Ok, I know that our Sunday is not really the "Sabbath" that was recognized in the Bible but it is what we know as our own 'day of rest'. So....as people were sitting around waiting for the docs to get back from hospital rounds so we could start our worship service, people were discussing Jesus healing on the Sabbath. Then out of the blue, I heard Grace yelling, "Pat, Amanda, Gale..." repeatedly. I walked out of my dorm room and asked what was up? Grace replied, "There is a patient at the hospital who has been stabbed in the chest and Suleman wants to open him up and take a look."
What?? Crack a chest here? In the DR? With our limited supplies? No way!
Yes way! So, I began to frantically search for Gale, the more experienced scrub tech, (remember, I don't do this for a living) but couldn't find her anywhere! :(
My mind began to scan what I knew we had: no rib retractors, no bone cutters, no wire, no drill. Then I realized Dr. Sadiq knew this too, so he must be planning to go in between the ribs. That we could do! (Where in the world is GALE!) She still couldn't be found.
However, I did find Amanda, still in her pajamas coming out of the bathroom after just brushing her teeth. I followed her to her room and told her we had a trauma that they wanted us to come and do right away. She thought I was joking, trying to get her back for taking my name tag and hiding it the day before. After convincing her this was NOT a joke, and giving her just enough time to change into some clothes, we headed to the hospital. They would hold the worship service until the afternoon when we would likely be back.
Once at the hospital, I pulled together what I thought Dr. Sadiq would need: a thyroid instrument set (just right for a heart surgery, right?), large richardson retractors, suction and tubing, cautery..just the basics. Grace had brought in some chest tubes and a drainage system that she has carried back and forth in the 'tubs' for years and have never needed. In fact, Dr. Sadiq told her not to bring them this year and use the space for 'something else we would NEED'. Thanks, Grace for bringing them after all.
We brought the patient to the OR, we called him Marty, but his name was something like Miguelez Sontana (I couldn't really read the chart clearly). Everyone, including Teo, the Dominican physician, scrubbed in and we started. It was truly amazing to watch Dr. Sadiq work. There were 3 stab wounds; 2 were superficial and didn't enter the chest cavity but the third went directly into the heart muscle and left a 2 inch wound. If it had gone even 1 to 2 cm deeper the man would have died on the spot from profuse bleeding from the left ventricle. We didn't have pledgets (little pieces of special fabric to keep sutures from hurting tissue) to use to support sutures (if you sew directly into the heart muscle it will just tear through it like butter) so Dr. Sadiq slowly cut away portions of the pericardium (lining around the heart) and made his own pledgets. Then he JUST sewed together the muscle of a beating heart like it was making brownies. When we asked him if he had ever done anything like this before, he calmly and confidently said, "No, I did a bypass on a beating heart once and didn't really like that technique, so I always had my patients put on pump bypass for surgery." Seriously! I would never have know that he didn't do this type of surgery every day.
After the heart was sewn back together, we placed a 36fr chest tube and connected it to gravity suction. The patient was stable and we transported him to recovery; meaning a small hot room with no IV pole, a portable oxygen tank and 2 recovery room nurses who had no ICU experience. Thankfully, they were very experienced nurses, however, and did a great job of keeping him stable. In the states, 'Marty' would have had a central line in place, an arterial line in place, been on continuous cardiac monitoring and had blood cultures drawn for antibiotic treatment, I'm sure. We hung his IV on the nail in the wall, put him on nasal cannula 02, and took his pulse and blood pressure the 'old fashioned way'. He did get antibiotics, since the knife used to stab him was undoubtedly not too clean. We all silently and continually prayed for him then went back to camp for a late lunch.
Upon arrival to the hospital the next day, I went directly to the 'recovery/ICU' room to check on Marty. He had a fever and his heart was racing pretty fast. The recovery room nurses jumped into action. By mid afternoon he was doing much better.Rita, one of the nurses in the recovery , even found a spyrometer to have him use to keep from getting pneumonia.
Later in the afternoon, Milton, one of the men who shares the gospel with patients, stopped by to speak to Marty. At report that night, Grace shared that Marty had listened to Milton and had accepted Christ. Unfortunately, he also said he wanted to get revenge on the man who did this to him. (Marty was supposedly just stepping in to break up a fight at the bar when he was stabbed).
Throughout the week, Marty continued to improve. By Wednesday afternoon when we left, he was eating and drinking and able to walk around the room. Praise the Lord!
Thank you God, for still healing on the Sabbath!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Heading Home........
