Resourceful Reserve nurse helps save a life in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Lt Col. Leslie Pratt
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Col. Paulette Schank knew she had to do something. Two and a half month old Frantz Andy Saintus was gasping for breath, in need of immediate care in order to survive. He survived a devastating earthquake in Haiti and Colonel Schank would not allow breathing complications to take his life.

In her civilian life, the colonel is a nurse anesthetist and was working in Haiti as a volunteer with the Global Health Ministry. Her group supported the Canadian Navy Triage Center in Jacmel, Haiti, which is in the mountains and a long drive from Port-au-Prince and chances of getting better care.

On Monday Colonel Schank and her team performed emergency lifesaving surgery in harsh conditions to treat the baby's incarcerated umbilical hernia. The St. Michel Hospital was severely damaged and jammed with people seeking help.

The surgery was a success. Post-surgery care was administered in neo-natal intensive care isolet which Colonel Schank and her team hastily constructed from boxes. Things suddenly changed when the boy suffered from a pulmonary edema, filling the lungs with fluid.

This required a level of care, supplies and equipment these resourceful people couldn't provide.

Colonel Schank, an Air Force reservist who commands the 514th Aerospace Medical Squadron at McGuire AFB, N.J., used a cell phone to call her wing commander, Col. Jim Kerr, at 1:30 a.m. Her plea for help was answered.

"It was life critical and the infant only had seven hours of oxygen left," Colonel Kerr said, adding, "I looked at my clock and saw it was 1:30 a.m. and that meant the infant would need the oxygen by 8:30 a.m."

The request moved from McGuire to the Air Force Reserve Command Crisis Action Team to the Air Force CAT in the Pentagon. "To see all these people step up and pull of a pretty complex communication and transportation challenge like this was absolutely remarkable," Colnel Schank said.

Early the next day, Colonel Schank was on a helicopter with the child on the way to the USNS Comfort. With only a half hour of crucial medical oxygen remaining, she was able to deliver the child the hospital ship's intensive care unit and then returned to Haiti to resume her work in the operating room. "It was absolutely amazing," she said.

Colonel Schank credits a host of players for the positive outcome. "Without everyone from the stateside command post controllers to the USNS Comfort crews being resourceful and creative, we could have never pulled this off as quickly as we did," she said, adding, "And, that speed was critical because we'd exhausted our oxygen supply."

""This experience solidified how important it is to work as a team, Colonel Kerr said, "It's really amazing what all was done to make this happen. It shows the value we place on life and what we can do as a team."

"I've never been so proud to be part of the American military team, Coloenl Schank said. "I felt kind of helpless at first, but when I dialed in my boss at McGuire, I was quickly reminded that I'm not alone, but rather part of something much bigger. Stories like this are happening every day. I just happened to play a small role in this particular rescue which had a happy outcome."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sadly, Frantz Andy Saintus died on Monday, Feb. 1. This outcome saddened all who were involved but does not detract from the extraordinary effort put forth.