Thursday August 7, 2008

Today came an unexpected break as the surgery patients didn't show for the afternoon. The pace has picked up this week; Anne Marie is back at work, with no shortage of patients. Tuesday she whipped out six surgeries after a full clinic day.

Tuesday for me, however, was another Haitian adventure (I swear I'm working here guys). I went to Port de Paix with Rob as we took the American girls to the airport to go home. I made the trip with the sole purpose of getting a phone. Imagine that, a whole day trip just for that goal! Haiti...

So, I said a sad goodbye to Leah, Kate, Ashley, and Jackie and were off on errands that involved moto taxi rides with me perhaps swearing a little in my head as we weaved through streets crowded with people, motos, and rather large trucks. It was me in a skirt, holding on for dear life and all the while imagining Mr. Belizaire's wounds - ha! But no worries, we got there and back in one piece.

The day was a success and we even tap tapped it back to Passe Catabois Haitian style - that is 14 people crammed into the back of a tiny toyota pick up with bags, goods, groceries, and all. My knees are a little bruised but even though I don't understand a lot of creole I got to enjoy what I'm pretty sure was a heated political discussion with the group.

I got back to PC in time to help with the full day at the clinic. I actually ended up holding an IV bottle with some bronchodilation meds for a man who had had an asthma attack for probably close to a week. He was doing better when all of a sudden he started to panic a bit and said "I'm suffocating" over and over. Anne Marie came and found his lungs were filling with fluid, probably from all the IV fluid - apparently he also has a bad heart most likely from chronic lung problems. However, with a lot of prayer, lasix, and Anne Marie's quick hands he pulled out of it and is stable now, although his lung and heart problems are chronic. So, for the past two days I've been giving him an IV med without fluid, so I sit at his side and push it in over 20 minutes or so.

Also today, we had a small success. The parents of Flaynez took her for the morning and did her tube feedings! We could use some prayer that they will be able to be safe with the tube or that Flaynez will grow strong enough to feed by bottle herself. Anne Marie thinks she most likely has a congenital syndrome; we're guessing trisomy 18. So, we are not sure how the long term outcome will be for her.

Anyway, thanks all for suffering through my detailedness - I get it from my mom, blame her...