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Email update - 8.15.2010
We are changing our small part of the World in Haiti! Enjoy this U tube video of Camp Hope and HOLIA created by one of our volunteers, Diana and please consider becoming a part of our miracle! http://www.youtube.com/watch? Miracles Do Happen! Nancy Malone, PT President/Founder Hands of Light in Action 734-788-9230 MaloneNancy@msn.com "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman
Date:
Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:32:22 +0000 Feb 6, 2010
We are working at Forde Parisian at Love A Child
in Haiti. All in tents donated by Taiwan, we have a tent hospital, surgery
in 2 tents, intensive care, and approx 50 other tents of patients living
together in groups of 3-6 per tent on thin mats on floor and a few cots.
Ninety percent are ortho cases and all need PT. We have 40 external
fixation fracture, 20 amputations, pelvic fractures, infected wounds and
the list goes on. It's challenging getting people off the floor to stand
with 1 arm casted and external fixators on 1 or 2 legs plus the fact that
they haven't gotten up since the quake. My 2 other PTs-Kerstin and Tiffany
plus Victor and Ashley are the only people assisting with physical therapy
at this time.We are part of a multidisiplanary team here. We made rounds
today to make sure that we saw all that needed PT and Dr after Dr
said----We need you for ALL of them.
The doctors and staff are delighted we are here for most had
not gotten up since the earthquake. PTs are in high demand and will be for
the months to come. When we first arrived, all patients were sweltering in
their tents and not a lot of smiles. We all noticed that once we started
showing the patients and the family members that they really could move
their arms and legs plus walk or hop, the whole camp/ hospital was
happier. When we worked today, we noticed several people out of the tents
and sitting in folding chairs in the shade. They have huge smiles and the
laughter is coming back. The staff has noticed the change and for us, it's
been no surprise but it's still awesome non the less. Everyday will be a
better day as we move patients from total care to independence. Victor has
been busy cutting down adult cruches and drilling holes for all the
children. Tiffany is a peds therapist so we send all the kids to her.
Victor has been a huge help in lifting and walking the bigger amputations.
Ashley just will do anything required and she works tirelessly. Kerstin is
a no nonsense, organized and efficient woman. Anyone we can't get to move,
we just send to Kerstin. Kerstin also brought everything we could possibly
need and set up our tree outside our tent with gloves, hand sanitized and
more with bungi cords.
We are so dusty at the end of the day that we are look like we
have walked through a dust storm. As a group, these people will always be
in my heart for each one has just been terrific.We have people discharged
when stable to the refugee camp and new ones helicoptered in, or on buses,
from trucks and cars daily. Tonight we had 3 ministers bring in a man that
was hit by a car and left at the side of the road.There is just so much to
tell--incredible moments, heart wrenching moments, and so much more but I
have to write this iPhone and I'm tired so I apologize for spelling
errors.
It takes us all day and more to see all the patients plus I
have had a lot of meetings. There are about 5 countries here and man --
they are ALL just awesome. We all manage to communicate with each
other.
I am now involved in planning of training some Haitians to
handle the patients when there are lapses of no PTs (Physical Therapists)
here, helping with planning of the rehab centers that will be built at
Love A Child and at IMA. Working with ITT to track amputations and the
needs. The amputation numbers will be unpresidented due to the numerous
crushing injuries.
We are aware of the political situation and the growing Haitian
discord with the US government but that's another story
. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else--Haiti is gorgeous with the
mountains, bright stars, even saw mercury tonight, great big lake.
We are treating in primitive conditions, but we all are very
respectful of patients rights, and feelings. The docs are very thorough
and really engage the patient.
All are providing the absolutely best quality care that we can
and the patient is number 1 every sec of everyday.We keep an eye out for
children snatchers for that had been a problem. All the unaccompanied
minors have been moved to the front tents because of child trafficking and
snatching.I'm just thankful that I have seen NO spiders. Everything else
is just a piece of cake:)
I'll leave you with this--I saw a 71 year old woman with a fractured
femur with and external fixator and a fractured humerous
casted.
She is just such a fighter.
She did everything we asked for she hadn't even sat up until today.
Her fixators is way too big reaching past her knee. We slowly brought her
into a sitting position then fireman carried her to the chair.
She started screaming a bunch of words like a song but sounded
angry.
I asked the interpretor what was wrong and he said she was just
shouting/singing praises to Jesus that she was getting up.
Got her in the chair and then we danced to her song and the child
lying next to her in a spica cast laughed.
Awesome is all I can say and just how lucky am I....
Nancy Malone - Hands of Light in Action President/Founder
PS. I will no longer be emailing everyone with blogs for it's just
too difficult and time consuming. If you would like to follow our
adventure,
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