Seven Simple Words

Hello,

We continue to be  very busy at Double Harvest.  We were surprised by a group from Ohio showing up rather unexpectedly today. They are going into Port-au-Prince tomorrow and plan on leaving Thursday.  

Overall cases keep coming in.  There are a few new fractures and many interesting cases as well as a lot of  follow ups.  We are seeing several cases of infections as well as delayed unions.  We’re also seeing “come back in three weeks for removal of external fixators”  and rarely see enough healing to take them off.   I think this has to do with both operating conditions and malnutrition.   It is Haitian custom to decrease movement for nearly three months after any sort of surgery.  Because of this custom we are seeing stiff joints that need manipulations.    The cases that need surgery tend to be a little more complex and are complicated by the small C-arm and the small OR’s.  

I can’t even begin to tell you how great our team has turned out to be.  Honoria our anesthesiologist keeps us (and the Haitians) laughing throughout the day.   Paul our CRNA is his more reserved side-kick.  They’ve been unbelievable.   Honoria has ventured out to the markets and we’re all trying some Haitian foods which has proven to be quite an adventure.  The PACU has been expertly run by the two Sharons and the utility player Sher.  They certainly make us comfortable  knowing that our post operative  patients will have great care and do their best to work with Haitian nurses.  

Matt and Brent cover all aspects of patient care.  They have taken over the clinic after our triage extraordinaire Bev has streeted or treated and assisted in the OR.   Every patient is taken care of appropriately from first encounter to discharge whether surgical or clinical.  Both Bev and Sher assist wherever needed. 

Gene has worked hours both in and out of the OR making sure we have all the equipment we need.   Both Mary and Gene have spent countless hours looking for lost pieces of equipment and sequestering everything from roungeurs, pic-ups and trash bags.  Mary has proven quite nimble ducking under the fracture table and looking for necessary equipment in the storeroom. 

Pete is just great.  He sacrificed his body to check the functionality of the c-arm.  He is great to work with in the OR.  His love for humanity knows  no depths.  He suffers me silently. 

Mark…”we desperately need orthopedic surgeons in Haiti”  - seven simple words from one old friend to another and what a profound effect those words have had on so many lives.   We have witnessed an unbelievable catastrophe and many of us have seen that first hand.  One can not come to Haiti and not be filled with hope.  

Regards,

Mark Asperheim