Urgent Update on St Luke Hospital COVID response

Dear friends and family,

We have rapidly risen to 115 COVID beds, all full. We are totally saturated.

We announced publicly we cannot receive any more patients until further notice.

Many people are dying on arrival in ambulances, that could find no center to take them.

Here is a huge blow to our ability to meet our emergency budget: we will be paying 80% more for oxygen starting today.

It seems world markets have driven prices up. We will likely pay $22 per refill instead of $12.

With 115 patients, about 100 need oxygen from tanks and the rest from bedside oxygen concentrators.

We produce oxygen, but only 40 tanks per day for ICU and ER- we cannot divert these tanks to COVID.

The price increase could not have happened at a worse time.

We can either reduce the hospital, or double the fundraising.

The first option is not humane, and the second is not at all easy.

We trust, as always, that Providence will help us meet the challenges.

We have received many nuns as patients. a sure sign the COVID is in the poorest areas.

One Sister from Riviere Froide arrived last night.

92 years old, with oxygen saturation 45%.

I remembered these Sisters well because their convent and school were decimated by the earthquake, and we went there to help during that tough year.

I remember the scene well: the collapsed convent on the right, the collapsed school on the left. the Sisters in the middle with pup tents on the hard gravel, and a small chapel they marked out with fallen stones. On our arrival, they were sitting on the bare rocks and reciting vespers.

We did our best to care for Sr Eugene. At that point, the “best” was more human and spiritual, than the much needed oxygen (etc).

The Sister who came with her to care for her was nearly as old, and said they already lost one Sister to Covid.

Sister Eugene died early this morning, surrounded by the other Sisters in the hospital.

You are well aware in your own neighborhoods of the tragic effects of this illness.

Thanks to all of you who have given in a small or mighty way to our oxygen appeal, and for the well wishes and prayers, and the container of supplies coming from Scranton as I write.

Thanks for any more you might be able to do, as we face both high volumes and price increases as mentioned.

We so appreciate your friendship, solidarity, help and prayers.

God bless you, as we do our best to carry on the healing ministry of Jesus.

Fr Rick Frechette CP DO

Port au Prince, June 1 2015, feast of St Justin Martyr