Dr Siri Fiebiger's description of the Fargo Team Trip to Pignon

As I wait for the surveys from the teams to post here, I would like to share the words of Dr. Fiebiger as she shares her thoughts about her week in Haiti. 

By Friday, we all agreed that we'd had the most incredible week. Last year, we did the fewest surgeries ever and learned that the poverty level had increased to such a degree that patients couldn't travel to Pignon; the hospital also couldn't afford to send someone to look for patients. So we told HBP we could cover all the costs incurred by each surgery we did-that they could tell patients they would have 'free surgery'. The staff found 80 cases but we asked them to narrow it to the toughest cases so the final list totaled 45.

Working 12-13 hours per day, we were able to get 33 surgeries done in five days. The OR system was smooth, with pre-op holding, and PACU adjacent to the ORs. The average cost/case was $800, including lab, radiology, and operating costs (salaries, etc).

It was a privilege working with the HBP staff, who also did five cesareans (sometimes in the wee hours) and didn't even pause until all work was done. I'd match their skills with any US OR staff, and their dedication and stamina are unparalleled; they finished the remaining 12 cases the following weekend.

I think we were all energized knowing we were taking care of the 'poorest of the poor'. The problems were challenging, many of them long standing,: huge goiters, hydroceles, hernias, uterine fibroids, and ovarian masses. The patients were so gracious; I know the highlight for many of us was listening to some singing Kreyol hymns in the PACU, thanking God for His gifts (having Rose and Ader help us understand and communicate was priceless!)

A personal highlight was sharing this with my older son and daughter-in-law - as Dr. Guy noted, "the next generation".

In His name and for His children,

Siri

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Siri Fiebiger MD, MPH

President, Board of Directors

Promise for Haiti