---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tom Chowattukunnel <nivnithzak@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Subject: HAITI-day 6
To: HOME <nivnithzak@gmail.com>
HAITI-day 6
To the ocean view area to brush my teeth and moist towelize(not really a word)my face.Buttered bun,banana and coffee followed by Haitian corn meal mush spiced with ?cinnamon and maybe anise.
Last day that Dr.Kris was here.She lives in northern Haiti with her family.She has been the "gatekeeper" of the clinic.She is very good at triage and prevents us from being inundated with too many chronic disease patients.She literally numbers each patient(magic marker)and tells us not to examine anybody without a number.If anyone is caught trying to cut in line,she adds a 0 to their number and demotes that person to the back of the line.Tough love!
Saw a nice man who came with one eye patched.History of "flesh removed from eye last year and was apparently scheduled for surgery in Portauprince the day the quake hit.I thought he probably has a recurrent pterygium(white growth on sclera and cornea)Little did I know that lurking under his patch was a large fungating mass protruding from his orbit with no discernable globe(see photo if you dare).
Several more people left this pm,including Dr. Tim and 2 of his kids.He is a general surgeon from Columbia City and regularly does mission trips to Haiti.All 12 of his kids have been to Haiti.Nurse Janice,who previously lived in Haiti for 20 years,also left.Lunch was sphagetti with some kind of fish,?
anchovies or sardines.We found some Louisiana hot sauce.One guy elected to try his MRE instead.If I don't eat my MRE,NIvan or Nithia can take it to school for lunch and/or chemistry class.
Just after the last pm patient was seen and we were ready to relax,a Haitian ambulance(no sirens)pulled into our compound.Inside was a motorcycle accident victim with major trauma.His left leg was barely attached due to an open femur fracture and associated muscle/tendon damage.At first glance,it looked as though his leg would have to be amputated.The "O" team from Marion sprung into action and after determining that he had a good pedal(foot)pulse,a splint was applied and iv fluids started.He was given intravenous anibiotics and intramuscular narcotic pain medication.All this was done in the back of the ambulance.Initially we drove the patient to the nearby marine base and asked whether he could be airlifted to a military medical ship.Once it became apparent that this would not be possible expeditiously,he was sent by ambulance to Portauprince.Hopefully his leg will be saved.
After all the excitement,5 of our remaining 8 took a long walk through Petit Goave.We witnessed multiple areas of destroyed buildings,including the local catholic cathedral.We walked through areas where people had to live in the street,mostly in tents.People were friendly and seemed upbeat.We spoke to kids playing cards and football(soccer)in the street.
Supper was a feast of fried chicken,corn,mashed potatoes,beets and chicken gravy sauce for the customary rice and beans.I kind of feel guilty eating so well here amidst so many malnourished people, but then again,we probably are able to work better that way.
Good night ocean.Goodnight all.
Sent from my iPhone
From: Tom Chowattukunnel <nivnithzak@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 6:45 PM
Subject: HAITI-day 6
To: HOME <nivnithzak@gmail.com>
HAITI-day 6
To the ocean view area to brush my teeth and moist towelize(not really a word)my face.Buttered bun,banana and coffee followed by Haitian corn meal mush spiced with ?cinnamon and maybe anise.
Last day that Dr.Kris was here.She lives in northern Haiti with her family.She has been the "gatekeeper" of the clinic.She is very good at triage and prevents us from being inundated with too many chronic disease patients.She literally numbers each patient(magic marker)and tells us not to examine anybody without a number.If anyone is caught trying to cut in line,she adds a 0 to their number and demotes that person to the back of the line.Tough love!
Saw a nice man who came with one eye patched.History of "flesh removed from eye last year and was apparently scheduled for surgery in Portauprince the day the quake hit.I thought he probably has a recurrent pterygium(white growth on sclera and cornea)Little did I know that lurking under his patch was a large fungating mass protruding from his orbit with no discernable globe(see photo if you dare).
Several more people left this pm,including Dr. Tim and 2 of his kids.He is a general surgeon from Columbia City and regularly does mission trips to Haiti.All 12 of his kids have been to Haiti.Nurse Janice,who previously lived in Haiti for 20 years,also left.Lunch was sphagetti with some kind of fish,?
anchovies or sardines.We found some Louisiana hot sauce.One guy elected to try his MRE instead.If I don't eat my MRE,NIvan or Nithia can take it to school for lunch and/or chemistry class.
Just after the last pm patient was seen and we were ready to relax,a Haitian ambulance(no sirens)pulled into our compound.Inside was a motorcycle accident victim with major trauma.His left leg was barely attached due to an open femur fracture and associated muscle/tendon damage.At first glance,it looked as though his leg would have to be amputated.The "O" team from Marion sprung into action and after determining that he had a good pedal(foot)pulse,a splint was applied and iv fluids started.He was given intravenous anibiotics and intramuscular narcotic pain medication.All this was done in the back of the ambulance.Initially we drove the patient to the nearby marine base and asked whether he could be airlifted to a military medical ship.Once it became apparent that this would not be possible expeditiously,he was sent by ambulance to Portauprince.Hopefully his leg will be saved.
After all the excitement,5 of our remaining 8 took a long walk through Petit Goave.We witnessed multiple areas of destroyed buildings,including the local catholic cathedral.We walked through areas where people had to live in the street,mostly in tents.People were friendly and seemed upbeat.We spoke to kids playing cards and football(soccer)in the street.
Supper was a feast of fried chicken,corn,mashed potatoes,beets and chicken gravy sauce for the customary rice and beans.I kind of feel guilty eating so well here amidst so many malnourished people, but then again,we probably are able to work better that way.
Good night ocean.Goodnight all.
Sent from my iPhone
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