Words Mean Nothing Now (Update–September 1, 2018)--July 2018

 

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Photo by John Carroll–August 31, 2018)

(This post is dedicated to Dr. Jim and Jane Ebel.)

“Structural determinants of health.”

“Poor infrastructure.”

“Structural violence.”

“Neglected diseases.”

“Corruption.”

“Liberation theology.”

None of these words mean anything for this lady who is the mother of 10 children (three deceased).

She is from a little village in northern Haiti named Robillard.

Two weeks ago, or maybe three weeks ago because time is irrelevant here, she developed a painful tooth that most likely needed extraction. However, there are no dentists where she lives, and even if there were, she has no money to pay for this luxury.

And so she developed a dental abscess from the bad tooth and the abscess has spread up both sides of her face, under her chin, and down and around her neck. (Ludwig’s Angina.) Her swollen face is firm and tender to touch.

She can only open her mouth about half an inch. This allows her to sip fluid but she is not able to eat. She still can breathe ok, but for how much longer? The wicked abscess wants to strangle her.

This lady, of course, is a medical emergency. But we are in a place where medical emergencies are, for the most part, taken for granted or ignored.

We gave her two big gun IV antibiotics and some pain medication. We also called a general surgeon, his surgical scrub nurse, and his nurse anesthetist, and paid for a taxi to transport all of them from Cap Haitien to our little hospital south of Cap.

But it shouldn’t be like this. An abscessed tooth shouldn’t threaten to take a life anywhere.

So fancy words don’t count now for this lady. Only prayers offered and medical care given make a difference.

(Photo by John Carroll–August 31, 2018)

John A. Carroll, MD

www.haitianhearts.org