Wow......I can't believe I will be home in my own comfy bed tonight. It has been a short/long two weeks. I had originally hoped to post every day while here in the DR but I couldn't get Internet access on a daily basis. And honestly, I may have not had much to say. In general, the days were the same; wake up, prayer time, breakfast and a devotional, announcements, and head off to the hospital. However, there were certainly highlights to the trip.
First off, our group was asked to help a young man named Jeffri. He is about 20 years old and has terminal sarcoma/cancer. He was found on the street by a local Mennonite gentleman and brought to the hospital for care. He has multiple open wounds all over his body and they were infested with maggots. He weights very little, is weak and in severe pain. The hospital at Las Matas did not have access to pain medication for him so we provided some Oxycontin and pain patches. The last day of surgery, Wednesday, we took him to the OR, opened up a six inch abscess on his left side and drained and cleaned it. To say the least, all we could do for him is pain control, love and compassion. As if dying of cancer at 20 years old wasn't enough, we noticed some severe scarring on his back and arms. He told the pre-op nurses that he had been burned severely as a child. Then, when asked about his family, he said that they had deserted him (we aren't clear about why). Many of my team mates commented "How can you tell some one who has suffered so much that God loves him?" That's a valid question, I suppose, but do we really only think God's love is expressed by nothing 'bad' ever happening to us or our loved ones? Life is HARD- that's a fact. Suffering exsists because sin exsists. Jesus knows and understands all elements of suffering. In fact, the best way to explain God's love to Jeffri, or any fellow earth journer, is to explain God's sacrifice of His own Son for our ETERNAL, painless, suffer free, life with HIM.
Please pray for Jeffri to know and experience supernatural knowledge that God loves him and to feel the presence and comfort of the Lord. Unfortunately, the nurses at Las Matas do not give the best comfort care. Jeffri's wounds drain onto the sheet, ants crawl around him and often, no one comes to clean him up for days at a time. Also, pray for him to actually get the medication we left for him. (Many times narcotic medications are sold on the black market instead of being given to the patients.)See yall soon...........
First off, our group was asked to help a young man named Jeffri. He is about 20 years old and has terminal sarcoma/cancer. He was found on the street by a local Mennonite gentleman and brought to the hospital for care. He has multiple open wounds all over his body and they were infested with maggots. He weights very little, is weak and in severe pain. The hospital at Las Matas did not have access to pain medication for him so we provided some Oxycontin and pain patches. The last day of surgery, Wednesday, we took him to the OR, opened up a six inch abscess on his left side and drained and cleaned it. To say the least, all we could do for him is pain control, love and compassion. As if dying of cancer at 20 years old wasn't enough, we noticed some severe scarring on his back and arms. He told the pre-op nurses that he had been burned severely as a child. Then, when asked about his family, he said that they had deserted him (we aren't clear about why). Many of my team mates commented "How can you tell some one who has suffered so much that God loves him?" That's a valid question, I suppose, but do we really only think God's love is expressed by nothing 'bad' ever happening to us or our loved ones? Life is HARD- that's a fact. Suffering exsists because sin exsists. Jesus knows and understands all elements of suffering. In fact, the best way to explain God's love to Jeffri, or any fellow earth journer, is to explain God's sacrifice of His own Son for our ETERNAL, painless, suffer free, life with HIM.
Please pray for Jeffri to know and experience supernatural knowledge that God loves him and to feel the presence and comfort of the Lord. Unfortunately, the nurses at Las Matas do not give the best comfort care. Jeffri's wounds drain onto the sheet, ants crawl around him and often, no one comes to clean him up for days at a time. Also, pray for him to actually get the medication we left for him. (Many times narcotic medications are sold on the black market instead of being given to the patients.)See yall soon...........
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
What.......no iPod........say it isn`t so..
Woke up,,,looked for my iPod so I could listen to it on the way to the hospital......can`t find it ANYWHERE..oh, no How will
i ever get in a plane to fly home?
Alabare, Alabare, Alabare a mi Senor......I will praise, I will praise, I will praise my Lord........This song begins every morning at the clinic and the hospital as we sing with the Dominicans waiting in line to see the doctors to see if they get to have surgery.
After finishing setting up the hospital and surgery areas, we started our first procedure at about 10 a.m. The day ended about 6 pm and I decided to walk back to camp with Abby. Abby is a nursing student who will be graduating in May. She is cirulating my table but the issue is, she has never been in an OR. Amanda, the other circulator is experienced and very capable. It will be fun teaching though too.
Now- the follow up on the iPod..........it was found.....and then lost AGAIN...then found again.....I became known as "the lady who keeps losing the iPod"....then on Thursday I busted two of the gals rummaging through my bags looking for it so they could 'auction it off' at the evening auction fund raiser.....they thought it would be funny....and it would have been.....
