As soon as church was over, we jumped right into clinic. We had a huge crowd waiting for us! When we were ready to start, a lady that had passed out was brought to us. She was carried into the adult medical clinic and placed on one of our cots. Her husband and daughter were with her and we found out that she was 4 months pregnant! Her blood pressure (BP) was 70/40! For those of you who do not know, that it is very low and scary! The average BP should be 120/80.
We all immediately sprung into action and of course we had a huge audience! This was the first emergent situation we had so far on this trip. I know this might sound weird to most people, but to me it was really exciting! We checked her blood sugar (for hypoglycemia-low blood sugar) and hemoglobin (the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs) for anemia. They both tested normal.
Cynthia immediately started an IV and we gave her a bolus ( a large amount, quickly) of IV fluids. Of course we had no IV pumps, so Brewster rigged the IV fluids to hang with a piece of rope hanging over the rafters! How McGiver of him! Our patient ended up getting a total of 2 liters! She was not bleeding or cramping, so we were pretty confident that this had nothing to do with her baby. After finding out a little more information from the family, we believed that she was just overheated and dehydrated. You would be too if you were 4 months pregnant and walked 3 hours in intense heat to go to church and clinic!
I stayed with our patient, held her hand, gave her water, prayed, and continued to check her BP and pulse while she laid on the cot and rested. Her BP was improving and she started to wake up. Slowly but surely she became more stable.
While the rest of the team started seeing other patients, I stayed with my lady and her family. Her daughter was scared so we tried to re-assure her and gave her a little stuffed animal. After a little while, my patient told me (through a interpreter) that she had to pee! For her to be awake, talking, and needing to pee was so great! I checked her orthostatic BP (laying, sitting, and standing) to see if she was stable enough to be on her feet. Her BP was fine and she was able to stand without feeling dizzy. I assisted her to the outhouse and she actually did really well. Once she peed, we walked back into the clinic for her to rest a little longer on the cot. While she was resting, we were trying to make arrangements to get her home without her having to walk. We were able to get someone with a motorcycle to drive her home! We were so relieved to know that she did not have to walk 3 hours back home.
After she drove off into the sunset, I jumped right back into seeing patients with Matt and Chris. However, soon after I joined in, Chris had to bail out. Chris had not been feeling well all morning and had to make many trips to the outhouse. It all caught up with him and he had to go lay down in the girls room. Poor Chris! So Matt and I continued with clinic until it was time for lunch.
The ladies prepared rice and beans, delicious. Our team each brought some of our own food (crackers, granola bars, nuts, canned tuna/chicken, dried fruit, etc) so we would break out our stash at lunch and for snacks. Leslie and I shared a can of mandarin oranges! They were so good! Yeah fruit!
We rushed through lunch because there were a TON of people waiting to be seen and we wanted to see as many people as we could. As I walked out of our dining room and was heading to the clinic, I saw this little boy (WARNING: Below picture may not be suitable for some people).
We all immediately sprung into action and of course we had a huge audience! This was the first emergent situation we had so far on this trip. I know this might sound weird to most people, but to me it was really exciting! We checked her blood sugar (for hypoglycemia-low blood sugar) and hemoglobin (the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs) for anemia. They both tested normal.
Cynthia immediately started an IV and we gave her a bolus ( a large amount, quickly) of IV fluids. Of course we had no IV pumps, so Brewster rigged the IV fluids to hang with a piece of rope hanging over the rafters! How McGiver of him! Our patient ended up getting a total of 2 liters! She was not bleeding or cramping, so we were pretty confident that this had nothing to do with her baby. After finding out a little more information from the family, we believed that she was just overheated and dehydrated. You would be too if you were 4 months pregnant and walked 3 hours in intense heat to go to church and clinic!
I stayed with our patient, held her hand, gave her water, prayed, and continued to check her BP and pulse while she laid on the cot and rested. Her BP was improving and she started to wake up. Slowly but surely she became more stable.
While the rest of the team started seeing other patients, I stayed with my lady and her family. Her daughter was scared so we tried to re-assure her and gave her a little stuffed animal. After a little while, my patient told me (through a interpreter) that she had to pee! For her to be awake, talking, and needing to pee was so great! I checked her orthostatic BP (laying, sitting, and standing) to see if she was stable enough to be on her feet. Her BP was fine and she was able to stand without feeling dizzy. I assisted her to the outhouse and she actually did really well. Once she peed, we walked back into the clinic for her to rest a little longer on the cot. While she was resting, we were trying to make arrangements to get her home without her having to walk. We were able to get someone with a motorcycle to drive her home! We were so relieved to know that she did not have to walk 3 hours back home.
