Update from Dr. Patton

Tuesday AM
Another quake. 4.7 at 1:27 am. I didn’t get out of bed. It wasn’t bad enough. I have the Haitian trots this AM. Not good.

Wednesday PM
I have been working part time since I got the trots. I wish I could work more but I feel weak as the day wears on.
Today I removed 6 casts. I taught my friend and Haitian interpreter, Jean, to remove them. He learns quickly. One young lady had a cast that ended at the fracture site on her humerus. Of course it had not healed. There is so much work yet to be done.

A young boy burned his foot. It had been dressed but that dressing had not been changed in days. Pus dripped from the wound. It needed cleaning in the OR. The family could not be persuaded that the surgeon would not cut his foot completely off. They left without allowing any intervention. I hope they come back before the child becomes septic and loses his life or at best now his limb.

I so enjoy Scott Nelson’s vision.

Feeling feverish and weak. I hope tonight passes quickly.

H2O traction in a tent. “Welcome to Haiti.”

My buddy, Jaunty, brought me a protein milk shake. What a great guy!

The owner of these cute, dimpled hands can count to twelve!

I am impressed at the older and cleanliness of many of the people despite the surrounding chaos and filth.

This little boys spine is protruding because it has been destroyed by tuberculosis.

This is a common sight.

...a lot of metal to hold together a destroyed pelvis.

Without C-arm there was no way to know if this fixator was on straight in the OR.