LIBIA,
Sept. 2011
I arrived in Malta on Friday the 17th.
Spent the night, and then caught a UN plane to Tripoli early the next
morning.
There were 2 Libyan pilots
aboard who have become, somewhat, national heroes.
When ordered by Gadhafi to bomb a town full of civilians, they refused
and flew their planes to Malta.
They were just returning home and had a full complement of news media and
officials to welcome them home.
We were picked up by an IMC (International Medical Corps) driver and taken to
the main IMC office in Tripoli.
We
were advised we would be traveling today to work in a field hospital near,
where, there was fighting between rebel and government forces.
Lots of casualties being brought in.
Things change in a moment here.
After being driven to Misrata we went to the local IMC office and were to
be taken immediately to the field hospital.
Then they found that, while yesterday, they were short of Doctors and
nurses, today they had all shown up again.
Actually, there aren’t very many nurses.
Medical students are trying to function as nurses, mostly.
Most of the nurses here were foreign, mostly from
Asia.
When the war broke
out, they left.
So, instead of the
field hospital, for the moment we’re working at a local hospital, that receives
the wounded from the field hospital.
We may stay here since the field hospital is, pretty much, doing first
aid, then sending them here.
I
spent part of the day at the maternity hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
They have almost no nurses working there, just “helpers”.
They do a remarkable job, considering they really have no training.
I was asked by the hospital administrator to help and teach them what I
can.
I’ll spend tomorrow there and
see if I can be of some assistance to them.
I’m traveling with a retired Neurosurgeon.
Nice guy.
They were very
glad to see him come to help out at the hospital. He was in the military and
also had a private practice. Our rooms are across the street from the hospital,
and there were ambulance sirens blaring, most of the night.
Heard automatic weapon fire a couple of time.
Just the celebrating kind, I think.
When the ambulances start bringing casualties in, the rebel fighters set
up a road block just below our apartment to block all other traffic.
Several men armed with automatic weapons and a pickup with a big, mounted
gun of some kind.
We’ve just heard, the fighting is expected to increase at Sirte tonight.
If that’s the case we may still be moved to the field hospital.
I’m certainly not unpacking yet.
All the patients at this hospital were taken to Tripoli today, to make
room for new casualties.
We are
neutral and care for patients from both sides, of course.
We’re working with other doctors and nurses from Tunisia and Jordon.
The Jordanians have been here for a few months, the Tunisians arrived
yesterday.
I don’t think I’ve met
anyone from Tunisia before.
So far,
I’m the only female on the teams.
The Tunisian team is 8 people.
4 of
them went to the Field hospital, the other 4 didn’t want to go when they found
out the accommodations consisted of sleeping on mattresses on the floor, only
one bathroom for everyone, and no shower.
All is quiet right now, but they expect heavy fighting tonight.
The civilian population was advised to leave Sirte, before the fighting
started, but few have.
It is a
Gadhafi supported town, and he has a lot of relatives there.
There may well be lots of civilian casualties.
Language has been, somewhat, of a problem.
The Libyan doctors speak English, but, in most cases, not well enough to
communicate easily.
I’ll be
going to the Maternity hospital at 3:00 today and will work there until 9:30 so
I can be home by the 10:00 curfew.
Please
keep us in your prayers, for our safety & medical mission.
Blessings,
Deanna
Libia –
Part 2
Wednesday afternoon and there is a lot of drama going on right now.
We had heard there was going to be a big battle in Serte today.
The solders that block the road, in front of our apartment, when the
helicopters are going to land, and bring wounded, are down there again.
A helicopter just landed and at least 4 ambulances have picked up
patients and taken them to the hospital across the street.
The helicopters carry up to 10 patients.
They fly directly over us (Russian made – eeck), and land a half block
away.
They are expecting a lot of
casualties.
I was watching out the window and heard
automatic weapon fire below.
It
seems if they need to get the traffic to pay attention they fire in the air.
