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Dear all
I thought you might just like to read an email I wrote to my boss (who is currently in the UK). My english has been edited for the UK team to use as story! It gives you a little idea of the progress we have made at DMCC.
"Today at DMCC a lady aged in her mid 20's was admitted very early in the morning.She was not able to stand up, had a very ,very high breathing rate (twice normal), was gasping for breath, and was clearly very pale.The night nurse and overnight Clinical Officer admitted her and were handing her clinical situation over to CO Kiprop ,as we were arriving at 7.30am to start our morning devotions before work.
The Laboratory staff started straight away doing her blood tests, while CO Kiprop and Sister Margaret assessed her. She was diagnosed with severe malaria ,and severe anemia (her haemaglobin was very low, about 4.8g/l , compared with normal of 13g/l) and she had right lower lobe pneumonia. Kiprop sorted out some antibiotics and anti-malaria treatment for her. I was asked to have a look at her from a respiratory point of view . Her SPO2 (oxygen staturation) was very low, in the 90's, so we started a few litres of oxygen and used the nebuliser to administer it. She was given chest physiotherapy and some oxygen and soon her breathing rate was much better and SPO2 recovering. In the meantime Charles and Bony had tested the blood group and arranged for blood to come from Kimilili DH,so we drove there and picked it up. The Lab then did cross matching and Sister Margaret, Jael and Kiprop all sorted out giving her the blood transfusion. By lunchtime, she was sitting up in bed waving at us, coughing and clearing her chest with no problem, far less pale, talking in full sentences, requiring less oxygen and smiling that we had saved her life!
Sister Margaret said that she is going to remember that patient for the rest of her life because 3 months ago we had no oxygen, no nebuliser, no SPO2 meter and no blood transfusion facilities and we would not have been able to treat her. Where as today, she has been treated by a great team, with the right treatment using gifted equipment ,and Sister Margaret thinks she will be home in a couple of days rejoicing!"
She is now at home! And was indeed very happy!
Thanks to everyone who has helpped support the work here-you lot have helpped make this happen!
All the best of now- I am off to sort out how we run the the first aid for a sports event that might have over 1000 peopple at it!!
Becky
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