Peter Foggin
  • Blog
  • Main Page
  • Bio
  • Articles
  • Miao Landscapes
  • Contact

Mobile clinics / cliniques mobiles (le français au deuxième paragraphe)

3/17/2010

 
Dr Don Tillman, physician with this week’s medical team (made up mostly of medical students from Missouri), told an amazing story of a little boy in one of the IDP (internal displaced persons) camp with a sixth digit on each hand that was totally without function and usefulness. Nor did it appear to have bones, only cartilage. After tying up the blood supply at the base, he was able to deftly remove them without too much pain and fuss. He made us laugh when he described how he suggested to the lad to wave ‘bye-bye’ with his five normal remaining fingers. The team this week is extraordinary in so many ways. Everyone pitches in, nothing is taken for granted. And somehow, there always seems to be a spirit of encouragement and motivation. Later in the same day, the good doctor and I took to the Miami-Dade trauma hospital (near the airport) a two-and-a-half year old boy who had been suffering for a long time from a rectal prolapse (hernia) the size of a small adult fist. It looked terrible. After pushing through the guards at the gate (who seem to try to stop everybody), Dr Don met a physician whose shirt label read ‘Paediatric Surgery’. He and Dr Don talked, and within minutes the paediatric surgeon had replaced the prolapsed bowel right in where it belongs, with his hand, and the problem seems to have been solved. He said this works 95 % of the time. The short little mom couldn't believe her eyes, and was so pleased!

Le Dr Tillman, médecin avec l’équipe médicale de cette semaine (composée pour la plupart d’étudiants de médecine de l’état du Missouri) nous a raconté l’histoire d’un garçon dans un camp de réfugiés (PDI) cette semaine qui avait un sixième doigt sur chaque main qui n’avait ni fonction ni utilité. Il appert qu’il n’y avait pas d’os, seulement du cartilage. Après avoir serré les bases de ces doigts superflus, le docteur a pu enlever  les deux ‘sixièmes’. L’équipe ‘volante’ cette semaine est tout simplement extraordinaire, manifestant un esprit d’encouragement et de motivation sur toute la ligne. Par ailleurs, plus tard dans la journée le docteur et moi avons amené un petit garçon à l’hôpital d’urgence Miami-Dade (près de l’aéroport international de P-au-P). Après avoir ‘défoncé’ la porte de la cour de l’hôpital (des gardes semblent vouloir empêcher tout le monde). Notre docteur (Tillman) et le pédiatre-chirurgien ont discuté le cas, et dans le temps de le dire (presque!) il semble que le spécialiste ait remis l’hernie rectale, manuellement. Il paraît que cette approche (dite ‘douce’) a du succès dans 95% des fois. Sa mère, toute petite, allait souriant, tellement sa joie était complète.
Tim
3/18/2010 01:29:31 am

Thanks so much for the ongoing updates!

Linda Miller
3/20/2010 04:11:12 am

Love the pictures Peter, especially of you with a baby. Great to read of your life there. Looking forward to seeing you in May. Keep well.

David Dawson
3/22/2010 11:54:29 am

Appreciate your sensitive depictions of the ongoing struggle. The time you invest in reporting does keep us aware of the need that won't go away.


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Sallachy Lodge on the shores of Loch Shin in the Scottish Highlands
    Picture
    View from within
    Picture
    Country road (theoretically 60 MPH!) in the HIghlands
    Picture
    A foggy morning in the Highlands
    Picture
    Sallachy Lodge
    Picture
    Honfleur - small coastal town in northern France
    Picture
    Gulls on the Oregon Coast
    Picture
    Historic lighthouse on the Oregon Coast
    Picture
    Bird resting: La Pas - Baja California's east coast
    Picture
    The older generation: siblings, cousins and spouses
    Picture
    The next two generations
    Picture
    Marc and Tim chatting
    Picture
    Alistair catches a Kokanee fresh water salmon
    Picture
    Foggin siblings: Joy, John, Marianne and Peter
    Picture
    Da Hong Zhai - Taijiang
    Picture
    Da Hong Zhai - Taijiang
    Picture
    Datang - Shidong Bus
    Picture
    Huangping Lusheng Festival in May 2013
    Picture
    Lady in Jidao, near Langde
    Picture
    Rice fields in Taijiang area
    Picture
    Jidao, near Langde
    Picture
    Jidao (Hmu) Miao village
    Drs Marion and Marc Foggin continue working with many others to alleviate the suffering from the recent Yushu earthquake (China).
    Picture
    Yushu before & after quake Photo: Plateau Perspectives
    Picture
    Yushu earthquake tents Photo: Plateau Perspectives
    Picture
    Yushu earthquake rubble Photo: Plateau Perspectives
    Picture
    Patient in Sol Solon camp
    Picture
    Children Dance at Easter at Apad Camp Mobile Clinic
    Picture
    Mother and child in Apad
    Picture
    Tops of 'tents' in Apad
    Picture
    Dr Cassandra & Baby John (four months)
    Picture
    Cinder Block Beds
    Picture
    Croix-des-Bouquets Camp
    Picture
    Basket Weave Building
    Picture
    Mobile Clinic Line-ups
    Picture
    Unconscious Beverline
    Picture
    Clercine 21 Mobile Clinic
    Picture
    Little boy with sore seat
    Picture
    Devastation still present in Port-au-Prince
    Picture
    Jerika - Miami Hospital (Port-au-Prince)
    Picture
    Little girl at Chambrun
    Picture
    Typical IDP camp tent
    Picture
    Peter with sick little girl Photo: Claudia Dewald
    Picture
    Village of Chambrun near Port-au-Prince
    Picture
    Elderly lady's business
    Picture
    Sick child at mobile clinic
    Picture
    Crowd controler at clinic
    Picture
    Line-up at IDP camp clinic
    Picture
    Rural transport: Chambrun

    Archives

    September 2014
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.