr. Monsanto with the patient.

Dr. Monsanto, Dr. Michael and their assistant Belizaire preparing the patient for surgery.

Dr. Michael preps her patient. In the left corner the assistant can watch the procedure on the screen.

Everyone remains still and quiet as Dr. Michael begins the procedure.

Dr. Michael doing what she does best.

Dr. Michael

Dr. Michael

The procedure

The eye is ready to be repaired.

Dr. Monsanto prepares another patient for surgery.

Dr. Monsanto doing what he does best.

Dr. Monsanto

Dr. Monsanto doing what he does best.

Preparing the eye for surgery.

Repairing the eye

When the bandage is removed this patient will see again.

Haitian Wedding

Last fall a friend in Haiti asked me to photograph his wedding in February, of course I said yes. I had no idea what to expect but I knew I was going to be a part of something very special. For the next few months I thought about the wedding, wondering what it was going to be like. I arrived in Ridoré the day before the wedding with my cameras ready. I’m not really sure what I expected but I didn’t expect to see the Bride and Groom dressed in formal wear, with bride’s maids, a ring bearer and flower girls but they were all there and it was beautiful. The groom and both families probably saved for a very long time for this day. The service was long with a lot of singing and dancing and honoring the couple with prayers for a long healthy, happy life together. Then we were off to the reception at the home of the groom’s parents, in an area called Boursiquot. I could say we walked but it was more of a hike, a very long hike. Along the way we passed a group of women doing their laundry at the water source and everyone stopped what they were doing to watched the young couple pass — it was a special time. The trail was rocky and narrow but everyone walked together talking and laughing, even the ladies in their high-heeled shoes; everyone was dressed in their best for this special occasion. I was the only one who seemed to notice how far it.

Flower girls ready to cast petals before the Bride

Flower girls dance in casting petals for the Bride to step on

Ring bearer and the Bride

The Bride Marie Carmel

Walking down the isle

Jeannot and Marie Carmel

Marie Carmel and Michael Beauford the best man

Jeannot

Jeannot and Marie Carmel

Marie Carmel promising her love

The Promise

Honoring the newly weds

Honoring the newly weds

Honoring the newly weds

Happy Bride

The Reception Walk

The Reception Walk

The Brides Maids

The Reception Walk

The Bride and Groom

The Reception Walk

The Reception Walk

The Reception Walk

The Reception Walk

The Family

The 52^nd Medical mission has come to an end, and both teams have gone back home. Being part of this medical mission is such an amazing experience that sometimes when it comes to writing for the blog I’m at a loss for words. Each mission is unique; nothing happens the same way twice.

I found myself very emotional at times around the Hospital St. Joseph. The first week Dr. Cliff Youngblood and Dr. René delivered a healthy baby girl by cesarean. The second week Dr. René delivered a beautiful healthy baby boy by cesarean, assisted by Dr. Susan Jeanfreau. I was in tears at the beauty of the life-saving events — watching the new life catch his first breath and trying to open his eyes for the very first time. If the doctors had not been there both mothers and babies would have died. Before Dr. René started the medical missions to our village, in 1986, the death rate during birth was extremely high. Now, after many years, the hospital is equipped to do this life-saving surgery.

If I live to be 100 years old there will never be anything that will compare to my working with this team of doctors and nurses at the Hospital St. Joseph’s in Ridoré.

As their photographer I am everywhere, the fly on the wall as they say, and I still feel as though I don’t cover enough of their work. Not only do I get to see life begin, I get to watch as people have their eye-sight restored — tumors removed — people of all ages given a new healthy start — if I didn’t believe in miracles before, I do now.

This was the first mission for both Drs. Youngblood and Jeanfreau, and it was great watching them doing what they do best.

Another first timer was Steve Sotile a Radiologist from Baton Rouge, La. He worked with Mike Beauford on ultrasound. Steve is the first Radiologist to join AHDH.

Doctors, Nurses and volunteers, you may capture all the images you want but please

    credit me for the photography.

The following images are in no particular order.

