After arriving yesterday afternoon, we had dinner & evening report. Bed time came early in my new home- my "birth"- I share a room with 3 other women- my team leader, Christina; a radiologist , and another doc. Lights are out by 10pm which is just fine as "morning relleve (?) sounds at 5:30am- ouch! We had early breakfast, orientation & finally off to the wards to see patients by mid-day. I am stationed with the peds ward- census is way down to about 12 patients- but quite severe injuries. We had a child helicoptered in this afternoon with a skull fx and a broken leg which happened with the earthquake- they are still just showing up! I have several kids with fractures/amputations/broken backs with new rods placed/ serious infections/ and a pretty new baby who is gorgeous. There is a child who had a major facial reconstruction and multiple fx. Finally, there is a ''john doe"- he is formally called- Johnny D who was dropped off & has no family claiming him. Turns out besides his injuries, he has cancer of his eye & orbit- had surgery & will recover minus an eye. I am learning so much & hope that I can contribute to provide good care to these children. There are 3 pediatricians and I am working along side 2 other Navy PNP's which is wonderful.
The ship folks are incredibly welcoming. This whole operation is called Operation Unified Response & it is strictly a humanitarian mission- not a "military" mission. I have had a chance to see what wonderful things our Navy has done for the people of Haiti. I have listened to many horrific medical stories from the staff who is just starting to decompress. Tonite, we will have a final briefing @7pm as we do every nite.
Tomorrow is another day on the peds ward...I hope at some time to go ashore to see patients. The Comfort is in a transition phase & trying to discharge all its patients as soon as possible over the next week or two.
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Glad you arrived safely! I can almost picture your young patients. I have no doubt that your team is providing great care for them and how comforting for them to know that they are being taken care of. Wish I was there...
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed your call today, but got your message and sounds like quite a view from the deck! I am so excited for you and proud that you are actually there, in Haiti, helping patients with care that they probably never dreamed of in their lives. It is cool to read your blogs and follow along, wish Wendy and I were with you!!!
ReplyDeleteHello sister, I continue to pray for all of the little ones, big ones, and in between ones in Haiti...especially your little John Doe! Put him in your suitcase and bring him home to me..we have plenty of room! I have no doubt that you will make such a difference in their little lives! Take good care, Patty
ReplyDeleteKathy, we're watching your blog carefully here in the office. Patients are following you on Facebook! We have the picture of you at BWI in the office. Hang in there! Glad you made it there safe.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've seen this already but maybe not... here's a link to the photo JHH has on its website. Love those matching t-shirts!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/haiti/
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteWelcome aboard! Good luck and be safe out there. Look for LCDR Lindsey (sp), ENT / Facial Plastics MD. I work with her father--his callsign is "Bear." Easy to remember!
She has been there for 30 days+, working 18-20 hours days non-stop. I hope you get to enjoy MIDRATS! BTW, it has nothing to do with vermin with tails, but you do eat at MIDRATS! Matt