We did it!
Mary and I just completed our reservations for our trip to PERU!!!
This would not have been possible without all of your WONDERFUL SUPPORT!!!
YAYAYAYA!!!!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Whoops!!
Its been a long time since I posted an update, its been VERY busy at work!
Last week our little unit witnessed the births of 31 babies!! It was crazy busy, but very rewarding.
Mary and I have been trying to track down the cheapest flights, but it looks like we need to just bite the bullet and buy our tickets ASAP before the prices jump way up.
The nerves about this trip are settling down a bit at this point. I've been gathering infant masks at work as they are used briefly for babies. I clean and decontaminate them with some gluco-chlor wipes and tuck them away for the trip to Peru. They're considered single-use items, but they're very easy to completely decontaminate and it seems such a waste to throw them away when they're so very useful.
I'm also thinking about what I need to bring with me, clothing wise. I am a light packer because I hate packing a lot of junk around on trips... but with the changes in temperature I'd hate to be stuck without enough warm clothes! Does anyone have advice on traveling to high elevations? Khaki's, jeans, shirts, a couple of sweaters and various socks is about all I can come up with... well, and a variety of undies. ;) But even that seems like a lot to pack, maybe I can cut back and bring some Dr. Bronners and wash things while I'm there.
Last week our little unit witnessed the births of 31 babies!! It was crazy busy, but very rewarding.
Mary and I have been trying to track down the cheapest flights, but it looks like we need to just bite the bullet and buy our tickets ASAP before the prices jump way up.
The nerves about this trip are settling down a bit at this point. I've been gathering infant masks at work as they are used briefly for babies. I clean and decontaminate them with some gluco-chlor wipes and tuck them away for the trip to Peru. They're considered single-use items, but they're very easy to completely decontaminate and it seems such a waste to throw them away when they're so very useful.
I'm also thinking about what I need to bring with me, clothing wise. I am a light packer because I hate packing a lot of junk around on trips... but with the changes in temperature I'd hate to be stuck without enough warm clothes! Does anyone have advice on traveling to high elevations? Khaki's, jeans, shirts, a couple of sweaters and various socks is about all I can come up with... well, and a variety of undies. ;) But even that seems like a lot to pack, maybe I can cut back and bring some Dr. Bronners and wash things while I'm there.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Finances
First of all... THANK YOU everyone who has donated. I plan to thank you each in a more personal way, but I feel like I can't say it publicly enough. I wanted to give a run-down on the financial costs that I've paid out and will pay out shortly, so you all have a good picture of where I am:
So far you all have donated a total of $1100. That is simply amazing to me.
Two weeks ago I sent my deposit check to Health Bridges for $150, and this week I will be purchasing my ticket to Arequipa out of O'Hare for aproximately $850... so in total I will have about $100 of your donated money left. My room and board while there is estimated to be about $1100 total (to which the $150 deposit is being applied), so I still need to earn about $850 to completely cover the trip.
I'm not sure how else to get the word out, but if anyone is willing to pass my story along to their friends and family, I'd certainly appreciate it. At this point I will pay the extra out of my own pocket because I am 100% committed to going, but any support I can raise will help defer the hardship this trip is placing on my family.
Thanks again!!
So far you all have donated a total of $1100. That is simply amazing to me.
Two weeks ago I sent my deposit check to Health Bridges for $150, and this week I will be purchasing my ticket to Arequipa out of O'Hare for aproximately $850... so in total I will have about $100 of your donated money left. My room and board while there is estimated to be about $1100 total (to which the $150 deposit is being applied), so I still need to earn about $850 to completely cover the trip.
I'm not sure how else to get the word out, but if anyone is willing to pass my story along to their friends and family, I'd certainly appreciate it. At this point I will pay the extra out of my own pocket because I am 100% committed to going, but any support I can raise will help defer the hardship this trip is placing on my family.
Thanks again!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
PASSPORT!!!
YAY!!!
Despite never being able to track the status of my passport online (possibly due to the name-change, but I'll never know)... it has ARRIVED!!!
The passport service office returned my old one with a couple of holes punched in it, so I have it for a souvenir, but the brand-spankin' new one with my married name on it is in my hot little hands and I couldn't be happier.
I was actually getting a little worried, but truly, I sent in my application the first week of January, so really it was less than 6 weeks of processing time.
WOOHOO!! Now to find tickets!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
This is getting real!
There was an organizational meeting at the hospital on Thursday, but I was unable to attend as I was working and had a very complex patient load so I couldn't leave the floor. Luckily, my friend (and co-worker) Mary went for me and gave me all of the information.
