Mission Rescue

I spent my first two working days in Haiti at Mission Rescue. This is a semi-functioning police station converted into a medical clinic and a food distribution site. Each day the clinic sees about 500 patients. It is run by wonderful staff who believe strongly that God is at work here.

My first day was a bit of a blur. I was not feeling well, and I had taken a medication that all but knocked me out. I was hoping just to make it through the day. My interpreter passed out just after lunch, and I thought I was going to join him. However, I made it through, treating the masses as best I could at 2 to 3 minutes per person. Most had headaches, belly aches, palpitations, high blood pressure, coughing, fevers, female issues, anemia, and scabies. There were not any diagnostic tests to determine the exact diagnosis. Many had symptoms of stress, grief, dehydration, and starvation. Our small pharmacy had enough medicine to ease symptoms for a few days or weeks. Most of the infections will recur and most of the issues are chronic. It was all too overwhelming. I was not able to practice anywhere near the standard of care to which I am accustomed.

Day two at Mission was completely different. We came prepared with our "pharmacy". I had all the main medications at my station prepackaged in sandwich baggies. My interpreter Albert was back and refreshed. Team Aruba doctor Ralph had be doing some procedures. I anesthetized a wound with lidocaine just before I left for lunch, which turned out to be perfect timing. I was saved from finding the worms that laid within the wound. Instead, I went up to the roof with my teammates to have lunch where we found U.S. Special Forces soldiers in sniper position over the earthquake-damaged Presidential Palace. Michele Obama along with her security were flying out in helicopters. Michele either didn't have time to stop over at our clinic or it didn't fit into her childhood obesity campaign (quite the opposite). Alternatively she could have contracted scabies in which case the whole White House would have to be disinfected.

I felt that much more was accomplished by our team on day 2. We may not have cured the 500 people that came through the doors, but we were able to give what we could and provide some temporary relief. They know that people do care.

Lisa Wimberly