A labor of love and pain

Terri had a tough weekend on call. One of the busiest since coming to Tinian (just take a look at her desk, that was cleared of files when she left on Friday...).

One of the amazing things about Terri is her ability to function well in crisis situations. In fact, unlike most people, she seems to excel the more pressure that is put on her.

I suppose this happens to all medical personnel at some time--being faced with a crisis that you just don't know the answer to. Just put yourself in this position: you are called up in the middle of the night because someone was just brought to the hospital. When you arrive, still a little sleepy, you are faced with someone writhing on the floor and screaming in pain. The pain is so great, and the reactions of the patient so strong (as he moves about or gets in a fetal position to try to deal with the pain), there is no way to take vital signs or to find out what is wrong. Is he injured? Is he having a heart attack, or seizure? There is no way to know what is wrong...and yet YOU are the only one on island that can help. YOU are responsible to find a way to save this man.

I'm sure all doctors and medical personnel have faced the same scenario: what to do with a patient that may be dying--and you don't have a clue as to what to do! I think perhaps this is where the most important adage of medicine came from: "first, do no harm". If you don't know what is wrong, at the very least, don't make it worse!

Faced with the worst, and having that brief moment of fear pass, Terri's natural abilities kick-in and she goes to work. In a very short time she has the patient calm and sedated enough to do a thorough physical, and quickly makes the correct diagnosis (later confirmed by more precise measures as ultra-sound and blood work). Once correctly diagnosed, the patient can be helped, and eventually cured.

Just another day at the office...

Terri's work on Tinian does not go without notice. On Friday, to her surprise, a small party was held at the clinic, and a certificate of appreciation was given to Terri by the staff, signed by the Mayor and Clinic director! She was surprised and touched.