| Donald Roland, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON |
The last 24 hours have been a blur. Yesterday 25 Plastics cases were done by us, the total OR cases numbered 38. These are big numbers for a 5 OR facility, with a 100% volunteer staff from all over the world. People are performing at the highest levels possible, under very extreme conditions. Today another 17 cases; to date we have not had a failed or infected skin graft.
Our 40 sickest surgical cases were airlifted out to other hospitals today in gigantic Navy helicopters. Hopefully this will decompress our ICU and allow us to address some of the less complicated wounds.
Too tired to write last night, but what a great day yesterday was. We’re starting to see the fruits of our labor. 44 patients were found to have stabilized their wounds and are out of immediate danger of limb amputations as a result of their surgeries. We moved into a house that Vanity 4 Humanity rented for the influx of doctors that will be coming down over the next weeks to months. Even better, the skin grafting machine has arrived and has already been used. This machine will drastically decrease OR times allowing us to do more surgeries.
Today my team and I did 12 cases. The patient’s wounds are being operated on every 48 hours to keep infections at bay. So far, so good. Everyone’s moral on the Plastic Surgery service is high because we’re seeing success from all the hard work. Today 4 Plastic Surgeons arrived, 2 from Boca Raton (Dr Anthony Dardano and Dr Louis DeLuca) and 2 from Guatemala. They jumped right in and started helping. It’s great to be meeting people from all over the world while working for a common cause.
Today was busy as the other Plastic Surgeons headed home yesterday. I operated on 7 patients, 1 of whom was a 3 month old girl with a deep wound from being trapped under her dead mother’s weight. We are organizing a group of New York Plastic Surgeons to begin traveling down here in pairs starting next week to continue this work. As of yet I do not know when that will be, and have decided to stay on here until help arrives. Each day that these wounds are left open they grow more likely to become infected and result in an amputation.
Today’s cases ended about an hour ago. Somewhat frustrating because a case that would have taken me 1 hour in the States took 3 hours because of the lack of the proper skin grafting machine. My wife has tackled this and one should be showing up in the next few days. Time management is very important here as there are so many cases to get done in these 5 ORs. The other 2 Plastic Surgeons just left for the airport, over the last 24 hours they’ve handed over their cases to me. Tomorrow should be very busy.
Drove with 25 people in 5 vehicle caravan from the Dominican town of Barahona at first light. Crossing the border into Haiti, was crowded but seemed extremely safe. We traveled 11 Km to an orphanage that’s been converted into a medical facility. Patients are receiving incredible care considering the circumstances. I branched off from my last team and I’m now at Good Samaritan Hospital being briefed by 2 Plastic Surgeons from Florida who are heading home tomorrow. Here major surgeries are being performed in 5 ORs daily. I just watched a 6 week old little girl come in in respiratory arrest.
I arrived in the DR around 2:30 yesterday morning, stopped at a friend’s parents house for some light food and 2 hours of sleep. We happened upon a small hospital with several Plastic Surgery and Orthopedic patients waiting for someone to help them. I let my team continue on and I stayed behind with Dr. Michael Vitale, an orthopedist that I met, to do the necessary work. We did 13 cases and are now figuring out how to get to a new Haitian facility where their casualties are being taken.
As I write this my office is organizing my departure for Haiti tomorrow. Like everyone I’ve been watching the horrific images on the nightly news for a week now. Last night I decided that I could not sit around and watch any more. Since our first medical mission last month to the Dominican Republic I’ve come to realize that charity work is one of those deeds which encourages you to do more. If you can help us in any way please contact my office at 212.744.9400 and speak with Fatima.
Thank you
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