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The Well Spring Health Center's Blog

Monday
Feb152010

End of Week Two in Haiti

I feel like I'm sitting in the lap of luxury.  Miguel, a missionary trauma counselor, needed to try and restore his computer to functionality, so several of us came downtown the Le Plaza Hotel.  Jeremy is lending me his computer while he and Christian and Fabiola are with a pastor looking at a new site for a clinic this week.  This hotel is one of three hotels still functioning in the city of 4+ million people.  All of the media crews stay here, as well as the IMC (International Medical Corps) medical teams who are working in the general hospital.  (Hopital l'Universite d'Etate d'Haiti -HUEH).  There is free wifi here at the hotel, so I've finally had a chance to look at the blog and read all of your updates.

I just ran into Yvetot, a local producer for CNN, here at the hotel. He recognized me from when they were filming at the Emergency Department on Saturday.  They were filming the night shift at the HUEH were Jeremy, Christian, Franckey (Interpreter), Fabiola and I had pitched in to help over the weekend. They ended up filming me while I was working and he showed me where to find it online just now. He's sitting next to me working on his computer and showed me where the clip was on CNN's website. http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/02/14/mckenzie.haiti.night.shift.cnn See, I really am here. :)

Saturday we worked in the ED for a 10 hour shift.  All but the last 2.5hours were in the shade of a tree and a building, seeing patients as they sat on a hospital bed between the brick buildings and the functioning tent hosptial.  Most of our patients were the "Walk in clinic" type of patients, clearing the ED for the real urgent cases and the ED doctors.  The last 2.5hours of the shift we worked with alone Dr. Eugene, from IMC. I guess that time period is usually a gap in medical coverage with the changing of shifts, so we were really able to help out a lot.  I was able to diagnoseand treat three notably ill people with malaria.  It was great to have a rapid blood test to be able to use for the malaria... thus avoiding the time delay of sending a blood smear to the lab.  Three out of the four cases I tested were positive.

Another 20 year old young man for whom I took over care at the change of shift had an out of control case of diabetes.  Apparently he was diagnosed with his diabetes a few years ago. There had been a big gap in his insulin due to lack of money to buy it, then after the earthquake they haven't even been able to find it.   He was hospitalized for several day, rehydrated and supposedly gotten under control, then discharged Saturday morning.  He and his mother showed up Saturday afternoon with his blood sugar being too high to read, so >500. He was given insulin and I rechecked his sugar again in two hours... only to find that it was still too high to read. He received more insulin and discharged to the "charity house" where there is a nurse who could keep an eye on him and hopefully find some insulin for him.  Unfortunately we couldn't give him any insulin to go as we didn't have enough for the ED use alone.

Another 60 year old gentleman that I saw had a large inguinal hernia. He had not been able to eat in 36 hours, throwing up and not passing any bowel movements for the same time period. His hernia was very painful to palpation.  We found a bed in the ED for him, then waited till there was a surgeon available to reduce the hernia. Two hours later he was doing well, so he was sent home, with the hopes that he may be able to have electivecorrective surgery in a few months.

Jeremy is back with Christian and Fabiola. They have been scoping out a new clinic site for this next week.  Time to return the computer to Jeremy.

Keep praying. I have two more weeks here.

Friday
Feb122010

Carffou Effe

(Incorrectly spelled, sorry.)

Today we returned to the destroyed school where we went last Wednesday.  This is the school where I saw the records from Compassion International which were scattered on the floor of the office that was too unstable for retrieval.

We were able to set up fairly quickly due to the familiarity of the space.  This time the court yard/playground area was filled with benches and covered with tarps. This provided much needed shade for the patients.

We switched our routine and are now giving everyone worm treatments before the vital signs station rather than just before they left.  What a treat this week to have enough support members to have vitals on everyone as well as weights on the kids!  Last week we each took our own vital signs.

It rained early this morning for a few hours.  I had mixed emotions about the rain.  It sounded wonderful, cooled the night air and calmed the dust, but it made the day more humid, mosquitoes worse soon and the worst part was thinking about all the people living in the open under tents made of scraps of cloth & plastic.

I just checked with one of the team members.  Between the seven of us we saw 191 patients in four hours (A little over six patients an hour a piece, all going through an interpreter).

At one point it was a bit concerning as it sounded like the crowd outside the gate was getting angry, but it calmed quickly.  Getting in and out of this community was difficult due to the narrow streets, rubble & tents in the road and the steepness of the hills.  If people had gotten angry and we would have had to leave quickly for safety purposes, it could have gotten messy.

This week we were blessed with a large suitcase of glasses.  So many people lost their glasses in the earthquake.  Many of these people are struggling to see and having headaches now.  It was so exciting to be able to direct them to the "glasses station" to see if some pair ofglasses might help a bit until an optometric clinic can be reestablished.  Certainly not like going to see one of our OD's at home, but the people are so grateful.

Of all of our cases today, one really stands out.  A small baby was brought to be seen who was listless. An IV was put in and she was hydrated for the remainder of the clinic, but she was still poorly responsive.  When the clinic was done Mom & baby were put into the front of one of out trucks and brought to the General Hospital in the city.  The ride took us at least 45 minutes, so you know that she couldn't have been able to make the trip other wise.  When we finally left the hospital the baby was about to be seen & Mom was left with some money & food.  We pray that the baby survives.

