Off to Town....

    That's what the rest of them did. And left us five girls home alone with a phone number. So far, we've survived, but it's been an interesting day, and we've only called the phone number once. Next time, I think we'll just go along to TiGoave with the rest, though, because, when it comes to the five of us starting generators and flipping water pumps, we realize how little syringes and pills help us in real life....Grin!
    This morning we sent our Anthrax patient out to TiGoave. We've had her in our clinic since Monday, but after stabilizing her, we realized that our resources are limited for long term residence here, and we opted for sending her on to a bigger facility where she has a doctor, more medicine, and

more oxygen at her disposal.

   Her story started Monday, with her arrival in our clinic. After a bit of observation, we inserted an IV, and put her on oxygen. Even with that, her breathing was labored, and her fever continued to rise. Since it seemed like she was in the late stages of the disease, we realized that some fairly extreme measures would need to be taken. Thankfully, Steve was at the clinic, assisting in the pharmacy at that time, and was the impasse we needed to help us give our first injected Hydrocortisone, since our scare with Nurse Katie, and that near death experience. (They say scent is the best thing to bring back memories, but I wonder. Maybe it's medicine. And, well, some memories you don't want to relive. Ever.)
     Within a few minutes, it seemed her breathing came a bit easier, and she was able to rest a bit better. Also, her 107 degree fever began to break, and she rested later in the afternoon. After that initial scare, we put her on Prednisone, orally, and other meds to fight the specific sickness she has. This morning, we had the ambulance going to town, so, after much coaching, we finally convince her family that this is serious enough that she needs to take the offer of a ride out while we still have the chance. Little grandmas with Anthrax don't last forever.

     This afternoon a cute little chimpanzee of a boy came with a fever of 104.5 degrees. We tried to cool him down a bit with Ibuprophen and wet gauze. Then we realized he has a horrible, worm infected wound on both of his legs. How sad! He cried while the nurses cleaned and bandaged his ugly, scaly stumps of legs. I am sure we will be seeing him every day for awhile.
     And you all are wondering how the mule is doing? Direk said he is eating. So I'm thinking that's a good thing!
     It's rolling right around to monthly med shopping again. I feel very indebted to everyone in the States who makes it possible that we can have the meds we do. Thank-you, friends, and God bless you as you help people here. If it wasn't for God touching your hearts, we couldn't even have much to offer the Haitians, here.
    You better stop me, though, or I am going to start asking for money for all our twenty-five hernia patients who are waiting for someone to donate for their cause, and that might be more than you are asking for! Like the sweet, little 8 year old thing that came yesterday, all dressed in a white, lacy dress...but struggling to stay well, and having a hernia besides. You know, it kind of rips you up, when there is nothing you can do for her...but treat her eye infection...
   Have a good night all!