Seemed to work well. (Yikes)
I certainly won’t be sticking my head out the window.
I’ve seen several vehicles carrying large weapons go by.
Yesterday, we drove down a street called Tripoli Street.
It was the worst hit area in Misurata. Buildings were either burned or
shot to pieces or collapsed.
There
was a tank still sitting inside one of the buildings, and several destroyed
tanks by the side of the road.
I was to work at the Maternity hospital with the sick babies this afternoon and
evening.
There is too much going on
outside, which leads to excess adrenaline and excitability, so I don’t feel it’s
really a safe time to go out right now.
Think I’ll try again tomorrow.
If they need more help at the hospital across the street, I’ll be
available for that.
A pickup just went by carrying 3 soldiers, in the back, with a coffin.
There was no lid on it.
The
body was just covered with a sheet.
I don’t know how many have died in this war, but in this particular town, I
think almost everyone has lost someone.
One of our drivers brother was killed.
I still haven’t figured out how, in such a short period of time, they managed to
manufacture new Libyan flags en masse, both large and small, as well as decals,
billboards, etc.
There are even
t-shirts and caps.
Friday
We have 2 Libyan doctors staying in our apartment.
They live in South Africa and came back to help in the war.
I worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit yesterday.
They really need help.
On
the PM shift there is one nurse and one helper to care for 15 sick babies.
As a comparison, In the US we have 1 nurse to 3 or 4 patients for the
ones that are a little sick and either one nurse to one or two patients for the
very sick ones.
Needless to say,
they kept me pretty busy.
Funny, how things work out.
I came
here to help with war casualties and end up being busier in the NICU than the
people who are doing that.
Of
course, that can change rapidly.
I
have no doubt God will put me just where I should be.
Did you know that camels are good to eat?
That’s what I’ve been told, but haven’t had a chance to find out for
myself yet.
I saw 3 camel heads
hanging outside a butcher shop.
I'll sign
off for now.
Blessings,
Deanna
Libya Part 3
Well, I must admit, when I’m away from home I have trouble
keeping track of what day of the week it is. I thought today was Friday, but its
Thursday.
That’s why my last email was dated wrong.
Tomorrow is Friday, and the holy day for Muslims.
Therefore, it's a day off for most people, including
my driver, soooo it’s a day off for me.
I
was told today, by one of the Libyan doctors that Libya is 100% Muslim………………..no
Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists.
Freedom of religion?
Not here.
The reason this came up was because I asked if he
thought it would be a problem uniting the country after the war. He said no,
they are all Sunni Muslims, so, unlike Iraq, that won’t be a problem.
We’ll see.
I would be surprised if there isn’t a power
struggle.
My work continues at the Maternity hospital.
Oh to have the supplies and equipment we had in the
Neonatal ICU I worked in, in the good of US of A.
Diapers are in such short supply that we have to put
a piece of gauze in them to catch the urine and poop, and then reuse the diaper.
They even, sometimes, let the diaper dry out and use
it again.
I’ve been trying to find out if there is an organization
that can donate some to the hospital.
The formula comes in little bottles and is used for
two feedings.
Not refrigerated, but put in the bed with the baby until
the next feeding time.
Oxygen is in huge, rusty tanks that look like they
took part in the war, on the front lines.
Friday
Dr. Don and I decided to try to find a restaurant to get a
decent meal.
At least something besides bread and fake cheese.
We were directed toward Tripoli Street, so started
walking.
Of course, there are no street signs, and even if there
were they are in Arabic, so un-readable for us.
We stopped along the way and asked a young man at a
semi open air furniture shop for directions.
He spoke a little English and immediately said he
would drive us there.
He not only drove us but gave us a tour along with a
running commentary (sometimes difficult to understand).
He was one of the young fighters in that battle.
He was very grateful to the USA and the rest of NATO
for their support.
There is a “museum” of sorts outside there, where
they have collected all kinds of exploded bombs and shells of all sizes.
