First, a brief update on this project and it's affect on those reading it and on Anil. Yesterday, I saw the following comment posted about this series:
These posts from Anil have been the most compelling reports from Haiti that I've read or heard on any media. They've made the whole Haiti situation so real to me and his humanity really shines through. Thanks to him for taking the time to get the word out, and to you for reposting.
I decided to send that to Anil, to which he replied (at 5:33pm ET Wednesday Jan 20, 2009):
Thanks a lot, I'm so so tired, this really helps.
So I just wanted to say two quick things about that: thank you all for reading, and know that Anil and all the other people working in Haiti to recover from this calamity appreciate your attention. As much as paying in the form of dollar donations is still needed, paying attention is also very valuable. Keep this country in your prayers, hearts and minds.
Ok, on to the next update...
I received the following email from Anil last night at 11:07pm ET/Haiti Time. I've made minor spelling and grammar corrections and have tried my best to fill in missing words using brackets and add some light styling for readability.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Anil Menon Date: Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 23:07
Subject: Translater roro hiding from the sun.
The earthquake woke me up this morning, and I ran for the exit mostly because that is what I do when I see other people running and I don't know why. In the back of my mind I wondered, as I do with earthquakes in California, why the train is operating at that time of day? This aftershock led to a few important events.
First, a Portuguese reporter got scared and jumped from the balcony of our dwelling (1 story). He was promptly surrounded by doctors and had a blanket around [his as Capone precautions?]. He might have fractured his ankle and told us that he was embarrased by the whole event. Another doctor in our group said that he should be because 1) he demonstrated his failure to excersize good judgement and 2) demonstrated his failure to fly.
Secondly, no one at the hospital would return to the buildings. One lady told me before that when she heard a door open she would shudder with terror. No, an aftershock and people would rather die than be treated in the hospital and that's what seemed to be happening.
In the morning very sick patients were exposed to too much sunlight. We worked to adapt and overcome by building outdoor tents, but it was still hot. Luckily supplies and help is picking up so we could get IV fluid to patients. One translator was moving beds and patients outdoors as the ones that couldn't run refused to stay. Though he smiled in this picture he told me he was warn out by the early morning. He was healthy.
Anil S Menon
Sent from iPhone
--
Anil Menon, MD is a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine focused on surgery and emergency medicine. His research interests are Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. He graduated from Stanford Med in 2006, received a degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and became a full ER doctor in 2009. He has practiced medicin in combat in Afghanistan and will be practicing aerospace medicine next year at NASA. Menon is a flight surgeon assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing (F-15s) of the Oregon Air National Guard, and he's part of a team sent to Haiti by Stanford.
This entire series is chronicled under the HaitiDrDispatch tag
