UPDATED my summer in Haiti (and how you can help)

with Alex and Guernise, May 2013

Update 6/19

Y'all, I am seriously overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity I've seen over the past few weeks in response to this post. Family, friends, coworkers, Starbucks customers, even people I barely know have given so generously. Thank you. A million trillion times, thank you. Your prayers and gifts encourage me more than I can say. The Lord has shown His faithfulness in providing time and time again as each one of you has approached me about getting involved in supporting the incredible work that Heartline is doing in Haiti and the time that I get to spend working with them. I am so grateful.

Since several people have asked this week about what else is still needed, I thought I should update this list, in case anyone else is still interested in donating. The items in bold are the ones that I have less/none of at this point, so for the most part, those are the higher priorities right now. However, if you have a burning desire to donate something else, there isn't anything on this list that won't eventually get used, even if we end up with 100 of them, so...any and all donations are still gratefully received :)  One request, though...if you are planning on purchasing specific items, would you please comment/send me a message and let me know what you're going to buy? Taylor and I are planning to go shopping this Friday afternoon (the 21st), and I'd prefer to prioritize items that we don't have yet (though again, everything will get used eventually)! Thanks so much!  Again, I am so thankful for the support each of you has shown. I am blessed.

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As I mentioned in a previous post, I have the privilege of getting to spend the majority of this summer in Haiti (which, of course, makes me happier than words can say). My first (quick!) trip ended on Sunday, after eight wonderful, fun, and busy days at Heartline; spending time at the maternity center and with Haiti friends always makes my heart so happy. Love that place and those people so much. 

Now, back on US soil for the next five weeks, my to-do list includes acquiring 3 more credit hours toward my nursing degree, working, gathering donations for Heartline, re-packing my suitcase, spending time with my youngest sister when she comes to visit in a few weeks, and hanging out as much as possible with my fabulous Texas friends (who I've sadly barely gotten to see in the past year due to an insane work/school schedule). It'll be a busy month, yet, at the same time, I think it'll still be lower-key than the previous nine...and for that, I am extremely grateful.


Donations for Heartline

I'm hoping to be able to fill a suitcase or two with items to bring back with me for the Maternity Center, and I'd love it if anyone would like to contribute either the items themselves or money for me to use to purchase what is needed. Dr. Jen keeps a comprehensive list of needs updated here. Additionally, she and Sarah D (organizers extraordinaire!) sent this list of items that the maternity center is running especially low on at the moment:

Maternity/Labor and Delivery
- Birth gowns (nightgowns that unzip/button/snap in the front to allow for breastfeeding access; sleeveless and knee-length are preferable)

- Labor gowns (There is an amazing seamstress who is going to be making several labor gowns for us at minimal cost; however, if anyone wants to donate money toward purchasing the material for the gowns, that's definitely an option.)
- Cloth diapers

- Plastic pants (that go over cloth diapers; sizes newborn to 12 months)
- Diaper pins

- Baby powder (travel size)

- maxi pads (extra-large, super, overnight)

- Washcloths (regular and baby)

- Body Lotion (medium sized, not travel size, not super size)

- Women’s underwear sizes 5, 6, 7, 8 
- Women's deodorant

- Receiving blankets

- These pregnancy tests

- Urine (UA) test strips that expire in 2014 or later

- Boxes of non-sterile gloves, sizes medium and large

- NG feeding tubes for premature infants (5 French and 6 French sizes); can be found inexpensively here and here

- Clothing for infant boys and girls, sizes newborn to 12 months (especially need boys clothing in 3-6 months sizes, and newborn onesies/tshirts)

- Chux pads

- Plastic shower caps

General supplies

- Durable plastic or metal water bottles with screw-on lids (such as Nalgene or Kleen Kanteen)

- Antibacterial wipes (for surfaces; such as Clorox or Lysol)

- Hand sanitizer (large bottles; pump-style preferred)

- XL ziploc bags (one size bigger than gallon)

OTC medications

- Children's liquid Tylenol

- TUMS

Prescription medications (*must be unexpired and in sealed bottle; personal prescriptions not accepted*)

- Azithromycin tablets (250 mg or 500 mg or 600 mg)

- Cephalexin capsules (500 mg)

- Ceftriaxone 250 mg, 500 mg, and 1000 mg vials (for IV/IM use)

- Erythromycin eye ointment

- Nifedipine SR 20 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg tablets

- Odansetron ODT 4 mg or 8 mg sublingual tablets

Also, fellow Starbucks partners: want to help me stock the maternity center up on coffee? If any of you would like to donate a markout (or two!) in the next few weeks, I'd be happy to transport it to Haiti. Help keep the midwives awake for the middle-of-the-night births! :) Update: Starbucks at Texas & Holleman...you all are amazing. Seeing that big bag in the back room overflowing with pounds of coffee makes me so happy. Thank you. I'm going to miss you people while I'm gone!