There is a large white sign that thanks each country
individually for helping them.
We finally got it across to our guide that we were
looking for a place to eat.
He took us to a little place and ordered hamburgers
for us and insisted on paying.
He just wouldn’t take no.
The hamburgers had a very well cooked, thin piece of
hamburger, a fried egg and some very hot, spicy chili sauce.
It tasted pretty good.
Don stopped, on the way back, at a men’s clothing store to
buy some pants.
The owner started telling me how bad Gadhafi was and
kept saying “Mafia Gadhafi Mafia”.
He had an automatic weapon on the counter.
Probably doesn’t have a problem with robberies.
Three helicopters have landed in the past hour.
Maybe the fighting has started up again in Sirte.
Should know soon.
Sunday
I thought the diaper situation was bad before.
Now they have none in the NICU.
Wiping poop off a diaper, then covering it with a
piece of gauze, was definitely a first for me.
Oh, for a COSTCO.
Monday
I just got word, today that I’ll be taking a helicopter to
the Field Hospital near Sirte, Gadhafi’s home town, tomorrow.
Then I’ll be doing patient care on the helicopter
when the wounded are transported to the hospital here in Misurata.
The “National Transition Coalition” (NTC) fighters
have, again started moving into Sirte, after pulling back a couple of days ago
for NATO to strike some targets.
Tuesday
I went via helicopter to the Field Hospital yesterday.
They fly out over the ocean so no one
can shoot at them.
Worked helping supply the hospital, until we got a
casualty.
I went on the helicopter with a Libyan doctor and nurse.
Unfortunately our patient went into cardiac arrest,
on the way.
We did CPR for a good part of the flight, brought him back
once, but lost him again.
Too bad, a very young man.
The field hospital area was a Gahdafi beach getaway, at one
time.
There are several small “cabana” type buildings, where the
staff is staying.
A larger building is used for the field hospital,
along with a tent for overflow.
There are three large medi-evac helicopters.
Pretty old and tired looking, but the two mechanics
fly with us, so they must have confidence in them.
Well, I’ve been wordy enough, so I’ll say goodbye for now.
Blessings,
Deanna
Part 4 ???
Libya Part 5
Saturday
We drove to the
Field Hospital and from there went to Wadi Emrah to do a mobile medical clinic.
The people are Bedouins and Gadhafi supporters.
That’s because he built houses for them in some of
their migratory areas.
They were glad to see us there to provide medical
aid.
The women have rustic tattoos on their faces and don’t
cover their faces like many women in Misurata.
Sunday
I took the
helicopter to the Field Hospital today.
One of the patients was an adolescent who was shot
in the back, leaving him a paraplegic.
Another a soldier.
He was doing a training drill, riding in the back of
a pickup with a large mounted weapon.
He was thrown out and is, most likely, a paraplegic
as well.
I rode back to Misurata on the helicopter with them.
Monday
It’s been an
interesting day.
We drove to the Field Hospital, and from there went
to evaluate a couple of village clinics near Serte.
They are in need of medications and we had some we
left with them, and asked for a list of what they need.
One Doctor said the hospital in Serte is badly in
need of medical supplies, and Oxygen.
We can get those things, but don’t know how to get
them in to Serte, which is basically, under siege.
On our way back
we saw 3 Scud missile launchers, hidden in the trees.
On the ground behind one of them was a Scud Missile.
The missile launchers had all been destroyed.
They are huge!
After getting back on the main highway, we almost
hit a camel.
It just ran right in front of us. It’s kind of like dodging
deer, at home.
The camels like to lie in the road at night for the warmth,
so they are a real hazard. There are watch out for camels signs all along the
roadway.
On the whole
camel note……………..
I finally got to try camel meat.
It tastes like beef.
It looks like the
fighting has started up again in Serte.
After we got back to the field hospital, ambulances
brought in several wounded fighters.
One with a head wound will not likely survive.
