Thank you

A patient that our group had previously flown back to the United Stated for further work-up was on our flight to Haiti.  We had hoped to offer more aggressive treatment, but unfortunately once he arrived his disease was found to be too far progressed and deemed terminal.  He was flying home to be with his family when he died. It was a sobering start to the trip.

We reminded each other that resources were not going to be anything like what we were used to having.  

We had no idea how different it was actually going to be.

We were met by our hosts and our patient's family when we arrived in Port Au Prince .  The family  had brought us a bag full of fresh mangoes  to say thank you for the care we had provided for their loved one.  In a country where many of the inhabitants aren't sure when their next meal will be, they were offering us fruit from their trees.   One family member said to us, 'You tried.  Now we know that all has been done. It is in God's hands and is His will.' They thanked us even though they knew we couldn't do anything more. 

That accepting, loving spirit was displayed to me over and over during my time there.  The thankfulness and joy that the people found in the face of conditions that would be unacceptable in a developed country was humbling.