Christmas comes to St. Damien and St. Luc

Posted on behalf of Hope Pogemiller (MP4)

As Noel approaches, high-pitched electronic strains of Christmas cheer echo in the courtyards of St. Damien. Strings of tiny multicolored lights are draped across the Virgin Mary and priest statues, posters of jolly Santa visages adorn the halls and the emergency room. A festive Christmas tree has been placed in the glass security/hospitality booth in the foyer of the hospital. Patients are now greeted with inflated purple and white gloves hanging on the boughs among colorful mini-lights and red and gold tinsel garlands. The lab and medical records archive also have trees, and they are focal points for unending staff pictures. While searching for lab results each morning, our interpreters and the lab staff now ask us to pose with them. The mooing of the hemogram machine (the ever-present "cow" in the corner of the lab) is now accompanied by the tree singing high-pitched carols.

Christmas Tree at St. Damien

Hope Pogemiller (MP4) posing with two interpreters from the lab

Hope Pogemiller (MP4) and Abby Montague (PL3) pose with the Director of the Lab

St. Luc also has evidence of the upcoming holidays. There is a team of 5 young men whose job description includes rolling oxygen tanks to bedsides of acutely desaturating patients and wheeling patients to and from the CT scanner and X-ray. One morning, our rounds were followed by evacuation of all the patients out of the emergency department area and into the adjoining ward. The team of young men enthusiastically donned a combination of shower caps, hospital gowns over shorts, and bunny suits (jumpsuits) and filed into the emergency room. They energetically pressure-washed the entire ceiling of forest green plastic tarp lining the tin roof in anticipation of Christmas decorations to come next week. The wall trim has been repainted a matching forest green, and the tiled floors have been scrubbed along with the shelves in each ward.  

Pressure washing at St. Luc in preparation for holiday decorations

The temperature has dropped with a persistent wind that stirs the dust and prompts addition of a jacket and socks for breakfast. This chill along with the lights and tunes of the approaching holiday raise everyone's spirits as they plan holiday gift exchanges and fetes. As I walk back to our villa each day, I expect to see piles of bright white snow and am surprised to find piles of light brown rocks, rubble, and light trash dancing in the wind.