Paul

First attempt at wearing the prosthetic arm

This is Paul. Nearly two months ago, Paul and his father were in a terrible car accident. Paul’s dad had just a few minor cuts and bruises, but’s Paul’s injuries were much more severe. He had multiple cuts on his face and scalp, an open fracture of his right ankle (broken bones and joints were exposed, skin and muscle shredded over the fracture), and a rather gruesome traumatic amputation of his left arm just below his elbow. When Paul arrived at Mukinge in the middle of the night, he was immediately taken to the operating room (theatre) where we worked to place IV’s, assessed him for injuries to his internal organs, sewed up the cuts on his face and scalp, washed the dirt and grass from the open wounds on his leg and arm, and completed the amputation of his left arm. Since that time, Paul has been a patient on our pediatric ward.  He has made multiple trips to the operating room to have his ankle cleaned out and placed in a stabilizing device called an external fixator, to have a skin graft placed over the open wound on his ankle, and to have the external fixator removed and a plaster cast placed.

Proper prostheses are available only in the capital city of Lusaka. The cost of accommodations and travel to and from Lusaka, not to mention the cost of the prosthesis makes it all but impossible for most of our patients to go there.  We aren’t even sure if there’s anyone there who makes arm prostheses – especially for children!  One of our physiotherapists has been working with Paul to make a prosthetic arm using materials that have all been purchased locally. What he has come up with is pretty incredible! Over the past week, Paul has been working on strengthening his shoulder and learning to use his brand new arm! Only a few more modifications are left to be made, and then Paul will be ready to be discharged home.

Paul trying on his cosmetic hand

A double hook attachment that enables Paul to grab and hold!

Paul and his parents

Paul’s parents have remained faithfully by his side. The three of them have remained joyful and enthusiastic throughout his stay. Paul is a bright kid who has taken a special interest not only in his own care, but also in the care of the many children who have come and gone from the ward since his arrival. He has worked hard to learn how to get around using one crutch and his one good leg. He sings with the nursing staff in the mornings before rounds and plays with the other kids on the ward. In September, we helped Paul celebrate his 9^th birthday.

Seeing Paul is my favorite part of each day. He is a remarkable kid. The other day I asked Paul what he thought he might want to be when he grows up – a teacher, a businessman, a doctor? He’s not sure yet, but there’s no doubt that he could probably be just about anything he chooses.

We know that we treat, but Jesus is the one who heals.  We are so grateful to God for sparing Paul’s life, for healing his body, and for allowing all of us to get to know his family through this ordeal. Thank you for praying for us here at Mukinge and for patients like Paul.

Shepherdless

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  

~Matthew 9:35-36

Not long ago I admitted a child to our pediatric ward. Although she was nearly a year and a half old, she weighed only 5.1 kg (11.2 pounds). She was horribly malnourished and was close to death. As I examined the baby and got the history from her mother, my heart felt so conflicted. Part of me was grieved by the sight of this little girl, by the disease that wracked her body, by her helpless, listless frame. Another part of me was upset, almost angry at the child’s mother. Why did she wait so long? How could she not realize how sick her baby was? Didn’t she see that her little girl was dying?

As Jesus encountered the throngs of people – the lost, the hurting, the broken, the sick -- he saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd.  A shepherdless sheep is a sheep in serious trouble – vulnerable to predators and the elements, lost, and hopeless. The bible does not say that Jesus felt cynical toward them or that he was angry and bitter at the depth of their depravity, but rather that when he saw them, he had compassion on them. The Greek word used here for compassion is splanchonai. The splanchnic nerve is the nerve that innervates the gut and causes the intestines to move.  When Jesus saw the crowds and saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd, he felt literal gut-wrenching love and compassion toward them.

A few days after she was admitted with malnutrition, vomiting, and diarrhea, the little girl died. As we grieved with her family, the Lord did some work on my heart. Instead of seeing the child’s mother as incompetent and uncaring, God helped me to see her as He has seen her – harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. I was reminded that in the same way, Jesus has seen me as a shepherdless sheep.  He is deeply moved with compassion for a lost world. I have received his love and compassion, demonstrated most fully in his death on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. He loves each of my patients and their families with the same gut-wrenching compassion shown to me, and he has called me to show this love in return.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  ~Hebrews 12:2-3

Moonbow

One of the many perks of living in Africa is that there is an abundance of awesome vacation destinations.  This past week I took a trip to Livingstone in the southern-most part of Zambia. Livingstone is the site of Mosi-oa-Tunya ("water that thunders"), also known as Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. [For more information about Victoria Falls, click here.]

