Next week we'll be writing up the Annual Report for Not Just Tourists - Ottawa. The evolution of NJT-O this past year is nothing short of astounding. In a matter of months, we went from worrying about having some meds to include in suitcases to trying to figure out how to get our burgeoning supplies out in large quantities. Just since September, we went from trying to figure out how to store our growing stock to watching it fly out the door almost weekly to so many missions and countries we finally couldn't even keep track of weights, volumes, carloads, vanloads, truckloads, or any other measurement you'd care to try.
Thursday was another one of what has become a typical warehouse day. Volunteers arrived, including our BFF nursing instructor Cathy. Peter brought his carload of just picked-up goodies. Jacques and Mary unloaded their carload of sorted goodies. Jan was in charge of logistics and putting things on high shelves. Cathy later perfected her mini-hoop shots as she tossed little baggies of lime green cannulas up into a box on the highest level.
Mary helped Jan and Cathy sort through the new goodies and made up boxes of goodies to bring to M/J garage for sorting with windows and sunlight. Jan had to leave to take someone to an appointment. Mary made up three very special suitcases for Jan to hold for travellers. Let's just say Brigit would be proud of what we can now put into every suitcase - OTC pain meds, tons of wound care materials, gloves, masks, wound irrigation - you name it, we have it, including the Ferrari of sterile wound materials: Tegaderm. We could stock a pharmacy with our Tegaderm supplies.
Cathy finally left with a full carload of supplies for her Guatemala project & her nursing students. She has about 22 students, but the school as a whole can accommodate up to 200 now. Sure beats having all these viable and primarily sterile supplies going into the garbage.
Peter left us with only 12 sleeps to go before he returns to his real home in Havana. For some reason, he didn't seem unhappy to be leaving again.
And then there was a HUGE highlight to our day. We all met and fell in love with baby Leanna. Jess brought their gorgeous baby girl down to meet us all. Leanna was sleeping, oblivious to all the adults oohing and ahhing over her full head of soft black hair and her amazingly long fingers, which were open and relaxed. She was 6 lb. 8 oz at birth and her finger nails were already so long Maurice had to cut them! When I told Maurice we had met his lovely baby girl he said, "she's taken my heart". No surprise. Wish I had taken a picture to share with you all. My apologies. I was lost in her beauty. Next visit - she'll still be beautiful.
NJT-O is going to take a break now until Jan 5th. We'll put off any pick-ups until the new year so everyone can take a break, be with family and friends and have some well-deserved downtime.
We want to thank each and every volunteer for your continuing support and involvement. Real life often intervenes to prevent people from staying as involved as they would like. No worries. Your life comes first. Always. No questions.
To Jess and Maurice: Congratulations on the safe arrival of your lovely Leanna.
To Margaret: Our love and warmest thoughts as you start your new life without your main man Gary. We're here. Stay in touch. Big Hugs.
To Brigit: Go Girl! You are the Suitcase Lady!
To Peter: Rock on!
To Gael: You are The Web Site Maven!
To Jan: Thank you for all your warehouse support. We couldn't be so organized or store as high without you!
To Joan, Warren, Cathy, Hassan - Never be shy. Take everything you want. It's free to a good mission.
To Appletree: THANKS!!
To Felice: Welcome! You now have a special little spot at the warehouse for supplies for your Cambodia project.
To Dave Smith: We have more goodies whenever you're ready!!
To The Ottawa Mission: If you want more, we have more.
To Dr. Nancy: Thank you so much for all the med samples!!
To Nigel and Angela - the Kanata Connection: Thanks for handing out so many suitcases and being a depot for west end donations.
To everyone - we appreciate the wonderful extended family of NJT-O. There is a synergy that makes this all work. It may seem haphazard at times but Jacques has become the major coordinator on gmail and the toll-free. FYI - he has quit the area Food Bank, Christmas Hamper project and the volunteer Firefighters (paid) to devote ALL his spare time to coordinating NJT-O. If it weren't for Jacques, NJT-O could not possibly have reached this new level in the past year. It really has been at least 80% because of his efforts. Mine have helped but I'm still the bread winner and working 30 hours a week at that. So big kudos to Jacques.
NJT-O is working extremely well and our networks now include about seven doctors, three nurses, one pharmacist and several other health care specialists. We have Arrived!! Cathy being with us Thursday was just amazing... "what's this", "what can we combine to make a viable suitcase for a rural clinic"... we now know those combinations.
Merry Christmas everyone! Best wishes for health and happiness throughout 2012.
Mary and Jacques