The rest of the week went well....up early, to work early, do surgery, home late, bed and begin again........repeditive but fun and very well worth it.
Each evening we would get a report about how many people accepted Christ, as well as how many were helped at the clinics and at the hospital. I will give full results when Grace sends me a report......thanks for all the prayers!!! Much is being accomplished.
i ever get in a plane to fly home?
Alabare, Alabare, Alabare a mi Senor......I will praise, I will praise, I will praise my Lord........This song begins every morning at the clinic and the hospital as we sing with the Dominicans waiting in line to see the doctors to see if they get to have surgery.
After finishing setting up the hospital and surgery areas, we started our first procedure at about 10 a.m. The day ended about 6 pm and I decided to walk back to camp with Abby. Abby is a nursing student who will be graduating in May. She is cirulating my table but the issue is, she has never been in an OR. Amanda, the other circulator is experienced and very capable. It will be fun teaching though too.
Now- the follow up on the iPod..........it was found.....and then lost AGAIN...then found again.....I became known as "the lady who keeps losing the iPod"....then on Thursday I busted two of the gals rummaging through my bags looking for it so they could 'auction it off' at the evening auction fund raiser.....they thought it would be funny....and it would have been.....
The rest of the week went well....up early, to work early, do surgery, home late, bed and begin again........repeditive but fun and very well worth it.
Each evening we would get a report about how many people accepted Christ, as well as how many were helped at the clinics and at the hospital. I will give full results when Grace sends me a report......thanks for all the prayers!!! Much is being accomplished.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday....
One day at a time ...sweet Jesus....that`s all i`m asking from you....That is the traditional alarm clock on all mmi trips here in the Dominican.
Once we arrived at the camp, the first thing I noticed was the newly finished gazebo. The old one was made of wood and a discentegrating thatched roof, which certainly did not stop the afternoon shower from dousing you. The new gazebo is beautiful. It has a floor made of broken marble scraps mixed with whole pieces of marbleish material. It is painted white and stands out amoung the mustard yellow paint and tin roof of the dorms and dining hall.
I was on the second bus to arrive and quickly grabbed a bunk nearest the ladies bathroom.....I won`t go into details as to why this seemed a prime room......ha.........However, three older ladies came looking for a room to share and none were left with three beds open.....of course, I moved down the hall and am rooming with 2 gals who are also nurses and work in Wichita at Wesley ER.....I found out that they work with another nurse that I precepted in the OR at Riverside. It really is a small world afterall. We only had a short time to throw things in our room, unload the semi, sort the tubs into medical team and surgical team, then head to the hospital to begin setting up. We quit about six, dragged back to camp, ate a delecious, mouth watering, make the Colonel cry, chicken dinner and then had our first team meeting. Before falling into bed, Kathy, Rita and I organized our room and put up the mosquito nets...the weather is cool so we slept well.......Tomorrow is will be our first day with patients.........I hope I remember the names of the instruments.......Where is that Ginko anyway?
Once we arrived at the camp, the first thing I noticed was the newly finished gazebo. The old one was made of wood and a discentegrating thatched roof, which certainly did not stop the afternoon shower from dousing you. The new gazebo is beautiful. It has a floor made of broken marble scraps mixed with whole pieces of marbleish material. It is painted white and stands out amoung the mustard yellow paint and tin roof of the dorms and dining hall.
I was on the second bus to arrive and quickly grabbed a bunk nearest the ladies bathroom.....I won`t go into details as to why this seemed a prime room......ha.........However, three older ladies came looking for a room to share and none were left with three beds open.....of course, I moved down the hall and am rooming with 2 gals who are also nurses and work in Wichita at Wesley ER.....I found out that they work with another nurse that I precepted in the OR at Riverside. It really is a small world afterall. We only had a short time to throw things in our room, unload the semi, sort the tubs into medical team and surgical team, then head to the hospital to begin setting up. We quit about six, dragged back to camp, ate a delecious, mouth watering, make the Colonel cry, chicken dinner and then had our first team meeting. Before falling into bed, Kathy, Rita and I organized our room and put up the mosquito nets...the weather is cool so we slept well.......Tomorrow is will be our first day with patients.........I hope I remember the names of the instruments.......Where is that Ginko anyway?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Yea! I got to a computer...Leg two Sat Continuted
Hello from Las Matas.! I tried earlier in the week to get internet access but it just wasn't happenin. But Isn't this amazing? One of my Dominican friends got access tonight and I bartered a hand rub for her in return for some internet time.
