Viva Le Newborn Baby

By Naomi

Well, internet has been slow or non existent..so first off, we are all fine! Some members of the team were contacted by concerned spouses and family as apparently some Americans were kidnapped in Port Au Prince (we have no radio, TV or news here)...but we are fine and feel very safe.

The young man with all the fractures is doing well. We have fixed his right leg and left arm and plan on tackling his left leg tomorrow. His friend has woken up down in Port au Prince and will hopefully recover. Lee Ann made it back last evening as we were finishing another case. Another 2 gentleman arrived victims of a taptap taptap accident. We all thought "oh no" but one could be sent home. The other had a bad laceration to his foot, which had been outside the taptap when the other came by a little too close, which we cleaned and stitched sitting on stool while he sat in a chair and his son held the flashlite. Christopher, age 11, wants to be a doctor and hung around the supply room today helping us. Then a car pulled up with a 34 week pregnant woman, having 4 minute contractions. She came with her own OB/Gyn, a Haitian woman, named Gabriel (who looks like Bailey from Grays Anatomy) who practices in Boston and was working at her mission when she arrived. They put her in the car and drove here about 45 minutes as they heard we had a functioning OR. With rapidity, the BAR (OR) now became a birthing suite and neonatal unit. Gabriel and Dr. Tim performed a C-section with all in attendance and helping any way possible. LeeAnn organized the "baby crew". Junior, still residing in the OR, as it is functioning as our ICU, slept through the whole C-section and birth of a healthy 4 1/2 pound baby girl at about 10 pm. Mother and baby stayed in the OR overnite along with Junior for monitoring and nursing. The excitement and joy on everyones faces was incredible. The baby was passed from person to person. The father this morning asked us to name his daughter and after discussion we decided that Gabriel was most appropriate.

The team has taken rotations covering the "ICU" 24/7 and hopefully we will have Junior to a point on Friday he can move the regular rooms. Majid arrived back this afternoon and should post about his experience at the U of Miami Hospital in PAP. After finishing several cases today including a foot case, most of the team went for a hike up the hill behind the compound. We slipped and slid up a narrow trail with rock and shale passing some goats and donkeys. The view behind us down the valley was beautiful with mountain ranges. As we got to the top, we could see the ocean stretching west. We are very close to the shore but you would never know it because we're in a valley. The downhill trek was treacherous and we slipped and slid, then walked along a stream that several of us slipped into up to mid calf (and promptly took showers upon returning). Carlos joined in a soccer game with some kids as we walked by who taught him a few moves I think! Simione and Benson walked with us and were a huge help coming down the hill! The Haitian people have been very welcoming, friendly with big smiles. Others are being encouraged to blog! Naomi