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To MDA and short-term doctors: We want to thank MDA for supporting the short-term doctors in the months of August, September, October and November. Our hospital has been without a surgeon for more than a year now and we had recently closed the surgical ward. At the end of August, Dr. Peter Meade came and re-opened the surgical ward. He did a great job working with the nurses in the operating room in the use of materials they were not familiar with, for example, mesh for hernias and skin grafting blades. He also helped Brent through a number difficult surgical cases (including his first hysterectomy for a postpartum hemorrhage). Dr. Brown arrived to find a full surgical ward and patients waiting for operations. We think we kept him busy enough with an array of surgical procedures including hernias, fractures, ruptured ectopics, bowel resections, burns, skin grafts, tropical ulcers, and chest tubes. Thanks to the help of Dr. Brown, an exceptional family practice resident (Dr. Marcy Krueger), an enthusiastic young Ghanaian surgical resident (Dr. Kwabena Aye), three stellar German medical students (Otis, Helena, and Stephen), and Dr. Cook, Brent and Jennifer were able to take a week off and travel with Jen's visiting parents. THANKS !) About three weeks ago we had a young farmer come in with the following history......He was out working in the field when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side and back. He subsequently fainted and when he awakened, realized he had been shot. He was able to crawl/walk to a nearby village (about 1/2 mile away). Some good Samaritans found him and carried him to the nearest road where a passing vehicle brought him to MMCH. On physical exam he was noted to be semiconsious, tachycardic (rapid heart rate), short of breath with a distended, tender abdomen. He was pale with multiple entrance wounds noted on his back and side. X-rays showed one lung full of fluid, air in his abdomen and gunshot dispersed throughout his thorax and abdomen. Under Dr. Cook's expert care, he was taken to the OR. A chest tube was placed which drained a hemothorax (blood around the lung). His abdomen was also full of blood as his spleen had been severely damaged requiring a splenectomy. He also had damage to his bowel and diaphragm which were also repaired. He survived and was discharged a few days ago smiling, while he and every family member thanked the hospital and staff a thousand times....... Many times it is hard to see that one starfish among the many, but times like this its hard to see anything but...Thanks again MDA and Doctors Meade, Brown and Cook !!! Brent and Jennifer |
3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1035, Los Angeles, CA 90010 • (213) 368-1875 • Fax (213) 368-1871
E-mail: missiondrs@earthlink.net
E-mail: missiondrs@earthlink.net