I am sorry to be updating you about Saturday since it is Tuesday night, but I would hate to forget something.
I think I left off after leaving Wichita and landing in Dallas. As my luck with Dallas goes, we were delayed for about 1 1/2 hours. Thankfully though, we did make the next connection. This time, I was seated next to an adorable college age young lady named Dolly. Boy, was she was a doll too. We chatted a little about where we were headed. I discovered she and six other students from SMU were going to El Salvador to work with some schoolage kids. Dolly explained that she is an education major and does most of the playing with the kids while her classmates teach nutrition and health lessons. As we talked, she mentioned that because of the long lay overs they had encountered that day, her friend was already out of reading material. I had just finished the new release by Beth Moore, "Goodbye Insecurity" and gave it to her for them to read. I pray they will read it and learn to trust in our Wonderful Lord! I admit, I am learning more myself everyday.
Of course, eventually I felt obligated to tell her of the impending meltdown on the landing. What a sweetie. She said, "Well, you can hold my hand if you want to. " and.....so I did. It was a smooth flight really and the landing, obviously, was fine too. After landing in Miami, I helped her find out where her next gate was and we said goodbye. Lord, keep them safe and may they be a blessing to the children they minister to.
Lastly, came the longer leg from Miami to Santo Domingo....by now all had gone amazingly well so far and it wasn't too bad of a flight. While waiting to buy our tourist cards, I began talking to two college girls on our Las Matas team. ( I so love this age of young women!) I can already tell, this is going to be an energetic group! I only hope, this poor older girlie can hold up!
Next came the exchanging of dollars to pesos, grabbing the cart for luggage and locating my #6 blue tub of medical supplies, as well as my personal luggage.....and off we headed to load everyting into the big white semi. Of course, I couldn't help giving Alex, Teo, William, Noel and all the other Fabulous Dominican friends a quick squeeze. Ah.......it's off to the Chicken Hilton for a night of non-sleep! Praise God.........this is going to be SWELL!
I am sorry to be updating you about Saturday since it is Tuesday night, but I would hate to forget something.
I think I left off after leaving Wichita and landing in Dallas. As my luck with Dallas goes, we were delayed for about 1 1/2 hours. Thankfully though, we did make the next connection. This time, I was seated next to an adorable college age young lady named Dolly. Boy, was she was a doll too. We chatted a little about where we were headed. I discovered she and six other students from SMU were going to El Salvador to work with some schoolage kids. Dolly explained that she is an education major and does most of the playing with the kids while her classmates teach nutrition and health lessons. As we talked, she mentioned that because of the long lay overs they had encountered that day, her friend was already out of reading material. I had just finished the new release by Beth Moore, "Goodbye Insecurity" and gave it to her for them to read. I pray they will read it and learn to trust in our Wonderful Lord! I admit, I am learning more myself everyday.
Of course, eventually I felt obligated to tell her of the impending meltdown on the landing. What a sweetie. She said, "Well, you can hold my hand if you want to. " and.....so I did. It was a smooth flight really and the landing, obviously, was fine too. After landing in Miami, I helped her find out where her next gate was and we said goodbye. Lord, keep them safe and may they be a blessing to the children they minister to.
Lastly, came the longer leg from Miami to Santo Domingo....by now all had gone amazingly well so far and it wasn't too bad of a flight. While waiting to buy our tourist cards, I began talking to two college girls on our Las Matas team. ( I so love this age of young women!) I can already tell, this is going to be an energetic group! I only hope, this poor older girlie can hold up!
Next came the exchanging of dollars to pesos, grabbing the cart for luggage and locating my #6 blue tub of medical supplies, as well as my personal luggage.....and off we headed to load everyting into the big white semi. Of course, I couldn't help giving Alex, Teo, William, Noel and all the other Fabulous Dominican friends a quick squeeze. Ah.......it's off to the Chicken Hilton for a night of non-sleep! Praise God.........this is going to be SWELL!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Adios! Leg One Begins
Well, so far so good. I have decided to try to write as I go so I don't forget all the wonderful
events that happen. This will be 'Leg One' of this years journey to Las Matas. Leg One really began last night when Jeff had to help me pack. Most people who truly know me, know I don't like traveling. I like 'going places' or better said 'getting to the place' but not the physical part of traveling. Usually if we are going on a family vacation, Jeff does all the packing. I lay my stuff out and he does the organizing and double checking. Then I meander out to the car when departure time comes, and off we go. Earlier in the week, I began to lay stuff out and actually
put most of it in my carry on and larger bag. But last night, I experienced what I call 'shut down mode'. Luckily, Jeff came to my rescue. This may be my first trip that I haven't forgotten something.