 

Groups 1 & 2 at the Cap

 

Day 1

 

checking the power

 

people wait long hours

 

Dentist at work

 

Pediatrician Dr. Youngblood

 

Dr. Youngblood, OB/GYN checks the equipment

 

Nurse Yanique examines a patient

 

Mike introduces Steve to his Ultrasound machine

 

Mike and Steve with a patient

 

Mike shows concern with his patient

 

Dr. Michaels with med students

a new pair of shades

 

Dr. René and Steve Sotile checking the X-Rays

 

Steve Sotile check the X-Ray again

 

Dr. Andre Amy takes care of a mans leg after being bitten by a dog

 

Drs. René and Sotile

 

Dr. Belizaire, the woman who does evrything!

 

Dr. René and Dr. Jeanfreau preparing their patient for a c-section birth

 

Dr. Jeanfreau comforts the patient before surgery

 

Dr. Jeanfreau steadies the patient for Dr. Adrien-Lafotant to administer the epidural

 

Dr. Marie Lydie Adrien-Lafontant Anesthesiologist

 

It's a boy

 

Baby boy

 

Dr. Nicole does charting outdoors in the fresh air with her patients

 

Dr. Desir and Nurse Yanny watch as Mike Beauford helps Dr. Belizaire examine a patient with Ultrasound

 

 

The Young Photographers of LaVallée

These photographs were made by the young photographers of LaVallée during our winter mission, they are in no particular order.  Not all of the students were able to attend the winter session and I look forward to seeing them in June.

The Young Photographers of LaVallée

David my assistant and interpreter

young photographers

Carnival Girl

CARNIVAL

Getting ready for Market

High School Soccer Teams

High School Soccer Teams

Three boys

Claude

David

The Posers

Little girl smiling

Family Portrait

Goats ready for Market

Grandfather

Grandmother

School Girls

LaVallée

Photography of The 51st. AHDH Medical Mission in LaValleé de Jacmel, Haiti

To the Doctors, Nurses and Volunteers, Merci Beaucoup!

The 51^st. AHDH Mission is coming to an end and as usual it’s a day of mixed feelings. Sometimes I’m not sure how I feel when that day comes to leave but one thing I know for sure — it’s easier to leave this time. At the end of the November Mission we had to leave knowing there would not be a Doctor in charge at the Hospital. In December right after Christmas, Dr. Rene returned to LaVallée and hired permanent staff at the Hospital St. Joseph, Dr. Walkens Desir, and now no patient will be left unattended — we are all more comfortable leaving this time.

This Mission was a very busy and successful event. The Dentists had 175 cases — the Optometrist checked 300+ people and the surgeons removed 6 Cataracts as well as a few minor surgeries and the Ultrasonographer did 50+ exams. The surgeons performed the first Thyroidectomy and several minor surgeries with ease. Like always, I am amazed at the energy and steadfast commitment these Doc’s express, watching them always makes me feel like I’m not doing enough. But at night when I empty my cards to the hard drive and cruze through the images to make sure I’ve got what we need for that day, I laugh at how much I really get to be a part of all the medical services that take place in our Hospital. Like I always say these amazing people are my Heroes!

please feel free to capture the images you like and share my blog address with your friends and colleagues. See you in June.

The following images are in no particular order.

The Out Door Eye Clinic

Setting up the Out Door Eye Clinic

The Eye Clinic

Ultrasound

Pre-Op

Pre-Op

Engineer George thinking over the situation

Testing the Eye Exam Equipment

People Waiting at the Hospital

The Belizaires in surgery. Mother, daughter and father

Dr. René and mid-wife Mary Alice with a patient

The Quarentine Tents donated by Doctors Without Borders

Mid-wife Mary Alice and Jeannette Jean-Pierre with a patient

Setting up glasses at the Out Door Eye Clinic

Zishan the Dentist with a patient

Pre-Op

The Phlebotomist at work

Mending scrapes from a bike accident

Setting up Post-Op

Looking over the chart

The Young Photographers of LaVallée, 2010

I have been sorting through all of the images I have on my hard-drive and feeling so very proud of my students. When I’m there in our village we meet every afternoon for class and I download their images for critique. We laugh a lot, especially at the blurry ones or the cows with glowing red eyes. But I always start laughing first simply because their photographs touch my heart so deeply that if I don’t laugh I’ll cry. I love working with these teens—watching them with their cameras is the most amazing experience I’ve had yet.

Starting in February I’ll have an assistant who will translate for us making it a lot easier for me to teach. Teaching photography to a group of students without sharing a common language is the most difficult challenge I’ve ever faced but also the most rewarding, I can’t imagine not doing it.