Last time the Freedom fighters made a big push into
Serte, the Field Hospital had around 150 casualties come through. The ambulance
drivers go right in to the front to pick up the wounded.
A couple of them have been killed.
Pretty brave guys.
NATO bombing in Serte can be heard at the field
hospital frequently.
Civilians leaving Serte have to stop
at a check point across from the Field Hospital, where all their belongings are
combed through, to make sure they don’t have any weapons.
Tomorrow will be
my last day in the field.
I’ll go to Tripoli on Wednesday, take a United
Nations flight to Malta, on Thursday, then Friday morning start the long flights
home.
I'm getting eager to see my family and
beautiful North Idaho again.
Blessings,
Deanna
Final notes on Libya
- October, 2011
Tuesday
Yesterday we were
told to be ready to go to the heliport at 8:00 am.
At 8:45 I got a call saying the driver was on his
way.
We were on Libyan time, which I think, means if they come
within 3 hours of the appointed time, they are on time.
We got to the heliport just in time to wave to the
helicopter we were to be on.
So we waited for about 1.5 hours until the next on
was ready to go.
Attached is a photo of me and two nurses (guys) from
Jordan in front of our ride.
The helicopters
fly out over the ocean quite a ways, because they have been shot at.
So, they stay out of sight and range of the shore.
Every time I see the Field Hospital from the air, I
wonder what Gadhafi would think of his beach house and cabanas being used as a
refuge for the wounded, fighting against him.
We did a mobile
clinic at the Bedouin village at Wade Emerah again.
They are Gadhafi supporters, but glad to have our
help.
We’re seeing lots of kids with diarrhea, from drinking bad
water.
I worked with one of the Jordanian nurses, and the Doctor I
was with worked with the other.
They speak Arabic and also “medicalese”, so we
worked well together.
I saw all the women, and some kids, and the Doc took
care of the men.
A
man brought a little pot of mint tea (heavily sugared), and one little cup.
We took turns drinking the tea; he brought to share
with us, from the little cup.
It was good, and very nice of him to bring it.
After clinic, we
drove back to the Field Hospital to try to hitch a ride home on one of the
helicopters.
We were just in time to get a ride on the Chinook, a good
old made in the US of A copter.
I had been wanting to catch that one since I arrived
here, but always got the Russian made ones.
So there I was on an American made Helicopter with
about 50 middle eastern men.
They were mostly medical people, two patients, a few
freedom fighters, as well.
If they come on the helicopter with their automatic
weapon, the captain takes it, empties it and removes the clip.
I like that.
What did we
accomplish here?
In addition to the sick and injured we cared for, I
think we have had the opportunity to demonstrate to the Libyan people (as well
as the Middle Eastern medical staff from other countries) that Americans are not
their enemy (unless they choose us to be).
They have seen us do our best for their people.
It has put a human face on us as not only Americans,
but also Christians.
Wednesday
Today I was
driven to Tripoli, along with two Tunisian nurses (guys).
Our driver takes a lot of trips into Tripoli, and I
think he has some contest with himself to try to beat his last time.
He went light speed, except when he was slamming on
the brakes and weaving through traffic.
But, here I am safe and sound, in my hotel room (a
bit of a dive actually) writing this.
I’ll get on a United Nations World Food Program,
flight to Malta tomorrow, then home on Friday.
Thursday
Don, the
Physician I’m traveling with, had a room on the front of the hotel.
He said there was a sniper across the street last
night, with automatic weapon fire and a big commotion, until they captured or
killed him.
I slept soundly through it all.J
Snipers continue to be a
problem, off and on here in Tripoli.
Time to go home.
I would really take exception to being shot at.
The UN flight to
Malta goes through the NATO “No fly zone”.
I heard that NATO will be pulling out soon.
When that happens, commercial flights will start
again and the UN flights will cease.
Friday Night
Ahhhhh! Back in
beautiful North Idaho.
Dinner with my family then off to home and a good
night’s sleep.
Blessings to you all,
Deanna
