fallen heroes

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
— General George S. Patton

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
– Lee Greenwood

*This post is dedicated to all those who gave their lives in service to our country;
the nation's fallen heroes.*

simplistic joy

Wednesday we got to visit a local hospital for the first time; something I've been wanting to do for so long. This week it finally happened.

We were part of a small group with the mission to bring joy and laughter to the children staying in the pediatric wards. The hit of the evening was balloons and bubbles. Most of them had never seen bubbles before. One mama got such a kick out of them-- giggling at the sight and feel of the sticky, transparent liquid.

I love that it takes very little to bring the soul joy here. In the western world, little satisfies. We are in essence a discontented society. So many aren't happy with just the basics. Simplicity is foreign or second-best. Instead we want the latest model, the next best thing--bigger and better is our pursuit. Not everybody. Yet, this is sadly the majority.

Twelve beds in one large room, six lining two adjacent walls. The nurse rarely came by in the two plus hours of our visit. Yet I was told this was more frequent than usual. Granted the children were pretty stable, but it was an eye opener for me. Such a contrast to home, where my patients are irritated and upset if I haven't checked on them in the last hour, or better yet, if I have not met their requests in a timely manner (immediately). This is not necessarily wrong. Its just that is the norm for us. We know no different. So, this is the standard. The precedent.

While we are bickering over private health care versus national health care, etc... to be granted care at any clinic or hospital in Africa, one must be able to purchase all the supplies needed for their treatment, go purchase them, and then bring them to the hospital. This means any intravenous tubing, needles, dressing supplies, medicines,etc. If you need blood, someone needs to go buy the blood or find someone who can donate you their blood. I can't help but be angered by this "system." Why is it that where you are born and live determines whether you receive medical care or, worse, even live?? This is horribly not right.

We saw sweet kiddos lying in bed with one of their lower limbs casted and in traction. A boy who has been their over a year because they don't know why he is sick. Or children who were in automobile accidents or fell out of a tree. They had burns and injuries that were being treated. One woman was so emaciated, I was surprised she was even alive. I was pleased to see that their dressings were pretty decent. I'm not saying their care is substandard. But in a way it is. They just don't have the latest equipment, technology, or supplies. One woman even motioned to me that she didn't want me to blow bubbles; she wanted my money. Or one woman who kept asking several of us for our clothes. At first I couldn't help but be put off by this. Here we giving of our time to play with your children, and all you want is our money. But then I was saddened that it even comes down to the big "M." Money. Money equals food. Medicine. Opportunity. Life.

Yet, they rise up. Joy resides here. Laughter echoes off these walls. And hope works hard to overcome.

In a way, my friends, Africa is the world's classroom.

I need Africa

Excerpt from mochaclub.org...


When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. "I am needed here," I think. "They have so little, and I have so much." It's true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in those same people. It's a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day.

The images spilling out of my television showed circumstances that could seemingly only equal misery, and I was fooled. I bought into the lie that circumstance defines happiness. The truth is, in Africa I find hearts full of victory, indomitable spirits. In places where despair should thrive, instead I find adults dancing and singing, and children playing soccer with a ball crafted of tied up trash. Instead of payback, I find grace. Here, weekend getaways are not options to provide relief from the pains of daily life. Relationships and faith provide joy. Love is sovereign.

My new reality… I know now that my joy should have no regard for my circumstances. I'm ashamed by my lack of faith, but at the very same moment I am excited by my new pursuit. I'm forced to redefine the meaning of having much or having little. I'm uneasy with the prospect of change and of letting go, but just the thought of freedom is liberating. I want what I have learned to trickle down from my head into my heart - I no longer want to need the "next thing" to have joy.

I'm not saying that Africa does not need our efforts. It absolutely does need our partnership. But for me, I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me.


My sentiments exactly. I couldn't of said it better.

.what we've been up to.

WORK:

CELEBRATE:

Nurses' Day ("crazy scrubs" complete with homemade caps :-)

In honor of Florence Nightingale (WWFD?) :-)

PLAY:
Bonfire on the beach, complete with smores!!

