ESTA MUERTO

Translated into english it means ¨its dead¨. These words I had the un-privilege of saying last week during translation at a local medical mission in town two miles away. Doctors from the Midwest, mostly surgeons, nurses, a dentist and eye-doctor come twice a year to offer free medical services to those who cannot afford them. It is usually one of my favorite things about Peace Corps service. Being able to communicate between the patient and doctor so that someone may receive a surgery that will better their quality of life and or save their life is incredible. We remove cancerous and non cancerous growths, give tubal-ligations, cut out infected gall bladders, ovaries, and some of the weirdest growths I have ever seen on people. This is gratifying to be a part of such important medical care not just translating but in viewing and assisting in procedures. Last year I was even able to cut out a gall bladder with the guidance of one of the surgeons. To say the least it has definitely been one of my favorite experiences here in the last 27 months. However, this last week I scrubbed in to translate between the American Surgeon and the Dominican Doctor on an emergency Cesarean section. I was not involved in the preliminary talks agreeing to do the procedure together, but was asked to interpret during the procedure… which I was more than excited to do. I had never seen a baby born and brought into this world and was proud to be apart of this baby’s life from the moment it was to enter the world. As the procedure was beginning I translated with the Anesthesiologist and patient as he gave her a spinal so that she would be awake during the surgery but unable to feel anything. She said that she was sufficiently numb and the American team of doctors asked me to tell her that they would like to say a prayer with her before the procedure. As I translated this out loud, the Dominican doctor and nurse quickly said to me in a hushed tone ¨ellos ya saben el bebe esta muerto, no¨…they already know that they baby is dead, right?... Well, somewhere in the hustle of things, this seemed to be lost not only on me but everyone else as well. So without wanting their prayers to be misdirected and expecting another outcome, I quickly informed everyone that they baby was already dead, according to the Dominican medical staff. One of the hardest things I think I will ever say in my life. Everyone was shocked and wondering why this hadn’t come to surface yet and it really took all the air out of the room. The surgery went on as planned and I tried my best to comfort the mother as she held back tears while translating between the two doctors. I needed to be in close proximity to the whole procedure as they cut and held tools for each other and eventually removed the swollen body of the dead baby. The mother requested that she be able to see the baby before they took it away, so we wrapped the tiny damaged body in a blanket so that she only see the face and quickly the Dominican nurse took the baby away after she had seen her lost child. The doctors closed the incision and took the mother to recovery. I stayed longer and continued to translate everyone’s condolences to the family and mother. I finally got packed up and left to go outside and allow myself to fully digest the situation that had passed. I think I am still digesting that situation and will be for many years to come. I would have really liked to see a healthy baby born into this world, but realize that it doesn’t always work that way. It makes me understand the fragility of life and beauty in living it well. I pray that the mother finds relief and understanding and may someday have a healthy child and be happy again. I feel like this was an experience that I was meant to have and learn from and though unfortunate, I am glad that I could be there in some form to help. I have continued working at the mission all week and am happy to say it has been more than successful. I have seen too many growths, sonograms, enlarged testicles, breast lumps, gyno exams, and extra fingers to last me for a long time and am fairly certain that being a doctor is not in my future but I still wouldn’t have wanted to change a thing about this last week. I am very thankful that there are people who give these invaluable services to those in need and a special big thanks to all those whom I have had a wonderful time working with this week. Solo Dios Sabe…