First Week Concludes
Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:55PM The team left this morning. Christian, RN, Jeremy, PA, and I are the only "Blanc" (white people) left for the weekend. The three of us will be the "constant factor" over this entire month. It's 21h00 (9pm) and all is quiet. All the lights are out and most are asleep here in the compound. I hear the sounds of the overhead fan spinning, vehicles driving & honking on the street outside the stone wall & steel gate of the retreat compound....
21h48 Well, the honking was for the sentry to open the gate. There was a medical emergency at the gate. The pastor came running down the blackened hall, asking if I was a doctor. Apparently an 18 year old woman was having difficulty breathing and chest pains. Somehow they had heard that a doctor was here and her family rushed her over in a car. After a quick evaluation and a broken history in French & Creole, translated into broken English, I figured out that a stone or brick had fallen on her upper back during the earthquake.
Tonight she was drinking some milk when she had sudden sharp chest pains. By the time she arrived here her heart was racing at 130 beats a minute, breathing about 30 breaths a minute and a normal BP. The pains in her mid back and ribs were bad enough to put her into a panic attack and the combination terrified her along with everyone around her.
Only after a quick prayer for God's guidance and no response to a puff of albuterol (asthma medication) did I evaluate her spine and ribs. Doing OMT (Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment) to her ribs and back allowed the pain to subside enough for her to calm down from the panic attack. I liked her breathing calmly & deeply at 18 breatha a minuteand a pulse of 92 much better than she had arrived.
A Tylenol for the remainder of the pain and instructions to her mother & friends to keep her focused on breathing slowly were given before the Pastor prayed again for healing and calmness. They all drove off a few minutes later after profuse thank yous and a sleepy smile from Fransca.
It was beautiful how, even though no one understood English, they all joined in in prayer when I started to pray for guidance.
I learned tonight that in an emergency I could do OMT on someone reclining in the front seat of a small sedan with about 20 concerned people crowding around. If I had any doubts about being able to help with OMT while I was out here, those doubts are now gone.
It is now dark & quiet again. All but I appear to be asleep. Goodnight.
Reader Comments (5)
PRAISE GOD DOC for your knowledge and being able to do what you know in such a situation. You were truly meant to be where you are GOD is showing us all what we already knew, how thankful we are to have such a wonderful LADY, and DOC to go to when need be. PRAISE GOD for all you are doing, both over there and when you are here take care of yourself and come home to us safely. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers.
IGood Morning, It Blesses my heart every time I read your Blog and see how GOD is using you. I pray for your safety and health and the guidence that only GOD can give you in certain situations. I knew you would be an asset to your team from my own experience. God gave you a GREAT GIFT and is now allowing you to use it on people who have never known treatment like this before. Keep strong and well. Will be anxious to hear your stories when you return.
In Christian Love,
Brenda
JUST A QUICK NOTE THINKING OF YOU DOWN THERE AND HOPING YOU ARE SAFE AND GOD BLESS AND BE SAFE
Oh My, you have surely touched my heart more than you'll ever know I am so proud of who you are and what your doing. You surely are these peoples guardian angel, God has truly blessed you with such a wonderful gift. I think of you often and pray for your safety in these trying times, Eva you are the best!!! GOD SPEED girlfriend, xox Bec.................
Eva, Thank you for your service to the Haitian people and to God, in our place. Please know that we are constantly lifting you, the other aid workers and the Haitian up in prayer. In His Precious Name, Dan