Cranes and Geese Flock

Although I'm not much of a birder,living in New Mexico has given me a greater appreciation and interest in birds agility,their sounds, and their pure beauty within nature. For the past two years I've wanted to go to the Festival of the Cranes in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. So I finally got that opportunity this past weekend. The refuge covers a little over 57,000 acres and is located along the Rio Grande. This area is made up of wetlands, farmlands, and forests. Depending on the season, different species of birds migrate to this area on their way down to Mexico.

Friend Colin (Biologist for Bosque del Apache) and I arrived at 6:15am to observe the spectacular view of thousands (and I mean thousands) of sandhill cranes and white geese fly out. The AM flights out and the PM flights in lasts for about 2 weeks. I have never seen anything quite like it. I was surrounded by true, professional birders with their mega lens cameras and their constant clicking. Meanwhile, I was pushing through crowds to take pictures with my minature 3200 Nikon. After the mass ascension, the cranes and geese went to graze on nearby fields enriched with corn.

For anybody out there that's a birder, this is a sight you don't want to miss!

Beautiful people, Beautiful faces

Thanks Donna & Dr.Michael for allowing me to post some of your pics.

11 Days in Haiti
My first mission trip was quite remarkable. Haiti is a very rewarding place to do such a trip as you run across many other groups working in different areas of the country. It's very inspiring to see how many people want to help and serve in Haiti, as of course it is a country with great need. I will try to focus on the highlights although this might be difficult. Memories that stand out is our tedious, bumpy,hot drive to St.Pierre, Grand Bois. As we drove through the mountains, we passed many Haitians who at first were hesitant to wave, but once you initiated the wave, they instantly waved back with a smile. This in itself was very gratifying.

We had a great group, composed of medical, and non-medical members. The group offered many different personalities which made it interesting and fun. We had one member who was our stand up Irish comedian. Another group member kept us in gear as he critiqued our work and especially our painting to make sure the brissle hairs weren't in the paint. I won't refer to any names but you know who you are! I have to say all the men had a blast driving the 4x4 vehicles. Boys will be boys! I think everybody, mostly the first timers including myself were touched by this trip as many in different moments shedded their tears.

(part of the group)

The clinic, up and operating now for two years is a big accomplishment for ServeHaiti and for the community. The clinic patient load was quite large while we were there (300 +), ranging to be seen for all sorts of illnesses and diseases. Many people arrived after walking several hours carrying their babies. Apparently, the first group stated a woman arrived with her newborn in her arms after delivering her baby on the road. Quite amazing. The group before us witnessed two births, but the second group (the one I was in) didn't have the same luck unfortunately.
(patients outside the clinic)

The engineers in the group worked on the installation of a grain mill for the community, and internet via satellite was also set up for Doctor Leopold to have contact with ServeHaiti and other important contacts.

Going to mass was a great experience, as everybody arrived in their best attire. The women and men making up the choir sang beautiful Creole songs, none of which I could understand but it was still phenomenal.

I had the opportunity to attend a community meeting and listen to the needs to help determine the next project in collaboration with the community to improve the quality of their life. The needs of course were quite overwhelming as numerous suggestions were voiced such as better roads,a secondary school,one hot meal a day for children while in school, a continuing education school for teachers, trade and job opportunities such as; electricians, and plumbers,building latrines, starting an orphanage for those children who's parents have died, opening a factory for employment, prevention of deforestation, and the list goes on and on. The highest on the list that the communtiy members voiced were better roads, and secondary education. This meeting, for me personally was very hard to sit through. I asked myself "where do you even begin?". However, you have to build communtiy capacity which was present at this meeting and work in collaboration with the community or else it just won't work.

Depite the needs and suggestions, you didn't actually hear the Haitians complaining of what they don't have. As many improvements are needed in their community I think we can also learn from theirs. I know I did. To live simple, to slow down, to treat everybody as our brothers and sisters, to share, to smile each day, to not complain for the things we don't have, and to maintain hope and faith.

(malnourished infant)
Brief overview of Haiti
Haiti,the size of the state of Maryland, shares the island with the Dominican Republic with a population of 8 million in which 2 million reside in the capital of Port-au-Prince. French and Creole represent the two languages spoken. Roman Catholicism and Voodoo are widely practiced in Haiti. The terrain is composed of mountains and more mountains with a tropical climate. Unfortunately the country is facing extensive deforestation due to land being cleared for agriculture and fuel. Roughly half of the population is illiterate. About 80% of the population lives in poverty. Unemployment is widespread. Agriculture represents 66% of the labor force with products of coffee, yummy mangoes, sweet sugarcane, rice, corn, and wood. Exports include coffee, handicrafts(which from what I saw were quite exceptional), essential oils, and cocoa. Main imports comprise mostly of food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, and petroleum. A large number of infants and children suffer from malnutrition, diarrheal illnesses, and respiratory illnesses. A multitude of infectious diseases especially malaria affect the adult population. The depressing news is, is that all of these are preventable. Why should it be so difficult for everybody in the world to have clean water to drink and food to eat? This should not be a privilege but everybody's right.


