Friday Morning Update

If you have facebook, Brian has been posting some photos and videos there. I think you have to already have been a "friend" to Brian to see them, though. Perhaps I should have done that before he left!

In case any of you are connected with a group heading to the Dominican Republic or Haiti in the near future, I am also including a text he sent for a group in Arizona that departs Saturday (?):

It's warm, so bring a soft mat to sleep on and nothing more than a sheet for cover. Breakaway cargo pants are nice. Sunscreen is important. iphone is working well.

If coming to PAP bring external fixator devices for femur fractures. If going to the hospital area in Jimani, bring a surgery tent, complete with ortho tools and all items needed for anesthesia. Regardless of where you go, we wish we had brought more injectable morphine, casting/splinting supplies, crutches, and IV supplies.

Also, Brian sent a written description of the story he told me last night over the phone. I am going to copy it here in case any medical teams that have not yet left the States can make use of the information.

"This 15 year old girl suffered a right leg compound fracture. The ankle bone was sticking out of the skin, and her pain was agonal. As I unwrapped her bandages I could smell gangrene. In fact, almost he entire lower leg was gangrenous. We started an IV, gave her some antibiotics and pain control, and considered taking the leg off at the knee. I asked our team leader to get a transport, but he had no signal. A few minutes later two more people with injuries requiring amputation arrived.
I began working on the other - trying to relieve their pain, getting a splint on the fracture, that sort of thing. A few minutes later, our transport guy drove up and said he felt like we might need a transport.
I couldn't believe it. It was our Lord. It was like an angel came to us. Two of the three were flown by heli to a Navy surgical ship. Praise God! The other I did not hear about."

Finally, here are the texts Brian sent early this morning:

I left the compound before anyone checked on the church. I may know something tonight. [He did pass on the information to leaders at the compound last night, so they know about the situation and hopefully someone is able to make some progress there.]

The team had good corporate worship this morning. They are headed back to the tent village where they saw patients yesterday. He is praying James 1:2-4