CHANGING LIVES AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE
We spent the first part of our first full day unpacking our bags of supplies for the medical clinic and construction projects. We set up the clinic under the cabana to take advantage of the airflow, while some electrical work was done at the medical clinic building.
MEDICAL TEAM: We saw about 80 patients in our 1/2 day of work, malaria, PID, parasite-driven skin lesions, back pain from carrying heavy loads on their heads, and an ocular parasite (in the eye). A premature14 day old, 3 pound baby boy came in with a fever,dehydration, jaundice and liver failure. After many attempts and collapsed veins, an I.V. line was inserted and the baby received some fluids and antibiotics and was perking up and looking better and will be seen at the clinic again tomorrow. With a heart rate of 80 that this boy had, CPR would usually be given in the states, but was up to 140 by the time the fluids were completed.
Stacey & Toby Torrens (Tampa, FL) enjoying the children at Eden Garden Orphanage
DENTAL DUO: Dr. George Gibb (a retired dentist from Kansas City) and his wife Sandy as his hygienist, saw 12 patients today and pulled about 24 teeth - he said he typically would have seen than 50-60 patients in one day at home, but had 2 cases in particular that were very time consuming. One lady (mid-50's) had a number of abscesses and broken off/partial teeth and was in quite a bit of pain. She requested that he pull them all out so he pulled 14 of her teeth out today and she is coming back in a few days to get more pulled.
CONSTRUCTION CREW: Kurt Kesselman, Misael Henriquez, Steve & Owen Faehner and Steve Burkholder worked on electrical wiring and installing the first of 8 toilets today in the new school bath house. Not the most glamorous job, for certain. Larry Wooster, Toby Torrens and Steve Burkholder worked in the Eden Garden medical clinic building, running and installing electrical lines and security lights and are almost ready to install ceiling fans which will make the clinic much more comfortable to work in. Scott Kramer and Ron Chapman worked on replacing the currently defective sewer system behind the dorm rooms.
As we reflected on the day in our sharing session this evening, one of the nurses commented that your paradigm has to shift when nursing in a completely different kind of environment than she is accustomed to at home. Simple things like asking patients when they last ate (so they knew if their stomachs could handle the medication or not), and nearly all replying that it had been 24 or more hours since their last meal. We have been told that most people in the local community eat an average of only 3 times in the period of one week. A question that would be so routine normally, seems so out of place here.
All in all, we had a fantastic first day. This team of 24 has already become family, and we are only 2 days in! That's just one of the many blessings that we love so much about these trips.
Mandy Gibb (Burtonsville, MD) is not a nurse but plays one in Haiti, while she got vitals on incoming patients as a triage nurse.
Georgine Straw (Silver Spring, MD) viewing an ocular parasite in an 8 year old boy which has caused irreversible blindness in that eye.
Owen Faehner removing the I.V. line from the baby after receiving fluids
Kelly Hlavka (Tampa, FL) playing with her friends