...on a jet plane...don't know when I'll be back again.

I finished up my assigned patients (wound care for the whole hospital) early today and was eating lunch when I heard that there was a code blue going on in the ER. Apparently she had been breathing terribly when she came in and needed to be intubated. I decided that I would go see what was going on since I didn't have an assignment for the afternoon.

I walked into what had obviously been a critical situation (the room's alwaysa a mess after a code...in this case it was the middle of the hallway with at least six patients watching). The patient was on Dopamine, being bagged(intubated) and had been given sedation and paralytics. For the time being her pulse and blood pressures were good.

We set up suction and placed an OG tube...the ER MD had already started a central line (amazing! I had no idea we even had them). After awhile our director arranged for transport to Miami University's hospital in Haiti located by the airport. An ER nurse, the ER MD, and me...the ICU nurse were elected to take the patient. However, it is a national holiday (Haiti's Independence or Flag Day) so everyone was very concerned about whether or not we could make it. Apparently there had been rioting downtown and the traffic was supposed to be terrible.

We loaded into the ambulance, sirens and all and took off on the Haitian roads. There was actually less traffic due to the holiday I thought, but we still ended up driving on the wrong side of the road a lot of the time. It only took us 25 minutes to travel to the hospital where we learned that they had an ICU with three vents...which were all occupied. I am not sure what the plan was, and I began wondering why we had taken her there to begin with. We could have turned one of our four ORs into an ICU room with a vent.

The patient was still critical when we gave her over to the receiving doctor's hands, but they had more than enough help. I saw at least four ER doctors (compared to our one).

The ride back was eventful as well. I got to see the palace! And there were rioters in the street. I don't understand why they were upset, but they were insistant that we not take pictures...which we did. Later we passed a parade which was pretty cool to hear the band and see all the children marching.

I am not ready to go home. I think it would be perfect if I could stay until Monday. I have finally gelled with my teammates, gotten to know patients by name, and even heard a few "where were you when" stories. The faces of the Haitian people will not be forgotten.

Nadine does not know how old she is. Someone found her sitting in a market crying because her pain was so unbearable. They brought her to the hospital. She used to live with her aunt but she does not know where. She was diagnosed with HPV and has massive lesions all over her abdomen and buttocks. She is in constant pain. The callouses on her feet are about an inch and a half thick...like nothing I have ever seen. She is beautiful. I would love to take her home a give her a...life.

The doctor today told me that they are not doing anything else for her, that she could probably be discharged home. Well, I said...she really has no where to go. She's too young to take care of herself, too deformed to get a job, and in too much pain the walk further than across the room.

But Haiti has help. I am not sure for how long. But for now there are volunteers everywhere committed to seeing the situation improve. I hope that we don't bring about more long term destruction than short term improvement. But I have to believe that even in six short days some impact has been made.