Haiti Blog 5

Another Day.

Angelina Jolie visited our town today, but we didn't see her. That's OK. I always liked Jennifer better.

We encountered some big time politics this morning. On arrival to our medical compound, we found that all our equipment had been moved out, and we were being displaced by Haitian doctors. It turns out that they had become jealous of the international teams, and wanted to flex their muscles. There was a toe to toe argument at the gate until they backed down and allowed us all to enter. It dawned on me as I watched the scene unfold, that the Haitian people were being treated by some of the best health care providers from around the world, and they came close to being deprived of that care by local third world politics.
Fortunately the problem was resolved and it was back to work.

It was hot and muggy today, but we have all experienced this type of climate during our summer months at home, so we can get by. Conversely, I do not believe the Haitians could easily adjust to the weather you are experiencing back home.

The room which we are using as an operating room is in a building which was 75% destroyed in the quake. The building has been declared unsafe by the Canadian military engineers. This is denoted by a big fluorescent orange X painted on the side of the building.
Unfortunately, we have no other option. I am told that the Canadians are not happy, but they have looked the other way.

 The room next to where we are operating is the pediatrics room which was destroyed. The crushed gurneys are still there, and we were told that 2 patients perished there.

There was an aftershock yesterday afternoon. Our colleagues from D.C. were on the second floor, felt the building sway and quickly left. They walked quickly past us without a word. It was only later that we found out what had happened. They thought we had also felt it, so they didn't bother to stop to tell us!

Peter amputated a young man's arm today. He had been buried in the quake, and had been concealing his mangled arm in a cardboard box since then. It was dead. Natasha had to walk beside him and hold support his arm in the box as he entered the room. His eyes teared up as we told him what we had to do. This is a 24 year old man in a country in which his future was dismal a few weeks ago. What does his future now hold without his dominant right arm?

Our translator today was a great kid named Ted. He is a college student and was on the 6th floor of his school building when the quake hit. The building collapsed beneath him, but because he was on the top floor he survived. All students on the lower 5 floors were buried. They have not even begun the excavation as they do not have enough equipment. He has 22 friends that perished beneath him. He does not have a scratch.
Great kid. He hangs out with us constantly. We started to call him Dr. Ted. I once slipped and call him Ted. He quickly corrected me . . ."it's Dr. Ted, please respect the title". He then erupts with a Geoffrey Holder laugh. This kid’s potential would have no limits in the US. Here, his life expectancy is 48 yrs. Actually, the life expectancy in Haiti was 48 years before the quake. Will probably be less now.

I spoke to a Haitian doctor today about vascular surgery on the island. It does not exist. There is one vascular surgeon in Port au Prince, and his practice is exclusively trauma. The reason for the lack of vascular disease is readily apparent. First of all, cigarette smoking is almost nonexistent. They can’t afford it. Secondly, most vascular disease presents in patients in their 6th or 7th decade of life. Very few Haitians reach that age.

As we are driven to the medical compound each morning we pass by hundreds if not thousands of red Coleman tents, all on the right side of the road. Some have even put their street number on the tent. Apparently they were donated by the UN.

There are street vendors everywhere. Believe me, it is not all that appetizing when the fruit is displayed in front of a destroyed building reeking of the smell of decomposing flesh.

There are no stores or restaurants in Haiti. It is strange, but I would love a cup of coffee but there is no where to buy one. Everything is sold from ramshackle shanties, where the goods are simply hung out in front. Having been to many 3rd world nations, you can usually find a convenience store or even a supermarket. Not here. This country is like no other.

I had one patient that I was supposed to operate on today. I had seen him the day before and asked him to return around 11 AM today. Unfortunately the Haitians decided to close the operating theater this afternoon for maintenance. I informed the patient, and asked him to come back tomorrow. He shrugged his shoulders, agreed, and turned away. Out of curiosity, I asked him where he had come from. He had driven his moped for two hours over God awful roads, spending money that he does not have on gas. He accepted the cancellation with a shrug of the shoulders. I could only imagine the response if a Bostonian drove his moped via back roads to Portland, ME and was told to come back tomorrow.

There is no diet coke, or diet anything in this country. This afternoon we ran out of water, so a couple of us went out the front of the medical compound where we had seen a woman selling drinks from a cooler. No problem, the bottles would be sealed. When she opened the cooler and moved aside her dirty laundry that was soaking in the water, we figured our thirst could hold off for a little longer. Dr. Roman says that we can survive three days without fluids. I prefer that route to the dirty laundry.

There was a two year old girl crying alligator tears this morning. I gave her a little beanie baby dog. The tears immediately stopped, and she kept saying "woof woof." Really cute. It’s funny, but the kids love the tropical fish and bird beanie babies, but look quite confused when we hand them a moose or walrus. They love them nevertheless.

The beanie babies are enormous hits. I felt a tug on my shirt this afternoon, turned around, and there was a mother who had chased me down for a beanie baby for her daughter. It is amazing how something so simple provides so much joy. I wish all the people who donated them could see the look on these kids’ faces as they hold their new stuffed animal. I am actually going to forward my many pictures to the Beanie Baby company to let them know how their product has taken Haiti by storm.

Bill Fennel, is the Lowell General ortho tech that accompanied us. I think that it is safe to say, without hyperbole, that there has never in Haiti's history been better cast applications than what they are receiving with our team. I am very serious.
I only found out tonight that it is not only Bill's first trip out of the country, but this was his first time on an airplane ! How much does that attest to someone's character, that he would be quick to jump on this mission, facing uncertainty and maybe some risk, with virtually no travel experience? This ain’t Hampton Beach . However, Bill has adapted like a world traveler.

Lots of cockroaches where we are sleeping, but at least they don't make noise like the roosters.

More tomorrow.
PB