(women bathing and cleaning clothes)

Twenty things Western countries take for granted
The Basics
1)clean water
2)stable government
3)safety
4)electricity
5)3 meals a day/ Food!
6)education
7)resources
8)good road system
9)healthcare (although in the States there are millions without healthcare)
10)medicines
11)banking systems
12)postal mail services
The more simpy things we forget
13)clothes/clean clothes
14)good pair of shoes
15)a mattress to sleep on
16)air conditioner
17)T.V
18)toothpaste/toothbrushes
19)refrigeration
20)toilets

Off to hike 56 miles of the John Muir Trail
Yes, I know many of you ask how do I do it, how do I have the money, how do I have the time?? Well, let's say I have a cool boss, number one! Mexico, was an educational leave. Secondly, you all know how much I love to travel, explore, hike, backpack, etc. This helps me to keep a healthy mental state. So therefore, I save, most all my savings goes to my travels. I don't own a house, I have no kids, no honey, so why not, right! Life is too short, and there's so much to see out there in this world, and so many interesting cultures, not saying I'll never settle down, just haven't met the one yet!!

So I'm driving out to Cali, to meet doctor friend Meghan(who lives in N.M) and traveler friend Aidan! They will be doing the whole trail. I however plan on doing only 56 miles with them. Maybe I'll lose some of the weight I gained in Mexico! So I go forth to the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The good news: I arrived safely back (with my luggage) and I wasn't the only one at Immigration! Further good news, so far I'm TB negative with the PPD that was placed in Mexico. Still plan on getting another one placed in a month. The bad news I lost my blog somehow while I was in Mexico, don't know how it happened, so starting all over from square one. True bummer. (Some entries are pending).

My time spent in Chihauhua
pending

Challenges in TB control in Mexico
pending

A brave woman
pending

Tuberculosis in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico (x-ray of a 3yr old with TB)
Tuberculosis is an infectious, contagious disease caused by a bacteria in the form of Myobacterium tuberculosis. A person can become infected through the inhalation of the bacteria through cough or expectoration. It can affect any body part, but principally the lungs.

In Mexico, 5,000 people die annually from this disease, in which there are close to 30,000 new cases annually. In the state of Chihuahua for the year of 2005, there were 217 cases of TB, in which 6 people died. Currently there are 149 active cases of TB in Chihuahua. Pulmonary TB is the most common accounting for 91.6% of active TB cases in the state of Chihuahua. I did see one case of Menigitis TB. TB is most common in those older than 18 years old, making up 89.9% (in the state of Chihuahua), although it affects all populations.

Symptons usually associated with TB, are a persistent cough, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, coughing up blood, and night sweats. In some of the TB patients I met with, persisent cough with sputum was observed, extreme weakness,& many were emaciated looking.

Diagnosis is usually determined through examination of three sputum cultures, and a chest x-ray. Many doctors will go ahead and start treating the person for TB if the chest x-ray shows TB instead of waiting for the sputum cultures.
(positive for TB, observe the purple colored rods)

Initial treatment for adult patients for TB consist of 4 to 5 medications; Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, & Etambutol for 10 weeks, the intensive phase. Then for the remaining 15 weeks, or possibly more, Rifampcin & Isoniazid are taken.

12 Things I enjoyed, admired, found shocking, & missed!

(picture of the village of Noragachi)
Things I enjoyed
1). Hospitality & generosity of Mexican people
2). Good public transportation
3). The food: Chile relleno- chile stuffed with meat/cheese usually fried
Gorditas- pocket filled (pita like) stuffed with potatoes, or meat with
lettuce or tomatoe
Mole poblano- chicken in a dark sauce made with chilies, fruits, nuts,
spices,& chocolate
4). Colonial architecture
5). Less fast pace lifestyle
Things I admired
6). Men open your doors (true gentlemen)
7). Strong family ties & connections
Things I found shocking
8). Nurses make $18 for an 8 hr working day
9). Rural workers make minimun of $5 a day
10). Nurses make their own chemo medications (not done by Pharmacy)
Things I missed
11). Family & friends
12). Any food other than Mexican.