Hi All:
The week has been busy but good, as usual. Wednesday was quite busy in the OR, we did a number of interesting cases, including a difficult large thyroid mass, an interesting breast problem, a bit of a struggle with another hysterectomy and a number of more routine cases. Additionally, we did some other interesting cases that are not acceptable to talk about in mixed company. I also saw a pastor (it is the annual church convention next door, always the first week in December, so some of them profit by seeing me with problems) with a fair sized stomach tumor that has eroded and is bleeding, so he is anemic. We are pumping him up and I hope to do it with Jose and Moise next month, a bit out of our comfort zone, but with the 3 of us, we hope to be able to help him out as he doesn’t have the money for the prices in Port, often 3-4 times what we charge. I also had a lady with schizophrenia whose daughter in law injects her monthly with meds and keeps things on a fairly even keel. However, she traveled out of the country and charged her brother in law with the task of the injection. Unfortunately, he goofed and gave her 10 times the dosage, they showed up in a panic this morning and we are watching her carefully. I think she will do well despite the error, though will have a few side effects in the meanwhile.

I cannot believe the amount of work the team is getting done, as usual. My sister, Margie and her friend, Marsha, have cleaned, patched holes and painted the physical therapy room. We also enlisted the help of the deaf mute person who works in physical therapy (don’t ask me too many questions, I don’t know how this all works, but it seems to do well) plus a somewhat sluggish guard to scrub the crutches, walkers, wheelchairs and the rest of the equipment, so all will be clean and shiny. I am impressed and appreciative. Butch and Gordy have repaired (with the help of Rod) the water pump, the sterilizer, and have installed the hurricane shields for the hospital windows with the help of the ever faithful Dudu. I worry about Sam (I am – his nickname per Butch, it is obvious which one of us still has little ones at home) as he is a bit more mature than the rest of us and won’t quit when I tell him to. So he is quite wiped out by nightfall, but ready to go at it again in the morning. He and Jean Herbert have made 13 benches for the patients to sit on on the veranda and in various places around the hospital. He certainly is also appreciated as much as the rest of the crew, they all are willing to get filthy in the jobs they are doing, a really good testimony to our brothers and sisters here.

The heat has been tough on the rest of the crew, I am loving it, of course. My energy level seems a bit lower than normal but I make it through each day just fine. Everyone seems to enjoy the Haitian meals we have at lunch, so far, we have NOT had the boiled fish, PTL. I can eat almost anything, but that one is a bit of a struggle. The eyes staring at me really don’t bother me, just not enamored with the taste of this type of boiled fish. (I spoke too soon, we had it for lunch, but the rest of the team did ok, maybe just my taste buds are off, will blame the chemotherapy?) We started this morning with a little fellow of about 4 years age with a modified circumcision, to finish what he began in error, poor fellow. The rest of the surgeries have gone well again today, we had a brief meeting with the employees and passed out the wrapped tote boxes from the young folks at Jamestown Baptist Church. That was a nice pre-Christmas gift for the employees. No one opened their package, so I couldn’t satisfy my curiosity and figure out what was in the packages. Once again, I have to thank all of you who gave so generously to the “Rice and Goats Fund.” It is humbling and encouraging to me that you all are willing to help the Haitian employees once again.

In His Service, with Thanksgiving,

Bill, Butch, Gord, Marcia, Margie and Sam