Dispatches from Haiti by Stanford Hospital Doctor
Paul Auerbach, an emergency physician at the medical center, carries a boy on his shoulders on Jan. 19 to a surgery clinic where one of the boy's fingers will be amputated. Photo courtesy: Chuck Liddy/The News and Observer
In a series of dramatic dispatches from Haiti, relayed via text messages, Stanford Hospital physician Anil Menon is capturing the desperate need of the many thousands still untreated more than a week after a 7.0 earthquake devastated one of the world’s poorest nations.
“ ‘How was your day?’ I’ve had to answer that question throughout the day, and at first I said good, with a rote response,” Menon wrote, the day after the team arrived, “but then I just had to tell the truth because it wasn’t good, it was horrible. After 48 hours of traveling, very little sleep, not much food, I had no desire for food or sleep, because the rubble of Port-au-Prince was strewn with injured people, in even worse condition on day 5.”
Auerbach watches as his colleague Ian Brown performs a curbside sonogram on a pregnant woman. They could find no fetal heartbeat. Auerbach, Brown and other medical center staff are volunteering for three weeks in Port-au-Prince. Photo courtesy: Chuck Liddy/The News and Observer
Menon is part of a seven-person Stanford Hospital medical team that flew to Haiti last week to do what they could to help as part of the International Medical Corps. All the clinicians are emergency medicine specialists. The team is lead by Robert Norris, MD, chief of Stanford’s Division of Emergency Medicine.
Within 36 hours of its first meeting, the day after the Jan. 11 quake, the team had collected supplies and departed. It is the largest single group of medical volunteers fielded by the International Medical Corps. In one duffle bag and one shoulder bag each, the team carried supplies valued at $18,000, the majority donated by Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital joined in the effort, contributing $1,000 to the supply cost. Others also donated supplies.
The team also includes physicians Ian Brown and Paul Auerbach, former chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine and medical relief volunteer in Guatemala and Nepal. Norris had volunteered as a physician in Iraq and India. The Stanford Hospital nurses are Gaby McAdoo, Heather Tilson, Julie Rachioppi. Jonathan Gardner, who previously worked at the Hospital, is also a member of the team.
The team faced the same difficulties in getting to Haiti as have other forms of aid. But Menon’s Jan. 16 message reflects the importance of the support he felt from the Hospital and his fellow professionals.
“This same global consciousness and good will shown by my unit became apparent as more Stanford doctors and nurses volunteered. From wellwishers on Facebook, to emails and calls, it has made a difficult journey much easier…In fact, I don’t know of few people who would not have gone.”
The team finally arrived in Port-au-Prince, and found shelter in a hotel.
“The owner took pity on us and provided a floor of her conference hall for some of our group to stay in. The other half is staying on the floor of an abandoned building, in tents… I feel guilty even camping in this place, but I’m glad for the opportunity to take a deep breath before going at it the next day.”
The team did as much as they could, frustrated by their inability to do what they would do if the situation was different.
“…our ER is backing up with post operative amputations. Of course this makes it harder to see new patients…the saying goes that you would treat every single patient in the U.S but you can only treat a few patients here. That is what makes the situation unbearable, being trained to help someone, but having so many people tug at your arm, need an immediate response, but only being able to answer a few.”
The next day, Jan. 18, Menon describes the kinds of injuries the team is treating―and the inadequate supply of pain medication.
“The vast majority of injuries are delayed treatment of huge lacerations and fractures. Lacerations can’t be closed after this time period because they will trap infections and become worse. So you leave them open, keep them clean, cut away dead tissue, and bandage then up."
On Jan. 19, Menon continues his descriptions of the patients arriving for care.
“…today was a blur because we were pushing so hard… A woman told me that “no matter what you Americans did in the past, you were here when we needed you, and I love you”. It was good to hear that. The 82nd airborne arrived today and have made it a lot easier for the hospital to function. I also think we’ll have food and water for patients. Thanks for all of that.”
On Wednesday, a 6.1 aftershock intensified the situation.
"The earthquake woke me up this morning, and I ran for the exit, mostly because that is what I do when I see other people running and I don’t know why…no one at the hospital would return to the buildings…people would rather die than be treated in the hospital. That’s what seemed to be happening. In the morning very sick patients were exposed to too much sunlight. We worked to adapt and overcome by building outdoor tents, but it was still hot. Luckily, supplies and help is picking up so we could get IV fluid to patients. One translator was moving beds and patients outdoors as the ones that couldn’t run refused to stay.”
The team expects to stay in Haiti for three weeks. Menon sent the messages to a friend, Baratunde Thurston.
Anyone who wishes to support the Stanford Hospital Haiti relief team may send gifts payable to Stanford Hospital & Clinics (Attention: Stanford Hospital Haiti Relief Fund), c/o Office of Hospital Development, 145A El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025 or may contact Ema Williams, Manager of Finance & Administration, Office of Hospital Development at (650) 721-2460 or ewillia2@stanford.edu.
About Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of "America's Best Hospitals," Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. It is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, visit http://stanfordmedicine.org.