Day One

Aaron got the call from Washington DC that he has been waiting for.

"Hello"

"Dr. Gardner, this is so and so from NDMS, are you ready deploy?"

"Yes"

"You will leave tomorrow morning, we will e-mail your flight plans. You will need a typhoid vaccine today."

"I got it yesterday, I will be waiting for my flight plans."

"Thank you, goodbye."

That was it. He called me as I was dropping of the kids at school...my stomach sunk a bit from nerves, but at the same time I was so excited for him.

He spent the entire day repacking, picking up prescriptions (so he doesn't get sick), and getting everything covered at the hospital. He's funny, I just followed behind with his check list...both adding to it and checking things off. By 7:00pm everything was checked off. He could relax for a bit.

We dropped him off at the airport this morning. DAY ONE. The plan was to fly to Atlanta, meet up with the other DMAT team members, and be briefed on their mission. Then Sunday, they will fly to Haiti and let the craziness begin.

He has been told that they can't get phone calls out, but they can get text and occasional e-mails out. I told him to send little one liners just so I know all is well. I will post what I get from day to day, for those who want to be in the loop.

As for us here at home...all is well...nothing has changed. Isaac won his basketball game this morning and we have another one tonight. We have many wonderful people watching out for us and taking care of us. Not that I am incapable of being a single mom for such a short time, but it's nice to know people love us and want to help. We are blessed.

"Tent City" as crews now call the make-shift homes of thousands of Haitians. Hundreds of people line up to receive medical assistance, resources, or both.