I am amazed.........

Yes, the week has been a long one. When I have had a few moments to contemplate it all (and believe me there have not been a lot) I stand amazed at many things.

I am amazed at the vision of Marc and Lisa Honorat and the difference that they have made to this relatively small Haitian community through the sheer power of their faith. I have worked under third world circumstances in the past and what I see here actually gives me hope. Yes, they are materially poor and the effects of that, as well as many other circumstances beyond their control, is so obvious as we work with the people on a daily basis, but the people are essentially not without hope. They have faith in a future and have something to look forward to.

I am amazed at what can be accomplished with so little. Here the bricks of a new building is made prior to the wall being built. When one looks at one brick at a time – the job seems way too much to accomplish but when looking at what has been accomplished thus far ( a school, a medical clinic, a church, a computer college and a children’s village on the way) I realise that nothing is impossible …….. we just need to walk the road.

I am amazed at the fact that 16 people from frozen Canada could work in the searing heat for 6 and a half days and furnish, stock and open a medical clinic that was a bare building the day before and see 560 patients none of whom speak a language any of us understand. (Try explaining risk: benefit ratio via a translator!)

I am amazed at how much one receives back from doing this mission – both in insight about yourself and about one’s own culture and the people that you share this journey with.

I am amazed at the blood pressures we see (many above 200 systolic) and the glucose levels (many above 20mmol/L) and how well antibiotics work. Also how a wound can heal in a few days after being neglected for weeks. How large a belly can swell with constipation and how malnourished a child can be with a congenital intestinal stenosis.

 How thankful a patient can be for my explanation of how incapable I am of doing anything more than caring for their situation and sending them on a wild goose chase because of the fractioned health care provision in Haiti. How Haitian children can sit quietly for hours with nothing to keep them busy and how loving they are. How the patients all share their personal space and has no problem with open doors and others in the same room when they are being examined. How Haitian people can quietly accept diagnoses such as HIV and cancer and blindness – not for a moment think that they have a right to something better. The list is endless………….

But on a personal note I am amazed at the wonderful child that God has given me. I always knew that she was special, but having the opportunity to bring her with me to Haiti has been affirmation that she is………….well, amazing!      Dr Antoinette leRoux



Mignon leRoux at age 12 can run our medical records singlehandedly