While in Livingstone, I had the privilege of witnessing a moonbow (sometimes called a lunar rainbow), seen by the light of the full moon off the spray of the Falls. What an awesome display of God's beauty in nature!

Double Moonbow!

Introducing Ned & Lloyd

As if life around here weren’t interesting enough, I’ve decided to spice things up even more by bringing two little kittens into my house. Ned and Lloyd are 8 weeks old and have recently come to live with me. They are enjoying exploring a new house with new sounds and smells, and they are trying to remember all the instructions I have given them on where NOT to go to the bathroom J   They are excited about the opportunity to chase spiders and cockroaches and maybe even the occasional mouse or snake.  I am enjoying these sweet little balls of fluff along with challenges of learning to make cat food (actually not as hard as I thought!) and of keeping these little ones from getting into too much mischief.

Ned

Lloyd

Hiding behind the door

Mass Casualty

“Suddenly, jolting us out of our lethargy and our routine, come experiences that change the course of life. How wonderful they may be, and yet sometimes how utterly devastating and traumatic. Whatever comes, our confidence as children of God is that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

~Dr. Bob Foster (first physician to Mukinge Hospital)

It started out as a fairly normal Wednesday evening here at Mukinge. The missionaries gathered for our weekly meeting to pray and worship together. As we dispersed to go home, the doctor on call was notified that there had been a bus accident about two hours from us and that the victims were beginning to arrive.  Nurses from the various wards converged in the ICU to help triage patients. Lab and x-ray technicians were called in from home. Patients in various conditions were brought in, and we went into action.

 

We worked until early in the morning to assess injuries and tend to the wounds of each patient. Later, the mangled bodies of the deceased would arrive as well. I was so proud of our hospital staff for the teamwork displayed and the loving care that was shown to scared and hurting patients and their families. At Mukinge, we work with the knowledge that we treat, but Jesus heals, and we are grateful for God’s healing hand and protection over each of our patients. How quickly things can change – a normal Wednesday evening melted into a night of mass casualty triage and trauma care. All too soon, the sun came up again, bringing to light answers to questions and details of the accident. In Zambian culture, grieving is a public process, and the grief of those who lost loved ones is felt by each of us as well.  We mourn alongside those who are mourning, and we rejoice over the lives of those who were spared. We continue to trust that God does indeed “work all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” Please join us in praying for all involved and for God to be glorified in all that follows.

An Apology

A friend once told me that it doesn't do much good to have a blog if I never post to it. He's right. I have great intentions of revitalizing the blog soon.  Thank you for your grace and your patience with me!  Just to reassure you, I am alive and well and thriving out here in the bush. Life at Mukinge Hospital moves on at brisk pace, and I am so grateful to be part of what God is doing here!  Thanks for joining me in the adventure.  Stay tuned for real updates [hopefully] coming soon!

Skipping Tuesday

The first view of Zambia!

I have arrived in Zambia!  Tuesday morning, I got on a plane in Charlotte, took a brief flight to Washington, DC, then a much longer flight to Ethiopia. When I arrived in Ethiopia almost 14 hours later, it was Wednesday morning.  It was like Tuesday never existed!  The remainder of my trip to Lusaka (the capital of Zambia) was uneventful. I arrived with my person and luggage all intact and accounted for!  Praise the Lord for His provision!


I have been in Lusaka for the past few days, and have had almost no jet lag thanks to the shear exhaustion of being on a plane or in an airport for 24 hours and the sleep that ensued on my arrival. I have met the SIM Zambia team and have seen a few of the sights. The weather is delightful (70s, occasionally raining), and sleeping under a mosquito net makes me feel like I'm camping. Today I am especially grateful that I arrived in Zambia during mango season (my favorite). I'm also thankful for the unexpected blessing of an icy cold Coke Zero to go with my lunch today (my other favorite)!  

My mosquito-netted bed

Next week (Tuesday), I will be taking an exam to obtain my Zambian medical license, and then off to Mukinge Wednesday morning! I am so thankful to be here in Zambia and to be well on my way to doing what God has been preparing me to do for the last 16 years!  The adventure continues!!

Breakfast mango