Cases right out of the "You've never seen this one" textbook
On June 21, I returned to Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (HAS) with orthopedic surgeons Dr. Danny Guy and Dr. Obinwanne Ugwonali. Our last visit took place three weeks after the earthquake. While the effects of that disaster will be felt for many years to come, now it is cholera that is gripping the Artibonite Valley as well as the rest of the country. I can only repeat the sentiments of those folks who have posted stories before mine. The dedication and fortitude of the HAS staff and the many volunteers who have put in endless hours in the cholera camp are the true heroes of the day. The three of us were humbled by the work these individuals do so unselfishly.
What makes Deschapelles unique is the chance to see old friends and the opportunity to make new ones, all of whom share a common purpose. We stayed at the Alumni house with a great group of people, most of whom were working at the cholera camp. They had come from cities including Bern (Switzerland), Tuebingan (Germany), Boston, Peoria, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Old Saybrook (CT).
The return to HAS, however, was not complete until two rituals occurred. The first came in the early hours of the morning when the familiar sounds of roosters crowing and goats bleating brought us out of a deep sleep. The second was that oh-so-wonderful plunge into the cement pond after the first long day at the hospital.
The highlight of our trip was the return to HAS of several patients we had operated on 16 months previously. Five of these folks had had limb-salvaging surgery to cover up exposed fractured bones. All fractures had healed and there was no evidence of infection. Of the ten patients who underwent this procedure, only one ultimately required an amputation. Nobody would have predicted such good results. What made it particularly special was that all of these patients made the effort to return to HAS from Port-au-Prince. In typical Haitian fashion, they were gracious and appreciated our efforts.
It was also great to see the new operating room. We now have three large suites and separate areas dedicated pre-operative and post-operative.. Deschapelles is fortunate to have such a modern facility. Those who have given so generously to HAS should be proud of what their donations have provided. The challenges, however, are ongoing and the continuing need for philanthropy cannot be overstated.
Along these lines is the incredible work being done by the Hanger Ivan R. Sabel Foundation, established on the HAS campus just a month after the earthquake. Their accomplishments are nothing short of miraculous, having fitted somewhere north of 900 prosthetics since opening. We were given a tour of their facility by Chris Blades, a volunteer from Portland, Maine who was serving as the lead prosthetist for the clinic. What a great addition to the services provided by HAS to the community!
Of course, our stay would not have been complete without the stream of interesting patients in the orthopedic clinic. From tibial hemimelia to advanced rickets, the cases came right out of the “you’ve never seen this one” textbook. Several patients were still nursing injuries sustained in January 2010. Our work in the clinic would not have been possible without the help of HAS staff who served as interpreters.
As in the past, our time at HAS flew by. We will continue to support the hospital’s mission and already look forward to our return to Deschapelles.
