3:30 01/31/2010
 
its 3:30 and i listen to the conversations of people trying to orginize,i listen to the sounds of the planes landing over my head. ive never worked this hard and i feel like i will age to fast if i continue, my plane of staying in the hotel or going to the un base to relax interupted by the refusal of my night nurses to work nights. 3 of us have taken the lead as nurse coordinators but we are all needed all the time. tomorrow i will relax, i know that now matter what the need will be great and i will be more effective if i rest. its a hard call to tell shut down the triage and turn people away and it breaks my heart. in the laat two hours we had to more sad codes, and today at least 2 deaths. i sit with the son of the decease and i listen to his stories. at least the us army has given us 40 body bags now and 5 of their traned emts. we are doing amazing things here we are a 200 bed hospital and every second exspanding, now we just needed nurses.i am learning about connections and politics but also about world community. i have met some of the best people in the world here from canada argintina peru... we work as a team and i help the mexican rescue team to food and shelter. i know i ramble know it is late and i am tired. i cried today a raraty. i help take an ekg of my favorite patient. just 3 hours ago a news team interviewed him and i. 2 weeks ago i assisted in his amputation. the death, the pain, the hopelessness can be over welmlming and everyone stops you to ask if you can help them. at the same time the strangth and the spirit  are stronge. the other night the whole tent broke out in song. i will try to write more and i will fix my tired spelling errors later... now i sleep for a couple hours and then the ground hogs day starts again...
 


Comments

Susan Quinlan

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:51:00


Dear Friends and Family,

We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the unyielding support and love that you have extended to Lauren over the past many years. As many of you know, Lauren is a Registered Nurse, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston. She has just spent the last three and a half months volunteering in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador, where she worked at a medical clinic in a small fishing village.

Upon her return to the states, there was the devastating news of the Haiti earthquake. Immediately Lauren began to network, and five days later, she was on the ground in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She is working with the University of Miami's Project Medi-share at Port-au-Prince Airport. Since her arrival in Haiti, she has coordinated nursing care and collaborated with medical specialists in setting up a field hospital. Her initial tasks have been to assist in surgery, clean and sterilize surgical instruments, and manage pre and post operative nursing needs for the victims. She has been working around the clock, sleeping only a few hours a night. The Medi-share field hospital has now expanded into three large medical tents with six operating rooms, and is caring for more than 2000 patients.

Sending word home, she says that she is eating granola bars and sardines; safety is an issue; and that she has never seen so many courageous acts of human kindness to help relieve the suffering of the Haitian people. Not sure when she will return, her stated mission is, " to advocate for the suffering, and give care with dignity".

As so many of you know, Lauren is a blessing and an inspiration to everyone she meets. We are very proud of her commitment and compassion for people in need.

We ask for everyone to please pray for Lauren while she is in Haiti.

Peace and Love,

Susan Quinlan

 



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