Sharp Cheese

Yesterday, Duncan and I were in the midst of a serious conversation when I heard a strange noise. I looked over and saw a mouse in our sharps container. I have no idea how he got in there, but it provided our comic relief for the day.
Wednesday morning we were sitting in the clinic, and Duncan or I had probably just muttered something about being bored, when I got a phone call. It was from the YWAM director here, and he was saying something about being at the hospital with a mob of people. He gave instructions to scrub down the clinic and get it ready to take people, just in case. These people were all presenting with severe vomiting and diarrhea. It took us about an hour and a half to clear out a section of the clinic to use as a quarantined area, get supplies ready, and mop. The head nurse bleached the floors and wiped them up herself. As soon as we were finished, a man was carried in. He had a blood pressure of approximately 50/30. We were able to hook him up to two IVs and stabilize him. Two more patients were brought in as well, but were in much better shape. We began rehydrating all of them, then transported them to the hospital.
The past few days have run together a bit, so I can't remember the exact order of events. Sometime very early Thursday morning, Leah heard a helicopter, which indicated that international people were now aware of our situation. And after checking the news websites, we found that the World Health Organization was indeed investigating. I went to the clinic, and we saw an incredible amount of people, simply because they couldn't get into the hospital if they were not presenting specific symptoms. And then it rained again. During the afternoon we simply sat in the clinic. I was pretty frustrated that I was sitting in a chair in an empty clinic while people were dying in front of the hospital gate. Duncan and I discussed this some (he's the practical one) and decided all we could do is make ourselves available for whatever comes.
Yesterday, I believe they gave the official word that we are dealing with cholera. I was on my way to the clinic when I got a call from Terry (director) asking how things were looking at the clinic. He quickly explained that he was setting up some sort of ambulance service and was wondering if Duncan and I could provide care. The clinic staff was fine without our help, so we ran around trying to gather supplies we thought we could possibly need. Then we set out to pick people up who couldn't get to the hospital. Over the next three hours, we picked up four people. We started IVs on three of them as they were severely dehydrated. Thankfully, there was no diarrhea in the ambulance, although a fair amount of vomit was spewed forth. Awesome, as vomit is the one bodily function I don't do well with. But I only gagged once. When we got to the hospital and the ambulance doors were opened, there were people standing there filming us. It was a very strange experience.
We continued to pick people up during the evening until about midnight. Leah and I had decided earlier that we were just going to spend the night at the base. We have no idea how long this will last, so Duncan and I are a little stressed about coming up with a long term plan. But for today we've decided to take shifts. There is a DTS team here from Kona, and there are two nurses on that team who agreed to help us if they are able. The girl who may be going out with me on my shift is also a new graduate. She said she does know how to canulate, but not on Haitian skin. Insert sarcastic comment here. So on our team, I will be the experienced one.
Mom, I know its apple pie filling day at home, and I really dislike cooking and all domestic chores, but perhaps you'd like to switch places with me for today?
Oh, and an update on Velouse, since some of you have been asking. Last weekend, Leah, Audrey and I went to the hospital to see her, but she was nowhere to be found, even after a nurse walked around calling her name. Monday morning she waddled into the clinic. So no baby yet, but I will be sure to update on that.