http://blog.chglobalhealth.org/2012/01/global_pediatric_fellow_chris.html

These days I work in an enormous children’s hospital. I care for girls with kidney transplants who go to school, have birthday parties, play sports and have boyfriends. I examine little boys who are recovering from extensive brain surgery that can walk and talk normally. I discharge teenagers with horrible heart disease that are still doing “normal teenage stuff”.

That is not all for the drastic changes! Many times per day, I walk past robots strolling the hallways delivering supplies to various departments. Yes, I am working side-by-side with little mechanical beings.

We’re not in Haiti anymore.

Today, as I walked home from my first day at work, the moisture on my mustache formed tiny sickles. I tired to answer my phone but I couldn’t get my fingers to work properly. It was so cold I fantasized about the hot, sweaty nights in Haiti.

Now, that’s cold.

Other than the frigid weather, I am enjoying myself. The hospital is beautiful and the people are wonderful. It’s going to be a fun ride!

After an all-day itinerary, I arrived in Northern California. For the next week, my parents, brother (and his family), grandparents and I relaxed and ate. Not much else.

Last night I arrived in Boston and moved into my new apartment. It is “cozy” but fits my needs. I will start working tomorrow morning at a local Children’s hospital. I am excited to have medicines, equipment and staff.

So what’s the plan? I will work on-and-off in Boston for the next six months with trips to Haiti every 5-6 weeks to see the family. Then I will start working in Haiti again full-time in July. In other words, I’ve gotta pay the bills for now and then get back to international work in a few months.

I will continue to blog. Some will be about my experiences in Boston but many will be about my time in Haiti. I still have many stories to tell that will be better after some time for reflection.

Me: Sak pase? (What is going on?)

Mom: Li gen criz. (He has seizures.)

Me: Depi kile? (Since when?)

Mom: Depi li fet. (Since he was born.)

Me: Eske nou fe scanner tet li? (Have we done a CT scan of his head?)

Mom: Wi. Yo te di mwen si tet li “fokdup”. (Yes. They told me that his head is “fokdup”.)

Me: Eskize mwen. Mwen pa kompran. (Excuse me. I don’t understand.)

Mom: Li “fokdup”. (He’s “fokdup”.)

Me: Huh?

Mom, in a much louder voice: “Fokdup!”

At that point I realized what was going on. I put my head down and couldn’t help but laugh.

After Charles had the CT scan, the mom was told her child’s brain was “Fucked up”. I am unsure if she knows what this means, but she apparently believes that this is his diagnosis.

Everything worked-out perfectly. Lisa’s parents, Tom and Elizabeth, came to visit and we were without any constraints.

The moment Lisa’s parents arrived, we were showered with gifts from them and my parents. We received two suitcases full of essentials for the house and baby stuff. The highlights were fun toys, great books and adorable clothes.

Then, last Wednesday, we jumped in the car and headed north to the beach resort town of Cap Haitien. I made a rookie father mistake and failed to book a hotel before leaving, but after searching for a few hours, we finally found a great place to lay our heads.

For the next three days, we sat around the beach, ate steak and lobster, played with the kids, took short drives, and talked with other travelers.

Now I am ready to go back to work and finish out my stint.

Opening all of our presents from both sets of grandparents

Hanging out with Lisa's mom in the Cap Haitien hotel

Tristan playing with his new toys

Eating on the beach

Trying on new clothes