Scrap fabric from craft market for a skirt and bag

RELAX:

Foatgina's story of God's provision

I knew we were in for a full week when I looked ahead at the surgery schedule and saw the type of surgeries to come. Three neurosurgeons operating in the same week. For all you medical personnel, enough said, right? :-)

Repair of hydrocephalus with shunt. Repair of encephalocele. Orbital repositioning. Afi's tumor (see prior post Afi's hope). And then there's Foatgina all in the mix.

Foatgina. She first came to us back in April for excision of multiple very LARGE tumors from behind one ear all the way down and across to the other ear, literally!! Her surgery was soon canceled because she was found to be pregnant. Surgery would be held until the second trimester. We sent her to the Hospitality Center with the understanding that she would get her surgery despite her pregnancy. More waiting.

When the time came for her to return, waiting turned into more waiting until we could evaluate the safety of the baby and placenta for anesthesia (risk for preterm labor). This would be a very big and complicated surgery. Waiting once again.

Foatgina's doubts that we would ever do her surgery escalated. We had to do her surgery. We couldn't send her away with the risk that she could end the unborn life inside, or her own. At this point, lots of prayers were being offered up on her behalf. Please dear God, make it possible. May life prevail.

Last week our gifted and skilled surgeons performed her surgery. Twelve plus hours and eighteen units of blood later, she arrived into the ICU!! Yes eighteen units of blood--thirteen donated by our crew, and five units from the local hospital! This was an act of God and His provision in so many ways! Many pages were announced overhead for donors ASAP or they would not be able to complete her surgery. The majority of the tumors were removed. Two were left on one side because their removal would have required twelve more units of blood! She is a walking miracle!!

The next day, I think (its all meshing together in my head:-), we had the one other ICU bed reserved for another patient currently in the OR. Things didn't go quite as planned. One of the eye patients stopped breathing on the table and was immediately sent to ICU. We quickly made space for the third bed. It was tight. And we were full. She lasted exactly twenty-four hours before she passed away :-( Needless to say, it was a challenging and intense day.

It was a full week as we juggled patients in and out of the ICU most of the week. But, I must mention how amazing our nurses were!! I couldn't have done it without each one of them! I am so proud of them. They stepped in and beyond and pulled together helping each other and coming in from other wards to help, as well as coming in early or staying late. We have an incredible nursing team! I am so blessed to work with them.

It has taken me a week to fully process all the emotions, and then sit down and record the events. Hence, my absence. But, we're back! :-)

I also want to mention that God's timing was perfect when He provided an opportunity at the start of the week to go to the Team's house for worship on the rooftop. I'm so glad I did. The Lord knew what was ahead, and knew that I would need that precious time. My soul was refreshed, encouraged, and filled up as my heart sang songs to Him--all on a rooftop with the stars shining above; smelling and hearing the sights and smells unique to this land that my heart has grown to love.

Come what may. My Jehovah-Jireh will provide.

mother's day

Yesterday was World AIDS Orphan Day.

Today is Mother's Day.



"In 2010, the number of children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million – equivalent to the number of people living in New York, Paris, and Bangkok combined. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, over 15 million children have been orphaned by the pandemic. Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia."
(www.worldaidsorphans.org/section/the_orphans_crisis)



These precious children don't even have a mother to celebrate, love, and honor today. This is wrong.

Please visit the World AIDS Orphans website for other ways to touch your heart, get educated and get involved.

Afi's hope

Remember Afi?

She's the little girl I mentioned in one of my prior posts. The sweet girl with the tracheostomy that I didn't want to forget.

I'd like to share her story.

Afi came to us 21 days ago to be exact. Yes, she's been with us for three weeks now! She came with her mama directly from screening because she has a tumor in her mouth that is growing and slowly occluding her airway. Due to the fragility of her respiratory status, the team sent her directly to the ship where I soon got her settled in the ward. Hours later, a tracheostomy was placed to ensure a stable airway until we could later operate on her tumor.

But before we could remove the tumor, two things had to be determined. Number one, the histology results had to be negative for cancer. And number two, she had to be free of infection. After waiting a week for the results, number one was taken care of... the tumor was benign!!

Praise God!!

