Friday, January 2, 2009

...Continued from January 09 Newsletter.

I remembered from packing the SCI Blue Bags in my basement that we had pediatric feeding tubes from AAMC (Anne Arundel Medical Center) that Chona Hamrock had procured for me… In a ziplock bag labeled “Ten Assorted Size Feeding Tubes” we found them and immediately got out an appropriate size tube and inserted it.  Natasha got some rubbing alcohol to try to bring down the high fever, and turned to ask “How long does it take to get a result from the ‘CoArtem’?”

A half hour later the child was awake, afebrile, and cooing at his mother. So, as I said at the tutorial held later [to the medical students accompanying me], “If ever you question whether you are doing any good in trying to treat someone here in less than ideal circumstances, remember this ‘shoestring catch’ as someone for whom your presence made a difference.”