Operation Smile/Haiti

Posted on | February 11, 2010 | Comments Off on Operation Smile/Haiti

Greetings from Haiti!

Recovery has begun at least to the small percentage of Haitians who we have in our camp. We began our day as usual making rounds in the tents checking on patients and changing their dressings and making a list of those who may require further surgery or those that just need attention to some other medical problems.

I am getting to know all the patients by name which seems to make them feel very special. The little girls seem to especially like it when I call them by name. On Sunday there was a prayer service in the camp at the end of the tent rows with a nice breeze. Part of the service was dedicated to different people getting up and telling THEIR story.

Some told how they were trapped for days amidst other friends who were dead and another man told about running home after the earthquake only to find that he had lost his whole family except for his three month old baby. After each story the crowd prayed, sang and all consoled each other. It was amazing.

One patient sitting in a chair outside her tent, due to the fact that she did not want to miss the prayer service, wanted us to change her splint and dressing while she had the other hand raised up in prayer and sang. Terrible full thickness wounds to her hand and forearm which covered about half of that area. She smiled as we packed each deep, open wound. We finished it all off with a “Merci” and a big hug and kiss.

There is a constant influx of visitors from CDC, WHO, ARC (American Refugee Committee), US Army and Navy and Ministers of Health from Dominican Republic and Ecuador. There are also volunteers from Canada, Ecuador, Norway, Germany, and Dominican Republic.

But I am very proud to be part of the Operation Smile team because while they are strategizing we are in the trenches taking care of the people. Surgeries, debridements, IV antibiotics, and lots of hand holding. Our patients are improving and I know we are making a difference.

We came with a complete self sufficient surgical team of doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists accompanied by all the equipment, medications and supplies that we need. We hit the ground running and haven’t stopped. We are now exchanging patients with the USNS Comfort. They are helicoptering their stable patients to us while they are taking our patients that need intensive care. Quite a few USN helicopter landings today, which was annoying due to the stirring up of dirt.

It will take a generation before this country gets over this. How do you rebuild when half of the remaining population is handicapped?

One particular patient named Rose has been to surgery every day. She is around my age and is very dignified. Her daughter stays with her and gives her special attention. Well today it was decided that her leg could not be saved however she refused an amputation. She wants to die rather than be handicapped in this already brutal environment. Recovery for some but not for others. A fate we will all have to learn to accept.

Thanks all your prayers and support.

– Marie Rathe, Clinical Coordinator, Medical Volunteer