The new day brought weirdness to mind. It was 9 am and it was still dark! Why? The sky that poured the early morning rains, which flooded the front of my house, hasn't cleared yet.
The creeping heat and humidity made it so ironic though. But the realization of the irony came an hour later when the sun peaked and brought full on its heat! Must have risen to nearly 35 C and 90% humidity! Yikes!
Wiping my brow as I entered the ICU. I immediately checked one of my two patients there. And what I saw in his lab result confirmed my worst fears - Weil's Syndrome. That is a severe form of Leprospirosis. It was just so saddening that they were too poor to buy their meds, which though minimal at best, could still be life-saving.
The other patient was improving despite the new xray results which seemed worse. I am hoping this is just radiologic lag please.
Off to my ward patients then. Sad news then hit me. One of our patients worsened overnight with decreasing platelet and hemoglobin now only at 22,000 and 42 mg/dL. I had to update her family and advise transfer to Tacloban where platelet transfusion can be done. Sadly, we can only do whole blood transfusions here. Prayer will be their greatest weapon now.
As to lunch, it is well-toasted corned beef over toast with light mayo. Yum yum! Made in less than 20 mins to boot!
The afternoon was spent with evaluating some more patients for the surgical mission and giving advise on some difficult thyroid patients they had.
The ideal next agenda should have been badminton. But the rains and winds stopped me...not to mention my unfinished laundry. Better pick it up early tomorrow.
It was a typical and slightly unsettling day, but at least I was able to write some stories that brings me heartaches and pushes me to challenge the norms already set.
I dream of a medically self-reliant Eastern Samar. That dream takes root today and I will try everything in my power, moving heaven and earth, even hell if need be, just to make it happen!
More to come...
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