26/8/2011

Day 7
This says it all...
I made the decision that I needed a mental health day! I didn't have to call in or report to anyone. Did any supervisor or DON come & check on me? No!
I slept in all day:) it was so necessary. I was drained. I just realized I've worked 70 hours in the past week! That's incredible, out of this world for me.! All for a good cause. My patients received excellent care, I must say.
The units were staffed rather well by the Haitians from what I hear, because my other colleagues that staffed other units,  where able to get in a lengthy afternoon nap. Were all pooped!

I'm so happy to be leaving port Au prince in 24 hrs. It's been the best & the worst week of my life thus far:)

I have had this lingering sore throat for several days now, hopefully it resolves itself. Or antibiotics will be on board soon.

I've heard death came to visit again today. We received a man in the ER yesterday whom was in a MVA. After CT done, revealed several head bleeds. Pt was agitated & left unsupervised, while yet tied to an back board with a neck brace on. Pt falls off ER cart while yet attached to the back board, restrained. He fell face down to the floor. Attempts were made to transport him to a facility with a neurosurgeon but it was unsuccessful. Pt continued with increased agitation & eventually died from the head trauma/s.

Lastly I hear my patient I've had all week is not doing well today. She's HIV positive which we assume has advanced to AIDS. She had multiple brain lesions & comes in & out of consciousness. but with the addition steroids & additional antibiotics she was beginning to follow commands & keep her eyes open & track. That made my heart smile. Her family has left her here to die. They do not come to see about her. Unlike all other families seems like the culture is that you come & take care of your loved. You bring sheets, clothes, good. You bathe & turn & complete all cares. Extremely different from American culture.
So I found my lady some clothes & I donated a sheet that was given to me. I also gave her some soap & deodorant that I had as extra. When I was done washing her, she smelled great!!! And looked great:)  believe we bonded on some level.

So maybe when I didn't show up this morning, she became sad. The nurses told me its very hard to stimulate her to arousal. I'll check on her later this evening to say hi or I may wait till the morning shift. I hope she's still around....
Dinner consists of Mac & cheese. I also had some chicken drumsticks & green beans. Last dinner in Haiti.
Looks like I'm going to the UN tonight, maybe......
Another night @ the UN, lol
The UN has been an outlet and a great source of sanity!!! So needed

Scary....we got stopped at a checkpoint by Haitian police tonight. And from what Ive read and seen, there are not to messed with. Crooked cops and corrupt. As the armed(shotgun strapped across chest) Haitian officer approaches  this van of 20, 2 blacks all the rest Caucasians. I feel a sense of fear. I feel like this could easily become an episode of locked up abroad as he begins negotiations/conversations, (who the hell knows because there speaking french) with our driver. The officer requests the front passengers passport, a white girl whose determined to go home tomorrow, so she refuses to hand the passport to the officer, fearing she'll never get it back. He peers at it with his flashlight and asks bout vehicle registration? Who knows! The driver reaches into the glove compartment and shows him papers. You can feel the fear in the van as the nurse next to me whispers that she just "shit" her pants. LOL and that her high was completely blown...LOL!!! I'm sure it is. Please GOD let me make it back to safe soil.

We were eventually let go after about 5 minutes. During that time there was another office checking vehicles and pedestrians as they approached this check point.




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