Number two, however, not so easy. A very nasty and highly contagious bacteria was growing in her lungs. We had to put her in "isolation." This meant we had to put her in a corner bed and place curtains around it to separate her from the other patients-- all to lessen the spread of infection and protect the other patients. This meant all those caring for her had to "gown up," as well as less contact with others, confinement to her "corner," and restrictions from going outside-- even from walking around the ward.

This is a big deal. And an even bigger deal in the African culture. Isolation is very disheartening and isolating (for a lack of a better word) to a culture that thrives on community; that is dependent on others, and whose value and worth is gained from their place and acceptance in society and in their community. It is devastating to say the least. Not too mention how unfair it is in the mind of an active five-year old girl who doesn't fully understand!

So, over the last few weeks we've all worked really hard to find ways to acknowledge Afi, interact with her, and brighten her spirits, along with treating the infection. This has not been easy. After three rounds of two different antibiotics, discouraging results showed no response. Still infection. And even worse, the bacteria became resistant to those antibiotics!

Surgery was once again held.

Our last option was to give the only other drug it still showed susceptibility to; a drug we have in limited supply, reserved for only special circumstances, and a cost of a couple thousand dollars!

Her only hope.

We gave her a full cycle over seven days and waited. And we prayed. Hard. Surgery was now dependent on this one drug (and God's power). If this didn't work, Afi's surgery would be indefinitely cancelled. We would not be able to do her surgery due to the infection.

And guess what?!! Yesterday the results came back with no infection!!!! Woohoo!! When I got the results I squealed with joy! I ran over to Afi's bed, waving the results up in the air while two other nurses very dramatically tore down those awful curtains that separated her from everyone else. When those curtains came down, her face broke into the biggest smile!! We explained to her what it all meant. Oh the joy!! After a good clean, she immediately and eagerly walked around the unit, touching anything and anyone.

Afi is back! :-)

Praise you Jesus, praise You!!

She is scheduled for surgery on Monday. She will be a very big and complicated case. Please pray for wisdom, guidance, and skill over the surgeons, and a successful recovery.

seven

time at play

A couple weekends ago Tim and I jumped at the opportunity to visit a local orphanage, Avenir Enface. We spent time with children ages 8 to 15. We sang songs, listened to The Hungry Caterpillar, colored butterflies, and then played games, like Jenga and good 'ol ball tossin'. We both were impressed at how well-behaved the children were. They were simply delighted that we were there and excited for new friends to play. They loved the attention and, of course, welcomed the change in routine.

The man who runs the orphanage keeps it in tip-top shape. He has also expanded, adding sixteen more beds to house more children this summer. It is so humbling and inspiring to see the community reaching out to one another. We could have slept in, like we do most Saturdays. Yet, in the end, we came back more blessed and refreshed.

Then last Saturday I went to the Hospitality Center for the first time this outreach. Like last year, it is a housing facility run by Mercy Ships to accommodate patients who have traveled far and awaiting surgery, or patients who are post-op awaiting their follow-up appointment before returning home. I was quite surprised at the facility compared to the one last year. This one is so big with actual rooms! It is enclosed by a gated wall structure with a fairly large courtyard that serves as a play area for the children and a communal area for activities under an awning. The center has several rooms with four beds each that are air-conditioned. The eye team works out of the field here and there are a couple rooms for educational lessons for the school-aged children.

The facility was first built with the intentions for a maternity health center. When the ship came the building was not complete and vacant. We have temporarily bought it and helped to complete the building with windows and air-conditioning. I am so pleased to see such a nice facility that will be used for birthing mothers when the ship leaves.

The following day, Tim and I got to go with a group to help with YWAM's monthly ministry day. Here the neighborhood kids came to participate in outdoor activities. And we got to join in on the fun! Their favorites were blowing bubbles and playing under the parachute that we brought. Its amazing how such a simple household item of bubbles, is such a fascination here. After play, all the children sat on mats and listened to the story of Samuel and Eli, where Samuel obeys God's voice. They also learned a new memory verse. It reminded me so much of a typical VBS at home. Again, the children were loads of fun and so attentive. I must find out what secret these African mamas use to discipline their children. Cuz whatever they do, it works! :-)

It is during times like these that we learn the joy and value in giving of our time to others.