We're going to be flying in to Lima on Saturday the 17th and there will be a guide from Health Bridges there to meet us and get us to our in-country flight to Arequipa. It will make things a lot easier on everyone if we all arrive in Arequipa at the same time, so there is only one bus pick-up and such.
We are told that there is internet access at the guest house where we'll be staying in Arequipa, but outside of that we may be out of luck. I plan to bring my camera, and hopefully I'll be able to upload a few pictures while we're there.
I'm a little freaked about the elevations we'll be staying at. Arequipa is around 9000ft above sea level and the FLOOR of the Colca Canyon is close to 11,000 ft. (Have I already mentioned this?) I haven't ever stayed anywhere near that elevation before and I'm really hoping my body copes with it well. I'm going to my spin classes regularly, so hopefully my cardiovascular system will be able to adapt with relative ease... altitude sickness sounds like absolutely no fun what so ever.
We're going to be flying in to Lima on Saturday the 17th and there will be a guide from Health Bridges there to meet us and get us to our in-country flight to Arequipa. It will make things a lot easier on everyone if we all arrive in Arequipa at the same time, so there is only one bus pick-up and such.
We are told that there is internet access at the guest house where we'll be staying in Arequipa, but outside of that we may be out of luck. I plan to bring my camera, and hopefully I'll be able to upload a few pictures while we're there.
I'm a little freaked about the elevations we'll be staying at. Arequipa is around 9000ft above sea level and the FLOOR of the Colca Canyon is close to 11,000 ft. (Have I already mentioned this?) I haven't ever stayed anywhere near that elevation before and I'm really hoping my body copes with it well. I'm going to my spin classes regularly, so hopefully my cardiovascular system will be able to adapt with relative ease... altitude sickness sounds like absolutely no fun what so ever.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Lunch with Dr. Bob
Today Mary and I met with Dr. Bob Gehringer who is one of the project organizers for Heatlh Bridges International and who will be taking Mary and I to the Colca valley to teach NRP. It was a WONDERFUL meeting and he gave us a LOT to chew on and think about as far as the trip and training itself.
Once our first week in Arequipa with the Affinity group is completed Mary and I will be accompanying Dr. Bob to the Colca valley and specifically to the town of Chivay. Arequipe lies at about 9000ft. above sea level, and the road to Chivay wanders up to about 15,000ft. before descending into the canyon carved by the Colca river which itself lies at 11,000ft. The Colca river is one of the sources of the Amazon, but the elevation makes the area completely arid! There are 14 colonial villages and in this area most of the babies are still born at home with traditionally trained midwives.
Those born in the Ministry of health clinics are attended mostly by nurses as often there is only a doctor in the clinic once or twice per week. From our base in Chivay we will make day trips down the canyon to the other colonial villages to teach our class and then return in the evening to our base. Nurses will be the primary focus of our teaching, but man... I wish we could get in touch with the more traditional midwives in the area... what an experience that would be!
Dr. Bob told us to plan for it to be comfortable during the day, but probably below freezing at night, especially up in the Colca Valley area. The homes, hotels, etc. do not have heat, so we may have to bring sleeping bags, but for the most part he says you can stay comfortable wearing long johns a hat, warm socks and gloves... TO BED!!!
The excitement and anticipation are building! You all have donated over $1000!!!! I am so very very grateful! This wouldn't be possible without your support!
Once our first week in Arequipa with the Affinity group is completed Mary and I will be accompanying Dr. Bob to the Colca valley and specifically to the town of Chivay. Arequipe lies at about 9000ft. above sea level, and the road to Chivay wanders up to about 15,000ft. before descending into the canyon carved by the Colca river which itself lies at 11,000ft. The Colca river is one of the sources of the Amazon, but the elevation makes the area completely arid! There are 14 colonial villages and in this area most of the babies are still born at home with traditionally trained midwives.
Those born in the Ministry of health clinics are attended mostly by nurses as often there is only a doctor in the clinic once or twice per week. From our base in Chivay we will make day trips down the canyon to the other colonial villages to teach our class and then return in the evening to our base. Nurses will be the primary focus of our teaching, but man... I wish we could get in touch with the more traditional midwives in the area... what an experience that would be!
Dr. Bob told us to plan for it to be comfortable during the day, but probably below freezing at night, especially up in the Colca Valley area. The homes, hotels, etc. do not have heat, so we may have to bring sleeping bags, but for the most part he says you can stay comfortable wearing long johns a hat, warm socks and gloves... TO BED!!!
The excitement and anticipation are building! You all have donated over $1000!!!! I am so very very grateful! This wouldn't be possible without your support!
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