The ride was long - 3 hours each way over bumpy and, at times, treacherous mountain roads that rose so high my ears popped. We traveled across the island, going from the Caribean Sea side to the Atlantic side. "We" were the driver, Dr. Cezar (one of our 2 doctors at HHF), this mother and 3 day old baby, and myself. We were headed for a village that had a hospital run by Cuban doctors with training in many specialties. Dr. Cezar, trained in Cuba, is fluent in Spanish and was needed to explain the life or death situation of this child.
Just 24 hours earlier I had taken this picture. The baby appeared quite healthy - even big for most Haitian babies. But later that day the baby developed a fever. Other than the umbilical cord being unusually long and engourged, he seemed fine. We started antibiotics. At 11 that night I was called to come to the Center. The baby was crying continually.
His cry was one of pain and it was almost impossible to console him. A repeat examination showed the problem to be around the umbilical cord. So, as is protocol, we sent him and mother to the hospital, taking them by ambulance with the nurse accompanying them to explain the urgency of the situation. She called to say there was no doctor available, but they were keeping the baby. There was nothing more to do that night.
Early next morning we discovered that: Nothing had been done for the baby; he had continued to cry all night; the only pediatrician in Jeremie was too busy to see him; and there was no surgeon available. That is when it was decided that HHF would do whatever we could for this child. And so the trip over the mountains. Mother and I sat in the back of the vehicle with the baby in a bassinet between our feet. He slept most of the way - exhausted from the continual crying. (Our vehicles are Toyota Land Cruisers with the "back seats" being padded benches along both sides of the vehicle. People sit facing each other. Now, Mother and I sat facing each other with the baby between us in the bassinet on the floor.)
When we arrived, the Chief of Surgery met us at the door. As we entered the building, I was amazed to see a modern CLEAN outpatient department and hospital. Dr. Cezar began discussing the situation. In the treatment room, the doctor immediately identified the problem. The umbilicus was infected and had to be explored. Quickly attendants had the instruments and supplies needed. Ligatures were placed on the exposed cord, and it was removed as close to the abdomen as possible. The exposed and removed cord showed 2 sources of the problem - infection and a blood clot. The baby was sedated, the mother checked and found to also have a fever; she, too, was medicated and after much thanks, we began the long journey home. Oh, yes, we were charged NOTHING for all this. These doctors and this wonderful facility are free to the Haitian people. This is how Cuba is helping its poorer neighbor.
Last night, after finally arriving home and putting the mother and baby to bed here at the Center, I came away exhausted but, oh, so happy. This is one baby that will get a chance at life!
Take care. Till next time. Mary Ann
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