Day 7: Team Restore

Today was a great day for Team Restore. We have gotten to know all the patients we treat,and they are able to recognize us and always greet us with a smile and a friendly "Bonjour". Callie and I were able to assist our patient with a brain injury to long sit in bed. His wife was so happy and was smiling ear to ear to see him more alert. We were able to educate her on the proper handling techniques to sit him up in bed, and we were so happy to see her performing this exercise with him on her own later on in the day. One of the craziest things I have seen since we reached Bonne Fin has to be the surgery Hannah and I were able to observe. A 16 year old had broken his femur and had to have a steel rod placed to repair it. For sedation, he was given a spinal block and was awake for the whole thing, throughout all the sawing, hammering, and cutting. The whole operating room bowed their heads and prayed aloud for the boy's safety and recovery through the procedure. The surgical utensils were in toolboxes and were not laid out neatly, making the surgeons have to sift through to find what they needed. They resanitize the utensils and wrap them in blue cloths. It was so surreal to get to watch the procedure, and then two days later have the opportunity to treat this boy and help in his recovery. Callie, Hannah, and I progressed the judge's father who had the stroke to walking inside the parallel bars today. He is already showing signs of muscle recovery in his leg. And probably one of our most favorite patients, the 16 year old boy with the SCI, was able to hold his balance while sitting on the edge of the mat for 20 seconds without support. We really want to take him back with us so bad! He has only one cousin who is providing him care while he is here. He has no parents. June says usually someone with his injury will never really leave his home, and will most likely die within the year of a UTI or a wound infection. Again, we are faced with the harsh reality of the healthcare, or lack of I should say, in Haiti. I can't wait for the next groups to come and continue on with the treatments we have started with these patients. I can only imagine the difference four teams will make over the next couple months! -Ashley