from Haiti, January 25, 2010

At the end of our 9th full day working at the University Hospital in Haiti, I find myself beginning to lose my endurance by the end of the day. We have made remarkable progress in a little more than a week, and a hospital has emerged. The tents are full of injured and ill patients, many of whom have lost limbs or have undergone dramatic surgery for multiple injuries. It is quite hot outside, so family members fan the patients with pieces of cardboard.

Our tented E.R. saw nearly 300 patients today, and we are preparing to see more than 500 tomorrow, in what are essentially two rooms. To keep the place running, we are electricians, masons and plumbers as well as doctors. Tomorrow we are supposed to get phones, but I'm not counting on it.

Everyone is getting tired - I can see it in the faces of all the people with whom I work from every country and whom I have come to admire a great deal. Every day brings new crises of capacity, supplies, sudden patient influx or something else. When that happens, we all pull together and get the problem solved. We have had some frustrations because we have set our expectations much higher than what is likely realistic for many of our patients. We have been with these people more than a week and come to know them, so deaths and disfigurements affect us a lot.

The media frenzy is beginning to die down. Four days ago, you could not turn without a camera or reporter being there to document the activity. If that brings resources to Haiti, I am all for it. I have been disappointed, however, in the sensational titling of articles, which must be required to attract readers. Let me tell you the truth - everyone is working their asses off, getting along, cooperating and there are very few controversies. We have the operating rooms coordinated, a way to care for orphans, a small blood bank, etc. Our big problem is space, but USAID just brought us three big tents tonight, which is a huge relief.

I visited many of the patients I have come to know this afternoon, just to touch their hands, wipe their foreheads, and encourage them. They are all missing a leg, an arm, and many relatives. Think about how life has changed for them and about what you might do to make it a bit better for them. Please pick a relief organization and make a small donation. It truly makes a difference.