Triage

I feel like “Triage” would make a great medical show! You never know what’s going to come through those doors. As scary as that is, it is much worse in third world countries. We opened the clinic doors this morning to the 120 people the guards allowed in the gates. We hope to be able to allow more in tomorrow because the truth is that most make many sacrifices to make the journey to Mission of Hope and in the realm of health care, this is their only option. Most don’t have the luxury of popping in when a problem arises, they must wait until they can somehow make it here first of all and second make it through the gates before they close. I saw many many dehydrated people, febrile illnesses, skin rashes, malaria, and on and on. One baby I triaged needed immediate transfer to the Univ. Of Miami field hospital for severe dehydration and near respiratory failure. The mom held him as if he was just sleeping, she did not panic or beg for immediate attention, I wonder how long the baby had been sick and had that lethargic and listless demeanor become the baseline for days, longer? Regardless, his little body was about to give out. There were also some emergent cases that we brought in the back door straight to the “ER” room for IV hydration, medications, ultrasound, etc. At the end of the day, all patients got treated, left with meds in hand and hopefully a fulfilled heart from the love we strove to give them.