About 8:30 p.m. a call for help came from the 'ER'. Everyone who could help came up as multiple victims from a motor vehicle crash arrived. The first man I helped with should of been in a well equipped trauma room as he bled from both ears, combatively thrashing his body around and not understanding a thing. We treated him the best we could and prayed.
A second man received multiple facial fractions and we sent him down the road to the hospital.
A couple other young men brought into the procedure room for stitching of a knee, and treatment of minor wounds. When they received medication I found a couple friends in the crowd to help them go home. Half-way across the yard-beside the table where the serious case lay the Haitian staff anxiously forced us back into the back room.
Both the victims and the folks being held responsible for the crash received care from us. But while receiving care the growing crowd's agitation also grew as the critical man's condition became apparent to all.
Rapid consultation with the Haitian staff and American resulted in our plan to be shipping the critical case to another location-not that any of the medical people thought he would arrive alive but to disperse the crowd before he died, allowing a major fight to be averted, and any revenge to be delayed.
The easiest and best way to transport the man and keep the vehicle clean and lower the risk of contamination of those caring for him ironically turned out to place him on a body bag. Thick heavy black waterproof plastic with handles for ease of lifting him. On the way to the vehicle he suddenly sat upright and vomited a great deal of blood which both enraged and excited the crowd further.
I immediately returned to lock the outer door of the procedure room that still contained the driver and his friend. Before turning back I yelled at the Americans to go back to the building but most either did not hear or did not understand the urgency. I stood waiting to lock the front door of the pharmacy anxiously listening to the crowd and praying.
I sent a couple of the Haitian staff to retrieve the Americans and as soon as all where in the pharmacy quickly locked the padlock and went around the side of the building. The American Marines, neighbors unfortunately pulled out just before this incident.
The Haitian police should be on the way but we did not know how long it would take them to come. Lights off in the pharmacy. A coin flip determined which of the two leaders would stay with the driver while the other worked on speeding up the police.
I checked on the kids, peacefully sleeping in the tents. I then grabbed my journal and found a spot behind the pharmacy building to sit, wait and pray. Thankfully in a short time the Haitian staff came looking for me because the Americans in the building with the driver would not open the door for them even though the police stood outside.
I assured the Americans that the danger no longer existed so the doors opened and the young men placed into police custody. I'm thankful for the police and the Lord. The ending of this story could of turned out much worse. Thank you to those who prayed for us during this trip and on a regular basis.
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