So?.the most exciting thing about today is the fact that Dr. Brad did the first ever, as we know of, hip hemiarthroplasty in Haiti. Actually, he did two! Way to go surgery team! And rumor also has it that there is a 19 y/o from the Dominican Rebublic who is wanting to come to the mission for his hip to be fixed as well, but there is no word on that yet. We are hoping to go international here at the mission by the end of the week! ;)
It was a long day today as we were in surgery until almost 7 pm. As a matter of fact, I haven?t seen the recovery nurse yet so my guess is she isn?t back yet from the clinic. I think tomorrow might be another long day as well because we already have 2 femur fractures and 1 tibia fracture to fix as well as several wound debridements on our schedule and there is always a possibility of add-ons. We are going to sleep good tonight!

There was also some excitement on the ward with a pt who was dropped off yesterday for fever, nausea, and vomiting. His condition worsened today and it was determined that he probably had a ruptured appendix. Dr. Greg said he would have preferred not to take out his appendix in our OR, but he was standing there ready with scalpel in hand. Luckily we were able to transfer him to a place that the paramedics said looked pretty clean. I believe that he was taken to the OR for an appendectomy, but I?m not for sure on this.

Right now Kristen is giving Jeff a manipulation on our dinner table which she swears she learned in PT school. Not sure about that, but I might be next since we stood on our feet all day in the OR. Eric also looks intrigued! Dr. Brad does not, because if Jeff goes, surgery as we know it might shut down. Eric said he was on his feet all day too. The line is starting to form!

Kim says nothing nothing much happening in triage right now except that there are alot of people coming through. Coincidentally, everyone in triage has the same complaints of fever, cough, n/v, and abdominal pain which they say have been present since the earthquake. Maybe it?s nerves. These people really have been through a lot.

Chase the prosthetist said he heard some screams of bloody murder this morning which he thought was related to someone having an arm amputating without anesthesia. Turns out it was just a little black goat outside the clinic. Never a dull moment here!

Dr. Jon the ER physicial from Chapel had a patient come in on Monday with a heart attack in progress. We treated him as much as we could and then sent him on to the University of Miami hospital. We have since then learned from him son that he passed away today. May God bless him and his family at this time.

From Dr. Greg: ? I have had the distinguished honor of assisting one of the most brilliant orthopedic surgeons in the world doing the toughest arthroplasty that I have ever seen under extremely adverse conditions. In fact, one could say he was operating under the jaws of death.?

Lastly, Eric had a second bartering attempt today at the little store outside the ward for a painting, but it was a no go. Apparently $6 will never be enough! She said $10 was her liquidation price. Seriously, she actually used that term. Like I said, never a dull moment. We are having fun!

Heidi Walker, RN
Eric McNiel, RN
Kim Walior, RN
Kristen Damery, PT
Jeff Benoit, OT
Greg Schmitt, M.D.
Dave Bryant, M.D.
Jon Winther, M.D.
Brad Parker, M.D.
Chase Brown, Prosthetist