If anyone knows someone with a plane or who is willing to finance a plane to transport patients from Haiti to the US, let me know. We have several patients who have been granted humanitarian parole for medical reasons to come to the US, and hospitals willing to take them, but we need to get them from here to there.
We are also looking for ways to have supplies flown from Florida to Jacmel.
We had a busy day, we ran two ORs, there are about 30 inpatients, and hundreds of outpatients every day.
But I have a place to sleep, food to eat, a place to take a shower (cold water), and am meeting some wonderful people.
The Haitian people are happy, friendly, stoic and very gracious. They are quite content even in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Many of the people we are seeing now have medical issues, not necessarily related to the earthquake, but we are able to take care of them, whereas the opportunities for that have been limited in the past. We are also now seeing some of the longer term issues from the quake-wounds not healing, fractures that need further attention, things that got put aside because they weren't life threatening.
I am grateful for all of the support from so many people.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Things are hopping today. We took care of a 12 year old with a parotid mass. Now we have two patients with forearm fractures, a patient with a shoulder dislocation, one with a hernia and one with fibroids. There will probably be more.
It is hot and sunny. The OR has no windows but a small air conditioner that keeps it tolerable. I don't really have to worry about the patients getting cold!
It is hot and sunny. The OR has no windows but a small air conditioner that keeps it tolerable. I don't really have to worry about the patients getting cold!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Liz's First Day of Surgery
Today was a busy day. I performed my first surgeries at the hospital at Jacmel. Our surgeons didn't get here in time yesterday to do any cases, so we had several today. Most people go to church, and the generator isn't turned on until after church, and we need the generator for the OR, so we didn't start until 11:30.
Our first case was a four month old who had a wound on his arm. He was pinned under rubble, his mother was killed and his father injured. He will probably have some long term damage to his hand.
During the procedure:
after surgery, a patient is transported back to her bed:
Our first case was a four month old who had a wound on his arm. He was pinned under rubble, his mother was killed and his father injured. He will probably have some long term damage to his hand.
During the procedure:
Postop:
We also had a patient with a hip dislocation, and one with a tibia fracture.Some things work great, some don't. We have a great anesthesia set up, but no real tourniquet for surgery. The team had to improvise a tourniquet for this patient:
In this procedure, the patient's hip is being treated:
after surgery, a patient is transported back to her bed:
We had a child come in hit by a motorcycle, there was some concern about a closed head injury or cspine injury but all we can do it evaluate clinically and get plain xrays.
We are trying to get several patients evacuated to Philly for treatment, but the logistics are complicated. People want copies of documents but there are no printers or copy machines.
Two people had to fly to Port au Prince today via blackhawk to get the papers stamped.
We are having a make shift superbowl party tonight!
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The link below is for Doctors United for Haiti which is the group I am working with.
From the home page, click on "Team Ange" to see a description of our activities and more pictures.
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Many people have expressed their support for me.
Thank you all!
Please keep praying for us and for all those working to assist in Haiti!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
First day here
It is my first full day here. I made rounds this morning with the team that is here. The orthopod is on his way home, but two more will be here this afternoon.
There are about 30 inpatients, in four "wards" which are either open air buildings or tents. They have beds or mattresses to stay on, and family members take care of their basic needs. There are many orthopaedic injuries, mostly healing well, but disposition on leaving here will be an issue.
Here is a boy named Christian with a family member who has a femur fracture in external fixator.
No surgery yet today, but as soon as our orthopod gets here, there is someone with an open tibia fracture sent from a clinic.
The 8 day old baby left, but now there is one who is 3 months old but only 3 pounds, as you can see in this picture.
Many of the patients are here with basic medical needs, not all are earthquake related.
I am going to look at the OR and figure out exactly what I have in terms of anesthesia equipment and supplies for later.
I am staying in a building with a working toilet and cold water shower. People from the hospital are providing us with three meals a day. I had spaghetti, peanut butter and half a grapefruit for breakfast.
Time to get to work!
There are about 30 inpatients, in four "wards" which are either open air buildings or tents. They have beds or mattresses to stay on, and family members take care of their basic needs. There are many orthopaedic injuries, mostly healing well, but disposition on leaving here will be an issue.Here is a boy named Christian with a family member who has a femur fracture in external fixator.
No surgery yet today, but as soon as our orthopod gets here, there is someone with an open tibia fracture sent from a clinic.
The 8 day old baby left, but now there is one who is 3 months old but only 3 pounds, as you can see in this picture.
Many of the patients are here with basic medical needs, not all are earthquake related.I am going to look at the OR and figure out exactly what I have in terms of anesthesia equipment and supplies for later.
I am staying in a building with a working toilet and cold water shower. People from the hospital are providing us with three meals a day. I had spaghetti, peanut butter and half a grapefruit for breakfast.
Time to get to work!
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