An Impossible Task

Wails of anguish come from operating room number two. Don Leiber, a surgical technician, rushes in and gloves up in order to be of assistance. Moments earlier the patient was lying unconscious with a leg flayed from hip to ankle like a trout. The black necrotic skin was removed in order to prepare his leg for a skin graft. In the absence of necessary antibiotics, the nurses are pouring gobs of honey into the open wound.

The Black Lion staff face tremendous need with very little resources, and it is woefully hard to find good help around here.

Meskee is the head surgical nurse. Dedicated, responsible and dependable. She is always prepared to help. Supremely qualified, she never leaves a room without the familiar refrain, "Is there anything else I can do?" But that's just not enough. She desperately needs to motivate her staff. Culturally, it's not their way to push one's colleagues. She has a kind face and a warm smile. She is always polite. What could compel a person to stay still in the face of such dedication? At present, her job proves to be an impossible task.

A patient is left in PACU. He was in an auto accident one week ago, an all to familiar occurrence in Addis. He has multiple chest injuries, a lacerated liver, and broken bones. His chest tube is not functioning properly. Helen, a WSF PACU nurse, is exasperated. "There isn't even any suction!" There's nothing to protect them from HIV and TB. It seems impossible to do their jobs. The situation is dire. "I could lose him," says Helen. In the midst of such chaos it is difficult to get cooperation, to get help.

Suddenly, a small Ethiopian woman, gentle and polite, dashes into the room. Moving quickly, she responds to every request made by the WSF team. In her subtle manner, she anticipates their needs and acts instantaneously, quickly taking control of the situation. Bethlehem is a nurse anesthetist at the Black Lion Hospital.

"She stayed!" said Helen. "She spoke to the patient, and when I said that the patient needed blood, she left and came back with the blood." Every step in this difficult situation demanded the help of someone who "knew the ropes." Committed to excellence, dedicated to helping others, and proficient in English, Bethlehem was the person for the job.

"The blood needed to be warm. There was no warmer!" Exclaimed Helen. Bethlehem did the only thing available to her. She brought in a pan of warm water. "It was probably from the kettle in the break room. I couldn't believe it!" Simplicity is the mother of necessity.

Earlier today, an anesthesiologist from the WSF team was leaving operating room number four when I overheard him say to another anesthesiologist from the team, "Don't worry. Bethlehem has it taken care of."