Today was my first day working in the hospital. After seeing
a few routine patients, a woman burst into the exam room, holding her limp, one
year old daughter. Through tears and terror she explained her daughter fell
from the second story of a building onto the concrete below. A quick exam revealed
she had a severe skull fracture and possibly bleeding in the brain. In order to
diagnosis a brain hemorrhage she needed a more sophisticated hospital with a CT
scanner and a neurosurgeon. I assisted
in the transfer and spent the trip praying the child would not stop breathing
on the way. After a very nerve wracking drive we arrived at the other hospital,
who refused to see the patient because they did not have a neurosurgeon or a trauma
surgeon. Even more desperate, we left for another hospital with both a CT
scanner and a neurosurgeon. The whole ride the only thing that baby’s mother
said was “Jesus”. When we arrived at the second hospital, we were met by an EMT
who agreed that an emergent head CT and likely neurosurgery were needed. While
the child lie limp and pale in her mother’s arms, the EMT explained that you
could not see the neurosurgeon unless you had had a head CT. In order to have a
head CT (emergent or not) you needed to pay $200 up front. This was more money
than the child’s mother likely makes in a year.
I was absolutely overwhelmed by the injustice of the whole situation.
After some negotiation, the hospital agreed to admit the baby and both the Haitian
physician and myself promised to do what we could to offset the cost of
treatment. Both the Haitian doctor and I left that baby feeling defeated and
helpless. The Haitian doctor explained that she often feels this way. That she
can easily diagnose disease and make the right recommendation, but more often
than not, the family cannot afford treatment. She asked me, “What good is my
knowledge and training is if it helps no one?” I am oppressed by the same thoughts. The
poverty here is so oppressive and seems insurmountable. I will, like the child’s
mother, put my faith in God.
-Nadine
Job 5:8-16 ESV
ReplyDelete“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success."
I join you in pray for this little girl and her mother that He would intervene in a mighty way!