After finishing loading and organizing my precious, life saving, only way I can fly, iPod, I headed to bed, only to sleep fitfully. I felt like the little kids in the old Disney commercial who were laying in bed and squealed, "I'm too excited to sleep!" Once I did nod off, 4 a.m came quickly. We made it to the airport and Jeff did the drop and run routine that we have become so familiar with lately. It was a joyous event to meet up again with our annual trip friends and meet some newbies. I love to listen to everyone talk about what has been going on in their lives in the past year. Some I have visited and kept up with as Facebook friends, while others are only face-to-face visits this time each year.
Finally we boarded. My 26F seat was calling. To my surprise, the plane wasn't full and there was an empty seat between my row mate and me. Once settled in with my iPod ready for use and clutching the airline supplied bath towel sized blanket, we took off. Take offs aren't so bad for me, it's generally the landing that causes me to transform into a panic stricken wimp. Not long after ascending into the wild blue yonder,did we start the descent. Oh, how I hate that part!
I've always told Jeff that I feel things deeply, usually referring to comments and situations. But I really do physically 'feel' my heart beating in my ears, even above the roar of the jet planes below my wing side seat. At one point when I felt a quick drop in altitude, my head popped up from the semi-praying, listening to my Christian music blaring, eyes closed position, to look at my seat away neighbor to check out if he seemed the type who would mind a perfect stranger grabbing his arm and squeezing- just for a little while. His eyes were closed, head leaned back, and arms crossed tightly across his chest. I quickly reckoned I was on my own. So the squeezing of the hard plastic arm rest began. I have to admit, I think I did pretty good on this first leg.
We board for Leg Two shortly............Lord Jesus, give us a smooth ride.........I kept thinking of the song "Jesus take the wheel" but a plane doesn't really have a wheel.......and then my mind jumps to the humorous fishing rendition of the song that says "Cletis, take the reel..........Oh boy, it's going to be a loooonnnggg day!
events that happen. This will be 'Leg One' of this years journey to Las Matas. Leg One really began last night when Jeff had to help me pack. Most people who truly know me, know I don't like traveling. I like 'going places' or better said 'getting to the place' but not the physical part of traveling. Usually if we are going on a family vacation, Jeff does all the packing. I lay my stuff out and he does the organizing and double checking. Then I meander out to the car when departure time comes, and off we go. Earlier in the week, I began to lay stuff out and actually
put most of it in my carry on and larger bag. But last night, I experienced what I call 'shut down mode'. Luckily, Jeff came to my rescue. This may be my first trip that I haven't forgotten something.
After finishing loading and organizing my precious, life saving, only way I can fly, iPod, I headed to bed, only to sleep fitfully. I felt like the little kids in the old Disney commercial who were laying in bed and squealed, "I'm too excited to sleep!" Once I did nod off, 4 a.m came quickly. We made it to the airport and Jeff did the drop and run routine that we have become so familiar with lately. It was a joyous event to meet up again with our annual trip friends and meet some newbies. I love to listen to everyone talk about what has been going on in their lives in the past year. Some I have visited and kept up with as Facebook friends, while others are only face-to-face visits this time each year.
Finally we boarded. My 26F seat was calling. To my surprise, the plane wasn't full and there was an empty seat between my row mate and me. Once settled in with my iPod ready for use and clutching the airline supplied bath towel sized blanket, we took off. Take offs aren't so bad for me, it's generally the landing that causes me to transform into a panic stricken wimp. Not long after ascending into the wild blue yonder,did we start the descent. Oh, how I hate that part!
I've always told Jeff that I feel things deeply, usually referring to comments and situations. But I really do physically 'feel' my heart beating in my ears, even above the roar of the jet planes below my wing side seat. At one point when I felt a quick drop in altitude, my head popped up from the semi-praying, listening to my Christian music blaring, eyes closed position, to look at my seat away neighbor to check out if he seemed the type who would mind a perfect stranger grabbing his arm and squeezing- just for a little while. His eyes were closed, head leaned back, and arms crossed tightly across his chest. I quickly reckoned I was on my own. So the squeezing of the hard plastic arm rest began. I have to admit, I think I did pretty good on this first leg.
We board for Leg Two shortly............Lord Jesus, give us a smooth ride.........I kept thinking of the song "Jesus take the wheel" but a plane doesn't really have a wheel.......and then my mind jumps to the humorous fishing rendition of the song that says "Cletis, take the reel..........Oh boy, it's going to be a loooonnnggg day!
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