These images were all made in November. I hope you enjoy them.

Please leave a comment the students will appreciate it.

"The Young Photographers of LaVallée"

Ruff Carol, one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Boy holding a stick" by Ruff Carol

"Family" by Ruff Carol

"Women Walking" by Ruff Carol

"His Face" by Ruff Carol

"Man holding a Rooster" by Ruff Carol

"Girl wearing a Hat" by Ruff Carol

"The Rapper and Grandfather" by Ruff Carol

"Studying by Oil Lamp" by Ruff Carol

"Cooking Over Open Fire" by Ruff Carol

"Ironing Her School Uniform" by Ruff Carol

"Gathering Wood" by Ruff Carol

Presnel, one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Brother" by Presnel

"Three children" by Presnel

"Portrait of a Young Man" by Presnel

"Man with a Machete" by Presnel

"Little Girl" by Presnel

"Cooking Dinner" by Presnel

Marie France, one of "The Young Photographers..."

"The RAH RAH Band" by Marie France

"On the Road" by Marie France

"Mother" by Marie France

"Two People in the Field" by Marie France

"Two Women Eating Oranges" by Marie France

"Woman Selling Vegetables at Market" by Marie France

"Two Girls" by Marie France

Johnson one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Bassin Bleu" by Johnson

"The Shoe Shinner" by Johnson

"Jameson" by Johnson

"Her House" by Johnson

"Woman in Doorway" by Johnson

"Woman" by Johnson

Jeanty one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Boys Making a Pathway" by Jeanty

"A Gathering of Women" by Jeanty

"Girl in the Orange Shirt" by Jeanty

"Little Girl" by Jeanty

"Girl with Pack" by Jeanty

"Peeling Fruit" by Jeanty

Jameson one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Chateau René" by Jameson

"Two Women in the Gazebo" by Jameson

"Brother" by Jameson

"Two School Girls" by Jameson

"Going to Market" by Jameson

Frederic one of "The Young Photographers..."

"Man With a Basket" by Frederic

"The Coconut Tree Climber" by Frederic

"Going to Market" by Frederic

"Man with Bananas" by Frederic

"Grandmother" by Frederic

"The Hill Top" by Frederic

Dophy one of "The Young Photographers..."

"The Water Boy" by Dophy

"Washing Dishes" by Dophy

"Washing Clothes" by Dophy

"Cooking and Walking" by Dophy

"Sharing her Fruit" by Dophy

"The Wood Carver" by Dophy

"Flowers" by Dophy

Cholera, the last day of the mission

It’s Friday morning the last day of the mission and the most difficult, we have to say goodbye and of course that makes no one happy. While Dr. René is finishing up in the Hospital, we pack everything away and make sure that the people know we will be back in February.

On the last day of the mission there is always an emergency of some kind and of course the doctors have to take care of it. This time it was a woman with cholera. Dr. René and Evens immediately made her as comfortable as possible and started her on an IV drip and antibiotics. In the meantime workers are outside raising more tents preparing for the worst to come but we must be prepared—too many have already died. Patients can recover from this dreadful disease if it’s caught in time but without medical help cholera takes them very quickly. I think we have a problem here but I believe that every problem has a solution. To find out how you can be part of the solution go to our site,  www.haitiahdh.org

St. Joseph's Hospital in La Vallée

In Haiti

When we arrived at our village in Haiti on the 12th of November we were all glad to see there were no cholera patients at the Hospital and all that was standing in place of the medical tent was the frame—Codéva had already removed the canvas and stored it. But on the evening of the 16th we admitted our first cholera patient, a woman. The nurses immediately began administering IV drips and antibiotics—when I saw her she was so sick that I doubted she would recover. Dr. René quickly gave the word to put the tent back up for quarantine and within a few minutes the very large tent was in place and ready. Then on Wednesday another cholera patient arrived and on Thursday and Friday as well. Thank God we have a young Haitian nurse who is one of the most compassionate young men I’ve ever met who has been taking care of them. The question today is, how many more will arrive and who will care for them—the intern rotation is finished here, when we leave there will be no one left to care for them. No one knows how to stop this dreadful disease. But we will remain hopeful.

Photographs by the young photographers of LaVallée, Haiti

These are some of the photographs shot by my students that I submitted to PhotoPhilanthropy, an organization that promotes photographers around the world to tell the stories that drive action for social change.