Among Friends

[dex]

How is your DH?Hope that he will be able to complete his mission and be home for thanksgiving.My friends DH is getting ready to go although he isn't too happy that he will be there until Christmas.

[chrystaltree]

Hi,

I don't hear from him often because cell phone service is sporadic at best. Mail is back and I'm expecting a long letter.   Landlines where he is don't exist.  He's working in a clinic, they work from and live in huge army tents.  They have generators.  He did say it's worse than anyone here can imagine.  Worse than he thought.  There's no infrastructure so supplies and medical equipment are just beginning to get it.  First they have to fix roads and then find truckers and then stuff comes in.  He's see seeing injuries of course and people with chronic conditions who haven't had their medication since the hurricane.  Also, skin infections and bronchial infections, gi disease from having to live in unsanitary conditions.  Still, he's glad he went because he's needed.  But he'll be home before Christmas.  His job is giving him a month's leave and he's taking 2 weeks of his vacation time.  So, 6 weeks and then he comes home to his real job.  The need is long term.  He wants to go back but he has to coordinate that with his job; they have teams going in and out.  

[tends2dogs]

@chrystaltree  Your husband sounds like a very kind, generous, and sympathetic man.  It sounds like he is right where he needs to be right now.

This experience is something he will hold on to forever.  The blessing goes both ways. 

[alicedee]

What a good man he is....and you have a big heart too, supporting him ...I know it affects you too.  Take care.  

[dex]

@chrystaltree Thanks for the update.Your DH is a hero and a special person to leave the comfort of his home to aide people with great need under such horrible circumstances.We are all so fortunate to be home with our abundance of everything,discussing this disaster from our sofas.

[chrystaltree]

He's always been my hero and he's always been a nurturer and a caretaker.  That's why he went into nursing even when it was very difficult for men in that field.  So, this does not surprise anyone who knows him.  Many nurses do volunteer work all over the world on their vacations.  It's a mission for them.  A couple of the nurses my husband worked with went to Haiti every summer for several weeks.  They worked in clinics but more importantly they taught new methods and procedures to the local nurses.  They are retired now but they did for 15 or 20 years.  My husband always wanted to do something like that but we had a family and colleges and weddings to pay for.  Now it's his turn to give back in the way that he always wanted to.  

[Sage04]

@chrystaltree, could you please tell me what's going on with your husband? Does this have anything to do with Irma or Maria? Somehow i missed your post.