What keeps me going...

Its been a rough few days at work, not so much the pt's but the whole beauracracy of it all, thats a whole other rant though.  Anyhow, sometimes you wonder why you're in this business at all.  Well, I got an email the other day from a pt. I had in Haiti exactly one year ago.  No he wasn't an impoverished local, he hadn't sustained a traumatic injury, but he was having the only and worst active heart attack I have ever seen.  He was a fellow aid worker who had been carrying bags of concrete (I believe) when he started having chest pain.  His group took him to the nearest medical facility they knew of which turned out to be a dentist.  They then got him to a small medical clinic which in turn got him to us at Medishare.  We had minimal cardiac monitoring equipment and initially didn't have a cardiologist or a stable area to treat him.
(If you click on the pictures they will pop up larger.)

Our CVICU!  Its kind of like one of those pictures where you're supposed to find 10 things out of the ordinary!  (Becca Sacora, EMT and our pt. Andy Anderson, no HIIPA violation here, he was okay with photos!)

 Well the stars lined up for Mister Anderson and out of nowhere, literally, a cardiologist from Phoenix walked into our tent carrying a child from and outlying camp.  After he, cardiologist, passed the child to the OR staff he came back and helped us treat Andy for the duration of is care.  While Andy was in our care the tent flooded, the small ICU was deluged with rain water pouring in through the ventilation tubes and one of the ICU pts. seized.  Andy just layed quietly as  PJ, Decker, Becca and I scrambled to help the others and monitor his condition.   Somehow Jen, the CNO, was able to coordinate a medical flight out of Miami, which when it landed found there was no fuel... luckily someone was able to call in a favor from the Airforce and get enough fuel for the return trip.  Once the plane was fueled and ready a small pickup showed up in camp and we hustled Andy out on his cot and slid him into the bed of the truck.  PJ, Decker and I hopped in the back and away we went with the Global D.I.R.T.  guys.  It was a bit tense at the gate of the airport but we eventually got onto the tarmac, we bumped our way through the darkness, trying to evade another vehicle that sure looked like it was chasing us.  We finally got to the plane and were able to transfer Andy to the flight crew and crossed our fingers that he would make it back to the States!  Well, as you can see from his email he's doing well and thanks to our initial care is healthy and happy!

Our CVICU staff, one cardiologist, one EMT, and two Medics, who would of thought! The taking of this photo made me very nervous, something about our pt. giving a thumbs up seemed like it might jinx the whole thing.  (From left, Becca Sacora EMT, Decker Weiss Cardiologist/Naturopath, Andy Anderson, PJ Lingley Medic, me Medic.)  (And no I didn't pee my pants, got soaked trying to help the ICU folks in the other half of this tent)!

Yup, this was the ambulance, leaving the camp for the airfield, felt like we were on some crazy prisoner exchange but it all worked out.  Thanks to the guys at Global D.I.R.T.

 Here's the email I got from Andy

Good morning from Augusta, GA,

    It was a year ago today when all of our paths crossed. Our Mission Trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti was interrupted by my heart attack. I want to again thank you all for the care and support you each provided to effectively treat my condition and transport me home safely. Two stents, medications, daily exercises and a healthier diet have me in better shape today than last May.

     I just wanted to follow-up on this 1st anniversary and let you know I am doing well and feel great. I was truly blessed last year, and know God put each of you in that path to save my life.

God Bless and thank you,

                                      Andy 

  Here is the email I got from Andy one year ago

Decker, Marilyn, Dean and PJ,

     I want to thank you all for saving my life Wednesday, May 5th at the Medishare Hospital in Haiti. I saw Katie, the nurse on our mission team last night, and she gave me your e-mail addresses.

   

    The air ambulance got me to Miami in two hours. It took about an hour to get the ambulance and make it to the University of Miami ER.. The 12 lead EKG didn't show much, but when the enzymes came back, they indicated a severe heart attack. I was rushed to the cath lab. Dr. Heldman found two coronary artery blockages. He stented the one that caused the damage. An echo-cardiogram Friday showed that my heart function is still at capacity even with the damaged tissue, so I should have very little physical activity restrictions. I completed a stress test Monday, which was OK and they released me to go home.

    My wife Pam was there with me. Our Associate Pastor flew with her to Miami Wednesday night  from Augusta, once the medevac was confirmed. I have a son who lives in Bradenton Florida, and he drove over and met them at the airport. My daughter from Augusta, and other son from Bluffton, SC came down Thursday night to visit. (I guess I worried everyone.) We returned to Augusta  last Tuesday evening, and our Pastor and most of the Mission team from the trip were there at the Airport to welcome us back. (They had returned from the Dominican Republic Friday evening.) It was good to be home.

     I saw Dr. Mac Bowman, a Cardiologist here in Augusta at University Hospital this past Friday. He reinforced that there was Divine Intervention with everything occurring at the right time and place for me to have survived such a severe MI. He has scheduled me for another Heart Cath this Wednesday, and he will place a stent in the second blockage. He indicated my prognosis was very good.

    I know I was part of God's Plan that day, and hope you feel the same and recognize your contributions. Thank you and God Bless.

Andy

These are the things that keep me going and make me want to be a better medic...  These are why we do this job.