Chaos

I don't think I have the skills to convey in words what has happened here in the last 18 hours. On Monday @4am we had a significant tremor. The patients and families streamed out of the hospital and were wailing outside. After a bit they were persuaded to return to the hospital rooms. Early this am (1:30) we had another significant tremor- this one longer than yesterday's and it was followed by a second, smaller tremor. The nurses aides ran outside, mothers picked up their children and ran outside and the motherless children were abandoned. No one could be persuaded to return inside. Instead they went up and took the mattresses off the beds and made themselves nests in the courtyard. When we arrived for the am meeting, we were greeted with hundreds of patients, nurses, therapists, family members in the courtyard along with IV's and other accompaniments of hospitalization. Because the people lived through the devastating earthquake and lost everything, they have a visceral terror that strikes when the earth moves. One man jumped out of a window here at the hospital and broke his leg. He was carried to the ER; it is just an example of how frightened they are.
We had 1/4 of the patients today as opposed to yesterday in ortho clinic and speculation is that they are afraid to come anywhere indoors. The Haitian press is broadcasting that another big earthquake is coming the 25th so no one will go inside. This is likely rumor, but remember they are terrified.
Father Rick stated that a nurse who runs out and abandons a child will be fired. He has empathy for the fearful, but his heart is with these children and most of his concern was how to care for them spiritually (parents and children) in their fear. He was also concerned that the sun was rising and the people would cook outside so tarps were suspended over most of the courtyard.
Can you imagine caring for all these children outside? All of the drinking water they need, the toileting, wound care, medications etc?
I am coming home tomorrow. Many more have arrived to take my place but I am torn and wish I could stay longer. I believe that things happen for a reason and that is why I am scheduled for tomorrow but it is hard to go. And hard to stay.