We arrived at the national stadium while it was still dark and set up all the different stations for screening. There were hundreds of people already lined up outside when my group arrived. Our security team was already there, doing a great job of keeping the people organized in their lines. I headed back to get things set up in the lab...To be honest, I was really thankful that I wasn't assigned to be one of the screening nurses this year. After saying "no" to so many people last year and seeing so many disappointed faces, I didn't know if my heart would be able to handle that again.
As we were walking around and setting up, I looked out front and saw a bunch of my friends working on the security team. I could tell there were a lot of people and it was already a little bit hectic. I thought of the stress that I had when I worked security at a small screening last year and said a prayer for my friends who were dealing with a much bigger number of people that were streaming in.
Our booth was set up between the surgery scheduling team and the pharmacy...the patients trickled in a few at a time, but it wasn't too crazy. I kept thinking about the drastic difference between the chaos outside and the calm atmosphere inside. My heart was heavy for my friends who were already getting exhausted from the crowd. I thought of Jesus and the crowds that followed him in hopes of being healed of their illnesses, the people pressing in, and the way he cared for each and every single person he encountered.
A little after 10am, things were really slow in the lab, so I decided to take my bubbles out into the waiting area (for patients who had already been screened and were in the second stage of being processed) to entertain the kids. I showed them my bubble wand and they started to run around laughing and playing, trying to catch all the bubbles. I watched their faces light up with those white toothy smiles and my heart felt content to be back in West Africa. I decided I should go outside and find the group that was in charge of entertaining the kids to see if they needed any more toys (I came prepared!) or help. As I walked outside, I saw my supervisor, who had a concerned look on her face. "Becca, hurry over to the tents. There are patients who are hurt." She had an urgency in her voice and even though I wasn't sure what was going on, I knew something was wrong.
I started running down to the tents out by the main entrance and came upon a scene that reminded me of something I would've expected to find in Haiti or some other disaster situation. There were quite a few patients lying there under the tent who had been injured in the crowd. I walked around to assess the situation and see which patients were stable and which ones needed immediate attention. A few nurses were already there taking care of some of the more severe cases. I came across a girl who was suffering from dehydration and a broken jaw. I stayed with her and cared for her until they could get an available Landrover to drive the patients to the hospital.
The Landrovers aren't exactly fit to be ambulances, but we managed to fit the patients inside and headed out. The traffic was terrible, but we had a woman with us from Sierra Leone who helped our driver signal the emergency to other drivers and get through the traffic quickly. We made it to the hospital and took the patients back to the Emergency Department.
As we drove back to the stadium, I sat with my friend Esther and processed a bit of what had just happened. It had all taken place so fast, I hadn't really stopped to think about much more than the nursing care I needed to give my patient right then and there.
Later on, we were filled in on the details of what had happened...a number of things were going on in the crowd and the crowd ended up storming the gate. At that point, about two hundred more people were admitted to relieve pressure, but in the chaos, a number of people were hurt and then carried over to the tent. In the end, thirteen people were injured and one man died.
When we got back to the screening site, we were told that screening was being shut down for the day. The circumstances were too risky and the environment wasn't safe with such a large, uncontrolled crowd. We packed up and headed out, filled with disappointment and frustration. As we got in the car, one man brought his little baby over to the window and begged us to do something to help him get his baby in for surgery for his cleft lip. We directed him over to a small group that was staying behind to screen a few last people who were already in the gate.
The desperation of the people was great today and the events that took place left all of us feeling a bit defeated. But, as we all gathered together to talk about the day, we were reminded that it is often in times of great resistance from the enemy that we realize that a battle is raging...God has big things in store for this outreach and this country and that is why the enemy is trying to stop it. But, we're not giving up yet. Today has been a hard, somber day, but I know that God is still in control and that He will "work all things together for good for those who love Him" (Romans 8:28).
Today, I witnessed brokenness in every possible way...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But, in brokenness comes beauty...in brokenness we recognize our need for the One who heals and restores...and He is the One that we turn to when we feel like we've hit rock bottom...and in those moments, we are reminded that we can still praise Him.
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
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