Jeremy talked with some of the nurses at the hospital.  Apparently they  have been working non stop for weeks.  Some doing 24 hour shifts just to get the shifts covered.  He volunteered our services (Jeremy,Christian & myself), so it looks like we may be helping in the ER this weekend to give some of them a much needed break.  Be praying for us!  It's been a long time since I've worked an ER. Fortunately Christianis an ER nurse!

Monday
Feb082010

Fabiola

This afternoon JC, one of our drivers, drove the three of us and Fabiola around the city to take photos. Fabiola is a young nurse sharing my room, helping the medical teams.  She is the only other person who shares meals with Christian, Jeremy and myself during the weekend.

After the sun had set, we drove by the national TV station and stopped.  Fabiola jumped out, returning shortly with two young ladies, introducing them to me as her friends.  She then took my hand and told me that I needed to get out of the truck and to follow her inside the gates of the station.  They were broadcasting from inside a van.  She proceeded to introduce me to a couple more friends who were hanging out in an open space beside a car, parked between makeshift tents.  There was a small cook stove, a few belongings, a chair and her four friends. "This is my home now." I asked if they were her family, no, her friend, friend's husband & two younger girls.

I had noticed that there is a Coleman tent under her bed here at the Center.  I assume that she will keep it safe with her until she is no longer helping with the teams, then she will use it for her home.

On the way back to the Center we passed the Convent on the back side of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  It was the huge church which had collapsed on their Priest, killing him.  This is Fabiola's church.

Apparently Fabiola was at the Convent, checking someone's blood pressure when the quake hit.  From what I could understand of the translation of her story, the quake knocked her off of her chair, pushing her away from the outer wall that proceeded to collapse.  A wind then blew her and she rolled out of the building as more collapsed, saving her life.

Being a nurse she said that she felt helpless as she tried to help people around her as she tried to run home to check on her family. She ended up taking off a sweater or outer shirt and tying it around a man's arm or leg that was bleeding out badly.

At one point, while she was running down the road, a man stopped to give her a ride.  Another building fell, crushing the driver as he drove, killing him and trapping Fabiola. Eventually by standers were able to get her free and she was finally able to get home, only to find it flattened & several family members dead inside.

I marvel as I watch Fabiola.  She can't be more than about 23-24 years old. Young, attractive, very friendly, yet shy.  She's always smiling and helping those around her.  She has nothing else to do, so she helps medically with the teams, helping those less fortunate than herself.  Watching her, you would never fathom what she has gone through. She is an amazing young woman.   All I can think of is that God has great plans for her life.  You can see her faith and love of God just in watching her.

Tonight she was in our room as I returned from my shower.  One of the men had borrowed my Bible today and she was holding it for me.  She was reading the 23rd Psalm out loud in English.  God, help me to learn to have the faith and giving spirit of these people, like Fabiola.   Amen.

Sunday
Feb072010

First Sunday in Port au Prince, Haiti

17h00  I'm laying on my bunk, mosquito net attached to the bunk above me and pulled out of the way.  The ceiling fan turning away, attempting to cool the afternoon heat.  I can hear children playing outside the window and across the compound the singing of the afternoon communion service.  Some of the songs I recognize, but most I don't.

Today has been a day of rest.  Breakfast at 7h00, church from 8h00 till after 10h00, changed a leg wound dressing, then napped for a couple of hours. We ate some rice, chicken in a wonderful sauce and sliced beets, carrots & potatoes for a midday meal about 15h00. This time I remembered to take a photo of my plate.

The guys decided to rest more, so I'm writing. Hopefully Jeremy will feel well enough tomorrow for us to be able to take JC's offer to take us into town.  JC is one of our drivers.

I need to tell you about the church service this morning. The first song was a favorite of mine: "How Great Thou Art".  At home we sing a verse or two, here we sang all the verses many times, for probably 4-5minutes.  This song has always had an impact on me, but the words really hit me, especially listening to these people sing with such feeling, even after all that they have been through.

The first hour was a mixture of worship & praise music I recognized and much that I didn't, but after singing them over and over I began to pick up the words and was able to sing along.  All of the service was in French, so I could understand parts of it.  Later in the service people around us shared their personal song books with us so it was easier.  Here everyone has their own copy of the song book in a zippered cover, pages separated by color for language - white for French, green for Creole.

The singing of over 300 people of all ages, full of praise and adoration for God, standing in the shade of tarps, mango trees & buildings was such a blessing and inspiration.  (They can't meet in the church because it is way too small.)

The Scriptures today were from Luke 21 and Isaiah 30.  I could only understand smatterings of the sermon, but I could understand that it was one of hope.

Later this afternoon the pastor told us that this coming Friday through Sunday Christians all over Port au Prince (possibly most of Haiti, I didn't catch that part) will be setting aside from 06h00-18h00 to pray for the future of Haiti.  He said to expect the streets to be somewhat empty as the Christians will be gathered for prayer.

For those of you willing, please set aside some time to join with the Haitians in prayer.  Much of the leadership, at many levels, were killed in the quake, so many here believe that this is an opportunity for the nation to make some radical changes.  We have faith that all of our united prayers will have an impact.

Well, the sun has set and it's cooling off enough for me to go back to our "pharmacy" to do more organizing in preparation for the next medical team.

God's Blessings on each of you.

Saturday
Feb062010

First Week Concludes

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.

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