No Room for Stephanie--August 2016

 

Stephanie (Photo by John Carroll–August 24, 2016)

Ten months old.

Ten pounds.

Temperature–103 F.

Mother unable to answer when baby became ill other than saying “always”.

Diarrhea and cough. And weight loss.

Abdomen distended with tinkling tones.

Impression: Stephanie is sick and staring at Heaven.

Public hospitals on strike.

Telephone call to NGO pediatric hospital–“we’re full…no room.”

Shot of antibiotic and come back tomorrow.

Really?

When does negligence stop and genocide begin?

 

John A. Carroll, MD

www.haitianhearts.org