After she drove off into the sunset, I jumped right back into seeing patients with Matt and Chris. However, soon after I joined in, Chris had to bail out. Chris had not been feeling well all morning and had to make many trips to the outhouse. It all caught up with him and he had to go lay down in the girls room. Poor Chris! So Matt and I continued with clinic until it was time for lunch.
The ladies prepared rice and beans, delicious. Our team each brought some of our own food (crackers, granola bars, nuts, canned tuna/chicken, dried fruit, etc) so we would break out our stash at lunch and for snacks. Leslie and I shared a can of mandarin oranges! They were so good! Yeah fruit!
We rushed through lunch because there were a TON of people waiting to be seen and we wanted to see as many people as we could. As I walked out of our dining room and was heading to the clinic, I saw this little boy (WARNING: Below picture may not be suitable for some people).
This little boy was burnt by falling into an open fire! Poor baby.
Everyone got back to work! Mandy, Cynthia, and Webster were busy seeing all the babies!
Cynthia preparing to give this baby a shot.
Poor little bottom.I then made my way back into the adult medical clinic. Here are pictures of the entire process.
Signing in/registering with Leslie with help from interpreter Jean Louis. Behind them on the left is Duponte checking BP, pulse, and temperature. Then on the right is Brewster taking pictures of each patient so we can keep it on record.
Then they move over to the next station to see Julie and Billy to have their finger pricked with a lancet to have their blood sugar and hemoglobin checked. They were able to get the results in seconds! This was the first time they have done lab work in Haiti! I thought that was really cool! When they were done, they would wait to see a doctor (or me). 
Here are the doctor stations! Matt and Bob (in front). Chris and Duns (in the back).
When the patient comes to our station, they bring us a piece of paper with all of their information (picture, name, township, age (if they know it), vital signs, previous diagnoses, etc). We then do a physical assessment and the patients state their complaints (obviously through an interpreter). We then make a note of their complaints/diagnosis on that paper and we collect them before they leave. The papers are then taken back home, categorized and placed into a computer system to update all of the patients files! Yes, it is a long process, but it is so helpful and better for the patients continuity of care.
Once the patient is treated and given medication, they leave. Then the whole process starts all over again! Exhausting, isn't it?After lunch was over we got to do a surgery! Well, it wasn't anything life threatening, but it was still cool! A lady had a Lipoma (a benign tumor composed of fatty tissue)on the top of her foot. It was so bothersome that she had a hard time wearing shoes! Chris performed the surgery while Matt assisted him. We brought some sterile equipment, drapes and suture kits; but I am sure it would have been a little different if it was done in the states! However, the guys did the best they could and I was very impressed and intrigued!
I am so happy and excited to see and do things that I would never get the opportunity to if it was not for this trip. Chris and Matt have showed and taught me so much. Not only has it been spiritual and educational, but I have had so much fun! I am so blessed to be with this group and it is nice to see that these doctors are actually human just like me! This trip has been so amazing! I am enjoying myself so much here. I really don't think I am ready to leave yet! I know that may sound crazy though, but it is true!
As we were seeing patients, we quickly realized that we were running out of medications! We re-grouped with the team and Pere Soner to discuss the situation. We decided to go ahead and medicate with what we had and then we would write "prescriptions" for the medications that we didn't. Pere Soner or Carmel were then going to travel to another village/clinic that have medicines and will then bring them back here next Saturday. Then the patients will be able to return with their prescriptions to retrieve the medicines they need! Whew, that was exhausting!
The dental clinic was in full swing! Laura and Dave were busy all day long extracting teeth.
Here are their Haitian dental assistants and the sterilization area.During lunch Dave broke away early to take a quick nap.
He is exhausted!
The Vet clinic was trucking right along also. Today no goats or other animals died, so I guess it was a successful day! Just Kidding Ed!
After all of the clinics were done for the day, some of the team wanted to go on a hike. Here are some pictures from the hike. 
Matt with his Haitian friends!
Chris surrounded with love!
Matt hiking with new friends!
Cute little goat at night.I really needed some time alone, so I stayed on the compound to relax and do some journaling. It was an awesome and exhausting day, but I loved every minute of it! I can't believe it's almost time for us to leave!
Coming up next...Last night in Lotore!
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