Haiti - Day 6

I have decided to focus on mostly positive things tonight, since I feel like each of my previous posts have been riddled with depressing, heavy stuff. I think I truthfully believed for the first time today that we're actually doing some good here, and even if we save one life and lose 10, that's still one precious life saved. There is good in that.

To start off the day, I lived out a real life version of 'Home Alone', although Home Alone in Port Au Prince is a tad more petrifying than Home Alone in a Mansion in Winnetka Illinois. Our morning routine is that we all gather to eat breakfast of chewy cornflakes at 6:30am, and then head on the bus at 6:50 to arrive at the Hospital at 7:00. After I finished my meal, i quickly ran upstairs to use the bathroom (I would have to be desperate to use the bathroom at the hospital), and came down just 5 minutes later to discover that the bus left without me. I'm not sure what was more disappointing - realizing that it was gone, or realizing that no one seemed to notice that I was missing. "Surely they'll get down the street and everyone will realize that they forgot me", I reassured myself. 30 minutes later, there I stood, like a dummy, in the same place where I realized that I had been ditched. Just me, and the 3 security guards with their combat boots and machine guns slinged across their chests. I asked them if I could take their picture, hoping to lighten the situation a bit and make them smile.

They didn't smile.

I decided at that point that I should leave to call David, the logistics director of IMC to tell him that my colon couldn't wait this morning, and apparently the bus couldn't either. I also contemplated throwing on my swimsuit and laying out by the pool, but I resisted the temptation. I called David, who arranged to pick me up, and one hour later, I was there. No harm done.

There was the usual barrage of sadness and frustration today, but there were some good things and pleasant surprises as well. My favorite patient with the cervical fracture was able to get transferred from our Hospital to the Medishare hospital. Medishare is completely created and staffed by health care workers from Miami FL who set it up near Haitian Airport. They have a traveling Neurosurgeon there this week, who is willing to try and take on the surgery for this patient. I cried when I heard the news, and cried when he left. So did he. We (I can't take credit, it was our coordinator) helped facilitate this transfer and gave him the only hope and chance that he deserves.

This is a testament to the fact that there are good people in this world. Good people who believe in helping others and who can provide hope in situations that seem bleak and hopeless.

Lunch time came. I lucked out and had peanut butter in the MRE packet that was given to me. MRE stands for 'Meals Ready to Eat' and are used to feed soldiers in the army. We eat MREs for lunch every day. My MRE today was Clam Chowder and Vegetable Lasagna, which are both prepared in a mushy consistency, eaten at room temperature right out of the pouch. I regurgitate just thinking about it, but when it comes around to one or two in the afternoon and I'm desperately hungry, I would hurt someone if they tried to take my Clam Chowder. I covet it as if I haven't eaten in weeks (it kind of feels like that, actually). But today, my pack had peanut butter, which was truly the best luck of all. I wouldn't even share it, that's how bad I wanted it.

Following a long and exhausting day, we hopped back on the bus, where all I can do is stare out the window,and rock back and forth a bit as if I have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Following a refreshing shower, a wonderful phone call from Chris, and a Sunday night buffet dinner by the pool with a live Haitian band playing joyful music, life seemed so much better and I was able to use my words again. Having a cold beer with my fellow co workers and recounting stories of the day, while sharing a laugh or two, is entirely therapeutic.

And - the crowned jewel of the day was being able to say a quick hello to my parents and a Happy Father's Day to my Dad. Perfect.

Tonight I'm going to sleep with a smile.