Hi All:

Since it is late and I want to just get this out quickly to reassure you all that we are just fine, it might be a bit disjointed, but then, my skills are not in journalism or writing of any form, for that matter. We all are doing very well, very safe, but totally confined to the compound as Dr. William and I tried to just go to the edge of town today to get some materials but could not even get onto the main road at all, there were trailers and containers (40 footers, how did they ever get them there, they are hard to move even with heavy equipment to move them, let alone a bunch of strong people?). In any case, there is violence in the town of Cayes, as in most towns, but other than a few casualties that have come to the hospital, nothing else that has affected us. Most of our employees and many patients could not move, as no roads are negotiable, if the UN uses their tanks to blow through the barricades, they are replaced immediately and shots have been exchanged. I only have had one gunshot victim and she was from Camp Perrin, up the road past the airport, where a big UN base is and this was allegedly from them. It is a chest wound but bounced off her ribs and she will be fine, though could have been a lot worse.

In my last note, I mentioned that the generator was not working and to keep the curfew more functional, Haiti Electric, undependable under favorable circumstances, has allegedly been told to not provide electricity to discourage people from gathering and rioting, etc. Not quite sure of the truth or the thinking behind it, no matter, it hasn’t been there at all. So, Duane and Rod figured that it was the time to try to get the new generator into the generator shack and get it going. It weighs about 1400 lbs. and the shack is totally below the road and the access road to it is tricky but we got it pretty close and just pushed and pulled it with 12 guys (most bigger than I, thankfully) into and through the door and into place and by 1:30 this afternoon it was running, Praise the Lord. I got the C section done, lots of scar tissue but a healthy child and did 6 other cases (we had both ORs going with Drs. Moise and William in one and Sony and I in the other), though I let everyone go just before dark so they could walk home. Nurse Line and I finished the last couple cases as she lives right next to the hospital. I gave Dr. Sony and Nurse Lisberthe my flashlights as they live in Cayes and have to walk about 5 miles to get home, but didn’t want to leave their families all night, especially as Sony and his wife have 3 girls, so he felt responsible to be there to protect them from possible violence. Am praying they made it home safely. I am taking all the night call so everyone can be home with their families to keep them from being alone and afraid.

Not sure what tomorrow will bring but we are just fine here. Two ACC teams made it here from church and school building out in the hills, one got the windows smashed, but all was fine otherwise. They decided to head home early and all made it. So, we will just work and hang close to the compound. The hospital is packed, so have plenty to do especially as most of the staff cannot get it, just those who live close or are very determined. Since, so far, there have been no flights in and out of the country, or Cayes, for that matter, for Tuesday and Wednesday, we don’t know again about home going plans, but will just pray and be safe. The 35 members of the ACC teams have chartered flights to Port on Friday and will see how they do before Duane and I venture out. Driving is not an option but we pray things will settle down quickly. Maybe thinking again that Spirit Airlines, with only 1 flight daily instead of 6 that American Airlines has, may be less flexible, but will see what the weekend brings. Would prefer to not move around in Port much either, so pray for God’s wisdom and direction in all these matters.

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Bill (and Duane)