1970

This month represents a first in my stewardship over the Class Notes as your secretary. The entire column is devoted to the telling of a terrible yet uplifting event recently experienced by one of our classmates. I hope that others of you will be encouraged to send along similar accounts which might be described as unique to a lifetime. I'll do my best to report on them at some length.

Gail V. Anderson, M.D., serves as director of the surgical emergency clinic at Gandy Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and also holds an appointment as assistant professor of emergency medicine at nearby Emory University. Last December his skills were called to an unusual challenge when he was sent as part of the first official American aid team allowed in the Soviet Union

since World War II. Following his return from the scene of Armenia's massive earthquake relief effort, he wrote about his experiences for the Atlanta JournalConstitution. Highlights from that article appear here.

Even more amazing, they were allowed to photograph Mikhail Gorbachev's motorcade from a few yards away.

Hospitals were stark by American standards. But the shortcomings of the situation sank in when a Soviet physician responded to a question that what was needed most was a new operating room. Supply shortages were rampant and maldistribution chronic. Vic could have used supplies such as intravenous tubing or bladder catheters almost immediately upon entering the hospital. Only several days later did it become known that two roomsful of such items sent from West Germany had been stored only one floor above.

Aside from broken bones, a condition known as "crush syndrome" was among the most prevalent of injuries. This occurs when myoglobin is released from crushed muscles, hampering filtration of blood by the kidneys. Treatment is by dialysis. Dialysis machines poured into the area. It was gratifying. Ever more and more machines arrived; Finally they could not be stopped. Vic surmises that there are now probably more dialysis machines per Capita in Armenia than anywhere else in the world.

The doctors on the team often labored long into the night to save lives. There were even heroic rescue efforts made by members of the American team. Vic reports, however, that the real heroes were the Armenian people themselves. The patients were incredibly brave, rarely crying or complaining. The profuse grabbing of hands and heartfelt efforts to express thanks were almost never ending.

Most of all the survivors were resolute. They left little doubt that the Armenians would once again rebuild shattered lives and the country they love. They were deeply touched that America had sent help. And so let us only hope that out of this tragedy will come a better understanding between Americans and Soviets, and people everywhere. Certainly our common human needs far exceed our differeces.

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