Donating Blood

There is no blood in the hospital.  This is especially concerning given the number of patients I see each day with incredibly low hemoglobin levels.  Patients wait until they're deathly ill before seeking care, making for a greater challenge with our limited resources.  This week, I admitted my record low hemoglobin of 1.8 (normal is 12-18) along with several others with levels of 2.  When I ordered fluids to help give them some intravascular volume, I received some doubting looks and questions of concern as the other staff were worried about diluting the patient's already low blood level.  No worries, I tried to explain, patients need the fluid to help their blood pressure and move those few red blood cells around the body.  Reluctantly, they gave the fluids, but the biggest battle was getting these patients some blood. 

I offered to donate my own blood for any one of these patients, but was not a match.  All I could do was encourage their family members to donate their blood to help their loved one or another sick patient in the hospital.  While on rounds, a friend of mine offered to donate blood for one of the pediatric heme-onc patients but had the same problem.  Interestingly, immediately afterwards, she had two Kenyan medical student "volunteers" being pushed by the registrars (residents) to donate their blood for the patient.  Aww, the joys of being a medical student, always forced to do whatever is needed for the team and/or patients.  Even at the IU House, there are signs advertising for a blood drive here in Eldoret.  Hopefully, we will be able to get a group to donate some blood, provide a supply for the hospital, and make a difference for the patients.