By Guest Blogger: Troy Brooks
Most of the frequent visitors to this blog are familiar with Madame Gillienne. Adam, Amber, and Dr. Yves have been working with her for several months. She had an accident 10-12 years ago and had a severe injury to her right lower leg. Adam first met her in Petit Bois 4 months ago when he had taken some first aid supplies up with him to Petit Bois. Madame Gillienne was one of the patients that Adam saw that day while treating minor cuts and burns. Her leg had never completely healed from her previous injury. She had bumped it and it caused most of the right outside portion of her lower leg to open up and become infected. Adam had her come down to the Lifeline clinic the next day. Dr. Yves started her on high doses of IV antibiotics.
She came to the clinic this week. Dr. Yves wanted me to look at her leg to see if I thought she should have an amputation. She has had osteomyelitis,
(an infection of the bone) which was evident on an X-ray, but we are not sure if she still has it. If the infection is still in the bone, amputation may be the only option. However, you have to remember that she lives in Petit Bois, a 2 hour hike up a very steep mountain. It would be very difficult to make the hike with a good prosthetic, but chances are she wouldn’t be able to get a prosthetic at all.
After looking at her leg, I suggested consulting a nurse who operates a burn clinic at Global Outreach, a mission about 45 minutes away. So Friday morning, we loaded up and took Madame Gillienne to the burn clinic. The nurse said that she had seen cases similar to this before, and the usual treatment was amputation. She said the reason is that the appropriate treatment involves surgical debriedment, a possible bone graft, then lots of physical therapy to keep the wound clean and debrieded while it heals. They have the capabilities to do this in Port Au Prince, but the expense is too high for most people.
Previous donations sent in for Madame Gillienne’s treatment will cover a large amount of her probable expenses. We are going to make her an appointment with a surgeon in Port Au Prince. We will keep you updated on her progress. Please continue to pray for God’s healing for Madame Gillienne, guidance of the physician and direction for Lifeline workers as we seek to do what is best to help her.
Most of the frequent visitors to this blog are familiar with Madame Gillienne. Adam, Amber, and Dr. Yves have been working with her for several months. She had an accident 10-12 years ago and had a severe injury to her right lower leg. Adam first met her in Petit Bois 4 months ago when he had taken some first aid supplies up with him to Petit Bois. Madame Gillienne was one of the patients that Adam saw that day while treating minor cuts and burns. Her leg had never completely healed from her previous injury. She had bumped it and it caused most of the right outside portion of her lower leg to open up and become infected. Adam had her come down to the Lifeline clinic the next day. Dr. Yves started her on high doses of IV antibiotics.
She came to the clinic this week. Dr. Yves wanted me to look at her leg to see if I thought she should have an amputation. She has had osteomyelitis,
(an infection of the bone) which was evident on an X-ray, but we are not sure if she still has it. If the infection is still in the bone, amputation may be the only option. However, you have to remember that she lives in Petit Bois, a 2 hour hike up a very steep mountain. It would be very difficult to make the hike with a good prosthetic, but chances are she wouldn’t be able to get a prosthetic at all.After looking at her leg, I suggested consulting a nurse who operates a burn clinic at Global Outreach, a mission about 45 minutes away. So Friday morning, we loaded up and took Madame Gillienne to the burn clinic. The nurse said that she had seen cases similar to this before, and the usual treatment was amputation. She said the reason is that the appropriate treatment involves surgical debriedment, a possible bone graft, then lots of physical therapy to keep the wound clean and debrieded while it heals. They have the capabilities to do this in Port Au Prince, but the expense is too high for most people.
Previous donations sent in for Madame Gillienne’s treatment will cover a large amount of her probable expenses. We are going to make her an appointment with a surgeon in Port Au Prince. We will keep you updated on her progress. Please continue to pray for God’s healing for Madame Gillienne, guidance of the physician and direction for Lifeline workers as we seek to do what is best to help her.
2 comments:
Thank you for the update. My prayers will be with her. I trust that our prayers will see her through this difficult time of decision by the doctors and that funds will flow and that her leg will not need amputation. Troy do u know of something that is most needed in the clinic that would be useful to Dr. Yves. I would like to look into something ultra sound etc and she if I could raise the funds. Of course no guarantees but I would like to try. God Bless all !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear the update on Madame Gillienne! Love and miss ya'll, mom
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