In a moment of reflection, Amanda Mauck, communications specialist, sent us an unusual picture.

From Haiti Mission

This is the bell they ring before every meal when all the food is  ready. It is a very welcome sound after a long day of work.

News of the team from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist:

Well, it finally happened. One of our own got sick. Gordon Corder, Pediatric Anesthesiologists PA, has succumbed to the tropical ailments. Thankfully, when traveling with a group of doctors, there is always someone there who can start an IV and make him feel better.

From Haiti Mission

The team turned the camera on Logistics and Communications Specialist Amanda Mauck today, to give us a look at the one providing frequent updates about the trip.

From Haiti Mission

 Here's another.

From Haiti Mission

Our Morning update from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist:

The team started out at the clinic compound this morning. Dr. Eubanks has three surgeries scheduled. He did one hernia surgery on a little boy this morning and then he’s removing an infection from a woman’s face. There a little boy who came in this morning needed help from a machete accident on his hand.

Most everyone else is assisting with surgeries. The OR doesn’t have air conditioning so it’s really hot. Those assisting are moving in and out, and Dr. Eubanks has been coming out and taking breaks. The air is really stagnant inside and outside there’s a breeze. Today, it’s 90-some degrees so it’s probably more than 100 degrees in the OR.

We’ll go back to Sacred Heart this afternoon to tie up loose ends. Dr. Anand needs to go back for research for one last day. Dr. Eubanks is going to say goodbye to some of his patients.

We just received this info. from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist:

After spending much of the day at Sacred Heart, Dr. Eubanks, Pediatric Surgical Group, returned to the clinic compound to repair two hernias. Dr. Josh Meier, Kosair Children's Hospital, assisted while Le Bonheur Children's Jacob Howell served as scrub tech.

From Haiti Mission

The members of Rotary knew they wanted to donate to the relief effort in Haiti, said Maureen O'Connor, Le Bonheur Children's director of public policy.

So when news of Le Bonheur Children's mission to serve in Haiti arose, Rotary put out a call to members and promised to match individual contributions 2-to-1. With individuals giving sums as high as $4,800 the grand total came to $14,835!

We cannot thank you enough for your generosity. Community support for this mission completely fueled the team's ability to save lives in the aftermath of a natural catastrophe. We're so proud of our team and proud of our partnerships with community-minded organizations across the Mid-South!

Stay tuned to see more updates and hear more stories from Haiti.

The latest picture from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist:

From Haiti Mission

In addition to being Haiti's best scrub tech, Jacob Howell also runs the inter-operative X-ray, or C-arm.

Share a moment with our team, courtesy of Amanda Mauck, communications and logistics coordinator:

While relaxing this afternoon, Dr. Sunny (Anand) decided to crack open one of the
many coconuts growing in the compound. Last, night we attempted to
open it with a tool Dr. Kelly  (Campbell Clinic) is very comfortable with - a cast saw.
But alas, we decided that the only thing that would open them is a machete. Today we borrowed the right tool from the sisters and cracked open two delicious coconuts.

 

From Amanda Mauck, communications and logistics coordinator:

Today, we are only taking a small group to Sacred Heart. We are beginning to get tired, and since there was only one scheduled surgical case, we all decided that we'd take Sunday off.  We're only taking a small group to Sacred Heart to take out a woman's gall bladder and to check on our patients.  Trey (Eubanks, pediatric surgeon, Pediatric Surgical Group), Jacob (Howell, surgery technician), Sunny , Joel (Saltzman, medical director of Anesthesia) and I are hoping to make today a quick trip.  Back at the compound, the rest are going to start organizing the supplies we brought and move them from out of the patient waiting area.  Fr. Joe has a contractor coming Monday morning to look at the compound's earthquake damage.

Here's a picture of the gall bladder removal surgery:

 

From Haiti Mission

We at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital would like to say thanks for following our pediatric team's journey in Haiti. It's been a busy first week for the surgeons, and from what we've heard, a life changing experience for everyone involved. We've managed to put together a few pictures to help put faces with names as we continue to document this mission.

From Haiti Mission

(Above) Meet Amanda Mauck, Le Bonheur Children's communications and logistics coordinator for the team. Amanda's calls have been the primary source of information for our blog. She checks in several times a day, thanks to international fee waivers from AT&T--a technological wizard, this one is.