Finally, one addition to the original list... Because it looks like we'll be getting to bring down so many things for Heartline, we could use at least one more large suitcase, if anyone happens to have an extra lying around or wants to pick up a cheap one at Goodwill or somewhere. (Thank you, Nancy and Kaila, for the two y'all already found for us!) Suitcases/duffel bags with wheels are preferable, if possible (just to make it easier on our backs and arms). I can't guarantee that the suitcase will make it back in decent shape, though (TSA has been pretty rough on my luggage recently), so just keep that in mind if you're wanting the suitcase back at the end of the summer.

Financial Support

I have a love/hate relationship with asking for money. I dread doing it because it just feels so weird to ask people to help me pay to do something, to go somewhere, that I love. It's not quite the equivalent of asking for someone to pay for me to go on vacation...but that's still kind of what it feels like. I also think, honestly, that a big reason why I hate asking is because in my pride, I like to be independent, to earn my own way (oh how many spiritual implications can be drawn from this!); it is incredibly humbling to ask for assistance from others.

On the other side of it, though, I love giving people an opportunity to be involved. God calls different people to different things -- some to go, some to give, all to pray.  We all have our parts to play in furthering God's kingdom here on earth, and just because I'm the one who gets to go doesn't mean that it's not equally important for others to give and to pray. When you think about it, missionaries could not do what they do in the places where they live and work without the support of those who faithfully pray and give. John McHoul wrote this in Heartline's May newsletter:

Your support, your help, your encouragement, your prayers, your efforts, your sacrifices in helping Heartline is humbling and simply amazing.  But I wonder as well, if it isn't you who are making the difference and Heartline that is helping.  I can see this; so THANK YOU for being the hands and feet and compassion and kindness and love and mercy and healing to the people of Haiti and THANK YOU for giving Heartline the privilege of helping.

The privilege of helping. Yes. Because it is so very much a privilege, and a blessing. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunities I've had (and, God-willing, will continue to have) to work alongside the full-time staff at Heartline and to be even a small part of the ministry that is happening and the lives that are being changed through the programs at the maternity center. So thank you, so very much, to all of you who have supported me thus far through your prayers, encouragement, and gifts; thank you for giving me the privilege of helping. I am blessed.

helping at a Heartline birth, December 2012

All that said, if anyone would like to contribute financially, either toward my travel expenses or toward supplies for Heartline, please leave a comment or check out this page that I've set up with more information on how to give.

Pray, Pray, Pray

I cannot possibly overemphasize how much I value your prayers, for myself, for the team at Heartline, and for the women and babies in the prenatal and child development programs. There are so many great needs everywhere in Haiti, needs that are often heart-breaking and overwhelming and are difficult to imagine as one who grew up in middle-class America. We desperately need God's grace to work through us, to guide us and to teach us to love as He loves, to show us how we can best serve, and to remind us that even as we work to meet physical needs, all that we do is for the ultimate purpose of sharing Christ and the great hope of His Gospel message. So please pray for us, pray with us; your prayers are so important to this ministry.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:19-20

Heartline Maternity Center: Making a difference for LIFE

I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but the more time I'm able to spend at Heartline, and the more I get to know both the women in their programs and the women who do the work to make the maternity center such a safe, fun, and wonderful place, the more thankful I am for the heart behind this ministry and for the lives it is impacting and saving.

Last week was a busy one at the maternity center. Besides the usual program days (prenatal class and check-ups, child development day and postpartum check-ups, and Bible study/family planning day), there were also three births, one transport due to suspected preeclampsia, and continuing postpartum care for the sweet little boy born mid-May at only 31 or 32 weeks gestation. Additionally, since Dr. Jen was in town, several moms brought their sick little ones over for her to take a look at. And as always, even in the midst of all the busyness, the level of compassionate and competent care given to each woman and child, the way each person is valued and treated with dignity and respect, is such a beautiful thing to see. Young teen girls and middle-aged women, women from the poorest slums and those who can afford to eat more than once a day, first-time moms and mothers of six -- all find a welcoming, safe, and loving environment when they step through the gate at the maternity center.


