Using our \”machine\” (truck)

Slang for truck or car in Haiti is \”machine\”

Changes the new truck brings

We have made a few changes here to accommodate our truck. Paul, who is Fr. Gracias cousin and works on this side of the parish as school director etc., had me pick up two bags of cement. He then rounded up some help and filled in a depression outside of our gate that was making it difficult to get in through the gate.

Yesterday five of the boys that hang out here cleared a parking space for the truck next to our apartment. They had to cut down some small trees that separated the space from our driveway allowing us to pull in. They then hauled five or six wheel barrel loads of gravel from a pile next to the school over to the new area to level out the transition area. The only other available place to park is in the school yard, and that is not fair to the kids. It is also very difficult to turn around in the school yard, about a five point turn.

When they finished they asked me to pay them. I asked them how much and they told me that they wanted 50 gourdes to split among themselves. That works out to about 21¢ each. They were thrilled.

The truck is really a blessing. Earlier in the week a young pregnant mother we go to church with, brought her 7 yr old daughter to Denise. The mother’s name is Alexi Adleen and her daughter’s name is Louis Fransisca. The Louis Fransisca had a hard spot along the bottom of her chin. Denise thought it was an infection in her lymph nodes, but she wasn\’t sure and she does not give out antibiotics, especially to kids. Denise then called Sr. Pat and she suggested we take the girl to see Sr. Karen. Sr. Karen is a pediatric physician from the United States. She donates a month of her year serving in Haiti and a month in Africa. This trip she is accompanying a group of high school girls on a weeklong work mission.  The group is painting the ”Kaypòv”, (Kiy-pove), the poor house. Our timing was perfect because the group was just taking a break for lunch.

Denise visited the ”Kaypòv”, once, probably ten years ago, I have never been there. She was not sure if she could remember where it was and I only had a general idea. While Denise was on the phone with Sr. Pat she got directions, but she still wasn’t sure, but we loaded up Alexi Adleen and Louis Fransisca in the truck and headed to Gros Morne. I am not sure about Alexi Adleen, but I don’t think Louis Fransisca had ever been in a “machine” before. Her face lit up, her eyes opened wide and her grin went on forever.

When we got to Gros Morne we headed to a familiar landmark that Sr. Pat had given Denise as a starting point. As we drove by we started looking for the next landmark, but we could not find it. As we were futility looking, I called Sr. Pat for help. She did not answer. Denise suggested that I call Katie, one of the Sister’s volunteers, was working with Sr. Karen.  I did and she told me she was not there, but off running errands, but she explained we were going the wrong way and had looked on the wrong side of the road. We turned around and quickly found our landmark and turn off road.

We could not take the turn off road because it was blocked by the colorful school bus that the group is using was parked there. We parked and locked our truck on the side of the road and walked down past the bus to where the compound of the ”Kaypòv” is located. There are two gates and they were both closed and locked. Denise stood at one and I the other and tried to get someone insides attention. After several minutes, a woman came and opened the gate I was standing at. We all entered and were ushered to where the group was just breaking for lunch. We had to be very careful; there was wet green paint everywhere.

We asked for Sr. Karen and when she found out what we needed she immediately came out and examined Louis Fransisca. She explained that it was indeed an infected lymph node. She wrote down a list of four different antibiotics in descending order of her preference. She told us that the infection was caught in time before it became serious. If untreated it would need surgery to drain it. Here with the lack of sanitation even minor surgery has a very serious potential risk of post op infections.

Before we left, Sr. Karen called inside for all of her girls that wanted to become  pediatric doctors to come and “concur” with her on her diagnoses and treatment. Four of five young ladies came out, each covered with varying amounts of green paint, and all agreed with her.

Our next stop was to Sister’s house to see what antibiotics they had. I called Sr. Pat, but still was not able to reach her. I then tried Katie again and she answered, but told me that no one would be at the house until at least 2:00. It was now 12:45, so we headed over to the egg sandwich restaurant for lunch.

I don’t think Alexi Adleen or Louis Fransisca had ever been to a restaurant before. It was a treat for them.  While we were eating, Katie stopped by to see us as she was going past and saw our truck. She volunteered to loan us her keys to Sister’s house so we would not have to wait. She told us that someone else with her had keys and we could just leave her keys in the dining room before letting ourselves out.

After lunch we drove up to the house. Just as we got there, Sr. Pat called me. She had just returned and was inside. Denise let herself in to get the antibiotics while I stayed in the truck with the moth Alexi Adleen and Louis Fransisca. Just as Denise was returning, the group of girls and Sr. Karen came walking up the driveway. We chatted a few minutes and then headed back up the mountain to Garcin.

Can you imagine how much more difficult this trip would have been if we had to hire motos, or even the gator?

Mèsi anpil, thank you very much, to all of you who made the truck a reality. We are very blessed.

Bob