Day 6: Team Restore

I think the four of us have finally gotten the hang of how things work around Hopital Lumiere. Kind of similar of how we usually work at Brooks, we are treating primarily in PT/OT teams. One particular patient Callie and I have been treating suffered a brain injury and has just come out of a coma. When we evaluated him three days ago, we suspected he was somewhere around a Rancho 3 level, unable to follow commands, speak, or move. He broke both of his femurs and was placed on traction devices on both of his legs. Traction is the common way to repair broken bones as it decreases the risk of infection, however leaves the patient bed bound. One of his legs below the knee was ice cold, with his foot showing the early signs of gangrene. His family had placed him on a makeshift "airbed" which was essentially a pool float. There are no meds to manage cognition here. There are no speech therapists. There is no mental health. There is a limited amount of medications available and people with painful injuries are given pain meds sparingly. The 16 year old boy Michael and Hannah have been treating with a spinal cord injury at a T2 level is in so much pain, therapy is almost impossible. The meds and equipment he needs are not available that would improve his condition. The doctors gave him less than a year to live. Back in the states, a patient who sustained this same injury would most likely be living independently, driving, and survive. It brings me to tears to think someone so young who could be helped so much in the facilities we have in America is given no chance of survival here. Talking with those who work and live here is eye opening to how bad it actually is. They need so much help from doctors, surgeons, nurses, and therapists, but not just for short term. They need consistent help to make a change of any kind. That's what June is doing here in Haiti. The sacrifices she has made and the love she shows to each person she treats is overwhelming to me. Through so many struggles and hardships she has stayed. And the people love and respect her as "Dr. June". I only hope that one day I will be able to make a difference in people's lives as June has made in the lives of the Haitian people. I hope people will begin to realize the need that is present in Haiti and that these people do not have the resources to help themselves. I pray more people will feel moved to help when help is needed abroad and not just in their own backyard. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes. We appreciate it! -Ashley