Lives are being saved

The very first birth I attended at Heartline, back in the fall of 2011, is one of many examples of how God is using Heartline to save lives. Esther, a first-time mom, had seen her sister die in childbirth, and consequently, she dealt with a lot of fear as she endured her long and complicated labor. Because Melissa was there (an experienced nurse-midwife who was working with Heartline at the time), Esther was able to deliver at the maternity center, where we were able to support and encourage her and allow her to have a safe and dignified birth. Though she lost a lot of blood when her little boy was born, again, Melissa's experience and skills  prevented a tragedy. Had Esther tried to deliver on her own at home, this story would have ended much differently. After Esther's birth, Tara wrote,

We're all blessed by your willingness to pray for these ladies. Their lives are fragile and the odds are stacked against them in so many ways. With each complicated birth we recognize more and more what a ginormous gift it is to be able to offer this option to women in our area. Thank you for helping to make this ministry possible. Please keep giving. Please keep praying.

Fast-forward a year-and-a-half to two weeks ago, when Guernise, pregnant with her first child, showed up at the maternity center in preterm labor. Beth described the fear and sadness of that moment:

Her bag of waters has broken.  This is not good news for a mom who is only 31 weeks along and measuring really small.  Not good news at all. This is beyond our skill level and we start to look for back up.  The first hospital states if she doesn’t have high blood pressure along with the broken waters they won’t take her.  For the first time in my midwifery career I am hoping for a high bp.  Nope, perfect.   We crank up our ambulance and prepare for hospital number two.  While waiting for family to arrive and all the wheels to be set in motion dear little Guernise lays on our birth bed weeping. 

Thankfully, the second hospital took Guernise, and she delivered a 3 lb baby boy, Alexander. Small though he was, however, and clearly preterm, he didn't meet the hospital's criteria for keeping him for continued care; Alex and Guernise were soon released to go home. Had they actually gone home, had they been left to fend for themselves without further medical care (in the States, he would've been in the NICU), this tiny little boy would likely not have survived very long. But, by the grace of God, who knew long before this little one's birth what his needs would be, Guernise had come to Heartline for prenatal care, and now she could turn to the midwives there for help with Alex. Heartline's amazing team (midwives, nurses, and pediatrician) are working together and with Guernise to make sure that little Alexander remains infection-free and continues to gain weight and thrive. Prayers for this sweet mom and baby, as well as for the team at Heartline, would be greatly appreciated.


These are just two of many stories of how God is changing and even saving lives through Heartline's maternity program. Want to learn more (and get a glimpse into what goes on at the maternity center)? Here are two short videos:

This video gives a brief overview of the maternity center.

Lydia Livesay gives a super cute tour of the maternity center :)

Want to join with Heartline in making a difference in the lives of women and babies in Haiti? Your prayers for the team at Heartline and for the women in the program are so very valued. Tara keeps the list of ladies updated here (this list is just the ladies who have yet to deliver, but obviously you can keep praying for them after they give birth!).

summer plans

I think...I would blog more often if I didn't always draw a complete blank when attempting to start a post.

So let's just pretend that I've just written a super captivating introductory paragraph, and now you're waiting with bated breath to read what I have to say next.

(Well, maybe not bated breath. This is probably not going to be life-shattering or shocking news to any of you who know me; I'm not getting married, converting to Buddhism, shaving my head, or...wait for it...even quitting Starbucks {yet}).

my view for much of the summer :)

I am, however, super excited to say that between now and August 16th, I will be spending more time in Haiti than in the United States (which hasn't happened in 8 years)! And, in fact, I am wri
ting this from the rooftop of Heartline's maternity center, to which I oh-so-happily returned on Friday. This time, I'll just be here a little over a week, since I need to be in Texas to take a class in June. As soon as I'm done with my final for that, though, back to Haiti I come (and bringing a friend/coworker with me)!

The tentative plan is to spend most of my time at Heartline, helping out at the maternity center in whatever way I can be useful, and hopefully gaining more experience and knowledge of all things pregnancy/birth. I'll also spend time with the kids at Notre Maison, and, after Paul comes to Haiti at the end of July, I'm hoping to go out and visit Real Hope for Haiti, where he usually works when he's here. I also have another friend coming down for a week in August, so I'm excited to get to introduce not just one friend but TWO to my Haiti home this summer! I have a not-so-secret plot to get all of my favorite stateside people down here at some point so that they fall in love with Haiti, too...and so that they'll then come visit me once I live here full-time :)

I'm still working out the details of what it's going to look like for me to be off work/away from home for half of the summer; currently I think the only things I know for sure are my flights (guess that's helpful) and my cat-sitter (thanks, Cheyenne!). So I will try to update again soonish with more specific details and possibly requests, in case anyone is interested in helping either monetarily or with items to donate to Heartline. For sure, I would really, really, really appreciate prayers, both for my time back in the States in June (I have a feeling it's going to be quite a busy month, between work and school and my sister visiting and getting ready to leave the country for six weeks) and for my time in Haiti. Thank you in advance for praying!

And with that, I suppose I should start heading towards bed; gonna be an early morning (though thankfully not opening-Starbucks early)! Bon nwit, tout moun!