February 28, 2010

  • Haiti update #3 from Juanita

    Sat, Feb 06, 2010

     Ok, so here's some vocabulary...

     

    ward- the tents where the overnight(s) patients stay

    are you happy to do that?- are you okay with doing that?

    trolly- stretcher bed or exam table

    theatre- operating room

    latrine- toilet

    parecetamol- tylenol

     

       A glimpse of one day that has been similar to the past couple of days (today was different)....

     

    Venita (an RN my age from Indiana here with IFM) and I made our way back to the ward and found Marlene(a nurse from Holland). That day only, the regular nurse, Janos (from the United Kingdom) was sick. After Venita went to visit the latrine, we made our way through the tents that were in our charge for the day and she gave us the run-down on who was going to theatre that day. You need to understand, though, that just because they're on the schedule to go, doesn't mean that they have time to get them done that day. Marlene ultimately was the one that we would go to with any questions that we had. Three of our patients were scheduled to go to theatre that day. Two of them were already gone (if I remember right), and two of them were waiting to go home (wherever that was, maybe just a tent somewhere). The ones that were going home were both young girls. 

       We had two Haitian nurses in our charge, and they were supposed to do most of the care, and we would supervise. We would like to teach the Haitians to be able to at least somewhat be able to care for the patients. What are they to do when we leave if we don't teach them?

    So once we had given them time to get their work done, Venita and I went through the tents and checked charts. We checked to see that blood pressure, pulse, and temperature had been taken and within normal limits on each patient, and that the meds had been given. The meds mostly consist of Parecetamol (or sometimes it says Tylenol... same thing), Ibuprofen, and an antibiotic. They don't have that many meds. 

       Diana, an 8 yr. old, had gone to theatre, I think, to have her dressing changed or something done with her hand that she had surgery on. Diana wasn't around when I got there, but later in the day, she was in her bed. I could tell she wasn't feeling the greatest because she was in her bed and not bouncing around and following us around. She's such a spitfire and bright spot. She was up later in the day though.

       Venita discovered about five Haitian nurses around one of the patients with an IV. The patient's IV had gone bad. She was to go to theatre later that day, and she didn't need any IV anitbiotics, so Marlene was okay with us leaving it out and they would start one when she went to theatre. 

       Sometime during the afternoon Venita and I handed out cookies to the patients that were allowed to eat (the ones not going to surgery). Diana was bouncing around and wanted some cookies. I told her, in my limited Creole, to go lay down, so she slowly went and sat on her bed so that when we came by she was there and could get cookies. I didn't mean that she had to go and lay in bed all day, but she had to go and wait her turn for us to come around to her bed. So after she got her cookies, she bounced back out the door of the tent. 

       One of our patients that came back from surgery had to finish the IV fluids that she was getting and then get an antibiotic that was to run over four hours. So we had to figure up the drops per minute and then set the clamp on the tubing at the right place so that we had the correct drops per minute. That means timing and counting drops and playing with the roller clamp until it's right.

       One of our other patients that had surgery was a young girl that needed a skin graft. Not only a skin graft, but they had to take some muscle from elsewhere to fill in the gash in her wrist. So now her wrist is sown to her stomach and there's a skin flap. I just saw the drawing of what they did. She wasn't allowed to sit up more than 45 degrees. Poor girl, she'll have to have her wrist sown to her stomach for two weeks, I think is what they said.

       At one o'clock there were more meds to pass, so that meant another check around two or so. I've never been a nursing instructor, but I have been in nursing school, and I feel kind of like a nursing instructor back in the ward. But that's okay; that day we "checked off" one of the Haitian nurses to give IV antibiotics. It's not like here in the states. Most of the antibiotics are given IV push.

       At three o'clock they're supposed to take blood pressure, pulse, and temperature on everyone again. So around four we can do our final rounds, checking to see that they got it all done and checking the meds that need to be given that evening after we leave and address any issues.

       One this particular day, we started a little later. Venita and I had gotten into a discussion with one of the British nurses about Creation, and some other stuff. One of the guys (he's in nursing school and almost finished) that's working with IFM, came by and joined the conversation. I let him take over, he's good at debating and knows his stuff. He's not afraid to challenge someone and show them inconsistencies or weak points in their argument. He's a German Baptist from California. His name is Chris. I joined in on the conversation then after Venita and I got our rounds done. Please pray for our foreign coworkers. This particular guy's name is Rob. The day before that, Chris and Romona (one of the nurses her with IFM and my roommate) had been talking to one of the anesthesiologists, who is an agnostic. I love how God had given us opportunities to talk to our coworkers about Him. 

       We left late because there were so many patients to see. Poor Chris had driven that morning, and he is not experienced at driving in Haiti, but hey, we had to get there somehow, right? The ride in probably wasn't as stressful as the ride home. Chris did a great job though. One the way home, we passed about five or six UN tanks going in the other direction. Chris had to drive in the dark too, and traffic was terrible coming out of Port. He was stressed about hitting someone- a pedestrian- because supposedly Haitians don't take kindly to that. I mean, hitting someone is a big deal, but I guess you don't know if you'll lose you're life over it till it happens. At least that's what they say. We make it home fine.

     

       Today I was working in the clinic area where the docs see the patients. We're not really seeing earthquake victims in that part anymore. It's more like a doctor's office. You know, this ache or pain or problem. Ok, so take these pills or antibiotics for this amount of time.

       Something interesting though: Ramona and I got to do some digging around on one of the guys from the mission. He got a splinter in his hand. So I shot some lidocaine around the area and numbed it up so that we could dig. We didn't get the splinter out, but we felt it. We didn't have all the time in the world to work on him because we were really there to take care of the Haitian patients, not one of the American staff. At least we opened it up so that hopefully it can work it's way out somewhat.

       We left Delma 33 early today because we were done seeing patients in the clinic area. We went on another tour in Port. This time we went out toward the water more. On our way out there, we passed a body on the side of the road! I don't know, but we wonder if maybe it wasn't just recently dug out from rubble. And about 10 yards from the body was a guy going on with life washing a truck. But what are they supposed to do? What can they do? Stand around and gape at the destruction and feel sorry for themselves? That's one thing that kind of stands out- they're going on with life, it seems so at least. 

     

       And now I need to sign off. I have off tomorrow- we all do. We're supposed to have off every Sunday now. The last time I was in church was Jan. 10, and that was a Haitian church. It will be good to one day, Lord willing, go to church again with people I know who speak a language that I can understand. But meanwhile, God's children are in Haiti too, and even though I don't understand most all Creole, sometimes I know what song they're singing because I recognize the tune. Besides that, we had a singing, sharing, and praying time tonight here at the mission. We did it outside. It was nice.

     

       Here's wishing all a blessed week with Jesus! Thanks for your prayers. Oh a praise report- I haven't been dreaming about earthquakes and I think it's the prayers of you all- the way it just suddenly stopped and I haven't had one since!    ~juanita