It is 8 pm and I am sitting in the OR recovering a 5 year old patient after we took care of his leg for a very bad infection. Normally we would take the patient to a recovery room staffed with nurses specially trained in the care of these patients. When stable, the patient would go to his room. If he needed oxygen or a monitor we would order it. Here there is no recovery room or recovery room nurses. After we decide he is safe to leave our care, we will carry him or use our makeshift stretcher and take him to a mattress on the floor in a tent shared with 8 or so other children. He had a very badly infected leg and was very stoic. He didn't cry when we brought him to the OR, and only did so when we checked his IV.
The people here are amazing. They are happy, and grateful for care. Their family members provide all the basic needs such as clothing, bed linens and food. The conditions for them are very poor. No bathrooms, no water, no comforts.
We have the best facilities in Southern Haiti. This was a hospital that was well established before the earthquake. It was started in 1979 by Dr. Brinson McGowan as a member of the Baptist mission. It is called CME or Central Medical Emmanuel in Cayes Jacmel. The property was really not damaged in the quake. Most of the damage was in Jacmel, right next door.