Sara's Journey

Today we had the day off; which was much needed! Yesterday I hit the wall I could not work another day! So my week in review will be short because I can't even remember what happened. All I know is I was the only OB nurse all week with an average of about 9 moms, some laboring, some with babies. I assisted with two deliveries. I am on the unit by myself, no doctors no midwives around. The one midwife on shift is around the building out front in a tent. So I have started prescribing medicines by myself, and also almost delivered a baby by myself. I walked past my laboring patient and saw the head of the baby. Did my patient yell for me? No. Did she make a noise? No. So I see the baby's head and go grab someone to help me. Of course no one is around. Run outside to a tent and ask a peds MD to catch the baby if it drops out while I run to get the midwife. I was halfway around the building when I heard the baby come. Why didn't I send a Haitian nurse to get the midwife b/c the midwife can't speak Creole. The language barrier is really difficult, I'm so glad I can speak Creole but it makes my work twice as hard b/c everyone wants me to translate for them!

If I have a moment of free time I try to help peds which has a Kwashiokor kid, a girl with her eye practically popping out b/c it got hit in the quake and lots of dehydrated babies. One 3mo baby weighing 1.8kg. The scary part is I'm not phased anymore. I just expect it. I always talk about how I want to be a better person. And my goal has been to be a source of joy while I'm here, to go thru the day smiling. But I wonder, am I becoming a better person if I don't bat an eye when I see a kid starving in front of me? And what kind of world are we living in that this even happens?

On a happier note: we are temporarily letting moms stay in tents at the hospital so I don't have to kick people out on the streets, thanks to a Canadian who gave me 8 tents!! Go Canada. I had been keeping track of the moms who had no housing so that I could call all of them when I had tents, which I did!! And I still think the overall mood here is so hopeful, everyone wants to help and is excited! I have not seen the redcross anywhere, nor snakes, nor Anderson Cooper, or Angelina Jolie! I'm still sleeping on the floor, but I did have time to eat lunch one day! Tomorrow I go back to the same hospital since I am the only OB nurse I am feeling like I need to go, but I heard next week more OB nurses come so maybe I will go somewhere else!

Overall the attitude is still so hopeful here! I love being here, I love Haiti, and I love that everyone cares about Haiti now and is soooo enthusiastic!!