 

From Haiti Mission

(Above) Dr. Sunny Anand, UT Medical Group and director of critical care for Le Bonheur Children's. “As world leaders in the field of pediatrics, it is our responsibility to care for children in any community with a demonstrated need,” he said.

 

From Haiti Mission

(Above, Right) Dr. Trey Eubanks, medical director of Trauma, Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center; Pediatric Surgical Group. Dr. Eubanks began organizational work today in hopes of allowing future mission groups to pick up where our team leaves off.

 

From Haiti Mission

(Left) Crile Crisler, MHA, NREMT-P, administrative director of Emergency Services, Le Bonheur Children’s.

 

From Haiti Mission

(Above)Dr. Derek Kelly, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Campbell Clinic.

A week on the scene, and the pediatric team has seen more cases than had been originally anticipated. But spirits are high, and the forward momentum will only grow. Stay Tuned!

 

Our pediatric team is working around the clock to help patients both at Sacred Heart Hospital, where they have been working during the day, and Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis clinic, where they sleep at night. The latest from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist:

Last night, when we returned to the compound, patients started coming back around 7 p.m. The Chilean and Colombian doctors had been seeing patients at the clinic on the compound all day. We didn’t know patients were coming back but were able to help out. We saw about 20 people, including a boy with a broken arm. Dr. Eubanks (Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center; Pediatric Surgical Group) was also able to schedule a couple of surgeries for next week at the clinic.

From Amanda Mauck, Le Bonheur Children's communication specialist:

Because we’re going to be here longer than other groups have, we’re trying to build some processes for groups that come after us. Because people are in and out, we sometimes don’t know who did a patient’s first surgery or have details about that procedure. Dr. Meier, Children's Orthopedics of Louisville, says he misses not knowing everything about his patients like he does in the states – sometimes we have old X-rays from when patients initially came, but we’re trying to set up some more organization. It’s by no means the fault of those who came before us. Everyone has just been running a mile a minute.

From Haiti Mission

(above photo: Crile Crisler, administrative director of Emergency Services at Le Bonheur Children’s, keeps his tape handy by using his stethoscope).

 

Morning update from Amanda Mauck, communications specialist. Sounds like the team is bracing for another busy day in surgery!

Today we came back to Sacred Heart a little more prepared.  We brought walkie talkies with us this time.  Dr. Eubanks has one and I have one so we can call down to each other rather than having to run through the building.  It seems to be working a lot better. 

A lot of us rounded this morning. We came up with an operating room sheet so when they are rounding downstairs and find a patient who needs surgery we can call up and get them on the schedule.

We have six cases scheduled for today – adjustments for broken bones and dressing changes that require anesthesia.  Right now, Crile (Crisler) and Dr. Anand are downstairs in the emergency department.  Josh (Meier) and Derek (Kelly) are rounding and getting ready for surgical cases.  Trey (Eubanks) is the assistant acting administrator for the hospital.  He does a really good job with that.  Because Joel (Saltzman) and Gordon (Corder) are the most senior anesthesia specialists they are controlling the operating room and the anesthesia.

More updates later. 

The latest from our communications specialist, Amanda Mauck:

Our team is staying busy today at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Said Logistics Specialist Crile Crisler: "We are slammed with patients and our surgeons are busy operating."

 

From First patients in Haiti

Orthopedic Surgeons Derek Kelly and Josh Meier reset the hand of a boy whose finger had been removed a few days ago. 

 

 

The latest from Amanda Mauck, communications and logistics coordinator:

I hear some of you are wondering what we eat while we’re here. Today, we packed protein bars and water for lunch, given that we’ve traveled to the hospital for the day. I had a piece of wheat bread with peanut butter and a cup of coffee for breakfast.

 The picture I’m sending is of surgery technician Jacob Howell's plate at lunch yesterday.. It’s rice with bean sauce, Vienna sausages with red sauce and bread. We’ll probably have rice, chicken and Vienna sausage for dinner. Although we work hard, we are taking time to joke around and keep each others' spirits up.

 

From First patients in Haiti

Recent Update:

Just met Trevor from Los Angeles who is an EMT. He came to Haiti on January 2 to work in an orphanage. He was standing on a balcony when the quake happened, and was able to get everyone out. His four-story house collapsed, though. He's been camping and staying at different places ever since.